Kristin Chenoweth, Judi Dench win their first Tony Awards 1999

Kristin Chenoweth and Judi Dench each won their first Tony Awards at the 53rd annual ceremony held June 6, 1999.

Kristin won Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Judi Dench won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Esme Allen in Amy's View.  

Bernadette Peters won her second Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun.  

Stockard Channing was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter. I would have loved to have seen her performance. 

"The Music Man" debuts on Broadway 1957

Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man made its debut on Broadway December 19, 1957 at the Majestic Theater.  It is the story of a con-man who bamboozles the residents of a backwater Iowa town into investing in instruments and uniforms for a boys band. 

The Music Man won five Tonys in 1958: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Male in a Musical for Robert Preston, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Barbara Cook, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for David Burns, Best Conductor and Musical Director for Herbert Greene.

Iggie Wolfington was also nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The Music Man was also nominated for Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Stage Technician.

"The Sound of Music" wins 5 Tony Awards 1960

The Sound of Music won five awards at the 14th Tony Awards held April 24, 1960.  It tied with Fiorello for Best Musical.

Mary Martin won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Maria Von Trapp, beating Carol Burnett as Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress.  Patricia Neway won Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as the Mother Abbess.

The Sound of Music also won for Best Conductor and Musical Director, and Best Scenic Design (Musical).

Theodore Bikel and Kurt Kasznar were nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.  Lauri Peters was nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Liesl Von Trapp.  The musical was also nominated for Best Direction of a Musical.