News

Survival of the Thickest is headed to Netflix this summer. The streaming service has announced the premiere date for the new comedy series with the release of a trailer.

Starring series creator Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Christine Horn, and Tasha Smith, the single-camera comedy follows Mavis Beaumont (Buteau), a proud plus-sized woman and aspiring stylist. The story follows Mavis as she rebuilds her life following a recent breakup. The series is based on Buteau's memoir.

Guests in the first season will include Annisa Felix, Allan K. Washington, Ambre Anderson, Anna George, Anthony Michael Lopez, Becca Blackwell, Christine Jones, Garcelle Beauvais, Hugh Moore, J. Riley Jr., Mark McKinnon, and Marouane Zotti.

Read More…...

Daniel Craig will return to Broadway next spring in the starring role of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with Ruth Negga taking on Lady Macbeth in an all-new, 15-week production to be directed by Tony Award winner Sam Gold, producers announced today.

Macbeth will begin performances on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre, with an official opening on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

“Daniel is not only a great film actor but a magnificent theatre actor as well,” said Macbeth producer Barbara Broccoli, who also produces the James Bond film franchise that featured Craig in the title role. “I am thrilled that he will be supporting the return of Broadway playing this iconic role with the exquisitely talented Ruth Negga making her Broadway debut and under the expert direction of Sam Gold.”

Gold, who was Tony-nominated in 2017 for A Doll’s House, Part 2 and won...

Update, with new start date The new, one-play version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will begin performances four days earlier than previously announced, with the start now set for Friday, Nov. 12, at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre. No reason for the move was detailed in the announcement today.

Previous, June 28 A new version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is returning to North American stages as a one-show experience.

The world premiere theatrical event will take place November 16 at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre in New York. The show will debut at the Curran in San Francisco on January 11. The Canadian premiere will begin performances in May at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. Cursed Child was previously a two-part event.

“Collaborating on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been one of the great joys of my professional life,” author J.K. Rowling said. “While no one would wish...

1968: Dark Shadows' Mrs. Johnson had a terrible dream.

1981: John Dixon took a tumble down the stairs on As the World Turns.

2002: All My Children's Bianca called her sister, Kendall, "evil".

2010: It was prom night for One Life to Live's Starr X'd Lovers."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On Dark Shadows, Cassandra (Lara Parker) encouraged Mrs. Johnson (Clarice Blackburn) to get some sleep but Mrs. Johnson told her she was afraid of having a terrible dream. Once Mrs. Johnson fell asleep she had the dream,...

1968: Angelique's portrait first appeared on Dark Shadows.

1980: The Edge of Night's Nola confessed her crimes.

1989: Another World's Vicky gave birth to a baby boy.

1996: General Hospital's Jason ran into Robin on the bridge."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) tried to console Dr. Karen Werner (Laryssa Lauret) after she received a cablegram with news of her father's death.

1968: On Dark Shadows, Natalie DuPres (Grayson Hall) saw the portrait of Josette hanging over the...

The 2019 Tony Awards may be months away, but the Tony Awards Administration Committee is busy determining category placement for shows from the 2018-2019 Broadway season.

The committee met for the second time this season to determine Tony Award eligibility for ten Broadway productions. The shows discussed were: “American Son,” “The Cher Show,” “The Lifespan of a Fact,” “The Ferryman,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The New One,” “Network,” “The Prom,” “Torch Song,” and “The Waverly Gallery.”

Here is the full list of decisions made by the committee:

Paddy Considine and Laura Donnelly will be eligible for Lead Actor/Actress in a Play for “The Ferryman.”

Joan Allen, Michael Cera, and David Cromer will be eligible for Featured Actress/Actor in a Play for “The Waverly Gallery.”

Mercedes Ruehl will be eligible for Featured Actress in a Play for “Torch Song.”

Brooks Ashmanskas, Beth Leavel, and Caitlin Kinnunen will be eligible for...

The Walking Dead season 9 continued last night and episode 7, titled “Stradavarius,” picked up right where the last outing left off – with Rosita running from the whispering walkers hunting her down. It was a tense opening sequence and it seems fans just couldn’t handle it.

Though the show’s trying to fool us into thinking that these are more evolved zombies, viewers who know the comic books are well aware that these are actually the Whisperers, savage human survivors who’ve taken to wearing walker skins to blend into the hordes of the undead undetected. As in this case, it also allows them to hunt down and attack members of other, more civilized, communities.

Some fans were hyped for the group finally making their TV debut, as evidenced by the Tweet below:

The Whisperers Are Here! #TheWalkingDead pic.twitter.com/C8y3IelSl1

— Jaymie Rae (@JaymieRae2) November 19, 2018

Others, though, were...

1965: Peyton Place's Connie learned of Allison's accident.

1986: Search or Tomorrow's Suzi crashed her car.

1986: Pat proposal was rejected on Ryan's Hope.

2005: Guiding Light's Olivia confessed to Bill."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1947: On radio soap opera Lora Lawton, Joe visited Lora (Jan Miner) at her London flat. She told him she was going to communicate with Peter through a series of pictures she drew for him.

1965: On Peyton Place, Dr. Michael Rossi (Ed Nelson) called Connie MacKenzie (Dorothy Malone) to tell her that her daughter, Allison, was injured in a hit-and-run accident.

1969: Bright Promise premiered on NBC.

1978: The final episode of For Richer, For Poorer aired on NBC.

1986: Another World's Marley and Jake were married.

1989: Terry Lester debuted as Mason Capwell on Santa Barbara."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1947: Radio soap opera Claudia premiered. Due in large part to the success of the two Claudia movies, the D'Arcy advertising agency decided to bring the characters to radio in a five-a-week quarter-hour serial on behalf of its client, Coca-Cola. Kathryn Bard was cast as Claudia and Paul Crabtree as David, with Joe King announcing.

1969: Bright...

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.

1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor

party. 1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.

1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.

1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything, a short-lived ABC daytime soap opera that had only...

1965: Final episode of Atwt spinoff Our Private World aired.

1984: Syndicated soap opera Rituals premiered.

1999: All My Children's Mateo told Hayley he loved her.

2008: As the World Turns' Aaron and Alison married."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1965: CBS aired the final episode of As the World Turns primetime spin-off, Our Private World. Eileen Fulton moved the character of Lisa Hughes from Oakdale to Chicago for the show, which lasted four months while airing twice a week. The series, created by Irna Phillips and William J. Bell, was CBS-tv's answer to ABC's popular Peyton Place.

The news that “Shameless” star Emmy Rossum will leave the Showtime drama after its ninth season has hit some fans hard. Like, really hard.

After Rossum announced her exit in an emotional Facebook post, her name quickly shot to the top trend on Twitter, where fans took to bemoan the loss of Fiona Gallagher.

“Emmy Rossum is leaving Shameless… they might as well end it with her last episode. It won’t work without her,” one fan tweeted shortly after the news broke.

Also Read: Emmy Rossum Is Leaving 'Shameless' After 9 Seasons

Another fan’s day was ruined after hearing about the actress’ decision: “Just heard that Emmy Rossum isn’t returning to Shameless and I’m pretty upset about it not gunna lie.. not the kind of news I needed to hear today.”

“I know you will continue on without me, for now,” Rossum said in her post.

Harry Potter defeated Voldemort, and now he’s conquered his next big challenge: Broadway.

The title character at the center of J.K. Rowling’s series of beloved novels (and subsequent films) has made his way to the Great White Way in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — an enchanting and cinematic two-part play that runs over five hours. It’s now open at the newly renovated Lyric Theatre.

Potter’s brought along with him a slew of familiar faces — including BFFs Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, wife Ginny Weasley, and former foe Draco Malfoy — as well as some surprise characters.

Like any magic worth an incantation, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, opening on Broadway at the Lyric Theater tonight, depends on unspoiled illusions, a delight in life’s wonders and the skills to present it all as if no one had ever even considered its combinations before, much less pulled them off. I won’t spoil any illusions – the production itself handles the rest. Cursed Child is a marvel, a shape-shifting play that effortlessly incorporates music and choreographed movement, classic storytelling and fresh perspectives, a look that incorporates World War II-era Britain and Victorian spiritualism with Hollywood’s latest flash. In a Broadway season of award-worthy revivals, this tale of whatever happened to The Boy Who Lived feels bracingly, piercingly new.

A year after sweeping Britain’s Olivier Awards, this two-part, five-hour adventure into the Potter universe and the bonds and breaks of family and friendship arrives on Broadway with all its enchantments intact,...

The Cher Show, headed for Broadway, has found its remaining Chers for the pre-Broadway run in Chicago: Actresses Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond will join the previously announced Stephanie J. Block as the legendary singer at three stages in her life.

The show’s complete casting was announced today by producers Flody Suarez and Jeffrey Seller. The castings were not confirmed for the Broadway run.

The new musical will premiere in a June 12-July 15 limited engagement at Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre, with a Broadway run planned to begin previews on Thursday, November 1 at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre, with an opening on Monday, December 3.

Wicks has appeared in Wicked and Finding Neverland, while Diamond will be making her Broadway debut. Also announced today were Jarrod Spector (Beautiful) as Sonny Bono, Michael Berresse as Bob Mackie, Michael Campayno (Wicked) as Rob Camilletti, Matthew Hydzik (It Shoulda Been You) as Gregg Allman,...

1968: Angelique's portrait first appeared on Dark Shadows.

1980: The Edge of Night's Nola confessed her crimes.

1989: Another World's Vicky gave birth to a baby boy.

1996: General Hospital's Jason ran into Robin on the bridge."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On The Doctors, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett) tried to console Dr. Karen...

With direction by Tony-award winner John Tiffany Black Watch, Once and set design by Tony-award winner Christine Jones Spring Awakening, Queen of the Night, The Ambassador is a love letter, by turns droll and melancholic, to a city long misunderstood. It made its world premiere earlier this year at the Carolina Performing Arts, and opens tonight, December 10, at Bam for a run through December 13, 2014. The final staging will be in Los Angeles itself, at UCLA in February 2015.

Back Stage Executive Editor David Sheward was in the media room for this year's Tony Awards.  Below are interviews he captured at the event. He interviewed such winners as Christine Jones (set designer for "American Idiot"), Kevin Adams (lighting designer for "American Idiot"), Michael Grandage (director, "Red"), Eddie Redmayne (best featured actor in a play for "Red"), Katie Finneran (best featured actress in a musical for "Promises, Promises"), Levi Kreis (best featured actor in a musical for "Million Dollar Quartet"), David Hyde Pierce (Isabelle Stevenson Award), Viola Davis and Denzel Washington (best actor and actress in a play for "Fences"), Bill T. Jones (choreography, "Fela!"), and Arielle Tepper Madover and John Logan (producer and author, "Red," best play).The winners talked about creating their roles, the differences between British and American audiences, and offered advice to newcomers to the theatre. Denzel Washington said, "Start with theatre, that's where you learn your craft.

Manhattan, New York (X17online) - Scarlett Johansson is now a Tony Award-winning actress thanks to her work in A View from the Bridge. While receiving her award, she told the audience, "Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be on Broadway and here I am." The Iron Man 2 star was among several A-list celebrities who took home a Tony including Denzel Washington and Catherine-Zeta Jones. The big winner of the night was the drama Red, which took home the prize for best play and five other awards. Sean Hayes hosted the event from Radio City Music Hall. The winners are listed below: Best Play: "Red." Best Musical: "Memphis." Best Book Of A Musical: "Memphis." Best Original Score (Music And/Or Lyrics) Written For The Theater: "Memphis." Best Revival Of A Play: "Fences." Best Revival Of A Musical: "La Cage aux Folles." Best Performance By A...

The Newsweek columnist who suggested that openly gay actors couldn't play heterosexuals was a dumbass, but he wasn't off the mark with regard to Sean Hayes, who demonstrated how unconvincing he was as a straight man when -- during a fairly amusing gag-- he deep tongued Kristen Chenowith last night at the Tony Awards. Sloppy form, Mr. Hayes. Sloppy form.

I don't know dupe about Broadway, but I do recognize a few names from the list of The 2010 Tony Award winners last night, which included Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. And no offense against Broadway, but I don't think it helps the integrity of the Tony Awards to given Scarlett Johansson an award for best performance of anything, unless that performance is for drooling.

Here were the winners you were too busy ignoring last night in favor of "Breaking Bad," "True Blood,' or the NBA Finals.

Best Play: "Red.

The 'Great White Way' went Red on Sunday night when John Logan's Broadway hit landed the lion's share of honours at the 64th annual Tony Awards, including Best Play and Best Director.

The hit show, starring Brits Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne, picked up five awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Bon Jovi star David Bryan's Memphis was also the toast of Broadway, picking up four awards - including the night's Best Musical honour. Fela! and La Cage aux Folles claimed only three of their 11 nominations each.

Onstage husband and wife Denzel Washington and Viola Davis were big winners, claiming the night's Best Actor and Actress prizes for a Play for Fences, which was also named Best Revival. Scarlett Johansson was a first-time Tony Awards winner for her Broadway debut in A View From The Bridge and Catherine Zeta-Jones was named Best Actress in a Musical.

