"Once," the romantic new musical based on the 2006 indie movie of the same name, took the early lead at the Tony Awards on Sunday in New York, winning awards for book and orchestration.
A handful of technical, creative and honorary awards were handed out in the half-hour before the CBS telecast began.
"Once" received awards for playwright Enda Walsh's book and orchestration by Martin Lowe.
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"Newsies," the energetic Disney musical based on the movie of the same name, received an award for choreography by Christopher Gattelli.
The remainder of the technical, creative and special awards will be handed out during commercial breaks in the telecast.
Among the special Tony Award recipients this year are producer Emanuel Azenberg, actors Hugh Jackman and Bernadette Peters and the Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington.
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