1989 TONY AWARDS, THE (TV)
Summary
The forty-third annual presentation of the American Theatre Wing Tony (Antoinette Perry) awards for excellence in the Broadway theater, telecast live from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York. Five-time host Angela Lansbury takes the stage and performs "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy," having starred in the 1973 London production and the 1974 Broadway revival, and then introduces Ruth Brown and Linda Hopkins, who perform "Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do" from "Black and Blue," the company of which then performs the tap number "That Rhythm Man." Leslie Uggams and Barry Bostwick present the award for Featured Actor in a Musical to Scott Wise and the award for Featured Actress in a Musical to Debbie Shapiro, both for "Jerome Robbins' Broadway." Colleen Dewhurst introduces a scene from "The Heidi Chronicles," performed by Joan Allen and Peter Friedman, followed by a scene from "Shirley Valentine" starring Pauline Collins. Next, John Lithgow and B.D. Wong present the award for Featured Actress in a Play to Christine Baranski for "Rumors," followed by Featured Actor in a Play, which goes to Boyd Gaines from "The Heidi Chronicles." Zoe Caldwell presented Best Revival of a Play to "Our Town," set to be televised on "Great Performances" later in the year.
Next, Lansbury introduces the musical "Starmites," and the company takes the stage to perform "Starmites" and "Hard to be the Diva." Nell Carter then presents the award for Scenic Design to Santo Loquasto for "Café Crown," followed by the award for Lighting Design, which goes to Jennifer Tipton for "Jerome Robbins' Broadway." Best Costume Design goes to Claudia Segovio and Hector Orezzoli, who are absent from the ceremony, for "Black and Blue," and Carter accepts the award on their behalf. Isabelle Stevenson, President of the American Theatre Wing, then comments on the association's recent work and creation of a theatre workshop for American and Russian students. Lansbury introduces Jerome Robbins, who presents the award for Best Choreography, which he himself has won three times, to Cholly Atkins, Henry LeTang, Frankie Manning and Fayard Nicholas for "Black and Blue." Swoosie Kurtz presents a scene from "Lend Me a Tenor," featuring Philip Bosco and Victor Garber, and then presents its director, Jerry Zaks, with the award for Best Direction of a Play. Next, Lansbury welcomes Betty Buckley, who sings "Memory" from "Cats," followed by Larry Kert, who sings "Being Alive" from "Company." Lansbury herself then performs "Send in the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music."
Richard Thomas presents the Regional Theatre Award to the Hartford Stage Company of Connecticut, and Lansbury introduces a mime-inspired scene from "Largely New York," starring Bill Irwin and company. Steve Martin presents the award for Best Actor in a Play to Philip Bosco for "Lend Me a Tenor," and the award for Leading Actress in a Play to Pauline Collins for "Shirley Valentine." Lansbury then introduces "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," and brief scenes from Robbins' many other shows, including "Peter Pan," "On the Town," "Billion Dollar Baby," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Gypsy," "High Button Shoes" and "Fiddler on the Roof" are shown before a live performance of "Dance at the Gym" from "West Side Story." Gwen Verdon presents Best Direction of a Musical to Robbins for "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," and Tommy Tune presents the award for Leading Actress in a Musical to Ruth Brown for "Black and Blue," followed by Leading Actor in a Musical to Jason Alexander for "Jerome Robbins' Broadway." James Earl Jones and August Wilson present Best Play to "The Heidi Chronicles," and Jerry Herman and Carol Channning present Best Musical to "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," with the production team inviting Robbins himself onto the stage to share the spotlight. Lansbury then closes the evening with a reprise of "Everything's Coming Up Roses," joined by the rest of the performers. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: June 4, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:54:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:32056
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Award presentations; Theater - Awards
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Don Mischer … Executive Producer
- David J. Goldberg … Producer
- Geoff Bennett … Associate Producer
- Roy A. Somlyo … Event Producer
- Walter C. Miller … Director
- Sara Lukinson … Writer
- Angela Lansbury … Host, Performer
- Les Marshak … Announcer
- Ruth Brown … Performer
- Linda Hopkins … Performer
- Joan Allen … Performer
- Peter Friedman … Performer
- Pauline Collins … Performer
- Philip Bosco … Performer
- Larry Kert … Performer
- Victor Garber … Performer
- Betty Buckley … Performer
- Bill Irwin … Performer
- Jason Alexander
- Cholly Atkins
- Christine Baranski
- Barry Bostwick
- Nell Carter
- Carol Channing
- Colleen Dewhurst
- Boyd Gaines
- Jerry Herman
- James Earl Jones
- Swoosie Kurtz
- Henry LeTang
- John Lithgow
- Santo Loquasto
- Frankie Manning
- Steve Martin
- Fayard Nicholas
- Hector Orezzoli
- Jerome Robbins
- Claudia Segovio
- Debbie Shapiro
- Isabelle Stevenson
- Richard Thomas
- Jennifer Tipton
- Tommy Tune
- Leslie Uggams
- Gwen Verdon
- August Wilson
- Scott Wise
- B.D. Wong
- Jerry Zaks