Counting Down to This Year's Big Tony Win - BWW Highlights the Past Decade's Best Musical Winners!
By: BWW Special Coverage May. 18, 2014
From the controversial and crass to the inspiring and romantic, the past decade's Tony winners for Best Musical delighted us then and continue to captivate us as they play in productions across the country and around the world. And what better way to refresh and prep for this year's big award than to relive the stand-outs from the last 10 years on Broadway?
Our list kicks off with the goofy yet inspiring AVENUE Q and follows with the hilarity of SPAMALOT and BOOK OF MORMON; we move on to the brand-new and daring SPRING AWAKENING and IN THE HEIGHTS, plus shows adapted from films or based on real-life phenomena -- MEMPHIS, JERSEY BOYS, BILLY ELLIOT, ONCE, and, of course, last year's winner KINKY BOOTS.
Scroll down to learn more about the winners since 2004, and be sure to tell us which musical gets your pick for 2014!
AVENUE Q (2004)
Up Against: Caroline, or Change, The Boy From Oz, Wicked
Other Nominations: Best Leading Actor in a Musical (John Tartaglia), Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Stephanie D'Abruzzo), Best Book of a Musical (Jeff Whitty, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Jason Moore), Best Score (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, WINNER)
Its Run: Closed on September 13, 2009, after 2534 performances. (Still running Off-Broadway at New World Stages)
Opening Night Cast: Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut), Ann Harada (Christmas Eve), Rick Lyon (Nicky/Trekkie Monster), John Tartaglia (Princeton/Rod), Jordan Gelber (Brian), and Natalie Venetia Belcon (Gary Coleman)
SPAMALOT (2005)
Up Against: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Eric Idle), Best Score (John Du Prez and Eric Idle), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Hank Azaria), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Tim Curry), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael McGrath), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Christopher Sieber), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Sara Ramirez, WINNER), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Hugh Vanstone), Best Director of a Musical (Mike Nichols, WINNER), Best Choreography (Casey Nicholaw), Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman)
Its Run: Closed January 11, 2009, after 1575 performances
Opening Night Cast: Hank Azaria (Sir Lancelot), Tim Curry (King Arthur) Christian Borle (Historian), Sara Ramirez (The Lady of the Lake), Steve Rosen (Sir Bedevere), Christopher Sieber (Sir Dennis Galahad), David Hyde Pierce (Sir Robin), Michael McGrath (Patsy)
JERSEY BOYS (2006)
Up Against: The Color Purple, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Wedding Singer
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young, WINNER), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Hoff, WINNER), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Klara Zieglerova), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Des McAnuff), Best Orchestrations (Steve Orich)
Its Run: Still running after 3530 performances
Opening Night Cast: Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), Daniel Reichard (Bob Gaudio), J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi), John Lloyd Young (Franki Valli)
SPRING AWAKENING (2007)
Up Against: Curtains, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Steven Sater, WINNER), Best Score (Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Groff), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (John Gallagher, Jr., WINNER), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Christine Jones), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Susan Hilferty), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Michael Mayer, WINNER), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones, WINNER), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik, WINNER)
Its Run: Closed January 18, 2009, after 859 performances
Opening Night Cast: Skylar Astin (Georg), Lilli Cooper (Martha), Christine Estabrook (The Adult Women), John Gallagher Jr. (Moritz), Gideon Glick (Ernst), Jonathan Groff (Melchior), Brian Charles Johnson (Otto), Lea Michele (Wendla), Lauren Pritchard (Ilse), Stephen Spinella (The Adult Men), Phoebe Strole (Anna), Jonathan B. Wright (Hanschen), Remy Zaken (Thea)
IN THE HEIGHTS (2008)
Up Against: Cry-Baby, Passing Strange, Xanadu
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Quiara Alegria Hudes), Best Score (Lin-Manuel Miranda, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Robin De Jesus), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Olga Merediz), Best Scenic Design of Musical (Anna Louizos), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Paul Tazewell), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Acme Sound Partners), Best Director of a Musical (Thomas Kail), Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler, WINNER), Best Orchestrations (Alex Lacamoire & Bill Sherman, WINNER)
Its Run: Closed January 9, 2011, after 1184 performances
