BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Tony Awards Stories

Tony Committee Decides to Take No Further Action on WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Infraction

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:29:03 PST

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? has been nominated for four Tony Awards this year, including Best Revival of a Play,and as BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, the show has been under scrutiny for a possible infraction of the Tony Award committee's strict set of rules. The infraction, the New York Post reports, is due to a brochure that was sent to award voters that had not been approved by the manager of the Tony Administration, Jean Kroeper Murphy.

The Tony committee met yesterday, May 23, to discuss possible penalties for the offense- which could have included suspending VIRGINA WOOLF producers' Tony Votes or disqualifying the show's nominations.

UPDATE: Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, Heather Hitchens, and Executive Director of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, released the following statement on the results of the meeting: "The Tony Awards Administration Committee met, considered the infraction and have issued a serious warning to the producers of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The infraction which involved using abbreviated quotes from the critical reviews, were consistent with the overall intent of those reviews, and therefore the committee determined that no further action would be taken on this issue."

Directed by Tony Award nominee Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park), WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? featured the original Steppenwolf cast led by Tracy Letts and Amy Morton, the playwright and the star August: Osage County.

"Jerry Frankel, Susan Gallin, Mary Lu Roffe and myself - the lead producers of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' - apologize to Nelle Nugent and 'The Trip to Bountiful' and the other nominees, 'Orphans' and 'Golden Boy,'" Richards told the Post. "An honest mistake was made."

MATILDAs, Huntington Theatre Company & More to Be Honored at Tony Awards Pre-Broadcast

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:27:03 PST

The partnership will commence at the annual Tony Eve Cocktail Party which will take place on Saturday, June 8th, hosted by the Paramount Hotel's food and beverage partner, LDV Hospitality, at their Midtown restaurant, Lugo Caffé (One Penn Plaza). At the event, the Tony Awards will present the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to: Career Transition for Dancers; William Craver; Peter Lawrence, The Lost Colony and the actresses who share the role of "Matilda" in Matilda the Musical: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Baily Ryan and Milly Shapiro. They will also present the Huntington Theatre Company with the Regional Theatre Award. The evening will also celebrate the 2013 Special Award Recipients; Isabelle Stevenson Award honoree Larry Kramer; and the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award - Bernard Gersten, Ming Cho Lee and Paul Libin.

The event will celebrate this year's Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre and Special Tony Awards.

The Paramount Hotel will also have a presence a the 2013 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 9th, when they host the official "Winner's Circle Lounge" - the first location where Tony winners will be whisked away to, to celebrate their newly minted statuette with a glass of champagne.

The partnership will expand next season, as the Paramount Hotel will host the 2014 Live Tony Awards Nominations Announcement, the 2014 Meet the Nominees Press Reception, the 2014 Tony Nominees Luncheon and the 2014 Tony Honors Cocktail Reception.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Paramount Hotel - a historic Times Square landmark. The Paramount has been part of Times Square and the Theatre District's history for many years and we look forward to many years to come!" said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing.

"Supporting the arts and recognizing the accomplishments of the artists and players whose creative work enriches all of our lives is important to me. It is befitting that Paramount Hotel who shares a similar creative imagination is the new Tony awards official hotel partner," says Aby Rosen, Co-founder of RFR Holding LLC. "Our partnership brings two iconic brands together to further strengthen and support our thriving Broadway and Times Square community. We couldn't be more excited."

The 2013 Tony Awards will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on CBS, on Sunday, June 9th 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay) and are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

For more information on the 2013 Tony Awards, please visit www.TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards, follow @TheTonyAwards and use #tonyawards on Twitter and Instagram.

STAGE TUBE: Go Behind the Scenes of the 2013 Tony Awards Promo Shoot with Laura Osnes, Cyndi Lauper, Lilla Crawford & More!

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:52:03 PST

THE 67TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall, Sunday, June 9 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The show returns to Radio City Music Hall after two years at the Beacon Theatre. Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris returns as host. In the video below, go behind the scenes of a special promo shoot for the Tony Awards, featuring Cyndi Lauper, Laura Osnes, Lilla Crawford, Richard Kind and more!

The Tonys were founded in memorial to Antoinette ("Tony") Perry, the American Theatre Wing's World War II chairperson. The winners are selected by approximately 830 eligible voters. These include voting members of The Broadway League and the board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee of the American Theatre Wing, along with members of the governing boards of Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), United Scenic Artists and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers. Other eligible voters include members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America, the New York Drama Critics' Circle, the board/council of the National Association of Talent Representatives, and the Tony Awards Nominating Committee.

The June 2011 broadcast of "The 65th Annual Tony Awards" was honored this past year with four Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Special Class Program, Outstanding Art Direction for Variety or Nonfiction Programming, Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special.

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The Tony Awards Committee Will Meet Today to Discuss Possible WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINA WOOLF? Infraction

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? has been nominated for four Tony Awards this year, including Best Revival of a Play, but now the show is under scrutiny for a possible infraction of the Tony Award committee's strict set of rules.

The infraction, the New York Post reports, is due to a brochure that was sent to award voters that had not been approved by the manager of the Tony Administration, Jean Kroeper Murphy. The Tony committee is slated to meet today, May 23, and penalties for the possible offense could include suspending VIRGINA WOOLF producers' Tony Votes or disqualifying the show's nominations.

Tony Awards Set for Broadcast on CBS Through 2018!

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:59:56 PST

CBS announced today a new broadcast agreement with The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing that will keep the annual TONY Awards broadcast on the CBS Television Network through 2018. The awards show, which honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been a part of the CBS family for the past 35 years.

"The TONY Awards give viewers across the country the opportunity to experience the excitement of Broadway theater from their very own living rooms," said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. "We're pleased to renew our commitment to the performing arts and look forward to continuing this great and long-standing partnership by bringing the best of Broadway to primetime television for many years to come."

"We would like to thank CBS for their continued support of The TONY Awards," said Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. "Their dedication to our community allows us to bring the finest of the Broadway season into the homes of our fans each and every year - and also allows us to introduce the world of theatre to new audiences across the country."

First airing on CBS in 1978, this year marks the 67th anniversary of the TONY Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947 at the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom. The ceremonies are presented by Tony AwaRD Productions, which is a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, which founded the Tonys.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers. Also, Weiss will serve as director for the 14th consecutive year.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson's TIE THE KNOT Creates Special Tony Awards Bow Tie!

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:17:07 PST

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and partner, Justin Mikita, have created an exclusive special edition bow tie by "Tie The Knot" for the 2013 Tony Awards. This stylish black textured silk necktie with subtle silver and royal blue stripes is formal enough for black tie affairs such as the Tonys, or for just hanging out on a Saturday in Central Park. "Tie The Knot" was founded to raise awareness and advocate on behalf of marriage equality. All proceeds benefit United States organizations fighting on behalf of LGBT Civil Rights. This exclusive, limited edition Tony bow tie is available for purchase at www.TheTieBar.com. for $25.

The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall, on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 9, 2013.

For more information on the 2013 Tony Awards, please visit www.TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards, follow @TheTonyAwards and use #tonyawards on Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on the fight for equal marriage rights, visit the Tie The Knot website www.tietheknot.org.

The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Nick Scandalios is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the American Theatre Wing, William Ivey Long is Chairman and Heather Hitchens is Executive Director. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the Executive Producers of the 2013 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2013 Tony Awards.

IBM, the official information technology partner of the Tony Awards, develops, designs, and hosts the official Tony Awards website, www.TonyAwards.com across digital platforms. Audemars Piguet is the presenting sponsor of the Tony Awards Red Carpet and Green Room. United Airlines is the official airline of the Tony Awards. The New York Times is the official and exclusive print media partner of the Tony Awards. Nexxus Salon Hair Care is the official beauty partner of the Tony Awards. PEOPLE is the official magazine partner of The Tony Awards.

Using a fun play on words, Tie The Knot was founded to raise awareness and advocate on behalf of marriage equality in the United States through art, fashion and entertainment. Combining elements of humor, style and individuality-Tie The Knot releases a limited edition collection of neckwear each season. Tie The Knot's debut line, which launched in November, sold out in less than four weeks. The spring and summer collections have nearly sold out as well.

For more information on the fight for equal marriage rights, Tie The Knot will keep an active blog with up-to-date news and developments throughout the country on their website www.tietheknot.org. You can also follow Tie The Knot on Twitter (https://twitter.com/TieTheKnotOrg), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TieTheKnotOrg)Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/TieTheKnotOrg) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/TieTheKnotOrg).

Back in 2004, two Chicago attorneys got fed up at paying a fortune for neckties. So rather than continuing to complain about it, they created The Tie Bar (www.TheTieBar.com). Teaching themselves about neckwear design and the retail business, they boldly launched The Tie Bar's first collection and opened its virtual doors. Soon their neckties began being featured by major media outlets such as GQ Magazine, major television networks, newspapers and fashion magazines around the world. Their success is credited to a simple business premise-designing their own colorful and stylish neckties (now available in silk, wool, linen and cotton), and then selling them at an affordable price.

