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'Billy Elliot' wins 10 Tonys; 'Carnage' best play
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-06-08 15:54

"God of Carnage," Yasmina Reza's savage comedy of manners about two liberal, middle-class couples whose children get into a fight, was named best play and picked up two other major awards, one for its director, Matthew Warchus, and the other for actress Marcia Gay Harden.

'Billy Elliot' wins 10 Tonys; 'Carnage' best play
Actor Frank Langella presents Marcia Gay Harden with the award for best performance by a leading actress in a play for "God of Carnage" during the 63rd annual Tony Awards ceremony in New York, June 7, 2009. [Agencies]

Reza, a French playwright who previously won a best-play Tony for "Art," said: "Maybe you missed my accent; you wanted to hear it again. I'm very grateful for all the people who gave their best for the production."

"The Norman Conquests," Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy, received the revival-play prize, while "Hair," the iconic 1960s rock extravaganza roared to a win in the musical-revival category.

The director/musical award went to Stephen Daldry of "Billy Elliot."

"I have been blessed in my life to spend the majority of last 10 years of my life working on the story of 'Billy Elliot,"' said Daldry, who called it "a long, extraordinary journey."

'Billy Elliot' wins 10 Tonys; 'Carnage' best play
Musician Elton John performs with the cast of "Billy Elliot,The Musical" during the opening number of the 63rd annual Tony Awards ceremony in New York, June 7, 2009. [Agencies]

He said the award belonged to everyone connected to the show and especially to "three great gifts of Broadway, our three little Billys."

"Billy Elliot" is based on the popular 2000 movie about a young boy who lives in the bleak coal-mining area of Northern England. His story is set against the backdrop of a bitter miners' strike.

"Billy" also received prizes for featured actor (Gregory Jbara), sets, lighting, sound and a tie with "Next to Normal" for best orchestrations, which Kitt shared with Michael Starobin.