Martin, McDonald, Porter join stars in telethon for Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine-War-Telethon This combination of photos show Steve Martin, left, Audra McDonald, center, and Billy Porter, who are among the celebrities participating in a 10-hour telethon to raise money for the victims of the war in Ukraine. The “Stars in the House” special will air March 26. It can be viewed and listened to on the series' site (https://www.starsinthehouse.com), the "Stars in the House" YouTube channel, as well as SiriusXM Stars109. The event also hopes to feature Ukrainians, including Oleg Karpenko, a Ukrainian theater and film actor who co-started with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in "Servant of the People." Donations made during the event will benefit the International Rescue Committee and its humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
wftv.comMartin, McDonald, Porter join stars in telethon for Ukraine
A roster of film, TV and theater all-stars — including Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth, David Hyde Pierce and Rosie Perez — have signed up for a 10-hour telethon to raise money for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Audra McDonald eyes Broadway again in Adrienne Kennedy play
Theater-Audra McDonald FILE - Audra McDonald appears at the 74th annual Tony Awards on Sept. 26, 2021 in New York. The six-time Tony-winner will return to Broadway in the play “Ohio State Murders” by Adrienne Kennedy, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (Evan Agostini)NEW YORK — (AP) — Audra McDonald is going from host of the Tony Awards to another stage role. The six-time Tony-winner will return to Broadway in the play “Ohio State Murders” by Adrienne Kennedy, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. It twists into a murder mystery that unfolds over the course of the lecture Alexander rehearses late at night deep in the stacks of the Ohio State University library.
wftv.com'Moulin Rouge!' leads Tonys haul, but 3 big trophies to come
The Musical” won for scenic design, costume, lighting, sound design, orchestrations and a featured acting Tony for Broadway favorite Danny Burstein. In a surprise to no one, Aaron Tveit won the award for best leading actor in a musical for “Moulin Rouge! “Because what we do changes peoples' lives.”Burstein, who won for featured actor in a musical for “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” thanked the Broadway community for supporting him after the death last year of his wife, Rebecca Luker. The last Tony Awards ceremony was held in 2019.
wftv.com'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' leads early at the Tony Awards
Tony Awards This combination photo shows from left, David Alan Grier, Lauren Patten, Danny Burstein and Lois Smith at the 74th annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in New York. The Musical,” a jukebox adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s hyperactive 2001 movie, took an early lead at the Tony Awards, earning seven trophies at the halfway point. The Musical” won for scenic design, costume, lighting, sound design, orchestrations and a featured acting Tony for Broadway favorite Danny Burstein. Burstein, who won for featured actor in a musical for “Moulin Rouge! The last Tony Awards ceremony was held in 2019.
wftv.com'Moulin Rouge! and 'A Christmas Carol' leading at the Tonys
Tony Awards - Moulin Rouge This image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown shows the cast in "Moulin Rouge! (Matthew Murphy/Boneau/Bryan-Brown via AP) (Matthew Murphy)NEW YORK — (AP) — “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” a jukebox adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s hyperactive 2001 movie, and “A Christmas Carol” got early leading hauls at the Tony Awards, earning five trophies each. “Moulin Rouge! Nipping on its heels is “Moulin Rouge!,” a jukebox adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s hyperactive 2001 movie about the goings-on in a turn-of-the-century Parisian nightclub that has 14 nods.
wftv.comTony Awards kick off with a flurry of awards and hope
74th Annual Tony Awards A view of the red carpet at the 74th annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Tony Awards sped out of the gate Sunday with a flurry of awards, including trophies for Broadway favorite Danny Burstein, David Alan Grier, veteran Lois Smith and rising star Lauren Patten. Sunday's show has been expanded from its typical three hours to four, with McDonald handing out Tonys for the first two hours and Leslie Odom Jr. hosting a “Broadway’s Back!” celebration for the second half, including the awarding of the top three trophies — best play revival, best play and best musical. The last Tony Awards ceremony was held in 2019. Several have restarted, including the so-called big three of “Wicked,” “Hamilton” and “The Lion King.”“Jagged Little Pill” goes into the telecast on the defensive, dogged by two controversies.
wftv.comTony Awards and TV special hope to be the jab Broadway needs
Now it's time for the Tony Awards, celebrating an art form that really needs the boost — live theater. While other entertainment industries like TV and film found ways to restart during the pandemic, Broadway was unable until now due to financial and physical impediments. The lifting of all capacity restrictions was crucial to any reopening since Broadway economics demand full venue capacity. The last Tony Awards ceremony was held in 2019. The virus forced Broadway theaters to abruptly close on March 12, 2020, knocking out all shows and scrambling the spring season.
wftv.comTony Awards land hosts Leslie Odom Jr. and Audra McDonald
Theater-Tony Hosts Leslie Odom Jr. presents an award at the 72nd annual Tony Awards in New York on June 10, 2018, left, and Audra McDonald presents an award at the 73rd annual Tony Awards in New York on June 9, 2019. Producers of the Tony Awards telecast announced Monday that McDonald will host the award ceremony on Sept. 26, followed by a two-hour celebration of Broadway's return, hosted by Odom. The bulk of the Tonys will only be accessible to Paramount+ customers while Odom's special, which will award the three top awards: best play, best play revival and best musical, will air on CBS. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)NEW YORK — (AP) — The long-delayed Tony Awards have landed two impressive master of ceremonies: Tony- and Grammy-winning singer and actor Leslie Odom Jr. will host a splashy TV special, and the awards will be hosted by Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Audra McDonald. Capping the evening will be the awarding of the three top awards: best play, best play revival and best musical.
wftv.comTony Awards land hosts Leslie Odom Jr. and Audra McDonald
The long-delayed Tony Awards have landed two impressive master of ceremonies — Tony- and Grammy-winning singer and actor Leslie Odom Jr. will host a splashy TV special and the awards will be hosted by Tony-, Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning actor and singer Audra McDonald.
Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker to star in spring plays
Mary-Louise Parker attends the Broadway opening of "After Midnight" on Nov. 3, 2013 in New York, left, and Meryl Streep arrives at the premiere of the film 'The Laundromat' at the 76th edition of the Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, on Sept. 1, 2019. Parker and Streep have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. (AP Photo)NEW YORK – Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Audra McDonald, Kevin Klein, Carla Gugino and Keanu Reeves have signed on to perform in a new virtual play series this spring while Broadway is closed. The series kicks off Thursday with “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Leigh Silverman starring Reeves, Bobby Cannavale, Heidi Schreck and Alia Shawkat. The next show — on April 8 — will feature “Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous” by Pearl Cleage directed by Camille A.
Broadway reaches for normalcy with Tony Award nominations
FILE - This JuNe 9, 2019 photo shows a view of the stage prior to the start of the 73rd annual Tony Awards in New York. Nominations for the American Theatre Wings 74th Annual Tony Awards will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 15. Nominations for Tony Awards will be announced Thursday with just 18 eligible plays and musicals making the cut, a fraction of the 34 shows the season before. One category — best musical revival — has no eligible shows at all. The 2020 Tony Awards ceremony will be broadcast digitally and take place this fall, at a date still to be announced.