Tony Awards in Review

by Nathaniel R

To support the WGA or not to support the WGA? This is not, of course, even a question for the arts community and audiences. But the 76th Tony Awards, held last night at the gorgeous United Palace in Washington Heights, made an accidental case that maybe writers should be banned from awards shows moving forward (not as nominees -- but as, you know, writers of the ceremony).

Gone were the scripted jokes, awkward intros, and agonizing filler that disrupt the three-pronged reason we all watch awards shows in the first place: the drama of the awards and acceptance speech, seeing lots of celebrities, and enjoying "clips" of the nominated art. In the case of the Tony's the 'clips' are always live performance of nominated musicals...

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"Kimberly Akimbo" and "Fat Ham" win the 1st Annual Dorian Theater Awards

By Nathaniel R

As we previously shared GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics recently launched a theater wing comprised of 34 members (including myself) which will be honoring the best in Broadway and Off Broadway theater each season. Our wing co-chair Sam Eckmann (Gold Derby) says:

"I’m thrilled to commence Pride Month with the first ever crop of Dorian Theater Award winners. From the gentleness of Kimberly Akimbo and Into the Woods, to boundary-pushing works such as Fat Ham and Prima Facie to the shot of serotonin that is Titaníque, our cohort of passionate journalists has uplifted the spectacular artistry that thrives in the New York theater scene."

For the inaugural our group chose one winner and two or three finalists (if there was a tie in voting) in 13 categories. They were...

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Links: Cicely Tyson, Daniel Radcliffe, and "I Know Where I've Been"

• THR Cicely Tyson is still winning at age 95. This time it's the Peabody Lifetime Achievement Award. In the past seven years she's received a competitive Tony Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an an Honorary Oscar. Talent + longevity is an unbeatable combination!
• Variety fine actress Keke Palmer (Hustlers) writes a guest column on the current moment and what it asks of us
• The Guardian We were not prepared for "chainsaw accident" and "Cate Blanchett" to be in the same headline. Thankfully she's fine.

more after the jump including Daniel Radcliffe's outreach to fans who are angry with JK Rowling...

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