Patricia Neal, winner in 1942 for Another Part of the Forest, earned the only standing ovation of the evening when she presented an award to the always reliable Jayne Houdyshell of Well, who tearfully praised Ms. Neal in her acceptance speech. Tryst star Maxwell Caulfield, who received his award in 1980 for Class Enemy, presented an award to The History Boys star Richard Griffiths, who shared anecdotes of adventures in customs while touring with the show.
Finally, Liza Minnelli described her own arrival on Broadway, and her own win in 1963 for Best Foot Forward (the ceremony was held in a church basement, she recalled, between AA meetings). She added that while famous parents can help get an actor's foot in the door, once on stage, an actor is on his or her own. Many performers earn a Theatre World Award at the beginning of their careers, she continued, but the exact opposite was true for the ceremony's final honoree, Harry Connick, Jr. When he took the award and the microphone, he jovially thanked Ms. Minnelli for helping him end his career. He went on to praise John Lloyd Young, and to predict that Mr. Young would take home the Tony on Sunday evening.
To end the evening, Mr. Filichia had the presenters, winners and audience sing a joyful "Happy Birthday" to Theatre World Award founder John Willis, who will soon turn 90. It was the perfect finale for a celebration of Broadway's best and brightest from yesterday and tomorrow.
