NEW YORK — The bittersweet musical “Once” captured eight Tony Awards on Sunday, including best musical direction, best lead actor in a musical and the top musical prize itself.
The inventive play “Peter and the Starcatcher” was next with five awards. Audra McDonald was named best lead actress in a musical and her “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” was named best musical revival.
Nina Arianda, a rising star, won best leading actress in a play, beating stiff competition from Tracie Bennett, Stockard Channing, Linda Lavin and Cynthia Nixon.
In perhaps the biggest shock of the night, James Corden nabbed the lead acting Tony Award in a play for his clownish turn in the British import “One Man, Two Guvnors.” He beat out the favorite, Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Death of a Salesman.”
2012 Tony Awards winners
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli, “Newsies.”
Orchestration: Martin Lowe, “Once.”
Book of a Musical: Enda Walsh, “Once”
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Judith Light, “Other Desert Cities.”
Sound Design of a Musical: Clive Goodwin, “Once.”
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Michael McGrath, “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”
Sound Design of a Play: Darron L. West, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Direction of a Musical: John Tiffany, “Once.”
Direction of Play: Mike Nichols, “Death of a Salesman.”
Costume Design of a Play: Paloma Young, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Christian Borle, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes, “Follies.”
Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Judy Kaye, “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”
Scenic Design Play: Donyale Werle, “Peter and the Starcatcher”
Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre: “Newsies.”
Scenic Design of a Musical: Bob Crowley, “Once.”
Revival of a Play: “Death of a Salesman.”
Lighting Design of a Musical: Natasha Katz, “Once”
Play: “Clybourne Park.”
Lighting Design of a Play: Jeff Croiter, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”
Revival of a Musical: “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.”
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Steve Kazee, “Once.”
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: James Corden, “One Man, Two Guvnors.”
Performance by an Actress in Leading Role in a Play: Nina Arianda, “Venus in Fur.”
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Audra McDonald, “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.”
Musical: “Once.”