36th Tony Awards

Eligibility

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1981–1982 season before May 10, 1982 are eligible.

;Original plays

• Agnes of God
• Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
• Crimes of the Heart
• The Curse of an Aching Heart
• The Dresser
• Duet for One
• Einstein and the Polar Bear
• Eminent Domain
• Grown Ups
• The Hothouse
• Kingdoms
• The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
• Mass Appeal
• "Master Harold"...and the Boys
• Ned and Jack
• Scenes and Revelations
• Solomon's Child
• Special Occasions
• The Supporting Cast
• A Talent for Murder
• Wally's Cafe
• The West Side Waltz
• The World of Sholom Aleichem ;Original musicals
• Dreamgirls
• The First
• Is There Life After High School?
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• The Little Prince and the Aviator
• Marlowe
• Merrily We Roll Along
• Oh, Brother!
• Nine
• Pump Boys and Dinettes
• Waltz of the Stork ;Play revivals
• Candida
• Macbeth
• Medea
• Othello
• A Taste of Honey ;Musical revivals
• Fiddler on the Roof
• Little Johnny Jones
• Little Me
• My Fair Lady
• This Was Burlesque

The ceremony

Presenters: Lucie Arnaz, Milton Berle, Victor Borge, Pam Dawber, Lillian Gish, Marvin Hamlisch, Lena Horne, Beth Howland, Robert Goulet, James Earl Jones, Swoosie Kurtz, Michele Lee, Hal Linden, Ann Miller, Robert Preston, Jason Robards, Ginger Rogers, Gary Sandy, Ben Vereen.

Some of Broadway's theatres were being demolished (the Morosco, Helen Hayes and Bijou Theatres) thus the theme was to celebrate a great Broadway theatre, the Imperial. "The Imperial Medley" featured songs from Rose Marie; Oh, Kay!; Jubilee; Leave It to Me; On Your Toes; Between the Devil; Annie Get Your Gun; Miss Liberty; Call Me Madam; The Most Happy Fella; Fiddler on the Roof; The New Moon; Silk Stockings; Wish You Were Here; The Laugh Parade; Carnival; They're Playing Our Song; Oliver!; and Pippin.

Musicals represented:

• Dreamgirls ("It's All Over/And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" - Jennifer Holliday and Company);
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ("Jacob and Sons"/"One More Angel"/"Potiphar"/"Those Canaan Days"/"Benjamin Calypso"/"Go Go Joseph"/"Pharaoh Story"/"Song of the King"/"Pharaoh Story"/"Any Dream Will Do"/"Joseph's Coat" - Company);
• Nine ("Be Italian" - Kathi Moss and Company);
• Pump Boys and Dinettes ("Vacation"/"No Holds Barred"/"Highway 57" - Company).

Winners and nominees

*Winners are in bold *

Special awards

• Special Awards —The Actors' Fund of America

• Theatre Award '82 :Warner Communications :Radio City Music Hall

• Regional Theatre Award — The Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Multiple nominations and awards

These productions had multiple nominations:

• 13 nominations: Dreamgirls
• 12 nominations: Nine
• 8 nominations: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
• 7 nominations: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• 6 nominations: Medea
• 4 nominations: Crimes of the Heart
• 3 nominations: The First, Little Me and "Master Harold"...and the Boys
• 2 nominations: Agnes of God, The Dresser, Mass Appeal, Othello and A Taste of Honey

The following productions received multiple awards.

• 6 wins: Dreamgirls
• 5 wins: Nine
• 4 wins: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby