Patina Miller wins best actress in a musical Tony

    MARK KENNEDY
    FILE - This undated file image originally released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown shows Patina Miller during a performance of "Pippin," at Broadway's Music Box Theatre in New York. The production is directed by Diane Paulus. "Pippin" is nominated for ten Tony Awards. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Joan Marcus)

    NEW YORK (AP) — Patina Miller has danced away with a Tony Award for her role in the revival of "Pippin."

    Miller, last on Broadway in "Sister Act," won the best lead actress in a musical trophy playing the same emcee part that won Ben Vereen a best-actor Tony in 1973.

    The win caps a whirlwind few years for the Carnegie Mellon University graduate, who was nominated for back-to-back Tonys for her first roles on Broadway.

    In Diane Paulus' retelling of "Pippin," Miller is a muscular creature with a hat and cane who dances Bob Fosse steps and does tricks on a trapeze while singing.

    Miller beat Stephanie J. Block of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," Carolee Carmello from "Scandalous," Valisia LeKae from "Motown The Musical" and Laura Osnes from "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella."