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Tony Awards 2015 – Best Revival of a Play / Best Play

Posted on: June 2nd, 2015 by B.I. C. No Comments

These are the productions nominated for Best Revival of a Play:

Best Play Revival - Twitter

Here are a few fun facts:

– There’s no wonder why this production of “The Elephant Man” has been so successful, because it’s produced by Jimmy Nederlander who has made Broadway In Chicago thrive so vibrantly in the Chicago theatre community.

– “Skylight” has apparently already made back it’s investment. Although the producers didn’t confirm the full costs of the production, Broadway plays usually are around $3 million.

– The original production of “You Can’t Take It With You” premiered on Broadway in 1936, and transferred 3 different times from the Booth Theatre to the Imperial Theatre and then the Ambassador Theatre, playing a total of 838 performances.

– “This Is Our Youth” has progressed many young actors careers over the years. In 2002, a production in London included Hayden Christensen, Matt Damon and Colin Hanks as Dennis, Jake Gyllenhaal, Casey Affleck and Kieran Culkin as Warren and Anna Paquin, Summer Phoenix and Alison Lohman as Jessica.

These are the productions nominated for Best Play:

Here are a few more fun facts:

– “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” got its title from a Sherlock Holmes quote in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1892 short story “Silver Blaze.”

– “Disgraced” premiered at the American Theatre Company in Chicago January 30, 2012 — Mar 11, 2012. The production received four Joseph Jefferson Awards nominations.

– The role of Thomas Cromwell in the beginning stages of “Wolf Hall” was played by James McAvoy, but Ben Miles then took over the part.

– The lead producer of “Hand to God” is also the producer of “Avenue Q.” Apparently they like to keep it all in the puppet family!

Tony Awards 2015 – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play / Musical

Posted on: May 27th, 2015 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the men nominated for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play” and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical”:

(Left to Right: Steven Boyer, Bradley Cooper, Ben Miles, Bill Nighy, Alex Sharp)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Steven Boyer, “Hand to God”

Bradley Cooper, “The Elephant Man”

Ben Miles, “Wolf Hall Parts One & Two”

Bill Nighy, “Skylight”

Alex Sharp, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

Here are a few fun facts:

– Steven Boyer and Alex Sharp are both Juilliard School alumni, and equally credit their performances to the help of movement instructor, Moni Yakim.

– Bradley Cooper made his Broadway debut in 2006 in “Three Days of Rain” with Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd.

– Ben Miles was last seen as Tom in the Tony-winning revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests.”

– Some films that you would recognize Bill Nighy in are “Love Actually,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Underworld.”

(Left to Right: Michael Cerveris, Robert Fairchild, Brian d”Arcy James, Ken Watanabe, Tony Yazbeck)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, “Fun Home”

Robert Fairchild, “An American in Paris”

Brian d’Arcy James, “Something Rotten!”

Ken Watanabe, “The King and I”

Tony Yazbeck, “On the Town”

Here are a few more fun facts:

– Michael Cerveris has performed in many Stephen Sondheim musicals such as “Assassins,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Road Show,” and “Passion.” He then won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “Assassins.”

– Robert Fairchild’s sister is NYCB Principal Dancer Megan Fairchild, who is currently starring in Broadway’s “On the Town.”

– Brian d’Arcy James originated the role of Frederick Barrett in the musical “Titanic” and also originated the role of Sidney in “Sweet Smell of Success in 2002 for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

– You know actor Ken Watanabe from many films such as “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “The Last Samurai,” “Inception,” and “The Unbroken.”

– Some of Tony Yazbeck’s Broadway credits include Tulsa in “Gypsy” starring Patti LuPone, Billy Flynn in “Chicago,” Phil Davis in “White Christmas,” and Al Deluca in “A Chorus Line.”

Tony Awards 2015 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play / Musical

Posted on: May 27th, 2015 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the women nominated for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play” and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical”:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Geneva Carr, “Hand to God”

Helen Mirren, “The Audience”

Elisabeth Moss, “The Heidi Chronicles”

Carey Mulligan, “Skylight”

Ruth Wilson, “Constellations”

Here are a few fun facts:

– Geneva Carr is making her Broadway debut at age 44 in “Hand to God,” but you’d also recognize her recurring role as the mom in the AT&T Mobility phone commercials.

– Helen Mirren has played a Queen a total of six times: The Queen (2006), Elizabeth I (2005), The Prince of Egypt (1998), The Snow Queen (1995), The Madness of King George (1994), and Caligola (1979).

