20th Tony Awards


The 20th Annual Tony Awards was broadcast on June 16, 1966, from the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center on radio station WCBS. This was the first afternoon Tony Awards ceremony. The Masters of Ceremonies were George Abbott and Ginger Rogers. The ceremony was sponsored by the League of New York Theatres in conjunction with the American Theatre Wing, which had previously solely arranged the ceremony.

Eligibility

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1965–1966 season before May 26, 1966 are eligible.
;Original plays
;Original musicals
;Play revivals

The ceremony

Presenters: Lauren Bacall, Herschel Bernardi, Sandy Dennis, Henry Fonda, Phil Ford, Mimi Hines, Ray Milland, Barry Nelson, Mike Nichols, Thelma Oliver, April Olrich, Maureen O'Sullivan, Neil Simon
Music was by Meyer Davis and his Orchestra.

Award winners and nominees

Winners are in bold
Best PlayBest Musical

  • Man of La Mancha
  • * Mame
  • * Skyscraper
  • * Sweet Charity
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
  • Hal HolbrookMark Twain Tonight! as Mark Twain
  • * Roland CulverIvanov as Pavel Lebedev
  • * Donal Donnelly and Patrick BedfordPhiladelphia, Here I Come! as Gareth O'Donnell
  • * Nicol WilliamsonInadmissible Evidence as Bill Maitland
  • Rosemary HarrisThe Lion in Winter as Eleanor of Aquitaine
  • * Sheila HancockEntertaining Mr Sloane as Kath
  • * Kate ReidSlapstick Tragedy as Celeste/Molly
  • * Lee RemickWait Until Dark as Susy Hendrix
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
  • Richard KileyMan of La Mancha as Don Quixote/Cervantes
  • * Jack CassidyIt's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman as Max Mencken
  • * John CullumOn a Clear Day You Can See Forever as Dr. Mark Bruckner
  • * Harry SecombePickwick as Pickwick
  • Angela LansburyMame as Mame Dennis
  • * Barbara HarrisOn a Clear Day You Can See Forever as Daisy/Melinda
  • * Julie HarrisSkyscraper as Georgina
  • * Gwen VerdonSweet Charity as Charity Hope Valentine
  • Best Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actor in a PlayBest Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play
  • Patrick MageeMarat/Sade as Marquis de Sade
  • * Burt BrinckerhoffCactus Flower as Igor
  • * Larry HainesGeneration as Stan Herman
  • * Eamon KellyPhiladelphia, Here I Come! as S. B. O'Donnell
  • Zoe CaldwellSlapstick Tragedy as Polly
  • * Glenda JacksonMarat/Sade as Charlotte Corday
  • * Mairin D. O'Sullivan – Philadelphia, Here I Come! as Madge
  • * Brenda VaccaroCactus Flower as Toni
  • Best Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actor in a MusicalBest Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actress in a Musical
  • Frankie MichaelsMame as Patrick Dennis
  • * Roy CastlePickwick as Sam Weller
  • * John McMartinSweet Charity as Oscar
  • * Michael O'SullivanIt's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman as Dr. Abner Sedgwick
  • Beatrice ArthurMame as Vera Charles
  • * Helen GallagherSweet Charity as Nickie
  • * Patricia MarandIt's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman as Lois Lane
  • * Charlotte RaePickwick as Mrs. Bardell
  • Best Direction of a PlayBest Direction of a Musical
  • Peter BrookMarat/Sade
  • * Hilton EdwardsPhiladelphia, Here I Come!
  • * Ellis RabbYou Can't Take It with You
  • * Noel WillmanThe Lion in Winter
  • Albert MarreMan of La Mancha
  • * Cy FeuerSkyscraper
  • * Bob FosseSweet Charity
  • * Gene SaksMame
  • Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the TheatreBest Choreography
  • Man of La ManchaMitch Leigh and Joe Darion
  • * Sweet CharityCy Coleman and Dorothy Fields
  • * MameJerry Herman
  • * On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverBurton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner
  • Bob FosseSweet Charity
  • * Jack ColeMan of La Mancha
  • * Michael KiddSkyscraper
  • * Onna WhiteMame
  • Best Scenic DesignBest Costume Design
  • Howard BayMan of La Mancha
  • * William Eckart and Jean EckartMame
  • * David Hays – Drat! The Cat!
  • * Robert RandolphAnya, Skyscraper and Sweet Charity
  • Gunilla Palmstierna-WeissMarat/Sade
  • *Loudon SainthillThe Right Honourable Gentleman
  • * Howard Bay and Patton Campbell – Man of La Mancha
  • * Irene SharaffSweet Charity
  • Special awards

    , for a lifetime of devotion and dedicated service to the Broadway theatre.

    Multiple nominations and awards

    These productions had multiple nominations:
    The following productions received multiple awards.