On this evening in 1998, an eager audience was seated at Radio City Music Hall in New York, attending the 52nd Annual Tony® Awards ceremony. Among the nominees was Julie Taymor, for her work in the Broadway production of The Lion King. Just minutes before Julie would find out if she would be the first woman to win a Tony in her category, Garry Hynes became the first woman to win Best Direction of a Play for The Beauty Queen of Leenane. The winner for Best Direction of a Musical went to Julie, making it a particularly historical night for the Tony Awards. Backstage, she told reporters she hoped she would be the first of many female directors to be so honored and added, “If I can inspire young women, then I’m very happy.” There was particular pride for those involved in The Lion King that evening, as the production roared with more awards than any other production, which, in addition to Julie’s win, included Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Lighting Design.
