Two Islanders won Tony Awards tonight, but Loretta Ables Sayre — a newcomer making her first bid for Broadway's biggest prize — wasn't one of them.

Still, Ables Sayre told The Advertiser, she was elated to see a snippet of "South Pacific," when her co-stars Paulo Szot, Kelli O'Hara and Danny Burstein performed a medley of tunes (she was in her seat at Radio City Music Hall).

Ables Sayre, a nominee for featured actress in a musical for her first-ever Broadway role as Bloody Mary in "South Pacific," lost to Laura Benanti of "Gypsy." But never mind. "It was nerve-wrecking," she said. "But I finally got to see our musical segment — and I could barely hold myself together."

It was otherwise some enchanted evening for "South Pacific," which paced the winner's list with seven awards, including best revival of a musical. And Bartlett Sher, whose stepfather Douglas Chung is from Hawai'i and who boasts Chung relatives here, won his first Tony for best direction of a musical.

Kevin McCollum, who grew up in the Islands with Broadway success as a longshot dream, earned his fourth producing Tony for "In the Heights," which garnered four Tonys, including best musical. It's about a neighborhood in upper Manhattan in transition, with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who won a Tony for both leading actor in a musical and original score.

McCollum, who previously produced the Tony-winning "Rent" and "Avenue Q," was part of the jubilant throng that gathered on stage but relegated co-producer Jill Furman as spokesperson. McCollum was among those who hoisted the show's award-winning performer and composer Miranda.

Ables Sayre said she wept with joy when "South Pacific" won best revival.

"I'm part of this show — and that's what's overwhelming," she said. "My heart was so full; tonight was the culmination of the past six months; I've worked so hard. Everybody has; and for Bart to win …

"And tomorrow is the one-year anniversary since I made my initial audition. So much has happened in the one year.

"I'm just filled with pride. It's really OK that I didn't win. But I did get to touch Bart's Tony." She added, "New York, this isn't the last you'll hear of me."

During the awards show, Ables Sayre was all eyes, all ears, focused on the stage.

"I mean, Liza Minnelli. And Glenn Close. I only see these people on TV, and to be here in the same theater, together … it was so exciting," she gushed.

"And when they mentioned my name; what a thrill. And (actress) Kristin Chenoweth (who announced the category) said my name correctly. That was a thrill, too."

She clutched the hands of her publicist husband, David Sayre, all night.

And the two will celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary on Wednesday. "There is just so much to celebrate," she said.

Director Sher — in his acceptance speech at ceremonies originating from Radio City Music Hall and televised on CBS — acknowledged the creators of "South Pacific," composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and co-writer Joshua Logan and author Jim Michener (on whose book the musical was based) who taught him that "I wasn't only an artist, but I was also a citizen and that the work we do in these musicals and any of these plays is not only important in terms of entertaining people, but that our country was really a pretty great place and perhaps it could be a little better and for this I am really grateful." "South Pacific" has themes of racial prejudice that impede happiness when threatened by the vagaries of war.

"South Pacific," which had 11 nominations, also won for leading actor in a musical (Paul Szot), best scenic design, best lighting, best costume design, and best sound of a musical.

A celebration was held at O'Neal's , near Lincoln Center, where "South Pacific" is playing to packed houses in the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

"We danced under the stars, to Peter Duchin's Orchestra. It doesn't get better than that," Ables Sayre said.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8067.

Here's a complete list of winners as compiled by The Associated Press:

62nd annual Tony Awards