Ep 1. The 34th Annual Tony Awards

The 34th Annual Tony Awards aired on June 8th, 1980 and celebrated the best performances and productions in Broadway during the 1979-1980 season. The show was hosted by Richard Chamberlain, who arrived on a New York City taxicab, and was held at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.

The opening number featured the ensemble casts of nominated shows, such as "Barnum," "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine," "Evita," and "42nd Street," performing a medley of classic Broadway tunes. The audience was then greeted by presenters, including Tony Randall, Diahann Carroll, and Angela Lansbury, who introduced the nominees for various categories.

Several memorable performances were given throughout the show's run-time, including Bette Midler singing "The Rose" from "The Divine Miss M" and Nell Carter performing "I'm Just a Broadway Baby" from "Ain't Misbehavin'." The Best Musical award went to "Evita," which also won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Patti LuPone's portrayal of Eva Perón. The award for Best Play went to "Children of a Lesser God" and its star Phyllis Frelich made history as the first deaf performer to win a Tony Award.

Other notable winners included Mary Tyler Moore for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for "Whose Life is it Anyway?" and Jason Robards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for "A Long Day's Journey into Night." Robards, who had already won two previous Tony Awards, spoke about the importance of live theatre and the unique experience it offers to audiences.

The show also featured tribute performances and speeches to industry legends who had passed away that year, such as Agnes de Mille and Leonard Bernstein. There was also a segment honoring the 25th anniversary of the musical "South Pacific," featuring original cast members Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza.

Overall, the 34th Annual Tony Awards was a celebration of the best that Broadway had to offer during a particularly impressive year in theatre history. The performances, speeches, and tributes showcased the talent and passion of those involved in creating live theatre and highlighted its importance in American culture.