Cate Blanchett and Tim Minchin have missed out on bringing back silver medallions to Australia at the 71st Tony Awards in New York.
Blanchett's Broadway debut in the Sydney Theatre Company's production The Present netted her a nomination for best actress in a leading role in a play. Unfortunately, the Melbourne-born dual Oscar winner and freshly minted Queen's birthday honours recipient was beaten by Laurie Metcalf for her role in Dolls House Part 2.
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Minchin, meanwhile, is no stranger to the Tonys after Matilda the Musical's 12 nominations in 2013. This year was also set to be a big night, with his musical adaptation of Groundhog Day – based on the Bill Murray comedy film of the same name – receiving seven nominations.
But he missed out on his solo award for best score for the show. It was picked up by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the music and lyrics for the hit production Dear Evan Hansen, which took out the gong for best musical.
Halfway through official proceedings, it was left to Australian producers to bring home a gong. But the four producers who had their fingers crossed for the announcement of best play and best musical finished the night disappointed.
Thwarted were: Rodney Rigby and Sam Levy, who were part of the producing team behind Come From Away (a new musical based on the true story of a group of passengers grounded in Canada following the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York); Australian music industry legend Michael Coppel, who was also made a member in the general division of the Order of Australia on Monday, and was part of Groundhog Day's production team; And Stuart Thompson, a long-standing theatre maker from Australia who has become one of the most powerful men on Broadway. He was the producer of best play nominee Sweat, best revival of a play nominee Six Degrees of Separation and helped take the Cate Blanchett star vehicle The Present to New York.
In the end, best play was given to Oslo while best revival of a play went to August Wilson's Jitney.
Kevin Spacey kicked off the night with grace and self-deprecating wit, dancing, singing and joking his way through his opening number.
Spacey riffed on previous hosts Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman, and also took aim at nominees with a raft of industry gags. Towards the end of the evening, he even stepped out on stage as House of Cards president Francis Underwood.
His performance as host has been widely praised by the industry and viewers alike.
We're in store for a night of surprises at @TheTonyAwards, hosted by @KevinSpacey! @Groundhogdaybwy @StephenAtHome #TonyAwards2017 pic.twitter.com/44OddwxslH
— Jordan Roth (@Jordan_Roth) June 12, 2017
Yesss @KevinSpacey @TheTonyAwards is slaying it
— sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) June 12, 2017
.@KevinSpacey is tap dancing on television right now. You, sir, are INCREDIBLE!
— Randi Zuckerberg (@randizuckerberg) June 12, 2017
- with AAP