Bittersweet ‘Once’ wins best musical

Associated Press

NEW YORK

The bittersweet musical “Once” captured eight Tony Awards on Sunday, including best musical direction, best lead actor in a musical and the top musical prize itself.

The inventive play “Peter and the Starcatcher” was next with five awards. Audra McDonald was named best lead actress in a musical, and her “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” was named best musical revival.

Nina Arianda, a rising star, won best leading actress in a play, beating stiff competition from Tracie Bennett, Stockard Channing, Linda Lavin and Cynthia Nixon.

In perhaps the biggest shock of the night, James Corden nabbed the lead acting Tony Award in a play for his clownish turn in the British import “One Man, Two Guvnors.” He beat out the favorite, Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Death of a Salesman.”

Overall, the health of Broadway is good, with shows yielding a record $1.14 billion in grosses this season, and total attendance reaching 12.3 mil- lion. The only concern is that audience numbers were flat, meaning higher ticket prices are pushing the overall box office take.

This season, 40 new shows opened — 14 new musicals, 23 new plays and three specials. Many of the musicals once again relied on Hollywood, with “Once,” “Ghost The Musical,” “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,” “Newsies” and “Leap of Faith” all originating on celluloid.

Some older works — “Follies” and “Death of a Salesman” — reminded a new audience why they are classics. And George and Ira Gershwin — or at least their estates — are clear winners, with the revival of “Porgy and Bess” and the musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It” proving Gershwin songs still soar.