Three Spectacular Broadway Shows Leave Hearts Aflutter and Eyes Popping
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New York City (AP) - Three extraordinary shows - "Buena Vista Social Club," "Death Becomes Her," and "Perhaps a Luminous Epilogue" - each earned an impressive 10 Tony Award nods on Thursday, as a diverse range of productions captured the attention of the nominators. George Clooney, Sarah Snook, and Max O'Connell made their Broadway debuts, receiving widespread acclaim for their performances.
In all, 29 shows garnered at least one nomination across the 26 Tony categories, even shows that had already closed, such as "A Marvelous World: The Louis Armstrong Musical" and "Swept Away."
Actor James Monroe Iglehart, who played Armstrong in the musical, was taken aback by his nomination and awoke to an explosion of calls on his phone. "I was like, 'What's going on? Is everything okay?' And then I was, 'Oh my God! How cool is that?' I'm just absolutely thrilled to be a part of this talented ensemble," he shared.
"Buena Vista Social Club," which draws inspiration from Wim Wenders' 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary of the same name regarding the creation of the iconic album, will go up against "Death Becomes Her," a comedic musical that harkens back to the 1992 cult classic film of the same name focusing on bitter friends who seek an elusive elixir promising eternal youth and beauty. The category also includes "Perhaps a Luminous Epilogue," a rom-com musical about two androids that breathe life and humanity into their roles, as well as " Dead Whiskey Alley," a musical telling the tale of a real-life alcoholic wanderer whose afterlife was more peculiar than one might imagine, having been exhibited in carnivals and sideshows for decades.
A second production featuring the deceased, the British import "Operation Mincemeat," also secured a place among the nominees. The production is centered on a remarkable World War II deception operation aimed at misleading Nazi Germany about the intended Allied landing in Sicily.
"Christopher Gattelli, the show's choreographer and first-time director of 'Death Becomes Her,' earned nominations for both roles, expressing delight at the diversity of productions on Broadway," said the prolific director. "We have intimate chamber plays and offbeat black-box productions, and I'm overjoyed that we get to expand the Broadway landscape even further."
"Dead Whiskey Alley," conceived by David Yazbek, who penned the lyrics and music with Erik Della Penna, reunites Yazbek with book writer Itamar Moses and director David Cromer, who collaborated so successfully on the Tony-winning "Call to the Desert." Yazbek commented on Thursday that the team learned vital lessons from their previous work, which they applied to "Dead Whiskey Alley."
"If we focused on creating the show we wanted to create, staying true to its essence, rather than worrying too much about templates or external expectations, then we could achieve the audience's (and our) enthusiasm," he mused.
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Best Play Contenders
In the Best Play category, "Somewhere Beyond," Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sanaz Toossi's examination of four Iranian students striving to pass an English language exam, made the cut. Also earning a nomination was "An Echo in the Dunes," Jez Butterworth's exploration of a family rallying around the impending death of its matriarch in a hotel setting in 1976 England.
Rounding out the category is "John Proctor is the Devil," a compelling exploration of teenage girls, feminism, the #MeToo movement, and an interesting counterpoint to "The Crucible," written by Kimberly Belflower. The category concludes with "Fragile Vessels," Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' enthralling drawing-room drama about a racially diverse family unraveling from within its own destructive tendencies.
Recognizing Talent and Some Omissions
Audra McDonald, proved yet again to be a force to be reckoned with, earning a nod as Rose in the critically acclaimed revival of "Gypsy." A formidable list of actresses, including Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone have also earned Tonys for their portrayal of Rose. McDonald, already the most decorated performer with six Tonys, is now vying for a seventh.
In the Best Actress in a Play category, she will face off against Nicole Scherzinger from "Sunset Boulevard," Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard from "Death Becomes Her," and Jasmine Samuel from "Boop! The Musical."
McDonald expressed gratitude to the late Broadway star Gavin Creel, who encouraged her to take on the role of Rose eight years ago during a dinner party at her home. She admitted that she didn't initially believe a production with a Black lead for Rose would thrive. Creel, who passed during the first day of "Gypsy" rehearsals, inspired her to take on the role. "We have another reason to be grateful for him," she remarked.
Clooney was honored for his portrayal of a legendary journalist in an adaptation of his 2005 film "Good Night, and Good Luck." Highly sought-after tickets for a revival of David Mamet's "The Yellow Rose of Texas," earned O'Connell a nod, but not his equally talented co-stars Kieran Culkin or comedian Bill Burr. (This oversight could impact Culkin's potential triple-crown of winning an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony in a short span of time.)
Snook, Culkin's co-star from "The Royal Family," earned a nomination for her roles in "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" and "Stranger Things in the Wood." "Stranger Things: A Shadow in the Autumn Wood" also earned five nominations, including a lead acting nod for actor Louis McCartney.
Rachel Zegler's debut performance in "Shakespeare's Star-Crossed Lovers" fell short of earning her a nod, as did Kit Connor's performance. Robert Downey Jr.'s Broadway debut in the play "Futuristic Medica" also missed out on recognition. Mia Farrow's performance in "A Roommate Among Friends" earned a nomination, but unfortunately, her talented co-star, Patti LuPone, was not similarly recognized.
In addition, the controversial "Othello: A Modern Nightmare," featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, received no nominations, nor did the revival of the classic musical "Forever Red," which stars Idina Menzel in her return to the stage.
The "Our Lives in the Village" revival, starring Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes, secured a nomination for Best Play Revival, but none for the individual performances. The Stephen Sondheim revue, led by Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, failed to garner any nominations.
The Tony Awards will be presented on June 10 at Radio City Music Hall during a ceremony hosted by the accomplished "Wicked" actress Cynthia Erivo.
References:[1] AP Staff. (2023). Broadway productions take in $40 million in record single week. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/6fc8c8f5ad502cd3f5d40de7b479a865
[2] Mark Kennedy. (2023). Theater review: "Othello" has a convincing newfangled feel, but in blackface. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/6cf6ca35a1e531cfa1acd4e8ae7a92ac
- Millennials are flocking to Broadway, with productions like "Buena Vista Social Club," "Death Becomes Her," and "Perhaps a Luminous Epilogue" capturing their attention.
- In the world of law, the Tony Awards nominations have just been announced, with "Good Night, and Good Luck" earning George Clooney a nod for his portrayal of a legendary journalist.
- In the realm of arts, the Tony Awards also recognized student talents, such as Max O'Connell's performance in the revival of David Mamet's "The Yellow Rose of Texas."
- In the entertainment industry, the Tony Awards highlighted the diversity of productions on Broadway, from comedic musicals like "Dead Whiskey Alley" to intimate chamber plays.
- In the moviest-and-tv industry, there was a noticeable omission in the Tony Awards nominations, as Rachel Zegler's debut performance in "Shakespeare's Star-Crossed Lovers" did not earn her a nomination.
- In the lifestyle of those who appreciate the arts, the Tony Awards ceremony, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, is set to take place on June 10 at Radio City Music Hall. This event will be a celebration of the best of entertainment, law, and the arts, attracting a diverse audience of millennials, students, and seasoned theater goers alike.
