Greg Jbara IS extremely nice. He gave us a tour of the theatre after his performance of Billy Elliott, then went out to dinner with his wife and two kids between matinee and evening performances. Funny thing, while walking to the restaurant, we bumped into his ex-wife, Rebecca Luker, her husband Danny Burstein, and their two kids.
We saw him again during a friend's wedding and chatted for a while.
2016 These Paper Bullets (1/02) Our Mother's Brief Affair (1/06), Dragon Boat Racing (1/08), Howard - reading (1/28), Shear Madness (2/10), Fun Home (2/17), Women Without Men (2/18), Trip Of Love (2/21), The First Gentleman -reading (2/22), Southern Comfort (2/23), The Robber Bridegroom (2/24), She Loves Me (3/11), Shuffle Along (4/12), Shear Madness (4/14), Dear Evan Hansen (4/16), American Psycho (4/23), Tuck Everlasting (5/10), Indian Summer (5/15), Peer Gynt (5/18), Broadway's Rising Stars (7/11), Trip of Love (7/27), CATS (7/31), The Layover (8/17), An Act Of God (8/31), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (8/24), Heisenberg (10/12), Fiddler On The Roof (11/02), Othello (11/23), Dear Evan Hansen (11/26), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (12/21) 2017 In Transit (2/01), Groundhog Day (4/04), Ring Twice For Miranda (4/07), Church And State (4/10), The Lucky One (4/19), Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (5/16), Building The Wall (5/19), Indecent (6/01), Six Degrees of Separation (6/09), Marvin's Room (6/28), A Doll's House Pt 2 (7/25) Curvy Widow (8/01)
In the Heights - Best Musical Christine Baranski - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Rumours) Tommy - Best Musical Harvey Fierstein - Best Actor In A Play (Torch Song Trilogy)
Though it wasn't a surprise, I'd have to say Linda Lavin's win for Broadway Bound. The cheers from the tony audience said it all. She had given one of the great performances in the American theatre. A close second would be Gleason's win for Into the Woods, because the exquisite portrayal of an everywoman by a leading actress in a musical - a tradition known for iconic, twice as big as life characters - was justly recognized for what it was: perfection.
Bumping this thread, since I'd love to hear what people have to say over the last five years.
For me? Renée Elise Goldsberry, 2016's Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Jumped up and applauded in front of my TV. And her speech was just beautiful.
Gavin Creel winning with Sutton presenting the award to him. Talk about a full circle moment.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Two of mine are Nina Arianda for Venus in Fur and Tracy Letts for Virginia Woolf, two of the most stunning, transfixing performances I've seen on a Broadway stage.
After Eight said: "So many posts/ threads expressing one's anger/disappointment at people being robbed of awards and nominations, from Ethel Merman to Laura Benanti to poor Bernadette Peters. It's not that I don't share such sentiments, but how about thinking positive for a change-- like the award wins that made us happy, even ecstatic?
Here are my top 3- I was on a cloud when these awards were announced. I'd be interested in hearing about the favorite moments of others as well.
1- Jerry Herman (La Cage) over Sondheim. That joyful noise you heard was my applause. 2- La Cage aux Folles over Sodden in the Dark with George for best musical. For once they got it right! 3- Julie Harris for best actress in Forty Carats. Ecstacy! If only the Morosco Theatre were still here and still playing Forty Carats! What a wonderful world it would be.
Julie Harris in 40 Carats is one of the most undeserved Tony wins EVER!!! Was she a friend, that you singled it out?
Things I think of:
-- Lansbury in Mame. Gwen Verdon was probably considered the frontrunner going in; there used to be a critics vote called something like the Variety Critics Award, and Verdon killed Lansbury in that.
-- Lillian Heyman in Hallelujah! Baby!. Her performance was so joyful and I figured she wouldn't get a lot more chances.
-- Colleen Dewhurst. The greatest performance I have seen on the stage to date.
-- Frances Ruffelle. She was just so good as Eponine that you wanted to hug and protect her.
-- Nathan Lane in The Producers. The performance gave men so much joy and I wanted it to be recognized.
-- Phil Silvers in A Funny Thing. A consolation prize for the show being a flop despite great reviews (and he was wonderful). (That was back in the days when revivals were major frowned upon by audiences).
-- Vanessa Redgrave. Two reasons: (1) she was incredible; and (2) to make up for the snubs she got for Lady form the Sea and Orpheus Descending, both of which she should have been nominated for, and arguably won.
-- Patricia Rutledge. She was so great in that show and got to do it for such a short time. I was delighted that she was recognized, and she was just so happy to win it, even if she had to share it in a tie.
-- Viola Davis. For a not-dissimilar reason. She came from nowhere, completely blew me away, only got to play it for about 2 months on Broadway, to pretty empty houses. It was recognition that not only was she not forgotten, they remembered her loud and clear.
-- Patti Lupone for Anything Goes. Oh, wait, for some reason, they decided to vote for a supporting performer in a leading role for reasons I will NEVER understand, when Patti Lupone was giving a truly GREAT musical comedy performance for the ages. (Worth mentioning that I am not a Patti Lupone crazy fan...just happen to think that she lost to a performance that wasn't even in the same league as hers).
A few that have made me smile over the past few years:
Laura Benanti - GYPSY
Kelli O'Hara - THE KING & I
NEXT TO NORMAL over BILLY ELLIOT for Score.
Norbert Leo Butz for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - what a beautiful speech.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards