Live at the Tony Awards with Culture Monster, updated

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In a show that provided little in the way of big surprises, ‘Billy Elliot, the Musical’ and ‘God of Carnage’ emerged as the big winners tonight at the 63rd annual Tony Awards.

As was widely expected, ‘Billy Elliot’ dominated, winning 10 awards, including musical. The British import, based on the 2000 Oscar-nominated movie, also won for lead actor in a musical, a prize shared by the three teen-agers who rotate in the title role. ‘We want to say to all the kids out there who want to dance, don’t give up your dreams,’ said Trent Kowalik, who accepted the award with David Alvarez and Kiril Kulish.

The Billys took turns thanking their families but spent most of their time at the podium smiling nervously as the audience gave them a sustained and enthusiastic ovation. ‘Billy Elliot’ also won for direction, choreography and featured actor in a musical.

Though the production’s 10 wins were the most for any show for the evening, the tally fell short of the record 12 for ‘The Producers’ in 2001.

French playwright Yasmina Reza, who won a best play Tony for ‘Art’ in 1998, won her second tonight for ‘God of Carnage,’ which won three awards.

‘I’m very happy to be here again,’ said Reza. ‘Maybe you missed my accent, maybe you wanted to hear it again?’ She said that she shared the award with her translator, Christopher Hampton, and her director, Matthew Warchus.

‘God of Carnage’ is a black comedy that tells of two married couples who bare their fangs after their children are caught in a playground brawl. The play had its world premiere in 2006 in Zurich and has since seen productions in London and Paris before arriving on Broadway.

The show also won for Warchus’ direction and for Marcia Gay Harden as lead actress in a play.

‘I tell my kids every day that bad behavior and tantrums and tears will get them nowhere. I don’t know quite how to explain this,’ said Harden. She then thanked her husband, Thaddeus. ‘The play is about marital strife, and I guess I should thank my husband ... for our many dress rehearsals,’ she said.

Harden also thanked her co-stars -- Hope Davis (also nominated in the category), Jeff Daniels and James Gandolfini. ‘It’s a pleasure fighting with you guys every night,’ she quipped.

The Oscar-winning actress was nominated in 1993 for ‘Angels in America: Millenium Approaches.’

Geoffrey Rush won his first Tony for his lead performance in the revival of Eugene Ionesco’s ‘Exit the King.’

‘I want to thank Manhattan audiences for proving that French existential absurdist tragi-comedy rocks,’ he said. He then thanked each of his fellow nominees -- Jeff Daniels, Raul Esparza, James Gandolfini, Thomas Sadoski -- in a mock French accent.

Rush, who won an Oscar in 1997 for ‘Shine,’ co-adapted the play for the stage in this production that originated in Australia.

Alice Ripley won for actress in a musical for her role as pill-popping mother in ‘Next to Normal.’ The actress delivered an impassioned and rather eccentric acceptance speech in which she quoted John F. Kennedy and extolled the artistic importance of musicals.

‘I have to say something about art. ... Musical theater is a fine art, so it needs constant adjusting and constant tuning,’ she said before launching into a list of thank-yous.

‘Next to Normal’ provided the ceremony with its only upset, stealing the trophy for original score from favorites Elton John (“Billy Elliot”) and Dolly Parton (“9 to 5: The Musical”).

The dark-horse musical, nominated for 11 awards, tells of a dysfunctional family headed by Ripley’s manic-depressive mother. The show’s music was written by Tom Kitt, with lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

‘9 to 5: The Musical,’ which had its world premiere at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre, went home empty-handed, as did ‘Rock of Ages,’ the hair-metal jukebox musical that also originated in L.A.

‘Hair’ won for revival of a musical, prompting the costumed cast (which had just performed a number from the show) to crowd the stage in a celebratory orgy. Oskar Eustis, the show’s producer, thanked the entire staff of New York’s Public Theater, which originally produced the musical last summer in Central Park. ‘If the theater is going to matter, it had to talk about things that matter to the people,’ said Eustis.

