VIDEOS OF ALL TONY AWARD MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Every year I look forward to the Tony Awards, and every year I'm just a bit disappointed. Sure, there were some deserving winners (In the Heights, August Osage County, South Pacific, Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, Paulo Szot, Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed), but there were also some ho-hum performances, a no-show from Stephen Sondheim and a disappointing Rent reunion.
Well, you win some, you lose some.
Here's my take on the Best and Worst of the 2008 Tony Awards:
The Best
1. In the Heights performs "$96,000" and wins best musical
Easily the most spirited and well-produced number of the evening, In the Heights likely sold a lot of tickets with this performance, not to mention Lyn Manuel Miranda's charming acceptance speech for Best Score. Oh yeah -- that top musical prize won't hurt the Box Office either.
2. South Pacific takes home the most awards, and beautifully represents itself with a medley
Definitely the classiest performance, South Pacific got to show off it's Tony nominees Paulo Szot, Kelli O'Hara and Danny Burstein in a mostly well put-together number (the transition from "Some Enchanted Evening" to "Wonderful Guy" seemed a bit rushed to me). Kudos to the stellar Lincoln Center Theater production for taking home all of the Design Awards, as well as trophies for director Bart Sher, leading man Szot and Best Revival. And didn't you just love Andre Bishop's speech?
3. Gypsy brings down the house, and picks up three acting prizes
I probably would have given the Featured Actor award to Passing Strange's Daniel Breaker over Boyd Gaines, but other than that I can't quibble with the prizes for Patti Lupone and Laura Benanti. And how about "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? While I would have prefered "Rose's Turn," there's no denying La Lupone -- and her speech was fabulously over-the-top. Loved it.
4. Stew and Passing Strange give the Tony's a jolt
Passing Strange doesn't easily lend itself to an out-of-context production number, but they got to show off the unique energy of the show, as well as the stellar performances of Breaker, Stew and the rest of the cast. And though Strange didn't take home any major awards (and will likely announce a closing date soon), I was happy to see Stew pick up the prize for Best Book.
5. Xanadu brings a light kick to the proceedings
There one shot at taking home a Tony disappeared early in the evening after Douglas Carter Beane's book lost out to Stew, but their production number was easily the most lighthearted fun of the whole proceedings. And don't even get me started on Cheyenne Jackson in those short-shorts!
Honorable Mentions:
-August Osage County's wins for Rondi Reed, Deanna Dunagan and Best Play
-Boeing Boeing taking out Macbeth for the Best Revival of a Play trophy
-Liza Minelli. Just 'cause.
Coming soon...the WORST of this years's Tony's. Stay tuned!
VIDEOS OF ALL TONY AWARD MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Best and Worst of the 2008 Tony Awards
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Broadway Video: South Pacific on The View
Here's a video of Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot performing "Some Enchanted Evening" from Lincoln Center Theater's production of South Pacific on yesterday's The View.
Could they be more gorgeous??
Click here for a video of Kelli and the girls singing "I'm Gonna Wash That Man" on Letterman.
Click here for Tony Award predictions in the musical categories
Friday, February 29, 2008
Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific Starts Performances Tomorrow!
Lincoln Center Theater's production of South Pacific (the first-ever Broadway revival!) begins performance tomorrow at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, starring two-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara and Brazilian opera star Paulo Szot.
By all accounts the show looks and sounds amazing, and tickets are going fast, so be sure to order yours now. And if the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein doesn't interest you, perhaps hot guys do? If so, check out the pics of Matthew Morrison (Lt. Joe Cable) and Szot (Emile de Becque). Smokin!
To order tickets, visit www.telecharge.com.
Photos by Joan Marcus
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Matthew Morrison to Join O'Hara and Szot in Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific
Mmmmm, he's gonna look cute in a sailor costume.
Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Matthew Morrison will star alongside Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot in their revival of South Pacific this Spring. Morrison, who previously appeared at LCT opposite O'Hara in The Light in the Piazza, will play the role of Lt. Joe Cable. Danny Burstein (The Drowsy Chaperone) will play Luther Billis in the first-ever Broadway revival of the show, while newcomer Loretta Able Sayres will take on the showy role of Bloody Mary.
Morrison was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Piazza. He also originated the role of Link Larkin in Hairspray, and earlier this year appeared in the Patty Griffin musical 10 Million Miles at the Atlantic Theater Company.
Happy talk, indeed!
Here are some pictures of Morrison and O'Hara in Piazza:
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot to Star in Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific
Bali hai!
Lincoln Center Theater (gotta love 'em!) has announced it's Nellie and Emile for the first-ever revival of South Pacific, which will open this spring at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.
Kelli O'Hara, who was Tony nominated for her performances in Light in the Piazza and The Pajama Game, will play Nellie, the woman who declares she will "wash that man right out of her hair." Brazilian opera star Paulo Szot, meanwhile, will play her older love interest Emile.
The rest of the casting will be announced in the coming months.
Some enchanted evening, indeed!
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