'Once' and 'Clybourne Park' Win Top 2012 Tony Awards DAVE ITZKOFF: I can hardly remember what happened! But that was a less predictable show than I expected going in - at least in terms of award-winners, if not the musical numbers. Highlights for me might have to be James Corden's sweetly moving acceptance speech, and Patti and Mandy riffing off each other as only they can. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: As Tony telecasts go these days I think that was not bad, even with the cruise-ship moment. I loved Patti and Mandy, Steve Kazee's and Nina Arianda's speeches. And actually the leading actor/acrtess awards all went the way I'd hoped. Not that it's all about me. Or even remotely about me. It will be interesting to see if the Tony sweep helps "Once" win audiences. DI: So I guess we won't have adjacent cabins on the next Royal Caribbean cruise, is what you're saying? CI: Well, maybe if they're doing "Memphis." DI: See you on the high seas! CHARLES ISHERWOOD: I guess "Once" winning the big one isn't a surprise at this point, but still it's heartening that this small show has done so well. Often the Tonys go to the more commercial show. DAVE ITZKOFF: Well, that was an interesting parable-by-way-of-commercial as acceptance speech by Frederick Zollo. Onto NPH's musical recap of the show we just saw. But don't spoil Mad Men for me! I only pay attention to the theatah. This closing number is terrific. I must watch on YouTube, with all the credits running over it, alas. DI: Adorable. I loved NPH's hip-hop routine from last year a bit more, but he should have a permanent hosting slot on this show. CI: I suspect it's his as long as he's willing. DAVE ITZKOFF: I can't believe this is about to end on time. And no one spoiled "Mad Men" on Twitter! CHARLES ISHERWOOD: But Dave it's not ending on time! We'll be at least two minutes over. Still... DI: Well, then, I'll just turn it off. You'll let me know how it ends? Two of the three Book of Mormon creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are celebrating their transformations from "artists" to "artistes" as Mr. Parker eats a cookie onstage. CI: I love the poncy accent the cookie-eater is doing. But which one is he? DAVE ITZKOFF: Time to rename this award the Audra? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Well this is her first leading actress Tony; the other FOUR were in supporting categories. DI: "I was a little girl with a pot belly and afro puffs, hyperactive and overdramatic, and I found the theater and I found my home," says a tearful Ms. McDonald. CI: "To think that the theater would be so good to me" she also said; Audra McDonald has been good to the theater! CHARLES ISHERWOOD Nina Arianda wins the actress award. "You were my first crush" she says to Christopher Plummer. She's delightful. I love that she's got a neon-yellow Post-It with her list on it. DAVE ITZKOFF: I might not do this again," Ms. Arianda says, pushing back against the orchestra that's trying to play her off. STEVEN MCELROY: Hugh Jackman, in the press room, talked about his wife presenting his special Tony award. He was truly surprised, he said. "I thought she was going to miss it because she'd gone to the bathroom," he said. She hates public speaking and she can't keep a secret. It's a minor miracle that this happened. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Not really, Dave, I predicted it. But I know what you mean: Hoffman was the favorite. But Corden's was such a winning performance. And Corden just gave some nice props to Hoffman. A tearful James Corden thanks his fellow nominees including his "favorite actor in the world," Philip Seymour Hoffman. I'll never doubt you again, Charles. Corden rounds out his speech by dedicating his victory to his "baby mama," who gave birth just before rehearsals started. "I can't wait to marry her. ... She makes me say "us" instead of "I" and "we" instead of "me."" CI: OK am I crazy or is it weird to have the "Leap of Faith" number at this point in the show when things are moving to a climax? The show is closed and got few nominations. DI: I feel we're almost due for the third annual performance from Memphis. It's not an impossibility. Actually this COULD be a number from "Memphis." More or less.Is there a musical that doesn't have a gospel number these days? I hear they put one into the "Les Miz" movie. DI: "I Dreamed a Dream, Y'All" CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Steve Kazee wins the leading actor in musical Tony. My prediction rate is going up. It's well deserved; he's wonderful in the show. It's a big night for "Once." AND he gave a gorgeous, moving speech. DAVE ITZKOFF: Hugh Jackman's getting a special Tony from his wife? This is total nepotism! CHARLES ISHERWOOD: That's called star power I guess. Although he looked genuinely surprised, I can hardly imagine he was. What did his wife say she was doing? Going to the loo? Just before his award. DI: He should have taken the stage by zipline."She's never kept a secret her entire life," Hugh says of Deb's remarks about the loo. CI: I guess she DID say she was off to the loo! I got it in one. Not crazy about that maribou fringe on her dress. That will be my sole comment on fashions this evening. And really I don't even know if it was maribou. DI: I can't top that. DAVE ITZKOFF: Enter Harvey Fierstein to introduce a segment from "Royal Caribbean" - I mean "Hairspray." I believe there's a reason why David Foster Wallace did not call his essay "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Do Over and Over Again." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: And it has surely not been lost on anyone that Royal Caribbean has bought at least two ads on the telecast. Looks a WEE BIT tacky. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: The revival award goes to "Porgy and Bess." I had a feeling that it would beat the closed "Follies." I'd have voted "Follies." DAVE ITZKOFF: I hope they have a few extra pages in tomorrow's edition to devote to a new letter from Sondheim. DAVE ITZKOFF: When are Patti [Lupone] and Mandy [Patinkin] just going to adopt me already? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: This medley is adorable. A highlight of the show. DI: And Mandy has his "Homeland" beard back. All is right with the world. STEVEN MCELORY: Bob Crowley, the scenic designer for "Once," set in a pub, knows a thing or two about such places. "I grew up in Ireland," he said in the press room. I probably spent more time in the pub than I did at home. It's that natural environment for people to fall in love and fall out of love. Births, marriages and funerals are sort of arranged in these places and sometimes conducted in these places as well. So it seemed a natural place to do a show that's about falling in love, and the fact that they don't come together makes it even more real I think. DAVE ITZKOFF: Here are Elena Roger and the vigorously pumping arms of Ricky Martin to perform "And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out) " from "Evita." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Ricky Martin has to be the most chipper and cheery Che the world has known. Alliteration accidental. DI: That was beautiful. CI: Funny thing: this choreography could have come straight from the mock-opening number. I agree, but it seems a bit hard on poor Elena Roger that she just stands there looking imperious. I mean, it is called "Evita" ... And she didn't get a nomination either. DI: LES MIZ CI: Against all odds could it actually be good? I sort of got chills hearing "I Dreamed a Dream." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: "Clybourne Park" wins; I think that was pretty likely, although "Starcatcher" is cleaning up in other categories. DAVE ITZKOFF: Was its Pulitzer win essentially a guarantee of this award as well (its bumpy road to Broadway notwithstanding)? CI: Probably. Are those the 100 producers and cast of show sort of posing at the side of the theater? That's new. At least they're not all clambering onstage, I guess.Is clambering a verb? DAVID ITZKOFF: Did you all see the ad for "Rebecca"? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Yes I did: what's that about the most lavish show in 20 years? DI: I know - is that a selling point? "Lavish"? Though I do enjoy that Linda Lavish. CI: She's brilliant. DI: Jim Parsons is introducing the first of the nominated plays, "Clybourne Park." And onto "Other Desert Cities." CI: These shadow-mime things in the background are a bit weird, no? DI: And didn't we already see a scene from "Peter and the Starcatchers"? CI:Yes, which is a bit odd. DI: Well, they did their best to keep folks from switching to "Mad Men" by flashing some skin. STEVEN MCELROY: Alan Menken, the "Newsies" composer is here (funny that "Once" is doing a musical number on the telecast at the moment.) Mr. Menken has a whole lotta Oscars, but this is his first Tony. It's not better, he says, but certainly different. "I'm a New Yorker, born in Manhattan and grew up on theater," he said. It doesn't get better than this. DAVE ITZKOFF: This isn't the part of "Once" where people are invited up on stage to join in, I take it. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Unless they brought their own instruments, no. But I thought they said they were going to do "Falling Slowly." Or did I mishear? DI:I didn't hear, but I can live without that number for an awards show or two. CI: Yes maybe I just imagined it. In any case I think that number came off better than any of the others so far. Although Cristin Milioti didn't have much to do other than wander about looking waifish. DAVE ITZKOFF: Tyler Perry is giving the revival of a play award. And announcing he's sold out the Beacon with his shows 120 times. Nice self-plug! CHARLES ISHERWOOD: And he worked for Kermit Bloomgarden, the original producer of "Salesman." That I didn't know. DAVE ITZKOFF: I would not mind a three-hour show of Audra singing "Summertime." But I think I would rather have seen a real scene from this show rather than this hodgepodge of moments. DI: Well, all the Tony nominees in the show have to get their due, I suppose. CI: That's the idea I guess but all the nominees from "Follies" didn't get their due. And that worked better. DAVE ITZKOFF: It's a win for "Newsies." It would have been quite a snub if it hadn't won, what with two plays nominated and one quick-flop musical, "Bonnie & Clyde." This must be the first musical to win the Razzie and the Tony. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: That's an achievement of a kind. DAVE ITZKOFF: We're back with NPH singing a tribute to - what? Every score that's ever Won a Tony? I'm getting dizzy. And all that to introduce .. Sheryl Crow. Really! She's giving away the best-score Tony? Well she is doing the score for "Diner" I now learn. A Slide Show of More Photographs Here DAVE ITZKOFF: Ellen Barkin introduces the year in plays, which begins with the mermaid musical number from "Peter and the Starcatcher." That itself was a feint to set up a very abbreviated scene from the show. Whew! James Corden - definitely James Corden - gives us a little of the physical comedy from "One Man, Two Guvnors." Now in honor of Judy's 90th.... fake Judy! This is a very oddly arranged sequence. I mean, a bit of "The Trolley Song" after James Corden doing the mad shtick, spliced in between bits of all the plays. Peculiar. STEVEN MCELROY: Paloma Young, who won best costume design of a play for "Peter and the Starcatcher," stopped by and talked about the challenge of designing for such a fantastical show. It's an ensemble piece and the actors play so many characters and it's so fast-paced and the actors also play scenery, she said. So I needed to make costumes that could be pirates, and sailors, and orphans, and officers in the navy and a wall, and a ship and a jungle. It was, you know, no biggie. DAVE ITZKOFF: Get ready for a lot of vamping. (and I'm not talking about the "True Blood" season premiere). "Chandeliers have been very good to me," she says - having last won for "Phantom of the Opera." Good line, Judy. DI: Oh, I totally get it now! She was a highlight of "Nice Work," I will say. But are you ever so slightly surprised by the love going this show's way? CI: As I said I thought she'd win but McGrath was a surprise. And Kaye's role was pretty meaty, compared to some others in the category. DAVE ITZKOFF: "Glee" star Matthew Morrison set up a performance from "Nice Work If You Can Get It." Probably the only time "Someone to Watch Over Me" has been done by a lady gangster toting a shotgun. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Lady bootlegger, technically. But what a heavenly voice. I could listen to Kelli O'Hara all night and be happy. DI: I like this fun and boozy fellow at the center of the number. Where was he the night I saw the show? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: One presumes, meantime Christian Borle - another upset. I thought Andrew Garfield would win. There seems to be a bit of a "Salesman" backlash if you ask me. DAVE ITZKOFF: Certainly all the "Spider-Man" promos, stage and screen, leading up to this award, seemed to indicate it was going to go Andrew Garfield's way. But he did co-found Facebook, so don't feel too bad for him. CI: Yes you can't have everthing, even in showbiz. Particularly in showbiz. But I say he was robbed. That was one of the outstanding performances of the season. DAVE ITZKOFF: Uh-oh, I'm hearing the theme from "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: I can't believe you recognized it. That's an impressive feat of recall. DI: Let's just say it's burned into my memory. Ted Chapin and Angela Lansbury are giving their spiel for the American Theater Wing - "We won't leave you hanging," says Ms. Lansbury - as NPH dangles precariously from a Spider-Man rigging. CI: That was a cute bit. Now Jessica Chastain is giving an award wearing a dress that says, "I'm not really plain like the heroine of "The Heiress."" STEVEN MCELROY: Michael McGrath gave a shout out to Tommy Brent in his acceptance speech; in the press room he elaborated; "I started at Theater by the Sea in 1977, it was my first season of summer stock," he said. Brent, a longtime summer stock producer, died a year ago.. And as for that "Baby, you're the greatest line," well yes, he is indeed attached to a musical version of the 1950s sitcom "The Honeymooners," as Ralph Kramden. DAVE ITZKOFF: Ah, finally, that "Jesus Christ Superstar" performance we were promised. Israel, 4BC, had no mass communication. The immortal lyrics of Tim Rice. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: I'm sure you could quote endless gems from this score. I'm wondering how Josh Young gets into that shiny blue suit. Could it be any more snug? DI: We'll discuss that when we're not on company time. DAVE ITZKOFF: Did Laroquette even look in that envelope before announcing Mike Nichols" name? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Oddly he seemed not to. Well we're on track here, this one at least was fairly easy to call. 18 nominations he's had! DI: "You see before you a happy man," says Nichols, who recalls the Beacon Theater as his old neighborhood movie theater and the site of his victory at a pie-eating contest. CI: Yes another talent! DI: "There's not a person in this theater that doesn't know what it is be a salesman, to be way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine." well said Mr. Nichols (by way of Mr. Miller). CI: Indeed. Too bad the orchestra started to play him off. That was a moving speech. With thanks to Mr. Miller. DAVE ITZKOFF: Is "Once" now the favorite for best musical? CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Yes I think we have a trend here. How many times are we going to hear the strains of ... what's the name of that one song? Of course there's the odd irony that this musical was disqualified from the score category so you have a musical potentially winning the big one - but not even nominated for best score. DAVE ITZKOFF: Hey Charles, you were a big fan of Ghost: the Musical, right? I like the phrasing: a number "from another new show on Broadway this season." Rousing endorsement there, but then they were snubbed by the Tonys, for the most part. That was mercifully short at least. They seem to have been given less time than the shows with the major noms. DAVE ITZKOFF: Danny Burstein's giving us "Buddy's Blues" from "Follies." Will they do the whole "Loveland" sequence? I just keep thinking how tired the man must be after flying in on the red-eye. God bless him. But of course the show is closed so you wonder why they're spending all the money to do the number? DI: Two words: Sond. Heim. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: This is turning into a very odd night. I didn't think Michael McGrath - pronounced McGRAW I gather - was even in contention. DAVE ITZKOFF: That shocked me. Seemed like the house was very much rooting for Josh Young of "Jesus Christ Superstar," if such things matter. CI: We may be in for a night chock full o" upsets. At least it keeps things lively. I was pulling for MIchael Cerveris, but he's got one already. DAVE ITZKOFF: You DO NOT play the score to "Jesus Christ Superstar" and then not perform "Jesus Christ Superstar." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: Now I know how to pronounce Amanda Seyfried's name. I'm learning something tonight. But did I spell it right? DI: I'm assuming Amanda Seyfried is here to plug Les Miz. Or is her Linda Lovelace biopic a musical too? DAVE ITZKOFF: This peppy number is "Seize the Day" from "Newsies." CHARLES ISHERWOOD: One of many peppy numbers from the show. It sort of looks like a Thom Browne fashion show to me. But with gymnastics. DI: If it doesn't get people buying newspapers again, it might sell some culottes. CI: Too bad we don't have 3-D televisions yet. This number would be perfect. Judith Light! That was a longshot, or so I would have thought. DAVE ITZKOFF: You were thinking Linda Emond for the early Death of a Salesman sweep? CI: That was my prediction. Of course I'm often wrong. And I have to say Judith Light was terrific in the show. She made the role her own, following an impressive LInda Lavin. And since I missed her all those years on "Who's the Boss?" I was particularly impressed. It was "Who's the Boss?" right? DI: Yes, exactly. Though the cast members of "The Facts of Life" will all have their day. CI: One can only hope. STEVEN MCELROY: Emanuel Azenberg is the first winner to arrive in the press room, but doesn't want to share details about anything else he might have coming up. He does, however, mention a few of his favorite shows he's worked on in his long career: "The Real Thing" is one, "The Lion in Winter" is another and "Brighton Beach," is another, he said. "Then there are some you've committed to that fail, like "Sideshow," I loved it," he said. The failures are on "the resume of your soul," he said. DAVE ITZKOFF: Neil Patrick Harris refers obliquely to the cast of "Newsies" as "hyper-acrobatic 35-year-old-15-year-olds." That's his setup for an original musical number that wonders what life would be like if it were more like theater. I'm a fan of NPH's previous hosting efforts but some energy seems to be lacking so far. CHARLES ISHERWOOD: It seems a wee bit under-rehearsed. But the odd thing is of course that this opening number is basically mocking the absurdities of theater in the guise of celebrating them. But that's our post-post-modern world I guess. DI: I don't have the time to type out that Jesse Tyler Ferguson just crashed a Neil Patrick Harris musical number. Get shorter names, fellas. CI: And we've got Annie... DI: Did Broadway's newest Annie just say "the sun will be back tomorrow?" DI: The 2012 Tony Awards appear to be opening with "Hello," the opening number of 2011 Tony Award winner "Book of Mormon." Or did we enter a time warp? CI: No it's really happening. But then a few years ago they opened with "The Lion King." So there is precedent, I suppose. Still if I were the producers of, say "Newsies" or "Once" I might be miffed. DI: As long as we're doing the year over again, I'm going to remind myself not to invest in Facebook or get too caught up in "The Killing." CI: Wise. And don't get too excited about the Triple Crown thing either. DI: And here's host Neil Patrick Harris, joining the "Book of Mormon" kids in LDS attire. CI: And looking weirdly appropriate in that getup. DI: He introduces the Tony Awards as "50 Shades of Gay." So that's how we're starting. CI: Well it's been four minutes already, Dave. It's nice that the Tonys can be out and proud at last. DI: Before the telecast has started, the