'Billy Elliot' picks up 10 awards at Tony Awards

In a good night for Broadway’s British contingent, Angela Lansbury won the award for best performance by a featured actress in a play – becoming only the second actress in history to win five Tonys.

'Billy Elliot, The Musical' had been tipped to win big at the awards, and critics were proved to be right.

Elton John missed out on a gong for his role in its success – with the best original score accolade going elsewhere – but was on hand to deliver a message after the show was named best musical.

Helping accept the award at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Elton John said: “Thank you for accepting us so beautifully on Broadway.

“We came here at a hard time economically. You opened up your wallets and you opened up your hearts to us. And we love you for it, thank you.”

Alongside being named best musical, there was also success for Billy Elliot’s three rotating young stars.

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish jointly won the award for best leading actor in a musical.

Stephen Daldry took home a Tony for his direction of the show.

Daldry’s association with Billy Elliot began almost a decade ago, when he directed the film version of Billy Elliot.

Accepting his award, the director said: “I have been blessed over the majority of the last 10 years of my life putting on the story of Billy Elliot.”

He dedicated the award to “our three little Billys” in references to the young stars of the show.

In all, Billy Elliot, The Musical won 10 of the 15 categories it was nominated in.

In a night of British success, Daldry’s achievement as a director of a musical was matched in the play category by Matthew Warchus.

Warchus was nominated twice as best director of a play, for The Norman Conquests and the winning God of Carnage.

God of Carnage, which stars James Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels, picked up the Tony for best play.

Veteran British actress Angela Lansbury won an award for her performance in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.

Accepting the honour, the 83-year-old said: “This is amazing, oh my God. Who would have thought, who knew, at this time in my life that I should be presented with this lovely, lovely award.

“I feel deeply grateful.”

She beat off fellow British thespians Jessica Hynes and Amanda Root, both of whom were nominated for The Norman Conquests.

Their co-stars in the Alan Ayckbourn comedy, Paul Ritter and Stephen Mangan, were likewise nominated in the best performance by a featured actor category.

But they missed out to Roger Robinson who won for his performance in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

The Norman Conquest did, however take home the title of best revival of a play.

Hair won the award for best musical revival.

In a poignant moment during the proceedings, Natasha Richardson was singled out during the award ceremony’s In Memoriam section.

The British actress died earlier this year following a skiing accident in Canada.

The show ran to time, but was not entirely without hitch.

Bret Michaels, of rock band Poison, was floored by a descending piece of scenery after performing with the cast of Rock of Ages.

Here is a full list of the winners:

Best Play: God of Carnage

Best Musical: Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Book of a Musical: Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Original Score: Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal)

Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests

Best Revival of a Musical: Hair

Best Special Theatrical Event: Liza’s at the Palace

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Geoffrey Rush (Exit the King)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Marcia Gay Harden (God of Carnage)

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Alice Ripley (Next to Normal)

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Roger Robinson (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone)

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit)

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Geoffrey Jbara (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Karen Olivo (West Side Story)

Best Direction of a Play: Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage)

Best Direction of a Musical: Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Choreography: Peter Darling (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Orchestration: (joint winners) Martin Koch (Billy Elliot, The Musical) and Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt (Next to Normal)

Best Scenic Design of a Play: Derek McLane (33 Variations)

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Ian MacNeil (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Costume Design of a Play: Anthony Ward (Mary Stuart)

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Tim Hatley (Shrek The Musical)

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Brian MacDevitt (Joe Turner’s come and Gone)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Rick Fisher (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Best Sound Design of a Play: Gregory Clarke (Equus)

Best Sound Design of a Musical: Paul Arditti (Billy Elliot, The Musical)

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Jerry Herman

Regional Theatre Tony Award: Signature Theatre, Arlington

Isabelle Stevenson Award: Phyllis Newman

Tony Honours for Excellence in the Theatre: Shirley Herz