“It is so wonderful to be here,” she said while dressed in her signature sparkly attire. “Of course, at my age, it’s good to be anywhere.”

Martha Plimpton, sporting a pair of hot pink pumps, gabbed that Gaynor “just complimented my shoes,” with all the excitement of an 11-year-old at a Justin Bieber concert.

Matthew Modine (no less enthused) said, “Mitzi Gaynor just complimented my underwear!”

Ana Gasteyer balked, “Mitzi Gaynor just complimented my new Spanx!”

God bless Jim Brochu (who took home the award for Outstanding Solo Performance for Zero Hour) for finally closing the gag with: “Mitzi Gaynor just told me to f--k off!” Fin!

It was touching to see the brilliant John Kander get choked-up upon receiving the award for Outstanding Lyrics for The Scottsboro Boys, his last show with the late Fred Ebb: “Fred Ebb is so mad at me right now.” About the show, which will be making its way to Broadway in October, he said: “This may sound like a cliché, but this show was one of the most important moments theatrically in any of our lives.”

Many of the night’s honorees recognized the recent passing this month of two beloved community members, Mike Kuchwara, longtime theatre critic for the Associated Press; and the legendary actress, Lynn Redgrave.

I was thrilled to see the adorable and very talented Santino Fontana get recognized for his role in the short-lived revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs. “I can’t believe this. They closed my show in November,” he said as he jumped up and down. “This year, at some points, has seemed like a nightmare, but this really makes it a lot better. I came alone because the tickets were like $200 and I thought, 'I can’t afford this, I’m not working right now!'”

No less adorable, Christopher Fitzgerald was a little less shocked about his win for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. “Unlike Santino, I’m not surprised to be getting this award.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones, who tied for Outstanding Actress in a Musical with Memphis’ Montego Glover, gave some A-list shout outs after hobbling to the podium in “these stupid, stupid shoes.” She thanked her “movie star husband, Michael Douglas,” her friend Alfred Molina who “got me my first agent” and producer Tom Viertel, for “understanding that a person can develop a cold,” addressing her recent absence from A Little Night Music.

The mistress of ceremonies, Doctor Patti LuPone (who was recently given an honorary doctorate of Music from Juilliard) swiftly concluded the night so everyone could “enjoy their day off!”

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="John Kander. Photo by Joseph Marzullo"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2340" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Catherine Zeta-Jones"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2345" align="aligncenter" width="184" caption="Santino Fontana"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2349" align="aligncenter" width="188" caption="Cheyenne Jackson"][/caption]

Check Playbill's PHOTO CALL for more pictures from the 55th Annual Drama Desk Awards!