Adds quote, best direction of musical and play, paragraphs 3,7

By Kathryn Lurie

NEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - John Lithgow won best leading actor in a play at Sunday’s Tony Awards for “Giant,” which depicts a crisis in the life of author Roald Dahl as he faces fallout from remarks deemed antisemitic and must weigh apologizing against risking his reputation.

It was the 80-year-old Lithgow's third Tony, having won his first 53 years ago for his Broadway debut in “The Changing Room.”

“At every point we had to figure out, ‘Why is this man doing this?’” he told reporters later. “Antisemitism, cruelty of all kinds ... these are things that we're dealing with these days up front and personal ... that's what makes "Giant" so important and such a success.”

This year’s awards cap a record Broadway season, having generated $1.91 billion in grosses as audiences turned out for both established hits and new productions.

Pop singer Pink, hosting the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, led a huge opening number with a Broadway-updated rendition of “Lady Marmalade” and starring the cast of every single nominated musical.

There were plenty of Easter eggs in the number, including veteran actress Lea Michele singing, “We don’t do it for the awards” and trans actor Dylan Mulvaney singing, “Protect the dolls.” Michele herself, the leading lady in the revival “Chess,” was passed over for a nomination this year.

Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch won best direction of a musical for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” a bold reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical that places the story within New York's ballroom culture. Joe Mantello won best direction of a play for the revival of “Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman” starring Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf.

Metcalf won best featured actress in a play for her role as Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman.” Metcalf said she had never seen a production of “Salesman” in anticipation of one day starring in it. It was her third Tony.

New musicals “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” led all nominees with 12 nods each, followed by the revival “Ragtime” with 11.

Alongside leading contenders “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!,” “Titaníque” and “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)” have built strong followings, making the best musical category one of the most competitive in recent memory.

For best play, Pulitzer Prize winner “Liberation” by Bess Wohl entered with momentum, but David Lindsay-Abaire's “The Balusters” has emerged as a formidable challenger after winning top honors at the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards.

The best musical revival race appears to be a two-show contest between a sweeping production of “Ragtime” and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” a ballroom-inspired reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.

The ceremony will also feature anniversary celebrations for “Chicago,” which marks 30 years on Broadway with a tribute led by Queen Latifah, and “The Book of Mormon,” whose original cast will reunite for the musical's 15th anniversary.

Rachel Zegler, who will be coming back to Broadway next season in the Jamie Lloyd production of “Evita,” will perform a tribute to “A Chorus Line” for its 50th anniversary, and Leslie Odom Jr. will do a song from “Rent” for that show’s 30th anniversary.

Tony-winning actor Laura Benanti and Emmy-nominated actor Tituss Burgess will host the preshow, where the creative arts Tony Awards honoring designers, technicians and other behind-the-scenes theater artists will be presented.