Puppets Win Big At Tony's

In what could be the largest Tony Awards upset in recent years, the puppets from Broadway's Avenue Q, took home the Best Musical award, beating out the favorite for the evening, Wicked. Avenue Q, a Muppet-esque runaway hit, chronicles the funny and serious moments in the lives of characters like Ron, a closeted Republican banker. After performing their song "It Sucks to Be Me," from the musical, producer Robyn Goodman said ""It certainly doesn't suck to be us tonight."

Awards were also given to Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Doug Wright, who penned the Best Drama winner "I am My Own Wife" about a German transvestite, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who lived through WWII and the Nazi invasion. Wicked, the musical based on the novel, The Wizard of Oz, was up for 10 nominations at the ceremony, but only won three. The musical has been a hit on Broadway with rave reviews and huge crowds.

The Tony Awards ceremony was hosted by Hollywood and Broadway actor, Hugh Jackman, who was nominated, and won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, for his role in "The Boy From Oz." He entered the packed Radio City Music Hall on a camel and was later wooed by Ron the puppet from Avenue Q, winning laughs. The Tony Awards were broadcast on television Sunday night.

The Complete List of 2004 Tony Winners:

Best Play

I Am My Own Wife, by Doug Wright

Best Musical

Avenue Q

Best Book of a Musical

Jeff Whitty, for Avenue Q

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, for Avenue Q

Best Revival of a Play

Henry IV

Best Revival of a Musical

Assassins

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Jefferson Mays, for I Am My Own Wife

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Phylicia Rashad, for A Raisin in the Sun

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Hugh Jackman, for The Boy From Oz

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Idina Menzel, for Wicked

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Br?an F. O'Byrne, for Frozen

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Audra McDonald, for A Raisin in the Sun

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, for Assassins

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Anika Noni Rose, for Caroline, or Change

Best Scenic Design

Eugene Lee, for Wicked

Best Costume Design

Susan Hilferty, for Wicked

Best Lighting Design

Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, for Assassins

Best Direction of a Play

Jack O'Brien, for Henry IV

Best Direction of a Musical

Joe Mantello, for Assassins

Best Choreography

Kathleen Marshall, for Wonderful Town

Best Orchestrations

Michael Starobin, for Assassins

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

James M. Nederlander

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park