Monday, May 31, 2010

Bridget Jones is Coming to London

First, there were the newspaper articles.  Next came the books and, later, the movie adaptations.  What they all had in common were the urban, luckless in love career girl who had her own off beat sense of style.  No, I'm not talking about Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, but Bridget Jones, who will soon be the star of her very own West End musical, complete with a score by British pop star Lily Allen.  Helen Fielding, author of the newspaper columns and novels is set to write the book to go with Allen's score in anticipation of a 2011 opening.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

3rd Tony Predictions

I've been going back and forth on a few of the more up-in-the-air categories and have updated my predictions.  I'll update again, likely, once a week or so until the actual awards on June 13th.

Best Play: Red (potential surprise: Time Stands Still)

Musical: Memphis (potential surprise: Fela!)

Play Revival: Fences (potential surprise: A View From the Bridge)

Musical Revival: La Cage Aux Folles (potential surprise: Finian's Rainbow)

Actor in a Play: Alfred Molina, Red (potential surprise: Liev Schreiber, A View From the Bridge)

Actress in a Play: Laura Linney, Time Stands Still (potential surprise: Viola Davis, Fences)

Actor in a Musical: Douglas Hodge, La Cage Aux Folles (potential surprise: Chad Kimball, Memphis)

Actress in a Musical: Montego Glover, Memphis (potential surprise: Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music)

Featured Actor in a Play: Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences (potential surprise: Eddie Redmayne, Red)

Featured Actress in a Play: Scarlett Johansson, A View From the Bridge (potential surprise: Jan Maxwell, Lend Me A Tenor)

Featured Actor in a Musical: Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow (potential surprise: Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet)

Featured Actress in a Musical: Katie Fineran, Promises, Promises (potential surprise: Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music)

Book of a Musical: Everyday Rapture (potential surprise: Memphis)

Score: Memphis (potential surprise: Fences)

Director of a Play: Kenny Leon, Fences (potential surprise: Michael Grandage, Red)

Director of a Musical: Bill T. Jones, Fela! (potential surprise: Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime)

Choreography: Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises (potential surprise: Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away)

Orchestrations: Fela! (potential surprise: Memphis)

Set Design of a Play: Fences (potential surprise: Present Laughter)

Set Design of a Musical: Fela! (potential surprise: Ragtime)


Costume Design of a Play: Fences (potential surprise: The Royal Family)

Costume Design of a Musical: La Cage Aux Folles (potential surprise: Fela!)

Lighting Design of a Play: Red (potential surprise: Fences)

Lighting Design of a Musical: Ragtime (potential surprise: Fela!)

Sound Design of a Play: Red (potential surprise: Enron)

Sound Design of a Musical: Ragtime (potential surprise: A Little Night Music)

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Avenue Q to Honor Gary Coleman

Following the death yesterday of Gary Coleman, the off-Broadway transfer of Avenue Q, which features Coleman as a character, honored the former child actor at the end of their Friday night performance yesterday.  The actress portraying Gary, Danielle K. Thomas, gave a speech at the curtain call honoring Coleman, in addition to a statement from the show's producers saying that, "the creators, producers, and company of Avenue Q are terribly saddened to hear of the death of Gary Coleman, whose tremendous gifts brought delight and inspiration to audiences around the world."  So far, no creative changes have been announced to the content of the show.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Child Star Gary Coleman Dead at 42

Gary Coleman, who starred as Arnold in Diff'rent Strokes between the ages of 10 and 18, has died of an intracranial hemorrhage after being rushed to the hospital following a seizure a few days ago.  Though the former child actor didn't follow Diff'rent Strokes with any other roles to maintain his public profile, he was known to Broadway audiences for the Avenue Q character based loosely on him.

Lend Me A Musical?

Lend Me A Tenor, the farcical comedy by Ken Ludwig currently playing in revival at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway, is getting the musical treatment in the West End.  The new musical, to be directed by Ian Talbott, will have a book and lyrics by Peter Sham and music by Brad Carroll and will play the West End starting this fall.

The West End Gets Its Hair Cut

The London transfer of the Broadway revival of Hair, the tribal love rock musical, will close on September 4th.  The production, currently starring Tony-nominated Broadway leads Will Swenson and Gavin Creel, was supposed to last through January, but the producers decided not to continue the show past the expiration of the American company's contracts.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Celebrity Tony Presenters Announced

The presenters for the 2010 Tony Awards have been announced.  The list includes friend-to-this-blog Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Cate Blanchett, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Justin Bartha, Michael Douglas, Kelsey Grammer, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Lucy Liu, Helen Mirren, Bernadette Peters, David Hyde Pierce, Tony Shalhoub, Liev Schreiber, and Raquel Welch.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Next to Normal to Start National Tour

Next to Normal, the Broadway smash hit starring 2009 Best Actress Tony winner Alice Ripley, will be going on a 36-stop beginning on November 23rd with a six week stop at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre.  In preparation for the tour, Alice Ripley, who has signed on to appear as Diana in all 36 cities, will play her last Broadway performance in the role on July 18th.  After Los Angeles, the show will make stops in San Diego, Seattle, Des Moines, Providence, Hartford, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, St. Paul, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Washington, DC.  More cities will be announced soon.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Audience Award Winners

Broadway.com's 2010 Audience Award winners have been announced, with some surprising wins and some expected ends.  To see the full list of who they chose, follow the link below.  In the mean time, I'd still love to hear from you all about your pics for the best of Broadway in all the major categories.  Who would you have nominated that the Tony Committee didn't?  Who did they pick that you wouldn't have?  Any nominations that you're really hoping to see go for the gold?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!  Feel free to comment on this (or any) post!


http://www.broadway.com/buzz/awards/tony-awards/152488/2010-broadwaycom-audience-award-winners-announced/

Monday, May 24, 2010

Tony Awards Host Announced

Sean Hayes, best known for his Emmy winning portrayal of Jack McFarland on TV's Will and Grace and a Tony nominee this year for his leading performance in the revival of the Hal David and Burt Bacharach musical Promises, Promises, will be hosting this year's Tony Awards.  Hayes said in a statement, "I am absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Tony Awards.  As the new guy on Broadway, it's an honor to be included in the established Broadway alumni."

2010 Drama Desk Award Winners Announced

Winners of the 2010 Drama Desk Awards were announced on May 23 at LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center.  Memphis was the big winner of the night, taking home four trophies.  Three other popular shows had three wins each: Red, Fences and La Cage aux Folles. Broadway diva Patti LuPone hosted the event.
Outstanding Play
Red by John Logan

Outstanding Musical
Memphis

Outstanding Revival of a Play
A View from the Bridge
Fences (tie)

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
La Cage aux Folles

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Montego Glover, Memphis
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music (tie)

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Santino Fontana, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises

Outstanding Director of a Play
Michael Grandage, Red

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Michael Mayer, American Idiot

Outstanding Choreography
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away

Outstanding Music
David Bryan, Memphis

Outstanding Lyrics
John Kander & Fred Ebb, The Scottsboro Boys

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Alex Timbers, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Outstanding Orchestrations
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis

Outstanding Musical Revue
Sondheim on Sondheim

Outstanding Music in a Play
Branford Marsalis, Fences

Outstanding Set Design
Phelim McDermott, Julian Crouch & Basil Twist, The Addams Family

Outstanding Costume Design
Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

Outstanding Lighting Design
Neil Austin, Red

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, Ragtime

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Fitz Patton, When the Rain Stops Falling

Outstanding Solo Performance
Jim Brochu, Zero Hour

Unique Theatrical Experience
Love, Loss and What I Wore



Memphis - 4
Fences - 3
La Cage aux Folles - 3
Red - 3
A View from the Bridge - 2

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Michael Kuchwara, Theater Critic for the AP, Dead at 63

