Monster Mash: Tony Award winners; Van Cliburn winners; Venice Biennale winner

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-- Head-banging music: Poison singer Bret Michaels is recovering after being whacked in the head by a set piece at the Tony Awards.

-- British invasion: ‘Billy Elliot’ scores 10 wins at the Tony Awards, including best musical; ‘God of Carnage’ wins best play in a night of many accents.

-- End of an era: Tony Award honoree Jerry Herman says his songwriting days are over.

-- Show closing: Neil LaBute’s critically acclaimed ‘Reasons to Be Pretty’ becomes the first post-Tonys casualty.

-- Next invasion begins: West End’s hit revival of ‘La Cage aux Folles’ plans a move to Broadway.

-- A tie: Two pianists share top honors at the Van Cliburn awards.

-- Top honors to U.S.: Venice Biennale awards the Golden Lion to Bruce Nauman, whose work had its roots at UC San Diego.

-- Battle over bidding: Eli Broad joins auction house Christie’s in a dispute with a shipping magnate over the $3.7-million sale of a Sam Francis painting.

-- Where are the people? A $20-million performing arts center opens in Minnesota but remains empty.

-- Role model: Ian McKellen makes a plea for more stage roles for women.

-- Scale model: The Chicago Architecture Foundation creates a mini version of the windy city.

-- Back on stage: Kevin Spacey takes the lead role in Trevor Nunn’s Old Vic production of ‘Inherit the Wind.’

-- Facing extinction? Broadway cast albums are becoming an endangered species.

-- By popular vote: The Times of London names the top 100 artists of the 20th century.

-- Lisa Fung