Tony Awards 2012: ‘Once’ wins eight Tonys, including best musical

“Once” was the big winner at the Tony Awards on Sunday, taking home eight awards, including best new musical.

Based on the 2006 indie movie of the same name, “Once” is a modestly scaled romantic reverie that is leagues different in tone and size from last year’s musical winner, “The Book of Mormon.”

Sunday’s ceremony, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, took placed at the Beacon Theatre in New York. “Once” also won awards for actor Steve Kazee, director John Tiffany and playwright Enda Walsh, who wrote the book for the musical.

TONYS 2012: Red carpet | Winners & Nominees

“Once” was given its debut last year at the New York Theatre Workshop -- the same venue that nurtured “Rent” -- before it transferred to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater in March. Like the original movie, the stage musical features a score by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.

The other nominees in the category were “Newsies,” “Leap of Faith” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

“Once” had received 11 Tony nominations. It also won in the categories of orchestration, sound design, scenic design and lighting.

RELATED:

Theater review: ‘Once’ on Broadway

‘Newsies’ on Broadway: What did the critics think?

Wispy ‘Once’ makes unlikely transition to Broadway