BWW TV Exclusive: Meet the 2013 Tony Nominees- Judith Light on Being Back at the Tonys Party for the Third Straight Year!

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:00:47 PST

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Judith Light, a nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for The Assembled Parties. Check out what she had to say below!

In June of 2012, Light was awarded the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Other Desert Cities. She also won a Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actress for the same play. Written by Jon Robin Baitz, Other Desert Cities is centered on a daughter played by Rachel Griffiths who presents her family with a memoir she is about to publish. Light played the role of Silda Grauman, the alcoholic aunt who is known to make snide remarks. Light was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play in 2011, for her performance in Lombardi, the American play by Academy Award winner Eric Simpson. Directed by Tony nominee Thomas Kail, the play was based on the best-selling biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer-winning author David Maraniss. Light stared in the play as Marie Lombardi alongside Dan Lauria who played sports icon Vince Lombardi.

THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES welcomes us to the world of the Bascovs, an Upper West Side Jewish family in 1980. In a sprawlingCentral Park West apartment, former movie star Julie Bascov (Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht) and her sister-in-law Faye (Tony and Emmy Award winner Judith Light) bring their families together for their traditional holiday dinner. But tonight, things are not usual. A house guest (Tony nominee Jeremy Shamos) has joined the festivities for the first time and he unwittingly - or perhaps by design - insinuates himself into the family drama. Twenty years later, as 2001 approaches, the Bascovs' seemingly picture-perfect life may be about to crumble. A stunning new play infused with humor, The Assembled Parties is an incisive portrait of a family grasping for stability at the dawn of a new millennium.

Click here for the complete list of nominees!

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BWW TV Exclusive: Meet the 2013 Tony Nominees- MOTOWN's Charl Brown on Performing for the Best Audience on Broadway!

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:00:50 PST

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Charl Brown, a nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Motown. Check out what he had to say below!

His Broadway credits include: Jersey Boys (Barry Belson), Sister Act (Officer Eddie Souther, TJ, Pablo U/S, Ensemble). Off Broadway: Walmartopia (Pearson/Lawrence). Theater: Jersey Boys (Barry Belson) Palazzo Las Vegas, Hair (Hud) European Tour, Johnny Baseball (Tim Wyatt), ART, Dreamgirls (Curtis Taylor, Jr.) SDMT, The Wiz (Scarecrow U/S, Ensemble) La Jolla Playhouse, Ragtime(Coalhouse) Performance Riverside, Six Degrees of Separation (Paul) Long Beach Playhouse,Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), Chorus Line (Richie) Starlight Theater, Star Wars Trilogy 30 Minutes (Lando Calrissian) Edinburgh Fringe Festival. TV: "America's Got Talent," "Macy's 85th Thanksgiving Parade." www.charlbrown.com

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL features a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the Motown legendary catalog, this exhilarating show tells the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed America forever. It charts Motown founder and Detroit native Berry Gordy's incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross and The Supremes, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more.

Click here for the complete list of nominees!

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The Tony Awards Committee Will Meet May 23 to Discuss Possible WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINA WOOLF? Infraction

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:21 PST

The infraction, the New York Post reports, is due to a brochure that was sent to award voters that had not been approved by the manager of the Tony Administration, Jean Kroeper Murphy. The Tony committee is slated to meet on May 23, and penalties for the possible offense could include suspending VIRGINA WOOLF producers' Tony Votes or disqualifying the show's nominations.

BWW TV Exclusive: Meet the 2013 Tony Nominees- KINKY BOOT's Annaleigh Ashford on Her Tonys Powerball Win!

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:00:49 PST

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Annaleigh Ashford, a nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for Kinky Boots. Check out what she had to say below!

Her Broadway credits include: Hair (Jeannie), Wicked (Glinda); Legally Blonde - original cast (Margot). Off-Broadway: Dogfight (Marcy), RENT(Maureen). Chicago: Wicked (Glinda) Film: Sex & the City, Rachel Getting Married. TV: "Made In Jersey," "Masters of Sex," "Smash," "The Big C," "Nurse Jackie," "Law & Order," "Legally Blonde." Nominated for Drama League & Clive Barnes Awards for RENT.

From Grammy Award-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein comes the exhilarating new musical Kinky Boots, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. Charlie Price (Tony nominee Stark Sands) has suddenly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola (Billy Porter). A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible... and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Click here for the complete list of nominees!

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