49th Tony Awards


The 49th Annual Tony Awards was held at the Minskoff Theatre on June 4, 1995, and broadcast by CBS. Hosts were Glenn Close, Gregory Hines, and Nathan Lane.

The ceremony

The musical sequence was "Broadway Songs We've Never Done, and Never Will" with Gregory Hines and Nathan Lane.
Presenters were: Maria Conchita Alonso, Lauren Bacall, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Red Buttons, Walter Cronkite, Jim Dale, Laurence Fishburne, Gloria Foster, Michele Lee, Lonette McKee, Robert Morse, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jon Secada, Patrick Stewart, Elaine Stritch, Marlo Thomas, Kathleen Turner, Joan Van Ark.
Musicals represented:
A special segment,"Broadway Across America" featured: Buskers in San Francisco ; Master Class in Los Angeles ; Grease in Boston ; Hello, Dolly! in San Diego.

Award winners and nominees

Winners are in bold
Best PlayBest Musical

  • Sunset Boulevard
  • * Smokey Joe's Cafe
  • Best Revival of a PlayBest Revival of a Musical
  • The Heiress
  • * Hamlet
  • * The Molière Comedies
  • * The Rose Tattoo
  • Show Boat
  • * How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
  • Ralph Fiennes – Hamlet as Hamlet
  • * Brian BedfordThe Molière Comedies as Sganarelle
  • * Roger ReesIndiscretions as George
  • * Joe Sears – A Tuna Christmas as Various Characters
  • Cherry Jones – The Heiress as Catherine Sloper
  • * Mary Alice' as Bessie Delany
  • * Eileen AtkinsIndiscretions as Léonie
  • * Helen MirrenA Month in the Country as Natalia Petrovna
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
  • Matthew Broderick – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as J. Pierrepont Finch
  • *Alan Campbell – Sunset Boulevard as Joe Gillis
  • * Mark JacobyShow Boat as Gaylord Ravenal
  • * John McMartinShow Boat as Cap'n Andy
  • Glenn Close – Sunset Boulevard as Norma Desmond
  • * Rebecca LukerShow Boat as Magnolia Hawks
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a PlayBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
  • John Glover – Love! Valour! Compassion! as John and James Jeckyll
  • * Stephen BogardusLove! Valour! Compassion! as Gregory Mitchell
  • * Anthony HealdLove! Valour! Compassion! as Perry Sellars
  • * Jude LawIndiscretions as Michael
  • Frances Sternhagen – The Heiress as Lavinia Penniman
  • * Suzanne BertishThe Molière Comedies as Lisette/Sganerelle's Wife
  • * Cynthia NixonIndiscretions as Madeleine
  • * Mercedes RuehlThe Shadow Box as Beverly
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a MusicalBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
  • George Hearn – Sunset Boulevard as Max Von Mayerling
  • * Michel Bell – Show Boat as Joe
  • * Joel BlumShow Boat as Frank
  • * Victor Trent Cook – Smokey Joe's Cafe as Various Characters
  • Gretha Boston – Show Boat as Queenie
  • * Brenda Braxton – Smokey Joe's Cafe as Various Characters
  • * B.J. Crosby – Smokey Joe's Cafe as Various Characters
  • * DeLee Lively – Smokey Joe's Cafe as Various Characters
  • Best Book of a MusicalBest Original Score Written for the Theatre
  • Sunset Boulevard – Don Black and Christopher Hampton
  • * No nominees
  • Sunset BoulevardAndrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black and Christopher Hampton
  • * No nominees
  • Best Scenic DesignBest Costume Design
  • John Napier – Sunset Boulevard
  • * John Lee BeattyThe Heiress
  • * Stephen Brimson LewisIndiscretions
  • * Mark ThompsonArcadia
  • Florence KlotzShow Boat
  • * Jane GreenwoodThe Heiress
  • * Stephen Brimson Lewis – Indiscretions
  • * Anthony PowellSunset Boulevard
  • Best Lighting DesignBest Choreography
  • Andrew Bridge – Sunset Boulevard
  • * Beverly EmmonsThe Heiress
  • * Mark HendersonIndiscretions
  • * Paul PyantArcadia
  • Susan StromanShow Boat
  • * Bob AvianSunset Boulevard
  • * Wayne CilentoHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • * Joey McKneely – Smokey Joe's Cafe
  • Best Direction of a PlayBest Direction of a Musical
  • Gerald Gutierrez – The Heiress
  • * Emily Mann – '
  • * Joe MantelloLove! Valour! Compassion!
  • * Sean MathiasIndiscretions
  • Harold PrinceShow Boat'
  • * Des McAnuffHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  • * Trevor NunnSunset Boulevard
  • * Jerry ZaksSmokey Joe's Cafe''
  • Special awards

    ;Regional Theatre Tony Award
    Goodspeed Opera House
    ;Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre
    ;Special Tony Award
    These productions had multiple nominations:
    The following productions received multiple awards.