The work of Washington theatres is well represented in this year’s Tony Awards with 16 nominations including Best Play and Best Musical, and one pre-announced win.
Yesterday, The American Theatre Wing announced that Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA has been awarded the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The Tony committee stated, “For 20 years, Signature has broadened and brightened the region’s cultural landscape with its bold productions of challenging new and established works.” Signature Theatre co-founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer responded, “We’re thrilled to bring a Tony Award to Washington, this great theatre town. We share it with all the artists, donors, and audience members who continue to support our work.” The award comes with a $25,000 prize from VISA, USA.
As it is each year, the Regional Tony Award is based on the recommendation of the American Theatre Critics Association. Arena Stage was presented with the first Regional Theatre Award in 1976 . First out with yesterday’s announcement was Brad Hathaway of Potomac Stages who hosted the ATCA convention here last summer.
This morning, the American Theatre Wing announced it’s Tony Award nominations and both Next to Normal and 33 Variations, presented here by Arena Stage, are now contenders in the Musicals and Play categories.
Next to Normal, which originally played Off-Broadway at Second Stage, received an unprecedented offer from Arena Stage’s Molly Smith to come into its Crystal City venue to rework the show. It opened here in December, 2008. This morning we learned it is this year’s second most heavily nominated musical.
Next to Normal‘s 11 nominations are:
Best Musical
Best Book of a Musical, Brian YorkeyBest Original Score, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Best Leading Actor, J. Robert Spencer
Best Leading Actress, Alice Ripley
Best Featuring Actress, Jennifer Damiano
Best Direction, Michael Greif
Best Orchestrations, Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt
Best Scenic Design, Mark Wendland
Best Lighting Design, Kevin Adams,
Best Sound Design, Brian Ronan
33 Variations, which debuted at Arena Stage in September, 2007, garnered 5 nominations:
Best Play
Best Leading Actress, Jane Fonda
Best Featured Actor, Zach Grenier
Best Scenic Design, Derek McLane
Best Lighting, David Lander
Joel Markowitz adds “Congratulations to Eric Schaeffer and the staff of Signature Theatre for enriching us with their fine productions, for giving us The Kander and Ebb Festival this year, and filling The Ark and The Max with Broadway legends as well as local talent. And thanks to Molly Smith and the staff of Arena Stage for letting us be part of the development of Next To Normal and 33 Variations.
Because of your fine work and risk taking, the many accomplishments of DC theatre will be on display on Tony night for the whole country to see. We are all beaming and kvelling, and all of us at DC Theatre Scene, and all of DC, MD and VA’s theatre goers are so proud. We wish you all well on Tony night, June 7th.”
Related from DCTS:
Interview with Next to Normal‘s Alice Ripley
Interview with Next to Normal writers Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt
Next to Normal review
33 Variations – DC review
33 Variations – LaJolla review
Interviews with other 2009 nominees:
Carole Shelley, nominated for her role as Grandmother in Billy Elliot, interviewed by Richard Seff
Mark Kudisch, nominated for is role as the boss in 9 to 5, talks with Joel Markowitz about Witches of Eastwick at Signature Theatre, and The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center.
It’s ABOUT time the superiority of DC Theatre was recognized nationally!
This play touched such a chord in me that after reviewing its world premiere at Arena in 2007, I caught the production at San Diego’s LaJolla Playhouse and submitted a follow-up review. Now having seen it THREE times (of course I couldn’t miss Jane Fonda), I can honestly report that nothing beats the original Arena production. Yes, the NY production is a must see, is an excellent role for Fonda who does a great job, and has the star power to fill seats. But Mary Beth Peil who played the role of the musicologist was more subtle and nuanced in relaying the conflicting emotions, with tender spots that peeked through the crusty exterior, while Fonda in comparison is more angularly tough throughout. Plus, when Peil, a concert soprano sang in the trio, time just stopped, it was that achingly lovely. Neither subsequent production offered that, or the subtle incorporation of choreography symbolizing movement as part of life. Even the original young couple played winningly by Laura Odeh and Greg Keller outperformed star-studded Colin Hanks – again, star power does not always mean the best performance. Still, the Tony nominations validate my fascination with this magical piece, and confirm that the Washington metro theater scene is second to none. Congrats to all.