Well, people. Tonight's the night for the Tonys! Also best known to myself as the Northeast's big answer to those country music awards, only this time, it's more classier and about the Theater. Thoughtout the night, I'll be watching the telecast and commenting on the action starting at 8pm sharp. Again, here's are my picks:
Best Musical: Matlida The Musical
Best Play: Vayna and Sonia and Masha and Spike-Christopher Durang
Best Revival of a Musical: Pippin
Best Revival of a Play: The Trip to Bountiful
Best Actor in a Play: Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Best Actress in a Play: Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Actor in a Musical: Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Best Actress in a Musical: Laura Osnes, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Featured Actor in a Play: Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Best Featured Actress in a Play: Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Gabriel Ebert, Matlida The Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Andrea Martin, Pippin
Best Score: Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots
Best Book of a Musical: Dennis Kelly, Matilda The Musical
Best Direction of a Play: George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy
Best Direction of a Musical: Diane Paulus, Pippin
Best Choreography: Chet Walker, Pippin
Best Orchestrations: Danny Troob, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Scenic Design of a Play: John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Best Costume Design of a Play: Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Best Costume Design of a Musical: William Ivey Long, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Hugh Vanstone, Matlida the Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play: John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Sound Design of a Musical: Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
These are my final picks for now. I'll be back at 8:00pm sharp for the big action. (And I don't mean the NBA finals!)
Tonys Pregame
7:20pm:
40 minutes until showtime, America! But right now, they about to give the creative awards off-camera as we speak.
7:40pm:
20 minutes left! Can't believe the Tony Awards website won't show the creative arts awards.
7:48pm:
Places in 12 minutes!
7:57pm:
Three minute call! Get ready now!
Tony Awards
8:00pm:
As Roy Schneider used to say in the film, All That Jazz, "It's showtime, folks!"
8:01pm:
Neil really nailed it with that Shia Lebouf joke. Great to be back in Radio City!
8:08pm:
Neil's opening number is in one word, speechless. The best opening number I ever seen in Tony history so far. Tough opening act to follow for next year.
8:10pm:
Best Featured Actor, Play:
Courtney B. Vance (0-26). What a surprise win. I remember him from his years on Law and Order:CI.
8:16pm:
Seeing Matilda's great performance there made me think a bit about getting tickets maybe during fall or when it comes to tdf. It may be a bit too dark for some, but I think it's a perfect family musical.
8:23pm:
Funny mash-ups of play and musical titles, Neil.
8:26pm:
Best Featured Actress, Play:
Judith gets her second Tony in a row! (1-26) She calls the theatre community "her family".
8:30pm:
Bring It On: The Musical's performance feels like Disney Channel Movie-lite to me. I loved this kind of music better in In the Heights.
8:37pm:
Best Costume Design, Musical:
William Ivey Long, Cinderella (2-26)
Best Costume Design, Play:
Ann Roth, The Nance (2-26)
8:39pm:
Best Featured Actor, Musical:
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda (3-26) "Let's make good plays."
8:46pm:
What a lovely performance from the cast of Cinderella. I'm hoping to see it during this summer.
8:51pm:
Best Sound Design, Musical:
John Shivers, Kinky Boots (3-26)
Best Sound Design, Play:
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance (3-26)
NPH is nailing it so far with these Mike Tyson jokes. At this rate, Tyson could be the Jack Palance of the Tonys.
8:53pm:
Very funny banter about the wing from the Wing from Liam (tragedy) and Oliver (comedy).
8:59pm:
Best Direction of a Musical:
Diane Paulus, Pippin (4-26). You really deserve it, girl. To her two daughters, she calls them her "joy and inspiration.
Best Direction of a Play:
Pam MacKinnon, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (4-26). Can't believe they didn't forget Woolf.
9:01pm:
Watching Motown's stale performance is making me think about 'Round Midnight: The Musical, based on the 1986 movie. Now, that would make a perfect jukebox (or jazz club) musical.
9:10pm:
The jokes tonight are killing me, literary.
Best Orchestrations:
Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots (4-26)
9:12pm:
"Girl, you gonna have fun tonight!" Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots (5-26)
She thanks "Broadway for welcoming her" and to be a "part of this community".
9:16pm:
Lynch is funny with a capital F as Hannigan. Annie sure looks like something to see when I have time.
9:23pm:
I feel sorry for that little black kid singing in the commercial. He had a bright future ahead of him.
9:24pm:
Best Choreography:
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots (5-26)
9:26pm:
Wondering how the big bosses at both CBS and NBC are watching this outrageous cancelled TV shows song. And to think CBS is still on fire and NBC is on its way to becoming a late store like Stern's (Remember the location at Valley Stream?).
9:30pm:
Best Featured Actress, Musical:
Andrea Martin, Pippin (6-26). Looks like Canada is going to have a riot tonight for her.
Delivers one of the night's best speeches, with the orchestra getting ready to cut her off on time.
9:36pm:
The Rascals really rocked the joint with "Good Lovin". This is the best Tony Awards ceremony for me so far.
9:43pm:
Best Play:
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike- Christopher Durang (7-26)
Durang finally gets his first Tony.
9:47pm:
NPH is having a weird time with Sandy. Wonder how the ASPCA and PETA is gonna say about this tomorrow.
9:52pm:
Amazing performance featuring the cast of A Christmas Story. If Gregory Hines were alive to see this, he would be so proud.
9:57pm:
Can't believe DHP crashed NPH's phone. The fun really never ends. Don't forget to turn off your phone before every performance in the theatre!
10:02pm:
Watching Pippin's performance makes me feel like I'm in Fosse's circus playground in heaven.
10:04pm:
Best Revival of a Play:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (7-26)
The voters really never forgotten it. Huh? Tough speech with both mic problems and a cut-off from a orchestra.
10:12pm:
Best Book of a Musical:
Dennis Kelly, Matilda The Musical (8-26)
Hal Prince gets a big standing ovation from the crowd. Can't believe he's old and still kicking. 21 Tonys in his career! Wow!
10:14pm:
I think that some of the music in Phantom is outdated. Don't you think?
10:17pm:
Another Tyson Joke!
10:18pm:
Best Actor in a Musical:
Amen! Billy Porter, Kinky Boots (9-26)
Very inspiring speech, with help from the orchestra. Porter is the Cuba Gooding Jr. of the Tonys.
10:21pm:
Best Actor in a Play:
Tracy Letts, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (9-26)
What a surprise! Thought Hanks going to take this home.
10:27pm:
What a touching tribute to all of those who we lost this past season. They got Jean Stapleton and, unlike the Oscars, they didn't forget Andy Griffin. What a fine rendition of "True Colors" by Ms. Lauper.
10:32pm:
Best Lighting Design, Musical:
Hugh Vanstone, Matlida The Musical (10-26)
Best Lighting Design, Play:
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy (11-26)
10:35pm:
Best Actress of a Play:
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (12-26)
A great standing ovation. One of the best Tonys speeches in history. Bar-none.
10:39pm:
Best Actress of a Musical:
Patina Miller, Pippin (12-26)
For the second time in Tony Award history, two blacks finally won the Tonys for Best Actor and Actress in a Musical. (It happened the first time in 1982 with Dreamgirls.) Plus, for a first, two blacks won for Best Actress in a Musical and Play. This is a unforgettable night for the African-American theatre community.
10:44pm:
Don't know how Kinky Boots won for best choreography. Score feels catchy and spirited but for me, the dancing feels routine.
10:48pm:
22 awards down, 4 more to go.
10:52pm:
Best Scenic Design, Musical:
Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical (13-26)
Best Scenic Design, Play:
John Lee Beatty, The Nance (14-26)
10:54pm:
Best Revival of a Musical:
Pippin (15-26)
The last award we're all been waiting for is on its way. (Yes. It's Best Musical.)
10:57pm:
NPH is just about writing his finale number as we speak.
11:02pm:
Best Musical:
Kinky Boots (15-26)
I wasn't surprised. NPH, let's take this home.
11:06pm:
Classy end with Audra and NPH to one of the greatest and must outrageous Tonys I seen in years. Good night, Broadway! Don't forget to take in a show on Broadway or wherever you are!
Best Musical: Matlida The Musical
Best Play: Vayna and Sonia and Masha and Spike-Christopher Durang
Best Revival of a Musical: Pippin
Best Revival of a Play: The Trip to Bountiful
Best Actor in a Play: Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Best Actress in a Play: Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Actor in a Musical: Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Best Actress in a Musical: Laura Osnes, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Featured Actor in a Play: Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Best Featured Actress in a Play: Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Gabriel Ebert, Matlida The Musical
Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Andrea Martin, Pippin
Best Score: Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots
Best Book of a Musical: Dennis Kelly, Matilda The Musical
Best Direction of a Play: George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy
Best Direction of a Musical: Diane Paulus, Pippin
Best Choreography: Chet Walker, Pippin
Best Orchestrations: Danny Troob, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Scenic Design of a Play: John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Best Costume Design of a Play: Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Best Costume Design of a Musical: William Ivey Long, Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Hugh Vanstone, Matlida the Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play: John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Best Sound Design of a Musical: Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
These are my final picks for now. I'll be back at 8:00pm sharp for the big action. (And I don't mean the NBA finals!)
Tonys Pregame
7:20pm:
40 minutes until showtime, America! But right now, they about to give the creative awards off-camera as we speak.
7:40pm:
20 minutes left! Can't believe the Tony Awards website won't show the creative arts awards.
7:48pm:
Places in 12 minutes!
7:57pm:
Three minute call! Get ready now!
Tony Awards
8:00pm:
As Roy Schneider used to say in the film, All That Jazz, "It's showtime, folks!"
8:01pm:
Neil really nailed it with that Shia Lebouf joke. Great to be back in Radio City!
8:08pm:
Neil's opening number is in one word, speechless. The best opening number I ever seen in Tony history so far. Tough opening act to follow for next year.
8:10pm:
Best Featured Actor, Play:
Courtney B. Vance (0-26). What a surprise win. I remember him from his years on Law and Order:CI.
8:16pm:
Seeing Matilda's great performance there made me think a bit about getting tickets maybe during fall or when it comes to tdf. It may be a bit too dark for some, but I think it's a perfect family musical.
8:23pm:
Funny mash-ups of play and musical titles, Neil.
8:26pm:
Best Featured Actress, Play:
Judith gets her second Tony in a row! (1-26) She calls the theatre community "her family".
8:30pm:
Bring It On: The Musical's performance feels like Disney Channel Movie-lite to me. I loved this kind of music better in In the Heights.
8:37pm:
Best Costume Design, Musical:
William Ivey Long, Cinderella (2-26)
Best Costume Design, Play:
Ann Roth, The Nance (2-26)
8:39pm:
Best Featured Actor, Musical:
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda (3-26) "Let's make good plays."
8:46pm:
What a lovely performance from the cast of Cinderella. I'm hoping to see it during this summer.
8:51pm:
Best Sound Design, Musical:
John Shivers, Kinky Boots (3-26)
Best Sound Design, Play:
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance (3-26)
NPH is nailing it so far with these Mike Tyson jokes. At this rate, Tyson could be the Jack Palance of the Tonys.
8:53pm:
Very funny banter about the wing from the Wing from Liam (tragedy) and Oliver (comedy).
8:59pm:
Best Direction of a Musical:
Diane Paulus, Pippin (4-26). You really deserve it, girl. To her two daughters, she calls them her "joy and inspiration.
Best Direction of a Play:
Pam MacKinnon, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (4-26). Can't believe they didn't forget Woolf.
9:01pm:
Watching Motown's stale performance is making me think about 'Round Midnight: The Musical, based on the 1986 movie. Now, that would make a perfect jukebox (or jazz club) musical.
9:10pm:
The jokes tonight are killing me, literary.
Best Orchestrations:
Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots (4-26)
9:12pm:
"Girl, you gonna have fun tonight!" Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots (5-26)
She thanks "Broadway for welcoming her" and to be a "part of this community".
