Tommy Tune to get a special lifetime achievement Tony Award, which will be his 10th

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Tommy Tune is about to get his 10th Tony Award.

An awards committee said Thursday that the dancer, choreographer and stage director will receive a special Tony for lifetime achievement in the theatre during the June 7 ceremony.

The 6-foot-6-inch song-and-dance man directed such Broadway musicals as “Nine” starring Raul Julia, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” ”My One and Only” with Twiggy, “Grand Hotel” and “The Will Rogers Follies.”

He joined Harvey Fierstein as the only ones in theatre history to win Tonys in four categories — best choreography, best direction of a musical, best lead actor in a musical and best featured actor in a musical. He’s also the only artist to win the same two Tonys two years in a row — best choreography and best direction — for “Grand Hotel” and “The Will Rogers Follies.”

“He has succeeded in multiple facets of the industry — both on stage and off — and is a shining example of the magical experience that live performance brings,” Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing, and Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, said in a statement.

Nicknamed “Dr. Tune” for his ability to cure ailing Broadway musicals, his other hits include “Seesaw” and “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.” He also appeared in the film “Hello, Dolly!” with Barbra Streisand.

The 76-year-old Tune is also the recipient of the National Medal of Arts.

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits