‘Crazy for You’ Named Best Broadway Musical

“Crazy for You,” a loving recreation of a 1930s song-and-dance extravaganza featuring old songs by George and Ira Gershwin, was named best musical of the 1991-92 Broadway season Sunday at the annual Tony Awards ceremony.

“Dancing at Lughnasa,” Brian Friel’s memory play about five unmarried Irish sisters, was chosen best play and won two other awards--featured actress for Brid Brennan and for director, Patrick Mason.

But a critically acclaimed revival of “Guys and Dolls,” the season’s biggest hit, won four Tonys--more than any other show. Besides best revival, it picked up awards for sets, Tony Walton; director-musical, Jerry Zaks, and actress-musical, Faith Prince.

“This is why I eloped--I’m not very good at ceremonies,” said a tearful Prince, who plays the long-suffering fiancee Miss Adelaide in the show.

Gregory Hines won the top musical acting award for his portrayal of jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton in “Jelly’s Last Jam.”

Judd Hirsch, who plays an ill-tempered father in “Conversations with My Father,” received the best-actor prize. After a long speech, he held up a cardboard sign with a printed message for his hospitalized, 89-year-old mother. It said: “Mom--You are precious. I love you!”

Glenn Close, the host for the evening’s award show at the Gershwin Theater, took the prize for best actress. She plays a vengeful torture victim in “Death and the Maiden.”

Larry Fishburne, a star of the film “Boyz N the Hood,” won the featured acting award for his portrait of a cocky ex-convict in August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running.”

“Falsettos,” the story of life and love in the age of AIDS, won the important prizes for best book and score of a musical.

Its composer and author, William Finn, was overcome during his two trips to the stage. He shared the story award with the show’s director, James Lapine, and then came back to pick up the score award.

“Does this mean I have to make another speech?” Finn said. “You’re making my mother cry--in Boston. I love everyone in the audience, and I’m a miserable person.”

Scott Waara, who plays a genial farmhand in “The Most Happy Fella” and Tonya Pinkins, the strong-willed girlfriend of Jelly Roll Morton in “Jelly’s Last Jam,” won featured acting prizes.

“Crazy for You” captured two other prizes--choreography for Susan Stroman and costumes for William Ivey Long. The lighting prize went to Jules Fisher of “Jelly’s Last Jam.”