Tony Awards 2012: 10 Moments We Loved

01 of 10

Hugh Jackman and his wife kiss

Deborra-Lee Furness surprises her hubby by presenting him his special Tony. He returns the favor with a gracious speech. ''I know how much you hate public speaking,'' he told her before a big smooch on the lips. ''This is probably the greatest thing you've ever done for me.''

02 of 10

Steve Kazee thanks his mom

The star of Once, winning the prize for Leading Actor in a Musical, tugged at the heartstrings. ''My mother always told me before shows to stand up and show them whose little boy you are,'' he said. ''And I'm showing you today that I am the son of Cathy Withrow Kazee, who lost the fight with cancer on Easter Sunday of this year and I miss you every day and I feel you here with me tonight.''

03 of 10

Nina Arianda and her crush, Christopher Plummer

The 28-year-old star of Venus in Fur, accepting Leading Actress in a Play, tells Plummer, ''Sir, you were my first crush. When that whistle was blown in Sound of Music, you made my day.''

04 of 10

Audra McDonald sings ''Summertime''

Shortly before winning a record-tying fifth Tony for Best Actress in a Musical, the former Private Practice star demonstrated why she was so worthy with a stirring rendition of the Gershwins' classic ballad from Porgy and Bess.

05 of 10

Neil Patrick Harris' ''We're out of time'' closing number

''If I had time,'' the dapper host crooned, ''I'd say how Once won once, won twice, then Once won more, in fact it pretty much won everything but score...'

06 of 10

James Corden thanks his baby mama

A surprise winner over Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the Best Leading Actor in a Play category, the British star of the comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, gave a shoutout to his girlfriend, Julia, in frank words seldom heard at awards ceremonies: ''She's my baby mama and I can't wait to marry her.''

07 of 10

The Book of Mormon co-creators jokingly grouse about this year's upstarts

''We who are the Broadway establishment,'' proclaimed a tea-sipping Trey Parker, flanked by Matt Stone, ''welcome this year's nominees for Best Musical, the young whipper-snappers who so desperately seek to join our ranks.''

08 of 10

Neil Patrick Harris dangles like Spider-Man

The host is left hanging as Angela Lansbury and American Theater Wing chair Ted Chapin describe the activities of the organization behind the Tonys.

09 of 10

Patti Lupone and Mandi Patinkin do a mini-medley

The Tony-winning stars of the original Evita sing a brief line from that show — and each of the other nominees for Best Musical Revival before presenting that award.

10 of 10

Andrew Garfield hugs Christian Borle

The gracious star of Death of a Salesman (and next month's The Amazing Spider-Man) raised a shout and leapt up from his seat to offer a congratulatory hug after losing Featured Actor in a Play to Christian Borle, star of Peter and the Starcatcher (and NBC's Smash). Way to keep it classy.