Ep 1. The 45th Annual Tony Awards

The 45th Annual Tony Awards aired on June 2, 1991, and celebrated achievements in Broadway theater from the previous season. Hosted by Julie Andrews and Jeremy Irons, the show opened with a performance by the cast of Miss Saigon and featured appearances by numerous Broadway stars, including Liza Minnelli, Angela Lansbury, and Bernadette Peters.

The nominees for Best Musical were The Secret Garden, Once on This Island, The Will Rogers Follies, and Miss Saigon. The award ultimately went to The Will Rogers Follies, which also took home Best Direction of a Musical and Best Original Score. Miss Saigon received awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Pryce) and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga), while The Secret Garden won Best Book of a Musical.

In addition to the musical categories, the awards also recognized plays, revivals, and performers in non-musical productions. The six nominees for Best Play were Prelude to a Kiss, The Piano Lesson, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, Our Country's Good, Six Degrees of Separation, and M. Butterfly, with the award ultimately going to Lost in Yonkers.

The show also included numerous musical performances, including a tribute to Stephen Sondheim featuring performances of "Into the Woods," "Merrily We Roll Along," and "Sunday in the Park with George" by Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and other Broadway stars. Additionally, Liza Minnelli performed a medley of songs from Cabaret in honor of the show's 25th anniversary.

Throughout the show, presenters and winners spoke about the importance of theater and the unique power of live performance. The show ended with a musical tribute to the late composer Jule Styne, featuring performances of his work by Kristin Chenoweth, Debbie Gravitte, and others.

Overall, the 45th Annual Tony Awards was a celebration of the best of Broadway from the 1990-1991 season, with memorable performances and emotional speeches from some of the industry's biggest names.