9:16pm:
Lynch is funny with a capital F as Hannigan. Annie sure looks like something to see when I have time.
9:23pm:
I feel sorry for that little black kid singing in the commercial. He had a bright future ahead of him.
9:24pm:
Best Choreography:
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots (5-26)
9:26pm:
Wondering how the big bosses at both CBS and NBC are watching this outrageous cancelled TV shows song. And to think CBS is still on fire and NBC is on its way to becoming a late store like Stern's (Remember the location at Valley Stream?).
9:30pm:
Best Featured Actress, Musical:
Andrea Martin, Pippin (6-26). Looks like Canada is going to have a riot tonight for her.
Delivers one of the night's best speeches, with the orchestra getting ready to cut her off on time.
9:36pm:
The Rascals really rocked the joint with "Good Lovin". This is the best Tony Awards ceremony for me so far.
9:43pm:
Best Play:
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike- Christopher Durang (7-26)
Durang finally gets his first Tony.
9:47pm:
NPH is having a weird time with Sandy. Wonder how the ASPCA and PETA is gonna say about this tomorrow.
9:52pm:
Amazing performance featuring the cast of A Christmas Story. If Gregory Hines were alive to see this, he would be so proud.
9:57pm:
Can't believe DHP crashed NPH's phone. The fun really never ends. Don't forget to turn off your phone before every performance in the theatre!
10:02pm:
Watching Pippin's performance makes me feel like I'm in Fosse's circus playground in heaven.
10:04pm:
Best Revival of a Play:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (7-26)
The voters really never forgotten it. Huh? Tough speech with both mic problems and a cut-off from a orchestra.
10:12pm:
Best Book of a Musical:
Dennis Kelly, Matilda The Musical (8-26)
Hal Prince gets a big standing ovation from the crowd. Can't believe he's old and still kicking. 21 Tonys in his career! Wow!
10:14pm:
I think that some of the music in Phantom is outdated. Don't you think?
10:17pm:
Another Tyson Joke!
10:18pm:
Best Actor in a Musical:
Amen! Billy Porter, Kinky Boots (9-26)
Very inspiring speech, with help from the orchestra. Porter is the Cuba Gooding Jr. of the Tonys.
10:21pm:
Best Actor in a Play:
Tracy Letts, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (9-26)
What a surprise! Thought Hanks going to take this home.
10:27pm:
What a touching tribute to all of those who we lost this past season. They got Jean Stapleton and, unlike the Oscars, they didn't forget Andy Griffin. What a fine rendition of "True Colors" by Ms. Lauper.
10:32pm:
Best Lighting Design, Musical:
Hugh Vanstone, Matlida The Musical (10-26)
Best Lighting Design, Play:
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy (11-26)
10:35pm:
Best Actress of a Play:
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful (12-26)
A great standing ovation. One of the best Tonys speeches in history. Bar-none.
10:39pm:
Best Actress of a Musical:
Patina Miller, Pippin (12-26)
For the second time in Tony Award history, two blacks finally won the Tonys for Best Actor and Actress in a Musical. (It happened the first time in 1982 with Dreamgirls.) Plus, for a first, two blacks won for Best Actress in a Musical and Play. This is a unforgettable night for the African-American theatre community.
10:44pm:
Don't know how Kinky Boots won for best choreography. Score feels catchy and spirited but for me, the dancing feels routine.
10:48pm:
22 awards down, 4 more to go.
10:52pm:
Best Scenic Design, Musical:
Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical (13-26)
Best Scenic Design, Play:
John Lee Beatty, The Nance (14-26)
10:54pm:
Best Revival of a Musical:
Pippin (15-26)
The last award we're all been waiting for is on its way. (Yes. It's Best Musical.)
10:57pm:
NPH is just about writing his finale number as we speak.
11:02pm:
Best Musical:
Kinky Boots (15-26)
I wasn't surprised. NPH, let's take this home.
11:06pm:
Classy end with Audra and NPH to one of the greatest and must outrageous Tonys I seen in years. Good night, Broadway! Don't forget to take in a show on Broadway or wherever you are!
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