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Billy Elliot's 10 Wins Include Best Actor × 3

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 7, 2009 11:04 PM CDT
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(AP) – Billy Elliot, the British musical about a coal miner's son who burns to dance, won 10 Tony Awards tonight in New York, including best musical and a unique best actor prize for the three young performers who share the title role. David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish shyly thanked people associated with the show only by their first name. Finally, Kulish told the cheering crowd at Radio City Music Hall: "We want to say to all the kids out there who might want to dance, 'Never give up.'"

With her fifth Tony, for her performance in Blithe Spirit, Angela Lansbury, 83, tied the record for acting prizes held by Julie Harris. God of Carnage, Yasmina Reza's comedy of manners about two couples whose children get into a fight, won for play, director, and actress (Marcia Gay Harden). Geoffrey Rush's portrait of a dying monarch in Exit the King took the top actor prize.

Jerry Herman, right, accepts his Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater from Angela Lansbury at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in New York, Sunday, June 7, 2009.
Jerry Herman, right, accepts his Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater from Angela Lansbury at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in New York, Sunday, June 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Liza Minnelli poses with her trophy for Best Special Theatrical Event for Liza's at The Palace at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in New York Sunday June 7, 2009.
Liza Minnelli poses with her trophy for Best Special Theatrical Event for "Liza's at The Palace" at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards in New York Sunday June 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish, and Trent Kowalik accept Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical award for their shared role in Billy Elliot the Musical tonight at the Tony Awards in New York.
David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish, and Trent Kowalik accept Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical award for their shared role in "Billy Elliot the Musical" tonight at the Tony Awards in New York.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
bacimom
Jun 8, 2009 5:00 AM CDT
Those boys are so talented and deserving of this. I hope getting a Best Lead Tony this early in their careers and lives doesn't dim the rest of their careers.

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entertainment • theater • Tony Awards • Broadway • award show • musical theater • Marcia Gay Harden • Radio City Music Hall • Billy Elliot • Geoffrey Rush • David Alvarez • Trent Kowalik • Kiril Kulish • Yasmina Reza • Angela Lansbury

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