The After-Tonys Post
It’s over. The glamor, the glitz, the fun. It’s finished for another year. Sigh. But don’t despair, friends! The Tony madness can continue on a bit longer. We still have the post-Tony posts, right?
Click on a show title for more information about the production. When you click on a name, you will get the complete Broadway credits from Internet Broadway Database. Each show link will provide you with the information about the play as well as providing a link (where available) to the show’s official site.
Best Play:
God of Carnage
This show looked pretty fantastic. Some truly talented artists performed in this piece. I think I may have to find it and read it soon.
Best Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
This show won a ton of awards. This is the only time you’ll see it linked, but don’t be surprised when you see it listed about a dozen more times.
Best Book of a Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
Next to Normal
The performance of this show at the Tonys took my breath away. I think it looks a little intense, but I must have it.
Best Revival of a Play:
The Norman Conquests
This show actually has three parts. This link is to the first of the three.
Best Revival of a Musical:
Hair
Somehow this show is always powerful. I don’t understand it, but it’s moving each and every time. You can’t help but sing along.
Best Special Theatrical Event:
Liza’s at The Palace Winner
Who saw that coming? What can I say? In my heart of hearts, even though she weirds me out, I love Liza.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:
Geoffrey Rush – Exit the King
I loved his speech. He is a great character actor on screen and I’m delighted to hear that he carried it off on stage.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:
Marcia Gay Harden – God of Carnage
She strikes me as someone I’d like to get to know. I know I’ve loved her in several movies over the years. And she was in Angels in America, Millennium Approaches. That’s pretty awesome.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish – Billy Elliot, The Musical
Yes, the three boys all won. I think that is a Tony first. And they were so freaking cute making their speech!
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
Alice Ripley - Next to Normal
I love her. I fell for her as a singer when she was in Side Show, a show in which she played a conjoined twin. Yes, a conjoined twin.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play -
Roger Robinson – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
This is the show the Obama’s went to see not too long ago. Excellent taste, apparently.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Angela Lansbury – Blithe Spirit
She is now one of only two women ever to win five Tony Awards. She just rocks my little theater world.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:
Gregory Jbara – Billy Elliot, The Musical
He actually brought his wife on stage with him for his speech. He’s a great actor and you all may have seen him in some cholesterol commercials or as the weird brother in In and Out.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:
Karen Olivo – West Side Story
She’s been on Broadway a while, but I fell for her last year as Vanessa in In the Heights.
Best Direction of a Play:
Matthew Warchus - God of Carnage
Talk about impressive! Nominated twice in the same category for directing two shows, one of which actually has three parts. And while accepting his award for this play, acknowledged the cast of his other as well. Well done, Matthew.
Best Direction of a Musical:
Stephen Daldry - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Seems only fair considering how well the show did.
Best Choreography:
Peter Darling - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Usually the showcase the singing in a show at the Tonys. Billy Elliot is a dancing show and the choreography I saw that night proved to me that this man certainly earned his Tony.
Best Orchestrations:
Martin Koch - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt - Next to Normal
Yep. A tie!
Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Derek McLane - 33 Variations
Believe it or not, I’m running out of opinions.
Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Ian MacNeil – Billy Elliot, The Musical
Ditto.
Best Costume Design of a Play:
Anthony Ward – Mary Stuart
Pretty impressive show to costume, don’t you think?
Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Tim Hatley – Shrek The Musical
Hats off to the guy who created the Shrek costume. Not an easy job, I think.
Best Lighting Design of a Play:
Brian MacDevitt – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Look at this man’s list of credits. Damn!
Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Rick Fisher - Billy Elliot, The Musical
We expected them to win a lot, but holy cow!
Best Sound Design of a Play:
Gregory Clarke - Equus
I think this is the only thing the show won, but it was very well reviewed.
Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Paul Arditti – Billy Elliot, The Musical
He actually did the sound design for more than one nominated show. Well done, indeed.
Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre:
Jerry Herman
What an illustrious career he has had. I admire him so much and love his work. The man rocks.
Regional Theatre Tony Award®:
Signature Theatre, Arlington, Va.
Isabelle Stevenson Award:
Phyllis Newman
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre:
Shirley Herz
And there it is. The year has wrapped up but next year is just a few months away. Ok, so 12, but I’m looking for the happy. Thanks for holding up against the crazy again!
Well… seems I’m not the only one who dislikes “Waiting for Godot”… couldn’t help but notice that it won 0 awards… Overall, I do think this was a very impressive year, tho! I am quite excited to see if any of these shows end up in little Spokane where I can watch them…
June 11th, 2009 at 3:49 am