Monday,  June 09, 2014 • Vol. 16--No. 326 • 24 of 30

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anticipation of another campaign.
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Some of the best Tony moments: A bouncing host, a tearful mom, and two Carole Kings

• NEW YORK (AP) -- Hugh Jackman hopping his way into the theater, Neil Patrick Harris licking the eyeglasses of Samuel L. Jackson. A little history, and a slew of genuinely heartfelt speeches. The Tonys are often the most entertaining awards show of the year, and this year, again, they didn't disappoint. A look at some of the evening's most memorable moments, including some you didn't see on TV:
• WAS HE A BUNNY OR A KANGAROO? He never really said. But Jackman's entrance, bouncing like an indefatigable doll into the theater, down the aisles, up to the stage and off to various other places, epitomized the spirit of this winning host, who was in good shape and game for anything. When, at the end, he asked all the Tony winners to come onstage and bounce along with him, not all had the energy. We can't all be Hugh Jackman.
• MORE LOVE FOR NPH: Well, maybe only Neil Patrick Harris can be Hugh Jackman. The frequent (and much-admired) Tony host wasn't performing those duties this year, but he still gave the show one of its most memorable moments, performing "Sugar Daddy" from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." As Hedwig, a transgender East German singer, Harris sauntered around the stage in his giant blonde wig, then ventured into the crowd, giving a lap dance to Sting and licking Jackson's glasses. Later NPH was awarded the Tony for best actor in a musical. The orchestra starting to play him off wasn't the best move.
• AND MORE GLORY FOR AUDRA: Her win for playing Billie Holliday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" gave Audra McDonald six Tonys, a record; She's now won in all four acting categories. She got the biggest ovation of the night -- the entire theater was on its feet -- with a tearful speech in which she thanked her parents for ignoring doctors' orders to medicate her as a hyperactive child, and instead encouraging her to try the theater. Even more touching was McDonald's shout out to her daughter: "Do you understand, Mommy is nothing without you!"
• A HAPPY GENIE: James Monroe Iglehart was one happy genie, and it was hard not to catch the happy bug as the ebullient, portly-yet-graceful actor broke into a "praise shout" and a glorious, well, happy dance while accepting his award for featured actor in a musical for "Aladdin." Iglehart said later at the Tony after-party that he is "having the best time doing 'Aladdin' -- I'm a big kid in a Disney show!"

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