Opening Night Cast: Andréa Burns (Daniela), Janet Dacal (Carla), Robin De Jesús (Sonny), Carlos Gomez (Kevin), Mandy Gonzalez (Nina), Christopher Jackson (Benny), Priscilla Lopez (Camila), Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Usnavi), Karen Olivo (Vanessa) (Feb 14, 2008 - Nov 16, 2008)
BILLY ELLIOT (2009)
Up Against: Next to Normal, Rock of Ages, Shrek the Musical
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall, WINNER), Best Score (Elton John and Lee Hall), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, WINNER), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara, WINNER), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (David Bologna), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Haydn Gwynne), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Carole Shelley), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil, WINNER), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Nicky Gillibrand), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher, WINNER), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Stephen Daldry, WINNER), Best Choreography (Peter Darling, WINNER), Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch, WINNER), Billy Elliot, The Musical
Its Run: Closed January 8, 2012, after 1312 performances
Opening Night Cast: David Alvarez/Trent Kowalik/Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot), Santino Fontana (Tony), Haydn Gwynne (Mrs. Wilkinson), Gregory Jbara (Dad), Carole Shelley (Grandma), David Bologna/Frank Dolce (Michael), Thommie Retter (Mr. Braithwaite), Erin Whyland (Debbie)
MEMPHIS (2010)
Up Against: American Idiot, Fela!, MIllion Dollar Quartet
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Joe DiPietro, WINNER), Best Score (David Bryan, Joe DiPietro & David Bryan, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Chad Kimball), Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Montego Glover), Best Costume Design for a Musical (Paul Tazewell), Best Director of a Musical (Christopher Ashley) Best Orchestrations (Daryl Waters & David Bryan, WINNER)
Its Run: Closed August 5, 2012, after 1165 performances
Opening Night Cast: Montego Glover (Felicia), Chad Kimball (Huey), Derrick Baskin (Gator), James Monroe Iglehart (Bobby), Michael McGrath (Mr. Simmons), Cass Morgan (Mama)
THE BOOK OF MORMON (2011)
Up Against: Catch Me If You Can, The Scottsboro Boys, Sister Act
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, WINNER), Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Josh Gad), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Andrew Rannells), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Rory O'Malley), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Nikki M. James, WINNER), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Scott Pask, WINNER), Best Costume Design of Musical (Ann Roth), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Brian MacDevitt, WINNER), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Brian Ronan, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, WINNER), Best Choreography (Casey Nicholaw), Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman & Stephen Oremus, WINNER)
Its Run: Stil running after 1313 performances
Opening Night Cast: Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham), Nikki M. James (Nabulungi), Rory O'Malley (Elder McKinley), Michael Potts (Mafala Hatimbi), Andrew Rannells (Elder Price), Michael James Scott (Doctor)
ONCE (2012)
Up Against: Leap of Faith, Newsies, Nice Work if You Can Get It
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Musical (Enda Walsh, WINNER), Best Actor in a Musical (Steve Kazee, WINNER), Best Actress in a Musical (Cristin Milioti), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Elizabeth A. Davis), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Bob Crowley, WINNER), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz, WINNER), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Clive Goodwin, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (John Tiffany, WINNER), Best Choreography (Steven Hoggett), Best Orchestrations (Martin Lowe, WINNER)
Its Run: Still running after 902 performances
Opening Night Cast: Steve Kazee (Guy), Cristin Milioti (Girl), Elizabeth A. Davis (Réza), David Patrick Kelly (Da), Anne L. Nathan (Baruška), Lucas Papaelias (Švec), Paul Whitty (Billy)
KINKY BOOTS (2013)
Up Against: Bring It On, A Christmas Story, Matilda
Other Nominations: Best Book of a Mucial (Harvey Fierstein), Best Score (Cyndi Lauper, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Billy Porter, WINNER), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Stark Sands), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Annaleigh Ashford), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (David Rockwell), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Gregg Barnes), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kenneth Posner), Best Sound Design of a Musical (John Shivers, WINNER), Best Director of a Musical (Jerry Mitchell), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell, WINNER), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus, WINNER)
Its Run: Still running after 464 performances
Opening Night Cast: Billy Porter (Lola), Stark Sands (Charlie Price), Annaleigh Ashford (Lauren), Lena Hall (Nicola), Daniel Stewart Sherman (Don), Andy Kelso (Harry)
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