Billy wins big...Elton loses best score

`Billy Elliot' wins 10 Tonys; `Carnage' best play - Yahoo! News

By MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Writer Michael Kuchwara, Ap Drama Writer – 1 hr 43 mins ago

NEW YORK – Broadway's Tonys seemed a family affair this year, with an outpouring of generosity from winners to losers despite the domination of the evening by "Billy Eliot," which won 10 awards, and one actor bringing his wife to the stage to stand by him while he accepted his prize.

"I'd like to congratulate the writers of 'Next to Normal,'" said a gracious Elton John, standing in the middle of cast members and producers after his show, "Billy Eliot," won the best musical prize. "Thank you for accepting us on Broadway. ... We came here at a hard time economically. You opened your hearts and you opened your wallets."

In one of the evening's rare upsets, John lost the award for score to "Next to Normal."