Besides the news of Bret Michaels's miraculous survival, here's the best thing we heard at last night's Tony festivities: Prince himself made a surprise appearance at Hudson Terrace for the joint after-party for West Side Story, Shrek, [title of show], God of Carnage, and The Norman Conquests. The Purple One, who refused to be photographed, even by fans, told oglers he'd been sitting at home as one of the four people in the country watching the Tonys broadcast and had "fallen in love" with Karen Olivo (winner for Featured Actress in a Musical for West Side Story).

He decided he had to meet her that night, and used his Princely ways to track her down. After a few minutes at the rooftop party, he sequestered himself in a corner with Olivo and several other girls from the show. A very reliable source tells us Prince plans to see West Side next Tuesday. He's asked for a spot in the balcony and wants to buy twenty tickets so no one can sit near him.

Earlier: West Side Story ’s Karen Olivo on Her Tony Nomination and Surviving Her Choreography
The Tony Awards: A Behind-the-Scenes Timeline
Neil Patrick Harris Heroically Closes Tonys
The Tonys: Billy , Liza, and Elle Woods