50th Tony Awards

Eligibility

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1995–1996 season before May 2, 1996 are eligible.

;Original plays

• The Apple Doesn’t Fall...
• Buried Child
• Getting Away with Murder
• Jack: A Night on the Town with John Barrymore
• Master Class
• Moon Over Buffalo
• Racing Demon
• Sacrilege
• Seven Guitars ;Original musicals
• Big
• Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
• Chronicle of a Death Foretold
• Rent
• State Fair
• Swinging on a Star
• Victor/Victoria ;Play revivals
• Bus Stop
• A Delicate Balance
• The Father
• Fool Moon
• Garden District
• Holiday
• An Ideal Husband
• Inherit the Wind
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• The Night of the Iguana
• Paul Robeson
• The Play's the Thing
• The School for Scandal
• The Tempest ;Musical revivals
• Company
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• Hello, Dolly!
• The King and I

The ceremony

The opening number was "The Show Must Go On" performed by Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters, with Tony Award Alumni.

Presenters included: Bea Arthur, Edward Albee, Christine Baranski, Harry Belafonte, Matthew Broderick, Diahann Carroll, Hume Cronyn, Nanette Fabray, Robert Goulet, Gregory Hines, Uta Hagen, James Earl Jones, John Lithgow, Liza Minnelli, Patricia Neal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bernadette Peters, John Rubinstein, Jane Seymour, Ron Silver, Lily Tomlin, Ben Vereen, Eli Wallach, Ray Walston, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Musicals represented:

• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ("Comedy Tonight" – Nathan Lane and Company);
• The King and I ("Shall We Dance?" – Lou Diamond Phillips, Donna Murphy, and children);
• Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk ("Taxi"/"Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" – Savion Glover, Ann Duquesnay, Jeffrey Wright and Company);
• Big ("Fun" – Daniel Jenkins, Jon Cypher and Company);
• State Fair ("All I Owe I-Oh-Way" – John Davidson, Andrea McArdle, and Company);
• Rent ("Seasons of Love"/"La Vie Boheme" – Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel and Company);
• Chronicle of a Death Foretold;
• Swinging on a Star ("Swinging on a Star" – Company)

Award winners and nominees

Winners are in bold

Special awards

• Special Regional Theatre Award
  • Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas

Multiple nominations and awards

These productions had multiple nominations:

• 10 nominations: Rent
• 9 nominations: Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
• 8 nominations: The King and I and Seven Guitars
• 7 nominations: A Delicate Balance
• 5 nominations: Big and Buried Child
• 4 nominations: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• 3 nominations: An Ideal Husband, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and Master Class
• 2 nominations: Company, Inherit the Wind, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Moon Over Buffalo and State Fair

The following productions received multiple awards.

• 4 wins: Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, The King and I and Rent
• 3 wins: A Delicate Balance and Master Class

References

• New York Times article, "Adding Drama to a Musical, Andrews Spurns the Tonys", May 9, 1996

References

1. Tornquist, Cynthia. (1996-05-09). "Tony tussle: Julie Andrews snubs nomination". CNN.