The 63rd Annual Tony (Antoinette Perry) Awards - Radio City Music Hall; Sunday, June 7, 2009 - Telecast on CBS Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris (his first year); Presenters included Lucie Arnaz, Kate Burton, Kristin Chenoweth, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Edie Falco, Will Ferrell, Carrie Fisher, Jane Fonda, Hallie Foote, James Gandolfini, Lauren Graham, Colin Hanks, Marcia Gay Harden, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Lange, Frank Langella, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, David Hyde Pierce, Piper Perabo, Oliver Platt, Susan Sarandon, John Stamos and Chandra Wilson; Special presentation by Bebe Neuwirth and the Broadway Inspirational Voices. Performances from the musicals Billy Elliot the Musical, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Rock of Ages, Hair, Next to Normal, Shrek the Musical, Pal Joey (Stockard Channing), 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton), plus cast members from touring productions of Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, the Musical, and Mamma Mia! The opening number featured Sir Elton John, Liza Minnelli, and most memorably Bret Michaels (and his band Poison), who was hit in the head by a piece of scenery that was flying in, and was knocked to the floor, requiring stitches, and according to him, later caused him a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Lesson learned? Quit milking the applause in a group number and get the hell off-stage when your bit is done! Billy Elliot swept the night with 10 awards (out of 15 nominations), including a Tony Awards first: the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical was presented to the three young boys who shared the title role.

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