Actress Haydn Gwynne, shown with Montreal's David Alvarez, one of the three Billy Elliots in the play, captured best featured actress in a musical for her role in the stage production. Actress Haydn Gwynne, shown with Montreal's David Alvarez, one of the three Billy Elliots in the play, captured best featured actress in a musical for her role in the stage production. (David Scheinmann/Barlow Hartman PR/Associated Press)

The hit Broadway musical Billy Elliot, based on the 2000 film, has swept the 2009 Drama Desk Awards with 10 prizes.

The acclaimed tale of a ballet-dancing schoolboy in a mining town in northern England garnered trophies for best musical as well as for director Stephen Daldry — who also helmed the movie — and composer Elton John.

Haydn Gwynne and Gregory Jbara both got best featured actress and actor in a musical, respectively, at a ceremony in New York City on Sunday night.

Billy Elliot dominated the technical awards, taking home prizes for choreography, orchestrations, lighting design and sound design.

Shrek the Musical grabbed three awards: Brian d'Arcy James for lead actor in a musical, and Tim Hatley for costume design and set design in a musical.

Ruined took home best play for Lynn Nottage and outstanding music in a play for Dominic Kanza.

Other winners included:

  • Janet McTeer (Mary Stuart ) for lead actress in a drama.
  • Geoffrey Rush (Exit the King ) for lead actor in a drama.
  • Allison Janney (9 to 5 ) for lead actress in a musical.
  • Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit ) for featured actress in a play.
  • Pablo Schreiber (reasons to be pretty ) for featured actor in a play.
  • Lorenzo Pisoni (Humor Abuse ) for best solo performance.

The Drama Desk Awards, inaugurated in 1955, are voted on by writers and critics to honour Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions.