NEW YORK — Thoroughly Modern Millie, the Jazz Age tale of an ambitious flapper, tapped its way to six Tony Awards including best musical Sunday, while The Goat, Edward Albee's comic drama about the unpredictable nature of love was named best play.

        Besides best musical, Millie received prizes for lead actress-musical, Sutton Foster; featured-actress musical, Harriet Harris; choreography, Rob Ashford; costumes, Martin Pakledinaz and orchestrations, Doug Besterman and Ralph Burns.

        For Ms. Foster, it was a Cinderella tale. The 27-year-old actress, originally an understudy, was elevated to the starring role just before the musical began its tryout at California's La Jolla Playhouse in 2000.

        “To say that this is a dream come true is an understatement,” said the overwhelmed Ms. Foster.

        Alan Bates and Frank Langella — the two stars of Fortune's Fool — received Tonys: Mr. Bates as best actor-play for his portrayal of an impoverished nobleman and Mr. Langella, in the featured category, for his portrait of an extravagant fop in Turgenev's rueful comedy.

        For much of the evening Millie battled with Urinetown, the satiric little show about a city where everyone must pay to use toilets. It received three major prizes — for direction of a musical (John Rando), best book (Greg Kotis), and score of a musical (shared by Mr. Kotis and Mark Hollmann).

        Yet the night's most tumultuous applause was reserved for Elaine Stritch, finally winning the Tony that has eluded her since 1956, when she received the first of her four previous nominations.

        The 77-year-old performer got the special theatrical event prize for her one-woman show, Elaine Stritch at Liberty.

        “Don't take up my time,” the emotional Ms. Stritch began as the audience cheered.

        The actress, who gave a 20-minute acceptance speech at the New York Drama Critics' Circle awards ceremony last month, talked past a persistent orchestra that tried to drown her out. “Please don't do that to me,” she said angrily as the televised proceedings cut to a commercial.

        John Lithgow, who plays a powerful New York gossip columnist in Sweet Smell of Success, took the prize for best actor-musical. “There are four fantastic actors in this category and they all sing better than I do,” said a gracious Mr. Lithgow.

        Katie Finneran, the nearsighted blond bombshell in Noises Off, won in the featured actress-play category.

        Shuler Hensley won as featured actor in a musical for his role as the brooding, despondent Jud Fry in Oklahoma!

        Mary Zimmerman who adapted and directed the myth-inspired Metamorphoses took the prize for direction of a play.

        “I would like to thank every person I've ever met in my life,” said Zimmerman as she fought back tears.

        Private Lives won for best revival of a play as well as for actress-play, Lindsay Duncan, as Amanda, the world-weary sophisticate in the Noel Coward comedy.

        Without a smash hit like last year's “The Producers,” the 2002 Tonys were seen as a spirited horse race — creating some real competition for prizes honoring the best of the Broadway season.

        Last year, “The Producers,” the Mel Brooks musical, took home 12 Tonys — a Broadway record.

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