Green Day's American Idiot was a double winner.

There were also special awards for British playwright Alan Ayckbourn and actors Marian Seldes and David Hyde Pierce.

The show was a true celebration of all things musical and theatrical with highlights including a show-stopping performance by Glee stars Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, a dramatic rendition of Send in the Clowns by Zeta-Jones and stunning segments from hit musicals Fela! and La Cage aux Folles.

Green Day helped give the big show a rocking start as they performed two songs from their American Idiot musical.

It was couple's night in the audience with Johansson joined by husband Ryan Reynolds, Michael Douglas supporting his wife Zeta-Jones and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith turning out.

Even Jay-z, who had performed at the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee on Saturday, and his wife Beyonce dressed it up for a night at the theatre awards.

Host Sean Hayes was perfect, cracking jokes at the expense of some of his movie star audience members and dressing up as both Annie and Spider-Man for added laughs.

The 2010 Tony Award winners are:

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play - Scarlett Johansson (A View From The Bridge)

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - Eddie Redmayne (Red)

Best Direction of a Play - Michael Grandage (Red)

Best Direction of a Musical - Terry Johnson (La Cage aux Folles)

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises)

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet)

Best Costume Design of a Play - Catherine Zuber (The Royal Family)

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Marina Draghici (Fela!)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Kevin Adams (American Idiot)

Best Scenic Design of a Play - Christopher Oram (Red)

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Christine Jones (American Idiot)

Best Lighting Design of a Play - Adam Cork (Red)

Best Sound Design of a Musical - Robert Kaplowitz (Fela!)

Best Performance by a Leading Lady in a Play - Viola Davis (Fences)

Best Performance by a Leading Man in a Play - Denzel Washington (Fences)

Lifetime Achievement Award - Alan Ayckbourn

Lifetime Achievement Award - Marian Seldes

Isabelle Stephenson Award - David Hyde Pierce

Best Orchestrations - David Bryan & Daryl Waters (Memphis)

Best Original Score - David Bryan & Joe Dipietro (Memphis)

Best Book of a Musical - Joe Dipietro (Memphis)

Best Choreography - Bill T. Jones (Fela!)

Best Revival of a Play - Fences

Best Play - Red

Best Revival of a Musical - La Cage aux Folles

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music)

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - Douglas Hodge (La Cage aux Folles)

Best Musical - Memphis.

Making for quite the glamorous evening in the Big Apple, the stars gathered together at Radio City Music Hall for the 2010 Tony Awards on Sunday night (June 13).

With Sean Hayes acting as the evening's host, big names such as Katie Holmes, Daniel Radcliffe, Beyonce and Jay-z, and Lea Michele all turned up for the annual Broadway event.

During the course of the evening, big winners included the lovely Scarlett Johansson as Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her work in "A View From a Bridge," as well as Denzel Washington as Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his stage duties in "Fences".

Also taking home trophies were Catherine Zeta Jones as Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for "A Little Night Music," along with "Red," which received the best play prize and five other trophies.

The complete list of...

The musical "Memphis" was the big winner at the 2010 Tony Awards on Sunday, taking home four awards.

The drama "Fences" picked up three awards, including for leading actor Denzel Washington and leading actress Viola Davis.

See photos of all the Tony Award arrivals!

Other stars who took home Tonys included Catherine Zeta-Jones for "A Little Night Music," Scarlett Johansson for "A View from the Bridge" and Eddie Redmayne for "Red."

Here's the complete list of winners:

Best Play: "Red.

HollywoodNews.com: The 64th Annual Tony Awards took place in New York City and paid tribute to some of the best Broadway shows of the year.

Among the top winners were Eddie Redmayne’s “Red,” “Memphis,” and Viola Davis’ “Fences.” Host Sean Hayes (“Promises, Promises”) cracked jokes throughout the night and even came out dressed as Spider-Man to pay tribute to the “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark,” which is looking at a November opening.

“Glee’s” Lea Michele and co-star Matthew Morrison returned to their Broadway roots with Morrison singing “All I Need is the Girl” from “Gypsy.” Michele then did a solo performance of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl.” Both performances were the highlight of the evening among the awards.

Awards News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News, Hollywood News

Watch their performance below:

glee @ Yahoo! Video

Below is the full list of winners:

Est Play: “Red.

The 2010 Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday, June 13 has been wrapped and "Memphis" came out as a big winner. Showing its domination since early of the show, the musical took home four gongs in total.

