The 51st Annual Tony Awards was broadcast by CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 1, 1997. "Launching the Tonys" was telecast on PBS television. The event was hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. The awards ceremony moved away from Broadway for the first time in 30 years. As Radio City Music Hall is much larger than any Broadway theater, this allowed members of the general public to attend the ceremony.^[1]

Chicago won six awards, the most of the night, including Best Revival of a Musical. Jonathan Tunick's win for Titanic made him the seventh person to become an EGOT winner.^{[not verified in body]}

Shows that opened on Broadway during the 1996–1997 season before May 1, 1997 are eligible.

The opening number: "On Broadway" - Rosie O'Donnell; "Rent" - cast of Rent; "Jellicle Cats" - cast of Cats; "I'm A Woman" - female cast of Smokey Joe's Cafe, "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" - cast of Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; "Greased Lightnin'" - Rosie O'Donnell and cast of Grease; "Be Our Guest" - cast of Beauty and the Beast.

Presenters: Julie Andrews, Lauren Bacall, Alec Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Dixie Carter, Savion Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Joel Grey, Marilu Henner, Hal Holbrook, Swoosie Kurtz, Liza Minnelli, Mary Tyler Moore, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Roseanne Barr, Susan Sarandon, Jimmy Smits, Marisa Tomei, Rip Torn, Leslie Ann Warren, Raquel Welch.

Musicals represented:

• Steel Pier — "Everybody Dance" - Karen Ziemba, Gregory Harrison, Company
• The Life — "My Body" - Sam Harris, Lillias White, Company
• Annie — "Tomorrow" - Brittny Kissinger
• Candide — "Bon Voyage" - Jim Dale, Company
• Once Upon a Mattress — "Shy" - Sarah Jessica Parker, Company
• Chicago — "All That Jazz"/"Hot Honey Rag" - Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, Company
• Titanic — "There She Is" - Michael Cerveris, Company

Winners are in bold

• Regional Theater Tony Award
  • Berkeley Repertory Theatre
• Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
  • Bernard B. Jacobs (posthumously)

• Drama Desk Awards
• 1997 Laurence Olivier Awards – equivalent awards for West End theatre productions
• Obie Award
• New York Drama Critics' Circle
• Theatre World Award
• Lucille Lortel Awards