The longstanding theater critic for the Associated Press, Michael Kuchwara, died on May 22nd  at the age of 63 at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City from complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to the AP.  Kuchwara spent  40 years as a reporter and editor at the AP before being named their official drama critic in 1984.  His last review, for the off-Broadway musical The Kid, was published on May 10th.  Mr. Kuchwara died surrounded by his family listening to the score of his favorite musical -- Gypsy.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Liza and the Single Ladies

I know that many people out there are highly anticipating the upcoming Sex and the City movie, but I thought my readers would enjoy learning that theater vet Liza Minnelli makes a special appearance in the film singing the Beyonce' hit Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).  I've heard a recording of it and it's pretty fierce.  I thought you all would enjoy hearing it for yourselves, so here's the youtube link.  Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLCRisDDjxI

Friday, May 21, 2010

Lend Me A Tenor To Close August 15th

It has been announced that the Stanley Tucci-directed revival of Ken Ludwig's Lend Me A Tenor will close on August 15th when the actors' contracts are up.  Producers are, however, discussing a possible extension through Labor Day.

Drama League Award Winners Announced

The 2010 Drama League Awards were presented on May 21 at a gala luncheon co-hosted by Vanessa Williams and Michael Urie. The event was held in the Marriott Marquis Hotel’s ballroom and featured a dais filled with more than 60 nominated stars from Broadway and off-Broadway shows. Alfred Molina took home the day’s biggest prize, the Distinguished Performance Award (which can be won only once in an actor’s career) for playing Mark Rothko in Red. A complete list of winners follows:

Distinguished Performance Award
Alfred Molina, Red

Distinguished Production of a Musical
Sondheim on Sondheim

Distinguished Production of a Play
Red

Distinguished Revival of a Musical
La Cage aux Folles

Distinguished Revival of a Play
A View from the Bridge

In addition to the competitive awards, previously announced honorees included Nathan Lane (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre) Kenny Leon (Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing) and Macy’s Parade and Entertainment Group (Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award).



At this point in the game, Molina seems like the only realistic option to win the Best Actor in a Play Tony, and the same goes for Kenny Leon in the Director of a Play category.

Pee-Wee Herman Coming to Broadway

According to a release on Broadway.com, Pee-Wee Herman is coming to Broadway.  Here are the details, as listed on Broadway.com.

"Paul Reubens’ previously announced stage version of The Pee-wee Herman Show will jump from Los Angeles to Broadway this fall. The production, which got its start in L.A. in 2007, is set to begin performances at Broadway’s newly renamed Stephen Sondheim Theater (previously Henry Miller’s Theater) on October 26 for a limited six-week run, through December 5. Opening night has been set for November 11, directed by Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson). No additional casting has been announced at this time."

John Glover to Play Primary Stages

According to Broadway.com,

"Tony winner John Glover and Brighton Beach Memoirs teen star Noah Robbins will play leading roles in Primary Stages' forthcoming New York premiere of Jonathan Tolins' Secrets of the Trade. The play will open the off-Broadway company's 26th season, with performances beginning July 27 at 59E59 Theaters and opening night set for August 10. The show will run through September 4, directed by Matt Shakman."

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Last Kander and Ebb Musical Coming to Braodway

The Scottsboro Boys, one of the last collaborations between the composing team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, will be coming to Broadway.  It has been announced that the show will be moving into the Lyceum Theatre in October after finishing its off-Broadway production in September.  The show, in a production directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, takes the form of a minstrel show "to explore the Scottsboro case from the 1930's in which," according to Broadway.com, "a group of African American teenagers was unjustly accused of attacking two white women and their attempts to prove their innocence [and is] one of the most important and notorious chapters in the history of the American Civil Rights movement."

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Will Swenson to Join Priscilla in Toronto

Will Swenson, Tony-nominated star of last year's revival of Hair, is set to join the cast of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in its pre-Broadway run in Toronto.  The production, which will be directed by Simon Phillips, is set to begin performances in mid-October and will run there for 12 weeks before coming stateside in a yet-to-be-named Broadway house.  That means it looks like the lavender tour bus may be onstage as early as mid February!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Professional Tony Handicapping, part 2

Following my updated predictions, I wanted to give the rest of the Tony prognostication printed in the Times by Charles Isherwood and Ben Brantley, along with my opinions.