The Tony for revival of a play went to Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘The Norman Conquests,’ a nearly seven-hour-long trilogy that was first produced in 1973. The epic comedy from the Old Vic Theatre in London centers on six sexually confused characters in ‘70s England. The production is directed by Warchus, who won a Tony this evening for his direction of ‘God of Carnage.’

Angela Lansbury won her fifth Tony tonight, becoming the second actress in history to win as many Tonys. The 83-year-old Lansbury won for featured actress in the revival of Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit.’

‘Who knew at this time in my life that I should be presented with this lovely, lovely award?’ she said upon accepting the Tony from Daniels and Gandolfini. Lansbury last won in 1979 for ‘Sweeney Todd.’ She also won for ‘Gypsy’ in 1975, ‘Dear World’ in 1969 and ‘Mame’ in 1966.

Roger Robinson won for featured actor in a play for August Wilson’s ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.’ The actor thanked his 96-year-old mother as well as Bartlett Sher, who directed the production. He also mentioned President Obama, who attended the play two weeks ago with the first lady.

Karen Olivo gave the evening’s most emotional speech as she accepted for featured actress in a musical for ‘West Side Story.’

‘Thank you, Arthur, for believing in me and for giving me confidence when I didn’t have confidence,’ she said, referring to the production’s director, Arthur Laurents. The actress broke down in tears before she could finish her speech. Olivo plays Anita, which has long been associated with actress Rita Moreno.

Gregory Jbara won for featured actor in a musical for ‘Billy Elliot.’ The actor plays the young Billy’s stubborn father, who has trouble accepting his son’s interest in classical ballet.

Liza Minnelli won her fourth Tony, for ‘Liza’s at the Palace’ in the special theatrical event category.

‘This is exquisite,’ said the actress as she pulled out a thank-you list. ‘I didn’t want to use this because I didn’t think I was going to win.’ Minnelli then briefly recounted her show’s troubled tryouts on the road. ‘We were horrible, we were the pits. But we were trying,’ she said.

She concluded her rambling speech with a special tribute. ‘Lastly I’d like to thank my parents, for the greatest gifts they could give,’ she said.

Minnelli beat out Will Ferrell, who made his Broadway debut in ‘You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush.’

Lee Hall’s book for ‘Billy Elliot’ won for the book of a musical. Hall beat out impressive competition, including Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (‘Shrek the Musical’) and Brian Yorkey (‘Next to Normal’).

‘Billy Elliot’ also won for Peter Darling’s choreography, beating out competition that included ‘Hair’ and ‘9 to 5: the Musical.’

The Tonys got off to an unconventional start with the announcement of a tie for orchestrations. The award was shared by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt for ‘Next to Normal’ and Martin Koch for ‘Billy Elliot.’

Many of the creative Tony Awards were handed out at a special pre-show ceremony that isn’t part of the main CBS telecast, hosted by Tony winners Laura Benanti and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Costume designer Jane Greenwood, nominated for ‘Waiting for Godot,’ lost her 16th nomination to Anthony Ward for ‘Mary Stuart.” Brian MacDevitt won for lighting design for ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” and ’33 Variations’ won for Derek MacLane’s scenic design.

‘Shrek the Musical’ won only one award, costume design for a musical.

‘Equus,’ which starred Daniel Radcliffe and was shut out of the main categories, won for sound design for a play.

‘Billy Elliot’ also won for Rick Fisher’s lighting design and Ian MacNeil’s scenic design.

-- David Ng

Click here for the full list: Tony Awards: And the 2009 winners are...

Top photo: Elton John hugs actor Kiril Kulish as they accept the best musical award for ‘Billy Elliot, The Musical’ at the 63rd annual Tony Awards. Credit: Seth Wenig/Associated Press.

Second photo: Geoffrey Rush. Credit: David Goldman/Associated Press.