Jun 08, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Tony Awards Ratings Up 20% -- Thanks NPH!

Billy Elliot: The Musical stars Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish and David Alvarez hold up their Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical (the first time three actors were nominated for one role) at the 2009 Tony Awards held at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall on Sunday (June 7).

How adorkable were their acceptance speeches?!

Billy Elliot won the most statues of the night, picking up 10 Tonys including the coveted Best Musical. The all-American Hair won as Best Musical Revival.

Thanks for host Neil Patrick Harris, 7.5 million viewers tuned in, up about 20% from last year and the show’s highest ratings in three years. Watch NPH‘s closing musical number below!

Neil Patrick Harris – Closing Number at 2009 Tony Awards

I was able to go to the rehearsals earlier that morning and NPH jokingly sang towards the end of the closing song, “Don’t Twitter all my jokes.” Ha!

Click inside for the full list of 2009 Tony Awards winners…

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TONY AWARD 2009 WINNERS

Best Musical
Billy Elliot

Best Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik, Billy Elliot

Best Actress in a Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal

Best Revival of a Musical
Hair

Best Play
God of Carnage

Best Revival of a Play
The Norman Conquests

Best Actress in a Play
Marica Gay Harden, God of Carnage

Best Actor in a Play
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot