Oklahoma native Kelli O’Hara literally danced off the Radio City Music Hall stage Sunday night as she finally received her first Tony Award after six nominations in a decade.

“My parents, who are sitting next to me for the sixth time, you don’t have to pretend. It’s OK this time,” she said, her smile bright and her voice shaking with emotion.

O’Hara, who was born in Elk City and raised in Edmond, danced into theater’s biggest honor with her graceful portrayal of English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens in the new revival of the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein favorite “The King and I,” opposite Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe. Watanabe, who was also nominated for a Tony for playing the king of Siam, could be seen holding back tears as his co-star accepted the statuette.

An Oklahoma City University graduate, O’Hara, 39, beat fellow OCU alumnus and Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth to earn the Tony for best leading actress in a musical. The other nominees in the category were Broadway legend Chita Rivera (who was pursuing her third Tony) for “The Visit,” Beth Malone for “Fun Home” and Leanne Cope for “An American in Paris.”