Tony Awards Season 1970 Episode 1 The 24th Annual Tony Awards

The 24th Annual Tony Awards, held in 1970, celebrated the best of Broadway theater that year. The awards show, hosted by Angela Lansbury, featured performances from hit shows like "Applause," "Purlie," and "Company."

The show opened with a lively number from the cast of "Applause," which had earned twelve nominations that year. Lansbury then took to the stage to introduce the nominees for Best Musical, including "Applause," "Purlie," "The Rothschilds," and "Coco."

In addition to the musical categories, the Tony Awards also recognized excellence in drama, with categories for Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actor and Actress in a Play, and Best Direction of a Play. The nominees for Best Play included "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?," "Indians," "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers," and "Lovers."

Throughout the show, presenters including Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Elizabeth Taylor handed out awards to the deserving winners. Highlights included Michael Kidd winning Best Choreography for "Hello, Dolly!," and Angela Lansbury taking home the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role in "Dear World."

Other notable winners included Lauren Bacall for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for "Applause," and Fritz Weaver for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for "Child's Play."

The show also featured performances from some of the biggest stars in Broadway at the time. Joel Grey sang a number from "George M!," and the cast of "Purlie" performed a rousing rendition of the show's title song.

Overall, the 24th Annual Tony Awards was a celebration of the best Broadway had to offer in 1970. With performances from hit shows and big wins for deserving performers and productions, it was a night to remember for theater fans everywhere.