“Billy Elliot The Musical” swept the top US theater honors on Sunday, winning 10 Tony Awards for a Broadway season that defied a recession with record ticket sales. “Billy Elliot” is based on Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry's 2000 film about a ballet dancing schoolboy in a mining town in northern England. Elton John, who suggested the film be adapted for theater, wrote the music for the production. “We came here at a hard time economically, you opened your wallets and your hearts to us and we love you for it,” said John, one of Britain's best-known musicians whose hit songs include “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man.” “Billy Elliot” was named best musical and the three teenage actors who play the title role - David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish - were all named best actor in a musical, the first time three actors have shared the award. “We want to say to all the kids out there who might want to dance, never give up,” Kulish said. Daldry, who won best musical director, said the boys were “three great gifts of Broadway” and that he was “blessed in the past 10 years of my life to be working on ‘Billy Elliot.'” The show has also played in Britain and Australia. Gregory Jbara won best featured actor in a musical for his role as Billy's father and the show also won best book of a musical and scenic, lighting, sound and choreography awards. It tied with “Next to Normal” for best orchestration. Alice Ripley was named best actress in a musical for her role as a bipolar suburban housewife in “Next to Normal,” which also picked up best original score, beating nominees including Elton John and Lee Hall for “Billy Elliot” and Dolly Parton for “9 to 5: The Musical.” “Hair,” the new production of the groundbreaking 1960s musical, won the Tony for best revival of a musical. Carnage at the Tonys “Carnage” - with an all-star cast of “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels - picked up the most awards for a play, winning best play, director of a play, and best actress for Harden. “Carnage” director Matthew Warchus beat himself - he was also nominated for best director for “The Norman Conquests.” Liza Minnelli won the best special theatrical event Tony for “Liza's at the Palace.” Veteran British actress Angela Lansbury, 83, won her fifth Tony Award - best featured actress in a play for her performance in “Blithe Spirit” - tying the record for the most Tony Awards won by an actress set by Julie Harris. Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, a veteran of the stage in his native Australia, won best actor in a play for his Broadway debut in “Exit the King.” “I'm a slow learner,” Rush, 57, joked with reporters of his late bow on the Great White Way. The awards show, televised by CBS, opened with a dizzying, exuberant montage of the season's musicals. The huge opening was a number that the show's host, Neil Patrick Harris called “the biggest and most expensive in the history of the Tonys. “And that is why I an your host tonight — I am on TV,” said the charming, self
