War Horse triumphs at Tony Awards

The National Theatre production of War Horse. Photograph: Graeme Robertson

The National Theatre's Broadway production of War Horse has won the best play prize at the Tony Awards in New York.

The award was one of five Tonys for the acclaimed puppet-based staging of the popular first world war story, adapted for stage by Nick Stafford. Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris were awarded the best director prize.

Briton Mark Rylance won the best acting award for a play for his performance as Johnny "Rooster" Byron in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem following up his success three years ago when he won for Boeing-Boeing, Rylance quoted a poem by US poet Louis Jenkins.

"Unlike flying or astral projection, walking through walls is a totally earth-related craft, but a lot more interesting than pot-making or driftwood lamps," he said in his acceptance speech. When asked later why he had recited the poem, Rylance said, "I don't know. I was getting a little bored."

The Book of Mormon was the most fèted production at the gilttering Broadway gathering. A spoof musical from the creators of South Park, about two traveling Mormon missionaries, The Book of Mormon won the Tony for best musical and eight other prizes.

The top Tonys

Best musical: The Book of Mormon
Best original score, music and lyrics: The Book of Mormon
Best play: War Horse (Nick Stafford)
Best revival of a musical: Anything Goes
Best revival of a play: The Normal Heart
Best actress in a musical: Sutton Foster (Anything Goes)
Best actor in a musical: Norbert Leo Butz (Catch Me If You Can)
Best actress in a play: Frances McDormand (Good People)
Best actor in a play: Mark Rylance (Jerusalem)
Best featured actress in a musical: Nikki M Jones (The Book of Mormon)
Best featured actor in a musical: John Laroquette (How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying)
Best featured actor in a play: John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart)
Best featured actress in a play: Ellen Barkin (The Normal Heart)
Best direction of a musical: Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker (The Book of Mormon)
Best direction of a play: Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris (War Horse)