showdown between "Once" and "Newsies" is already underway. "Once" nabbed an early award for best orchestrations (going to Martin Lowe) and "Newsies" got a trophy for choreography (Christopher Gattelli). CI: Yes it looks like it could shape up to be a showdown. I think the orchestration award for "Once" is well deserved, and heaven knows "Newsies" had a LOT of choreography. All them boys jumping around ceaselessly. But I think I would have voted for Steven Hoggett for "Once." His work is so distinctive. I think he deserved to win for "American Idiot," but anyway... DI: And in that time, "Once" has picked up a second award, for book of a musical, going to Enda Walsh, who wins out over "Newsies" writer Harvey Fierstein. The battle continues! CI: It's kind of a bummer not being able to watch these awards being given out. You feel like you're entering the party late. But that battle is lost, I fear. Here we are again. Not on the red carpet. DAVE ITZKOFF: A happy Judy Garland's birthday to you, Charles. Should we do something to celebrate? Maybe an awards show? CI: Well that seems a little extravagant, but why not? Judy deserves nothing less. DI: This year's Tonys have a few categories that most observers believe are all but settled. And then we've got a few - pardon the word choice - horse races. Any competitive (or non-competitive) categories that you've got your eye on tonight? CI: It is kind of nice that the Big Prize - best musical - is one of the tighter races. Last year, I seem to recall, this was not the case. Something to do with Mormons? DI: Yes, I wish I could remember. But it had a very popular Book, I'm told. CI: Are there any categories you're particularly invested in, Dave? DI: Well I have small sums of money on all of them. That's how I make things "interesting." But I'm especially curious about best musical revival. That seems like a very tough call to make. CI: Agreed. "Follies" probably is the sentimental favorite, but it closed in Los Angeles today. The poor cast had to fly out on the red-eye! Arrived in New York 7:30 a.m., they were saying. But "Porgy and Bess" is obviously a major contender here. If the voters dare to thumb their noses at Stephen Sondheim. DI: I wonder how Sondheim feels about that "Porgy and Bess" revival. Oh, wait, never mind. SCOTT HELLER: I spent a few hours at the Tonys dress rehearsal this morning, as once the show starts and our great team of writers, editors, bloggers, and photographers gets going it becomes pretty hard to pay close attention to the show itself. A few impressions, questions and things to watch for: It will be hard for Neil Patrick Harris to top his own performance as host last year, and he doesn't have Lin-Manuel Miranda writing the end-of-show rap this time. But David Javerbaum, the former "Daily Show" producer who co-wrote the hilarious "Not Just For Gays Anymore" opener in 2011, is involved again. And if something unusual happens, expect NPH to run with it. Plays will get more attention than usual, in part because James Corden of "One Man, Two Guvnors" can't help but be funny. Also: "Peter and the Starcatcher" and "End of the Rainbow" are plays with music. Today would be Judy Garland's 90th birthday. Expect to hear about it if Tracie Bennett wins best actress in a play for portraying her in "Rainbow." Even if "Death of a Salesman" wins, you won't see much of the just-closed revival. It's the only nominated show that, at the rehearsal at least, didn't provide video footage to play during the montage segments. "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" will not go unmocked. Speaking Of: If set designer George Tsypin wins, how will he handle thanks for the show's deposed director, Julie Taymor? "Unchained Melody"? Check. "Falling Slowly"? Listen to the album. Could there be a surprise presenter for Hugh Jackman's special award? When the "Godspell" cast encourages audience participation, will Philip Seymour Hoffman play along? PATRICK HEALY: For all the choreography at Sunday night's Tony Awards ceremony - the producers promise more Broadway performance numbers than ever - the CBS telecast will include plenty of unpredictability as well. Broadway audiences have been loving the new shows "Newsies" and "Once" for three months now, and they are locked in a tight race for the best musical Tony. The best play Tony is up for grabs too, with the acclaimed productions of "Clybourne Park" and "Other Desert Cities" among the contenders. And could this be the year when "Follies," which has had a cult following for 40 years, finally wins a top Tony (for best musical revival this time around)? The acting categories will quicken the pulse of some theater lovers; for best actress in a play, nominees Nina Arianda, Tracie Bennett, Stockard Channing, Linda Lavin, and Cynthia Nixon ALL can't win. Even if they should, cruel world, even if they should. ArtsBeat and NYTimes.com will have coverage throughout the night, including live blogging by theater critic Charles Isherwood and reporter Dave Itzkoff right off the mark at 8 p.m. with the first of at least 14 musical production numbers on the show. And check out Monday's newspaper too for a complete wrap-up and photos.