23rd Tony Awards

The 23rd Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by NBC television on April 20, 1969, from the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. Hosts were Diahann Carroll and Alan King.

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1968–1969 season before March 19, 1969 are eligible.

Presenters: Lauren Bacall, Pearl Bailey, Harry Belafonte, Richard Benjamin, Godfrey Cambridge, Betty Comden, Patty Duke, Adolph Green, Dustin Hoffman, Angela Lansbury, Jack Lemmon, Ethel Merman, Arthur Miller, Robert Morse, Zero Mostel, Paula Prentiss, Robert Preston, Vanessa Redgrave, Leslie Uggams, Gwen Verdon, Shelley Winters.

Musicals represented:

• Zorba ("Life Is" - Lorraine Serabian and Company)
• Promises, Promises ("She Likes Basketball"/"Turkey Lurkey Time" - Jerry Orbach, Donna McKechnie and Company)
• 1776 ("Momma, Look Sharp" - Scott Jarvis, William Duell, B.J. Slater)
• Hair ("Three-Five-Zero-Zero"/Let The Sun Shine In" - Company)

Scenes from plays were presented for the first time. Plays represented were:

• Lovers (Scene with Art Carney and Anna Mannahan)
• The Great White Hope (Scene with James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander)

Winners are in bold

• The National Theatre Company of Great Britain (accepted by artistic director Sir Laurence Olivier)
• The Negro Ensemble Company
• Rex Harrison
• Leonard Bernstein
• Carol Burnett

• 41st Academy Awards

• Tony Awards Official Site