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The lights on Broadway's biggest night were powered by megastars Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey, as the "Boys" - "Jersey" and "History" - took top honors for musical and play at the Tony Awards last night at Radio City Music Hall.
"Jersey Boys," the musical biography of the 1960s pop group the Four Seasons, beat its top competitor, "The Drowsy Chaperone." John Lloyd Young, who plays Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli, won Best Lead Actor in a Musical, while Christian Hoff, who plays singer Tommy DeVito, won for featured actor.
"History Boys," a drama about a British boarding school, took home the most awards with six, including Best Play and Best Lead Actor (Richard Griffiths).
But it was Roberts and Winfrey who provided the glitter.
The "Pretty Woman" was famously snubbed by voters for her debut on the Great White Way in the critically panned "Three Days of Rain." But the Oscar-winning superstar showed she was a trouper by agreeing to be a presenter.
"I just want to take this opportunity to say you people are insanely talented," she told an audience filled with nominees, before presenting the award for lead actor in a play.
Winfrey extended her empire to Broadway as a producer for the Best Musical nominee "The Color Purple." She introduced musical numbers from the show, based on the 1985 film that earned her an Oscar nomination.
"The Color Purple" has "been a major influence in my life," Winfrey said, explaining why she took it to Broadway. The show scored an award for LaChanze, who won for lead actress in musical in the role of Celie.
The ceremony had no official host, and in honor of the show's 60th anniversary, there were 60 presenters.
They all appeared at the start of last night's telecast while Harry Connick Jr., the nominated star of "The Pajama Game," opened the show singing Broadway hits.
Among the celebrities in attendance were "Sopranos" star Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Broadway legends Julie Andrews, James Earl Jones, Glenn Close and Bernadette Peters, as well as Cynthia Nixon, who won Best Lead Actress in a Play, for "Rabbit Hole."
Songs from "Jersey Boys" were introduced by actor Joe Pesci, accompanied by the real-life members of The Four Seasons.
Hoff fought back tears as he dedicated his award to his late father. "Pop, this is for us," he said. Young, too, dedicated his Tony to his dad.
Despite losing the top prize, "Chaperone," a show within a show about a lonely man's favorite 1920s musical, won five awards, compared to four for "Jersey Boys."
The award for Best Featured Actor in a Play went to Ian McDiarmid for his role as the crusty manager in the revival of Brian Friel's play "Faith Healer." With Post Wire Services
barbara.hoffman@nypost.com
Click here to view 2006 Tony Awards graphic
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