Tony Awards Season 30 Episode 1 The 30th Annual Tony Awards

The 30th Annual Tony Awards was a star-studded ceremony celebrating excellence in Broadway theatre. Hosted by Angela Lansbury at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City, the show featured performances by Ethel Merman, Stephen Sondheim, Betty Buckley, and Vanessa Williams, among others.

The opening number paid tribute to the history of Broadway with a medley of classic tunes, performed by an ensemble of dancers and singers. The award presenters were also a who's who of Broadway royalty, including Carol Channing, Nathan Lane, and Bernadette Peters.

In addition to the awards for Best Play, Best Musical, and Best Revival, there were also awards for performance categories such as Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and Best Direction.

One of the highlights of the night was a performance from the cast of "The Phantom of the Opera," which had recently opened on Broadway and went on to become one of the longest-running shows in history. The cast sang "The Music of the Night," with Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine.

Other memorable moments included a tribute to the late director George Abbott, who received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, and a performance by the legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Overall, The 30th Annual Tony Awards was a celebration of the best and brightest in Broadway theatre, and a reminder of the power of live performance to bring people together and capture the imagination.