"Memphis" collected Best Book of a Musical gong in honor of Joe Dipietro's work, Best Original Score kudo which resulted from Dipietro and David Bryan's collaboration, as well as Best Orchestrations prize which was awarded to Daryl Waters and Bryan. Later, "Memphis" closed the ceremony with another win, being named the Best Musical.

"La Cage aux Folles" and "Fela!", which dominated the list of nominations at this year's Tony Awards, as well as "Fences" also got multiple awards, grabbing three each. The musical starring Kelsey Grammer was named Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical by Terry Johnson, in addition to helping...

All of the winners at this year's Tony Awards have been named, unraveling "Red" as the big winner on the biggest night for Broadway. Stealing the spotlight, however, was Hollywood star Denzel Washington. The two-time Academy Award winner took home his first Tony award after the Sunday night, June 13 ceremony.

The star of "The Book of Eli" won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in "Fences". Accepting the kudo, the 55-year-old actor shared, "My mother always said man gives you the award and God gives you the reward. I guess I got both tonight." He went on to thank his longtime wife Paulette who was among the audience, and his children at home.

Denzel's win brought the Tonys' collection of "Fences" to three in total. Although nominated for 10 nods for the 61st Annual Tony Awards, the revival of August Wilson's play only managed to...

Here is a complete list of winners of the Tony Awards bestowed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday night.

Best Musical

"Memphis"

Best Play

"Red"

Best Actor In A Musical

Douglas Hodge, "La Cage aux Folles"

Best Actress In A Musical

Catherine Zeta-Jones, "A Little Night Music"

Best Revival Of A Play

"Fences"

Best Revival Of A Musical

"La Cage aux Folles"

Best Actor In A Play

Denzel Washington, "Fences"

Best Actress In A Play

Viola Davis, "Fences"

Best Featured Actor In A Play

Eddie Redmayne, "Red"

Best Featured Actress In Play

Scarlett Johansson, "A View From the Bridge"

Best Featured Actor In A Musical

Levi Kreis, "Million Dollar Quartet"

Best Featured Actress In A Musical

Katie Finneran, "Promises, Promises"

Best Direction Of A Play

Michael Grandage, "Red"

Best Direction Of A Musical

Terry Johnson, "La Cage aux Folles"

Best Orchestrations

Daryl Waters & David Bryan,...

Scarlett Johansson won a Tony Award for best featured actress in a play Sunday (June 13) for her work in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge."

"Red" took home several awards, and Denzel Washington and Viola Davis won the best actor and actress awards for "Fences."

Here are the winners; check back throughout the show to see the updated list.

Best musical: "Memphis"

Best lead actress in a musical: Catherine Zeta-Jones, "A Little Night Music"

Best lead actor in a musical: Douglas Hodge, "La Cage aux Folles"

Best revival of a musical: "La Cage aux Folles"

Best play: "Red" (author: John Logan)

Best revival of a play: "Fences"

Best choreography: Bill T. Jones, "Fela!"

Best leading actress in a play: Viola Davis, "Fences"

Best leading actor in a play: Denzel Washington, "Fences"

Best featured actress in a play: Scarlett Johansson, "A View from the Bridge"

Best featured actor in a play: Eddie Redmayne,...

The creative arts section of the Tony Awards were handed out in brisk fashion during a 40-minute presentation that preceded the CBS telecast. "Red," which is expected to win the best play Tony, won lighting design (Neil Austin, who also contended for "Hamlet"), scenic design (Christopher Oram) and sound design (Adam Cork, also nominated for "Enron"). Catherine Zuber won for costume design for the play "The Royal Family." The musical "Fela" won costume design (Marina Draghici) and sound design (Robert Kaplowitz), while "American Idiot" won lighting design (Kevin Adams) and scenic design (Christine Jones). "Memphis," the front-runner for best musical, won three early awards -- score (Joe Dipietro, David Bryan), book (Dipietro) and orchestrations (Daryl...

"Memphis" won for best musical at the 2010 Tony Awards, but was shut out in the acting categories. The show, which tells the story of a collaboration between a white disc jockey and a black singer in the segregated South of the 1950s, also won for best book, best original score, and best orchestrations. Memphis came into the Tonys having bested the competition in the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards, and was considered by many to be a favorite.Also favored to win was "Red," which was named best play. The play about the painter Mark Rothko led all productions with six awards—including best featured actor, which went to Eddie Redmayne, best direction, scenic design, lighting design, sound design. Best revival of a play went to "Fences," whose leads, Denzel Washington and Viola Davis won for best actor and actress in a play, respectively.Two thesps making their...

David Sheward is one of the shrewdest Tony Award pundits on the planet. The executive editor of Back Stage consistently has one of the most accurate prediction rates year to year. Now he sends us his latest forecasts of what to expect on June 13. (Thanks, David!) By the way, David recently shared with us his own private awards he'd like to bestow to the best productions both on and off Broadway. He calls them the David Desk Awards.

Below, his Tony predix.

Play: "Red" Musical: "Memphis" Book of a Musical: Joe Dipietro, "Memphis" Score: David Bryan, Joe Dipietro, "Memphis" Revival of a Play: "Fences" Revival of a Musical: "La Cage Aux Folles" Actor in a Play: Denzel Washington, "Fences" Actress in a Play: Viola Davis, "Fences" Actor in a Musical: Douglas Hodge, "La Cage Aux Folles" Actress in a Musical: Montego Glover, "Memphis" Featured Actor in a Play: Eddie Redmayne,...

Here’s the easiest prediction to make about this year’s Tony Awards, which will be presented June 13 at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall: Host Sean Hayes will almost certainly make some reference to the hullabaloo about being too gay to play a straight man in the musical Promises, Promises. The CBS broadcast will also have an excuse to present a production number from his show even though it didn’t snag a nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. (There’s talk that the show will open with a medley of “pop songs you might not know are on Broadway.

The Theater for One booth. Photograph by Danny Bright. Seven years ago, Tony-nominated set designer Christine Jones was at a wedding reception when she was approached by a magician performing one-on-one magic tricks. “He made a card disappear and it came out of his mouth,” says Jones, who, because of her work on Broadway, is especially in tune with the interaction between actors and audiences. “It was such an incredible experience done in such a private way, and I was very moved. I thought, ‘Ah ha! What if I was to make a theater for one?’” In big playhouses, Jones noticed how audiences sit back and wait to be convinced to pay attention. But she thought a miniature theater with one actor and one audience member would equalize both participants’ attention to the moment. “From the get-go, the audience’s investment would match the investment that the actor is making,...

Broadway hit it big this season with even bigger stars that included marquee names like High Jackman, Daniel Craig, Scarlett Johansson, Denzel Washington, Catherine Zeta-Jones and much more.

The nominations for the Tony awards were narrowed down on Tuesday morning (May 4) by the American Theatre Wing that began with Fela!, about Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kutie, as well as La Cage Aux Folles, that included Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge, which had 11 nominations.

Also taking bids for awards was August Wilson’s Fences, which starred Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, and received 10 nominations.

In leading actor in play, Lieve Schriber in A View from the Bride and Christopher Walken in Martin McDonaugh’s A Behanding in Spokane square off for top honors.

In leading actresses, Viola Davis, Valerie Harper, Linda Lavin, Laura Lenney and Jan Maxwell were all nominated. Best play nominations went to In the Next Room, Next Fall,...

One has to hand it to the Tony nominators: They didn't follow conventional wisdom nor did they particularly pay heed to commercial considerations.

Indeed, some of the biggest noms went to shows that are either long gone ("Ragtime," "Finian's Rainbow," "In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play," "Time Stands Still") or lagging at the boxoffice ("Fela!" "Memphis," "Next Fall," "Million Dollar Quartet").

The biggest surprises Tuesday were the omissions.

"The Addams Family," the most successful new musical of the season, was thoroughly dissed, failing to get noms for best musical, for its stars Nathan Lane or Bebe Neuwirth, or even for its production design. And though it did get one for original score, that's not exactly a coup in a season in which only one other musical, "Memphis," even had one. The category had to be embarrassingly filled out with the forgettable music from "Enron" and Branford Marsalis' incidental music for "Fences.

Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge's La Cage Aux Folles musical and Broadway show Fela! are leading the way at this year's Tony Awards after scooping 11 nominations each.

Fela!, about the life of revered African world music star Fela Kuti, will go up against Green Day's American Idiot, Memphis, and Million Dollar Quartet in the coveted Best Musical category at the 64th annual prizegiving, which honours the best on Broadway.

Meanwhile, Grammer and Hodge, who star as a camp gay couple in La Cage, will compete against Sean Hayes (Promises, Promises), Chad Kimball (Memphis) and Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!) for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.

The evening is sure to be a star-studded event, with Hollywood actors Jude Law (Hamlet), Alfred Molina (Red), Liev Schreiber (A View from the Bridge), Christopher Walken (A Behanding in Spokane) and Denzel Washington (Fences) pitted against each other for the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play award.

Washington's co-star Viola Davis will battle it out in the category for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, against Valerie Harper (Looped), Linda Lavin (Collected Stories), Laura Linney (Time Stands Still) and Jan Maxwell (The Royal Family).

Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music), Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow), Sherie Rene Scott (Everyday Rapture), Montego Glover (Memphis) and Christiane Noll (Ragtime) received nods for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, and Scarlett Johansson's Broadway debut in A View from the Bridge has earned her a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.

Nominations for Best Play include In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Next Fall, Red and Time Stands Still.

The winners will be announced on 13 June at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The main list of nominees is as follows:

Best Play:

In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)

Next Fall

Red

Time Stands Still

Best Musical:

American Idiot

Fela!

Memphis

Million Dollar Quartet

Best Book of a Musical:

Everyday Rapture - Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott

Fela! - Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones

Memphis - Joe Dipietro

Million Dollar Quartet - Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:

The Addams Family - Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa

Enron - Music: Adam Cork, Lyrics: Lucy Prebble

Fences - Music: Branford Marsalis

Memphis - Music: David Bryan, Lyrics: Joe Dipietro, David Bryan

Best Revival of a Play:

Fences

Lend Me a Tenor

The Royal Family

A View from the Bridge

Best Revival of a Musical:

Finian's Rainbow

La Cage aux Folles

A Little Night Music

Ragtime

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:

Jude Law - Hamlet

Alfred Molina - Red

Liev Schreiber - A View from the Bridge

Christopher Walken - A Behanding in Spokane

Denzel Washington - Fences

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:

Viola Davis - Fences

Valerie Harper - Looped

Linda Lavin - Collected Stories

Laura Linney - Time Stands Still

Jan Maxwell - The Royal Family

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:

Kelsey Grammer - La Cage aux Folles

Sean Hayes - Promises, Promises

Douglas Hodge - La Cage aux Folles

Chad Kimball - Memphis

Sahr Ngaujah - Fela!

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:

Kate Baldwin - Finian's Rainbow

Sherie Rene Scott - Everyday Rapture

Montego Glover - Memphis

Christiane Noll - Ragtime

Catherine Zeta-Jones - A Little Night Music

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play:

David Alan Grier - Race

Stephen McKinley Henderson - Fences

Jon Michael Hill - Superior Donuts

Stephen Kunken - Enron

Eddie Redmayne - Red

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play:

Maria Dizzia - In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)

Rosemary Harris - The Royal Family

Jessica Hecht - A View from the Bridge

Scarlett Johansson - A View from the Bridge

Jan Maxwell - Lend Me a Tenor

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:

Kevin Chamberlin - The Addams Family

Robin De Jesus - La Cage aux Folles

Christopher Fitzgerald - Finian's Rainbow

Levi Kreis - Million Dollar Quartet

Bobby Steggert - Ragtime

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:

Barbara Cook - Sondheim on Sondheim

Katie Finneran - Promises, Promises

Angela Lansbury - A Little Night Music

Karine Plantadit - Come Fly Away

Lillias White - Fela!

Best Direction of a Play:

Michael Grandage - Red

Sheryl Kaller - Next Fall

Kenny Leon - Fences

Gregory Mosher - A View from the Bridge

Best Direction of a Musical:

Christopher Ashley - Memphis

Marcia Milgrom Dodge - Ragtime

Terry Johnson - La Cage aux Folles

Bill T. Jones - Fela!

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford - Promises, Promises

Bill T. Jones - Fela!

Lynne Page - La Cage aux Folles

Twyla Tharp - Come Fly Away

Best Orchestrations:

Jason Carr - La Cage aux Folles

Aaron Johnson - Fela!

Jonathan Tunick - Promises, Promises

Daryl Waters & David Bryan - Memphis

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty - The Royal Family

Alexander Dodge - Present Laughter

Santo Loquasto - Fences

Christopher Oram - Red

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:

Marina Draghici - Fela!

Christine Jones - American Idiot

Derek McLane - Ragtime

Tim Shortall - La Cage aux Folles

Best Costume Design of a Play:

Martin Pakledinaz - Lend Me a Tenor

Constanza Romero - Fences

David Zinn - In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)

Catherine Zuber - The Royal Family

Best Costume Design of a Musical:

Marina Draghici - Fela!