Brantley and I agree that Alfred Molina should and will win the best actor in a play race for his performance in Red, even though I was in favor of Christopher Walken (in A Behanding in Spokane) early on.  Isherwood supports Denzel Washington for the win in Fences, thinking that Liev Schreiber deserves it more for A View From the Bridge.  While Schreiber is certainly deserving, I think Washington has no chance and, since Schreiber has already won a Tony, I think this is not his year.

Both critics put Viola Davis (in Fences) front and center on all counts.  Given that she is already a Tony winner and that perennial favorite Laura Linney, a three time nominee but never a winner, and that she gave a stellar performance this year in Time Stands Still, she may come in a close second.  While I'm really hoping she'll eek out the win, I can't ignore the thoughts of the professionals.  This is one of those categories I will be going back and forth on probably right up until Tony night.

The actor in a musical race is another with a slight back and forth, though certainly much less than in the above category.  Douglas Hodge's performance in La Cage Aux Folles, Ben Brantley and I agree, is the clear frontrunner in the category.  Charles Isherwood, though, has his money on Sahr Ngaujah in Fela!.  I think Ngaujah may have a chance, possibly, but I think this is definitely Hodge's category.

As for the musically inclined leading ladies, both critics agree that Sherie Rene Scott deserves the trophy and I think that she will win the prize for her stellar performance as herself in Everyday Rapture, a show which she wrote herself.  Brantley thinks that Montego Glover of Memphis will win, and Isherwood is going with Catherine Zeta-Jones for A Little Night Music.  I think, however, that the fact that most critics agree that Sherie SHOULD get the award, no one can agree on who WILL get it.  That gives me confidence that Ms. Scott will get the award.

For the supporting acor in a play category, Brantley is putting it all on Stepehen McKinley Henderson for Fences while Isherwood is going with Jon Michael Hill of Superior Donuts.  If last year is any indication, a supporting performance in an August Wilson play is a good bet.  While I haven't seen that show and I don't remember how the reviews went for Mr. Henderson, I did see Superior Donuts, which was a wonderful show that sorely deserved more nominations than it received.  This is a three way race right now, in my opinion, between Henderson, Hill, and Eddie Redmayne of Red.  Right now, I don't want to count Henderson out, because I think he has a good shot.  Hill just got a big boost from Isherwood, and I think he would certainly not be the wrong choice, but I am less sure about his chances. I think this may be Redmayne's year, however, particularly since he recently won the Olivier Award (London's equivalent of the Tony's) for the same performance.

Scarlett Johansson is getting all the press in the featured actress category and I'm not sure about it.  I agree she was great, and all the press gave her some good reviews, but I can't imagine Jan Maxwell, a theater vet and double nominee this year, will go home empty handed.  If this were Maxwell's only nomination this year, I might give it to Johansson in a snap, but not when the competition is what it is.

The featured actor in a musical category is a cinch this year and the award belongs to Bobby Steggert this year for Ragtime, though Christopher Fitzgerald from Finian's Rainbow will sure put up a good fight.  If Fitzgerald sneaks out ahead, though, I won't be entirely surprised and, given the magic tricks he was given to perform at every performance, he may actually deserve it.  Levi Kreis is definitely the dark horse in this category and he may surprise us all in this category, particularly since his is the only show in this category still open.  Something tells me that I will go back and forth on this category, as well.

The featured actress in a musical category may be the most interesting yet, with Angela Lansbury and Katie Finneran in hot contention.  Both are previous Tony winners who gave highly praised performances in big scale revivals and who stole their respective shows.  Lansbury, though, being the legend that she is, and given that this would be a record breaking 6th Tony for an actor, will get the prize.

That's all for the professional prognostication.  But there will definitely be more updates between now and June 13th, when the awards will be handed out!

2nd Tony Predictions


Play: Red
Musical: Memphis
Revival: Fences
Revival: La Cage Aux Folles
Actor Play: Alfred Molina, Red
Actress Play: Viola Davis, Fences
Actor Musical: Douglas Hodge, La Cage Aux Folles
Actress Musical: Sherie Rene Scott, Everyday Rapture
Featured Actor Play: Eddie Redmayne, Red
Featured Actress Play: Jan Maxwell, Lend Me A Tenor
Featured Actor Musical: Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Featured Actress Musical: Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Book: Memphis
Score: Fences or Memphis
Director Play: Kenny Leon, Fences
Director Musical: Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Choreography: Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Orchestrations: Fela!
Set Design, Play: Present Laughter
Set Design, Musical: Fela!
Costume Design, Play: Fences
Costume Design, Musical: La Cage Aux Folles
Lighting Design, Play: Red
Lighting Design, Musical: Ragtime
Sound Design, Play: Fences
Sound Design, Musical: A Little Night Music

2010 Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced


Winners were announced for the 2010 Outer Critics Circle Awards, with ties revealed in three categories. The Broadway musicals Memphis and La Cage aux Folles tied with a total of four wins each, with Fences collecting three, including trophies for both of its stars, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
Outstanding New Broadway Play
Red
Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Memphis
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play
The Orphans' Home Cycle
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys (tie)
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Memphis
Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Fences
Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
La Cage aux Folles
Outstanding Director of a Play
Michael Wilson, The Orphans' Home Cycle
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Denzel Washington, Fences

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Montego Glover, Memphis
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music (tie)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises
Outstanding Solo Performance
Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking
John Gassner Award (for American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Geoffrey Nauffts, Next Fall
Outstanding Choreography
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Sergio Trujillo, Memphis (tie)

Outstanding Set Design (Play or Musical
Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, The Addams Family

Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical)
Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)
Kevin Adams, American Idiot

Productions with multiple wins:
Memphis - 4
La Cage aux Folles - 4
Fences - 3
The Orphans' Home Cycle - 2

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Professional Tony Handicapping, part 1

The New York Times' two major theater critics, Charles Isherwood and Ben Brantley, have put in their two cents on the current Tony race.  As is to be expected, in some cases I agree with them and in others I disagree.  In some cases, their pics will affect my opinion and, in others, not.  I will list their choices here and give my commentary as I go.  Given how long it takes to type out all the information, I will give only a few categories in each post and add new posts every few hours.

BEST PLAY:
Ben Brantley said -- Will Win: Red,  Should Win: Next Fall
I think Brantley may be on to something when he says that Red will take home the prize, but I think that this play's only competition comes from Time Stands Still, not Next Fall.  Isherwood agrees that Red will win, which makes me think I should change my prediction away from Time Stands Still in it's favor.

BEST MUSICAL:
Brantley -- Will Win: Memphis, Should Win: Fela!     Isherwood -- Will Win: Fela!, Should Win: American Idiot

I think that Brantley definitely has the right two as his short list, though I go back and forth by the minute as to which I think will win.  My gut reaction when I heard the nominations list was that the prize would go to Memphis because, while both it and Fela! definitely got the strongest reviews of the season as far as new musicals are concerned, Fela! may be seen as too non-traditional to win.  Though, it may just be the non-traditional quality that gives it the edge with Tony voters, many of whom are producers of national tours who may want something less traditional to take on the road.

Play Revival:
Both critics agreed that Fences will win this category, but that A View From the Bridge SHOULD win.  These are the two productions that I picked as my final two in the category.  Fences has the advantage over A View From the Bridge in that it is still open, while Bridge closed April 4th.  The acting and direction in both productions was equally praised (each show has three acting nominations, including both a Hollywood star and a Tony winner in each show).  Fences, though, has the upper hand in that Kenny Leon is a well known powerhouse director, having directed the successful revival of A Raisin In the Sun as well as August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean a few seasons back.  While Mosher, director of Bridge, has three previous nominations to his credit, his name (unlike Leon's) is not known to the same extent, as far as I am aware.

