Year by Year

1997 - Broadway '97: Launching the Tonys® Sunday June 1, 1997
Radio City Music Hall

Telecast on PBS Television Network
Executive Producers: Jac Venza, Glenn DuBose
Producer: Jeff Folmsbee
Documentary Segments Producer: Mark Mannucci

51st Annual Tony Awards Sunday June 1, 1997
Radio City Music Hall

Broadcast live on the CBS Television Network
Executive Producer: Gary Smith
Produced and Directed by Walter C. Miller
Written by Thomas Meehan
Musical Director: Elliot Lawrence
Managing Producer: Roy A. Somlyo

Host
Rosie O'Donnell

Presenters
Julie Andrews, Lauren Bacall, Alec Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Dixie Carter, Savion Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Joel Grey, Marilu Henner, Hal Holbrook, Swoosie Kurtz, Liza Minnelli, Mary Tyler Moore, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Roseanne, Susan Sarandon, Jimmy Smits, Marisa Tomei, Rip Torn, Leslie Ann Warren, Raquel Welch

Opening Montage
"On Broadway" - Rosie O'Donnell; "Rent" - cast of Rent; "Jellicle Cats" - cast of Cats; "I'm A Woman" - female cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe, "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" - cast of Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; "Greased Lightnin'" - Rosie O'Donnell and cast of Grease; "Be Our Guest" - cast of Beauty and the Beast

Musicals Represented 

• Steel Pier ("Everybody Dance" - Karen Ziemba, Gregory Harrison and Company)
• The Life ("My Body" - Sam Harris, Lillias White and Company)
• Annie ("Tomorrow" - Brittny Kissinger)
• Candide ("Bon Voyage" - Jim Dale and Company)
• Once Upon a Mattress ("Shy" - Sarah Jessica Parker and male company)
• Chicago ("All That Jazz"/"Hot Honey Rag" - Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Company)
• Titanic ("Ship of Dreams" - Michael Cerveris and Company)

Emmy Award

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special - 1998
Walter C. Miller, Producer; Gary Smith, Executive Producer; Roy A. Somlyo, Supervising Producer