Santo Loquasto - Ragtime

Paul Tazewell - Memphis

Matthew Wright - La Cage aux Folles

Best Lighting Design of a Play:

Neil Austin - Hamlet

Neil Austin - Red

Mark Henderson - Enron

Brian MacDevitt - Fences

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:

Kevin Adams - American Idiot

Donald Holder - Ragtime

Nick Richings - La Cage aux Folles

Robert Wierzel - Fela!

Best Sound Design of a Play:

Acme Sound Partners - Fences

Adam Cork - Enron

Adam Cork - Red

Scott Lehrer - A View from the Bridge

Best Sound Design of a Musical:

Jonathan Deans - La Cage aux Folles

Robert Kaplowitz - Fela!

Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen - A Little Night Music

Dan Moses Schreier - Sondheim on Sondheim

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre:

Alan Ayckbourn

Marian Seldes

Regional Theatre Tony Award:

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut

Isabelle Stevenson Award:

David Hyde Pierce

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre:

Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York

B.H. Barry

Tom Viola...

Although the Tony Awards honor Broadway productions, plenty of familiar faces from film and TV are among those receiving nods.

Among them are Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber for "A View From the Bridge," Christopher Walken for "A Behanding in Spokane," Kelsey Grammer for "La Cage aux Folles," Catherine Zeta-Jones for "A Little Night Music" and Laura Linney for "Time Stands Still."

Overall, "Fela!" and "La Cage aux Folles" tied for the most nominations with 11 apiece.

The Tony Awards show will air June 13 on CBS.

The full list of nominees:

Best musical

"American Idiot"

"Fela!"

"Memphis"

"Million Dollar Quartet"

Best play

"In the Next Room"

"Next Fall"

"Red"

"Time Stands Still"

Best performance by a leading actor in a play

Jude Law, "Hamlet"

Alfred Molina, "Red"

Liev Schreiber, "A View From the Bridge"

Christopher Walken, "A Behanding in Spokane"

Denzel Washington, "Fences"

Best performance by a leading actress in a play

Viola Davis,...

New York – Star wattage will burn bright at the 2010 Tony Awards with Denzel Washington, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kelsey Grammer among those receiving nominations Tuesday.Washington and Law were each cited for best actor performances in "Fences" and "Hamlet," respectively. Zeta-Jones was nominated for best performance by a leading actress in a musical, "A Little Night Music," and Grammer was nominated for lead actor in a musical, "La Cage aux Folles.""Fela!" — nominated for best musical — and "La Cage aux Folles," nominated for the best musical revival, each received 11 nominations, followed by "Fences" with 10 nods.Nominated for best play were "In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)" by Sarah Ruhl; "Next Fall," by Geoffrey Nauffts; "Red," by John Logan, and "Time Stands Still," by Donald Margulies.Best musical nominations went to Green Day's "American Idiot"; "Memphis"; "Million Dollar Quartet," and "Fela!"The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford,...

By Roger Friedman

Green Day’s “American Idiot” doesn’t open until Tuesday night but I can tell you now, it’s a hit.

The problem is, it’s not quite a Broadway musical in the traditional sense. It’s a jukebox show without much of a story per se, or a “book.” If you’re looking for deep character development, “American Idiot” is not the show. This is no “Billy Elliot.”

But: “American Idiot” is vibrant, and so full of raw energy that it can’t be denied. It’s also maybe the best staging of a new musical since “Billy Elliot,” and far more cutting edge. Director Michael Mayer along with the set designer Christine Jones and choreographer Steven Hoggett have fashioned something unique and fresh from Green Day’s Grammy award winning 2004 album (along with some other songs from the group’s repetoire).

To read more go...

Jeff Favreproduction: A Beautiful View, Son of Semele Theatre; Robots vs. Fake Robots, Powerhouse Theatre; Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, Geffen Playhouse.Playwriting: David Largman Murray, Robots vs. Fake Robots.Direction: Don Boughton, A Beautiful View; John Doyle, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre; Tiger Reel, Cartoon, Art/Works Theatre; Elise Robertson, The Women, Circus Theatricals.Music Direction: Sarah Travis, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Scenic Design: Simon Higlett, The School of Night, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum; Christine Jones, Spring Awakening, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre; Anthony Ward, My Fair Lady, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre.Lighting Design: Russell H. Champa, The School of Night; Richard Jones, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.Costume Design: Anthony Ward, My Fair Lady.Sound Design: Dan Moses Schreier, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.Perfomance In A (Primarily) Straight Play:Gregory Itzin,...