Musical Revival:
Both critics picked La Cage Aux Folles as the "will win" in this category, and Brantley also said it is the one that should win, though Isherwood says that Finian's Rainbow is the one that should win.  I have to agree with Isherwood on this one -- while I no longer think that it will win, it is definitely the best of the revivals out there this year.  Ragtime has going for it that it is a sentimental favorite whose original production lost the Best Musical title to The Lion King even though it won for its book and score.  Night Music and La Cage are the only two revivals still open, leaving them with the best shots in the category. If the previous revival of La Cage, which the critics say is significantly worse than the current revival, can win the revival Tony, why not go with Isherwood and Brantley here and agree with them?

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Last Original Ziegfeld Girl Dies

The end of an era has come and we will miss it dearly.  I have just learned that the last of the original Ziegfeld Girls, Doris Eaton Travis, died on May 11th at the age of 106.  Travis made her Broadway debut at the tender age of 13 in 1917 and, a year later, she joined the Ziegfeld Follies as the youngest Ziegfeld Girl ever cast in the show.  Ms. Travis was, in addition to being a dancer, a film actress, dance instructor, and author.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Bombay Dreams Coming to he Big Screen

Bombay Dreams, the Broadway musical produced by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and with a score by two time Oscar winner A. R. Rahman (for Slumdog Millionaire), is heading to the movies.  Lord Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group will co-produce the film with Marquee Picture, from a screenplay by Sabrina Dhawan.  No casting has been announced, though it has been released that the film will be shot in India.

Antonio Banderas to Return to Broadway

Broadway.com has confirmed that Antonio Banderas, Tony-nominated star of the 2003 revival of Nine, will be returning to Broadway in September of 2011 in a revival of Zorba in a production to be nominated by David Leveax who also directed Nine.  According to Broadway.com,

"Zorba tells the bittersweet story of an uptight writer, Basil, and his unexpected traveling companion, Alexis Zorba, a Greek peasant who tries to inspire the scribe with adventures through the Greek countryside. The film Zorba the Greek was adapted from the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, was directed by Michael Cacoyannis, starred Anthony Quinn and won three Academy Awards. The movie was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, while Quinn was honored with a nod for Best Actor."

Thursday, May 13, 2010

James Spader to Be Replaced by Izzard

Eddie Izzard will return to Broadway this year as James Spader's replacement in David Mamet's Race.  Mr. Izzard begins performances on June 21st and remain with the production through the show's anticipated closing on August 21st.

Ragtime at the Tony's

The Tony nominations came out a week ago and everything seems to have gone off without a hitch.  Until today.  The news has just broken that the nomination Ragtime received for Best Costume Design for Santo Loquasto's costumes has been withdrawn.  Loquasto also designed the costumes for the original 1998 Broadway production (at which point he was also nominated for this design) and the Tony Awards Nominating Committee has determined that the costumes in this production are too close to those from the original production.  According to official Tony rules, aspects of Broadway productions with "substantially duplicate" qualities cannot be nominated.

According to the committee, "we learned this too late to remove the costumes from consideration by the nominators, but feel that we cannot allow the designs to remain in contention."  There will be no replacement nomination to fill the slot being vacated by Mr. Loquasto's withdrawal, leaving the category only with the designs for La Cage Aux Folles, Fela!, and Memphis.

66th Annual Theater World Awards

The winners of the 66th annual Theater World Awards, honoring actors in their Broadway or off-Broadway debuts, have been announced.  The Theater World Awards, given out since 1945, are among the oldest awards given to theater performers.  The winners are:

Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Chris Chalk, 
Fences
Bill Heck, 
The Orphans’ Home Cycle
Jon Michael Hill, 
Superior Donuts
Scarlett Johansson, 
A View from the Bridge
Keira Keeley, 
The Glass Menagerie
Sahr Ngaujah, 
Fela!
Eddie Redmayne, 
Red
Andrea Riseborough, 
The Pride
Heidi Schreck, 
Circle Mirror Transformation
Stephanie Umoh, 
Ragtime
Michael Urie, 
The Temperamentals