Sunday’s Tony Award winners, which honor the best of Broadway, as acknowledged by their professional peers in the theatre industry, draw international attention. The winners attract audiences to Broadway and area theatre presentors clamor to book them for their own series. Make note: The upcoming Bushnell Broadway series has a slew of them, including the 2014 winner, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which originated at Hartford Stage–and An American in Paris, The King and I, and The Book of Mormon. (For details on The Bushnell season: www.bushnell.org)
Tamara Tunie from Law & Order stars in An American Son at Barrington Stage.
A couple of my thoughts about the Tony Awards…
New England has long been a try-out arena for Broadway. In the 1940s, most of the pre-Broadway journeys began at New Haven’s Shubert Theatre, and Boston’s Colonial, Shubert, and Wilbur theatres. Last season, 13 Tpny nominations came from shows that originated in New England theatres, including Williamstown Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage in the Berkshires. This year’s “Best Musical” nominee, Waitress originated at the American Repertory Theater. in Cambridge.
Some local talents have also been recognized by The Tony Committee. The late Westfield native, Anne Pitoniak, was twice-nominated for her performances in ‘Night Mother and a revival of Picnic. Longmeadow native Todd Rosenthal picked up a Tony for his designs for August Osage County. Three UMass theatre graduates are up for four awards on Sunday.
People assume that Hamilton will take most of the awards it’s nominated for. It has some solid competition from Waitress, a musical based on the movie with music by Sara Barreillis and starring Jessie Mueller; Shuffle Along, a revisal of a 1920s African American musical starring Audra McDonald (who didn’t get nominated) and Bright Star, a bluegrass musical from Edie Brickell and Steve (yes, the comic) Martin. There’s fierce competition between the lovely Harnick and Bock musical She Loves Me and the powerhouse The Color Purple for “Best Musical Revival”. I think The Humans, Stephen Karam’s family comedy/drama will win the Best Play Tony. I suspect the revival of O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night and its star, Jessica Lange, will take home the Tony.
Goodspeed’s “Holiday Inn” heads to Broadway. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.
And the story goes on. Hartford Stage’s Anastasia is Broadway-bound. So is the 2014 Goodspeed production of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn. (opening September 1) This theatre, which has sent Man of La Mancha, Annie, and Shenandoah to Broadway, may have its biggest hit yet with this show. Bryce Pinkham and Corbin Bleu will star. New York producers will be looking at several area shows with interest this summer.
So, watch the show live on CBS on Sunday at 8PM (or find excerpts on YouTube), and think ahead to next year. Before the show, read the bios of the nominees (http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html)–impressive talents all.
New Season Announcements
The Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival returns for its third year on August 6 at Springfield’s Court Square. The free, day-long event offers music, theater, dance, arts & crafts, educational workshops, and local culinary offerings. Blues to Green Inc produces the Festival. Headliners include: Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla, Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils, :Eric Krasno Band, Heshima Moja and Ofrecimiento with special guest Rayvon Owen, :Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Terri Lyne Carrington Group, and Taj Mahal. For details: www.springfieldjazzfest.com
The Majestic Theatre in West Springfield, has announced its mix of plays and musicals for 2016-17, which include: Million Dollar Quartet, a classic rock and roll musical by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott , Love, Loss, and What I Wore, a comedy by Nora and Delia Ephron, Amadeus, a classical drama about composers Salieri and Mozart by Peter Shaffer, Painting Churches, a contemporary drama by Tina Howe and La Cage aux Folles a musical by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman .The summer season line-up has also been announced, which includes music and comedy. For details: 413.747.7797 or www.majestictheater.com
Keep in Mind…
Suzanne Strempek Shea, author of MAGS at The Majestic Theater.
MAGS: A Conversation with an Audience, Danny Eaton’s adaptation of Suzanne Strempek Shea’s bookThis Is Paradise, the story of Mags Riordan and the Billy Riordan Memorial Clinic in Malawi,will be staged at The Majestic Theater in West Springfield, MA on June 9-12. Local actress Cate Damon plays Mags, and Mags Riordan will be at the theatre for post-performance talk-backs.Shea is a successful writer who began her career at the Springfield Republican. For details:413-747-7797 or www.majestictheater.com
An American Son, a new play by Christopher Demos-Brown premieres at Barrington Stage in Pittsfield (June 17-July 9). Artistic Director Julianne Boyd stages the work, which stars Tamarie Tunie from Law & Order. The cast also includes Michael Hayden (Carousel on Broadway), Luke Smith (Peter and the Starcatcher on Broadway), and Andre Ware (House of Cards). For details: 413-236-8888 or www.baringtonstageco.org.
Kimberly Akimbo brings Lee-based actress Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show) back to The Berkshires (June 16-July 16) at Pittsfield’s Barrington Stage. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by TheaterWorks (Hartford) Artistic Director,Rob Ruggiero, the comedy is sure to be one of the “must see” performances of the summer. For details: 413-236-8888 or www.baringtonstageco.org.
Debra Jo Rupp is Kimberly Akimbo at Barrington Stage.
The Berkshire Mountain Boys return to North Hall in Huntington, MA on June 12 with a bluegrass and country music program with autoharp, guitar, banjo and vocals. The Westfield News Group is a season sponsor. For details: 413-667-5543 or www.northhallhuntington.org
The Connecticut Critics Circle Awards, 26th edition, will be held on June 13 at Hartford Stage. The event, co-sponsored with TheaterWorks, is hosted by Tina Fabrique. and celebrates the work of the state’s professional theaters for the 2015-16 season. It’s free. The general public can RSVP at www.hartfordstage.org. For information on the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards: www.ctcritics.org.
—
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
