Tony Awards Ratings Up 20% — Thanks NPH!

Billy Elliot: The Musical stars Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish and David Alvarez hold up their Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical (the first time three actors were nominated for one role) at the 2009 Tony Awards held at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall on Sunday (June 7).

How adorkable were their acceptance speeches?!

Billy Elliot won the most statues of the night, picking up 10 Tonys including the coveted Best Musical. The all-American Hair won as Best Musical Revival.

Thanks for host Neil Patrick Harris, 7.5 million viewers tuned in, up about 20% from last year and the show’s highest ratings in three years. Watch NPH’s closing musical number below!

I was able to go to the rehearsals earlier that morning and NPH jokingly sang towards the end of the closing song, “Don’t Twitter all my jokes.” Ha!

Click inside for the full list of 2009 Tony Awards winners…

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TONY AWARD 2009 WINNERS

Best Musical
Billy Elliot

Best Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik, Billy Elliot

Best Actress in a Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal

Best Revival of a Musical
Hair

Best Play
God of Carnage

Best Revival of a Play
The Norman Conquests

Best Actress in a Play
Marica Gay Harden, God of Carnage

Best Actor in a Play
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot

Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza Minnelli, Liza’s at the Palace

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot

Best Direction of a Play
Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage

Best Original Score
Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics), Next to Normal

Best Featured Actress in a Play
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit

Best Featured Actor in a Play
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Book of a Musical
Lee Hall, Billy Elliot

Best Choreography
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot

Best Sound Design of a Play
Gregory Clarke, Equus

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Derek McLane, 33 Variations

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical

Best Costume Design of a Play
Anthony Ward, Mary Stuart

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Brian MacDevitt, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Orchestrations
(Tie between)
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
and Martin Koch, Billy Elliot

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Photos: Bryan Bedder/Andrew H. Walker/Getty, Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Posted to: Broadway, Neil Patrick Harris
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