15th Tony Awards
The 15th Annual Tony Awards took place on April 16, 1961, in the Waldorf-Astoria Grand Ballroom in New York City. The ceremony was broadcast on local television station WCBS-TV in New York City. The Master of Ceremonies was Phil Silvers.
Eligibility
Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1960 season before March 18, 1961 are eligible.;Original plays
- Advise and Consent
- All the Way Home
- Becket
- Big Fish, Little Fish
- Come Blow Your Horn
- Critic's Choice
- The Devil's Advocate
- Duel of Angels
- Face of a Hero
- Farewell, Farewell, Eugene
- The 49th Cousin
- The Hostage
- How to Make a Man
- Invitation to a March
- The Importance of Being Oscar
- Julia, Jake and Uncle Joe
- Laughs and Other Events
- Little Moon of Alban
- Love and Libel
- Mary, Mary
- Midgie Purvis
- Once There Was a Russian
- Period of Adjustment
- Rape of the Belt
- Rhinoceros
- A Second String
- Send Me No Flowers
- A Taste of Honey
- Under the Yum-Yum Tree
- Viva Madison Avenue!
- The Wall
- The World of Carl Sandburg
- Bye Bye Birdie
- Camelot
- Christine
- The Conquering Hero
- Do Re Mi
- From A to Z
- Irma La Douce
- Show Girl
- Tenderloin
- 13 Daughters
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown
- Vintage '60
- Wildcat
;Musical revivals
The Ceremony
Presenters: Anna Maria Alberghetti, Anne Bancroft, Ray Bolger, Carol Channing, Henry Fonda, Joan Fontaine, Robert Goulet, Helen Hayes, Celeste Holm, Fredric March, Mary Martin, Helen Menken, Patricia Neal, Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Sidney Poitier, Robert Preston, Jason Robards, Gig Young, Shirley BoothThe performer was Eleanor Steber.
Music was by Meyer Davis and his Orchestra.
Winners and nominees
''Winners are in bold''Special awards
- David Merrick, in recognition of a fabulous production record over the last seven years.
- Theatre Guild, for organizing the first repertory to go abroad for the State Department.
Multiple nominations and awards
These productions had multiple nominations:- 8 nominations: ''Bye Bye Birdie
- 7 nominations: Irma La Douce
- 6 nominations: The Devil's Advocate
- 5 nominations: All the Way Home, Becket, Camelot and Do Re Mi
- 4 nominations: Big Fish, Little Fish
- 3 nominations: Tenderloin
- 2 nominations: The Hostage, Period of Adjustment, Rhinocéros and 13 Daughters
- 4 wins: Becket, Bye Bye Birdie and Camelot
- 2 wins: Big Fish, Little Fish''