New York, June 09: Rock-musical "Hairspray" piled up a towering eight awards Sunday at the 57th Tony Awards for excellence on Broadway while "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and "Take Me Out" shared major dramatic honors. "Hairspray," the stage version of the 1988 cult film classic by John Waters, swept the major musical categories, including best musical, best performances by a lead actor and actress and best direction.

In two of the most suspenseful races of the night, Harvey Fierstein outpolled leading man Antonio Banderas of "Nine," and newcomer Marissa Jaret Winokur beat Broadway darling Bernadette Peters of "Gypsy" for top actress honors.
"Thank God this wasn't a beauty contest," said Fierstein, who plays the hulking, gravel-voiced mother of the heroine of "Hairspray" in drag.
Gushed Winokur: "If a 4-foot-11 chubby New York girl can get a leading role in a Broadway show and get a Tony, anything can happen."
"Long Day's Journey Into Night" and "Take Me Out" both won three awards apiece.
Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Dennehy swept the best actress and actor awards for "Long Day's Journey" by Eugene O'Neill, which was also named Best Revival of a Play.

Dennehy, who won the 1999 Tony for his role in "Death of a Salesman," said audiences still craved serious theater.
The burly actor said it amazed him that theatergoers come to see a four-hour production of a play written 65 years ago and are "mesmerized."
"There's an audience there. We just need the writers."
"Take Me Out," collected awards for Best Play (by Richard Greenberg), best performance by a featured actor, Denis O'Hare, and best direction for Joe Mantello.

Peters wowed the packed Radio City Music Hall crowd with a song from "Gypsy," but the lavish revival of the great American musical was shut out in the awards.

"Nine," which won as Best Revival of a Musical, "Movin' Out" and "La Boheme" all won two awards each. "Def Poetry Jam" won the Tony for special theatrical event.
Winners in featured categories at Broadway theater's Tony Awards on Sunday:

Best Play -- Take Me Out

Best Musical -- Hairspray

Best Revival of a Musical -- Nine

Best Revival of a Play -- Long Day's Journey Into Night

Leading Actor in a Play -- Brian Dennehy (Long Day's Journey Into Night)

Leading Actress in a Play -- Vanessa Redgrave (Long Day's Journey Into Night)

Leading Actor in a Musical -- Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray)

Leading Actress in a Musical -- Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray)

Featured Actor in a Play -- Denis O'Hare (Take Me Out)

Featured Actress in a Play -- Michele Pawk (Hollywood Arms)

Featured Actor in a Musical -- Dick Latessa (Hairspray)

Featured Actress in a Musical -- Jane Krakowski (Nine)

Best Direction of a Play -- Joe Mantello (Take Me Out)

Best Direction of a Musical -- Jack O'Brien (Hairspray)

Best Special Theatrical Event -- Def Poetry Jam

TOTAL AWARDS BY PRODUCTION:

Hairspray -- 8

Long Day's Journey Into Night -- 3

Take Me Out -- 3

Movin' Out -- 2

Nine -- 2

La Boheme -- 2

Hollywood Arms -- 1

Def Poetry Jam -- 1
Bureau Report