– You know Elisabeth Moss best from her portrayal as Peggy Olson on the AMC series “Mad Men.”

– Carey Mulligan’s Broadway debut was in a 2008 production of Chekhov’s “The Seagull.”

– Ruth Wilson won the Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama for her role in “The Affair” and days later made her Broadway debut in “Constellations.”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Kristin Chenoweth, “On the Twentieth Century”

Leanne Cope, “An American in Paris”

Beth Malone, “Fun Home”

Kelli O’Hara, “The King and I”

Chita Rivera, “The Visit”

Here are a few more fun facts:

– Kristin Chenoweth’s birth name is Kristi Dawn. She became “Kristin” when her musical theater teacher at Oklahoma City University, Florence Birdwell, suggested adding the “n” to make it sound more professional.

– Leanne Cope is currently on leave from London’s Royal Ballet to be performing in “An American In Paris.”

– Beth Malone made her Broadway debut in “Ring of Fire,” which played at the Barrymore Theatre in 2006.

– This year marks Kelli O’Hara’s 6th Tony nomination. Her previous nominations have been for her performances in “The Light in the Piazza,” “The Pajama Game,” “South Pacific,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” and “The Bridges of Madison County.”

– Chita Rivera has gained 9 Tony Award nominations throughout her career, with two wins for “The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

Tony Awards 2015 – Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play / Musical

Posted on: May 27th, 2015 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the women nominated for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play” and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical”:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Annaleigh Ashford, “You Can’t Take It With You”

Patricia Clarkson, “The Elephant Man”

Lydia Leonard, “Wolf Hall Parts One & Two”

Sarah Stiles, “Hand to God”

Julie White, “Airline Highway”

Here are a few fun facts:

– Nathan Peck, currently in the Broadway production of “Kinky Boots,” helped Annaleigh Ashford create all of her choreography in “You Can’t Take It With You.”

– The last time Patricia Clarkson was on Broadway was in 1986 when she debuted in “The House of Blue Leaves.”

– The last time you saw Julie White was as the Masha replacement in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” from July 30, 2013 – August 25, 2013.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Victoria Clark, “Gigi”

Judy Kuhn, “Fun Home”

Sydney Lucas, “Fun Home”

Ruthie Ann Miles, “The King and I”

Emily Skeggs, “Fun Home”

Here are a few more fun facts:

– Victoria Clark joined “Gigi” after director Eric Schaeffer asked her and because she had always admired Heidi Thomas’ writing from “Call the Midwife” and “Upstairs, Downstairs.”

– Judy Kuhn was seen last season as the ill-fated Fosca in the critically acclaimed, much-extended Classic Stage Company production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Passion.”

– Ruthie Ann Miles recently played Imelda Marcos in “Here Lies Love,” which she was won the 2014 Lucille Lortel Award and the 2013 Theatre World Award.

Tony Awards 2015 – Best Direction of a Play / Best Direction of a Musical

Posted on: May 13th, 2015 by B.I. C. No Comments

Here are the 10 phenomenal directors nominated for Best Direction of a Play and Best Direction of a Musical:

Best Direction of a Play

Stephen Daldry, “Skylight”

Marianne Elliott, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

Scott Ellis, “You Can’t Take It With You”

Jeremy Herrin, “Wolf Hall Parts One & Two”

Moritz von Stuelpnagel, “Hand to God”

Here’s a few fun facts:

– Stephen Daldry made his feature film directorial debut in 2000 with “Billy Elliot” and then went on to win Best Direction of a Musical for the stage version in 2009. “Billy Elliot” also played here in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre from March 18, 2010 – November 28, 2010.

– In 2011, Marianne Elliott won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for the Broadway production of “War Horse,” along with co-director Tom Morris. The production toured through Chicago December 18, 2012 – January 5, 2013 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

– Scott Ellis attended the Chicago Goodman School of Drama.

Best Direction of a Musical

Sam Gold, “Fun Home”

Casey Nicholaw, “Something Rotten!”

John Rando, “On the Town”

Bartlett Sher, “The King and I”

Christopher Wheeldon, “An American in Paris”

Here’s a few more fun facts:

– Sam Gold started out as an actor, appearing as a replacement understudy in “The Diary of Anne Frank” on Broadway in 1997-1998.

– John Rando won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for “Urinetown the Musical” in 2002. He also directed “The Wedding Singer” on Broadway in 2006.

– In 2014, Bartlett Sher directed the beautiful musical, “The Bridges of Madison County” which unfortunately only ran for 100 performances from February 2014 to May 2014.