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2014 Tony Awards Recap

Broadway’s night of nights proved that during a season where box office ka-ching peaked — the total gross of $1.27 billion topping last season’s $1.13 billion — Tony voters wanted nothing more than to “share the wealth” when it came to trophy distribution.

Aside from a four-Tony haul for A Gentleman’s Guide for Love and Murder, four statuette thumbs up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and three awards for A Raisin in the Sun, the rest of the winners were all one-two punches (including Rocky, which picked up a solo for scenic design).

Scroll down for a list of all the nominees and winners (in bold/dark red).


If I learned anything watching this year’s Tony broadcast on CBS it’s that Hugh Jackman has to be the best sport in showbiz. To hit the ground hopping through Radio City Music Hall as a lead-in to the American Theatre Wing’s 68th Annual Tony Awards, and to follow up by taking part in sundry backstage shenanigan-infused pantomimes throughout the evening, requires a special kind of above-and-beyond good humor. God bless you, Wolverine.

But I digress. The Tonys are – and should be – about Broadway’s most creative and talented. That being said, I have taken the liberty of including some of the production’s finest silly and savvy bits among my highlights from the Tony night, June 8th, 2014.

Best Tongue-In-Cheek Moment

Within Jackman’s hop-a-thon: the delicious eye-rolling breather when he shared an elevator with nominee/last-year’s host Neil Patrick Harris. Harris: “Bouncing?” Jackman: [shrug]

Best Homage Moment

Accepting his Best Featured Actor in a Play Tony for portraying Olivia in Twelfth Night, Mark Rylance gave a stunning tribute to Sam Wannamaker, the U.S. actor blacklisted in the ’50s during McCarthyism, whose fundraising and dedication were responsible for rebuilding Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London.

Favorite Gown

(Sorry, it’s a girl thing)… Lucy Liu, appearing to introduce the production number “A Friend Like Me” from Disney’s Aladdin. Liu wore a strapless/voluminous black gown with white collar, with a raised front hemline for nice leg exposure. Runner Up: Idina Menzel’s sleeveless rose-red satin number with cool shoulder action. [No clue as to who designed either one… feel free to let me know.]

Best Emotional Acceptance Speech

Audra McDonald in a heartfelt sweep of tears and gratitude as she won her sixth Tony for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. An unprecedented Tony triumph, McDonald’s speech was representative of her earthy love of family, performing, and those who paved the way, including Maya Angelou and Billie.

Most Awesome Musical Number

The cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch – and especially Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig - unleashing full throttle rock on “Sugar Daddy” – including Harris wild audience romp that included draping himself over Kevin Bacon (zero degrees of separation), bouncing on Sting’s knee, and licking a laughing Samuel Jackson’s glasses (my personal favorite bit).

Best Presentation Concept

Best Play nominations were smartly handled by having Kenneth Branagh (currently appearing in Macbeth at the Park Avenue Armory) introduce individual playwrights, who spoke briefly prior to clips from their respective productions.

Best Recurring Fashion Statement

Producer Jeffrey Richards' (All the Way; Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill) elaborate red bow tie made its an annual appearance - sometimes I think just to make me smile.

Best Explosion of Joy During an Acceptance Speech

James Monroe Iglehart -- after picking up his Best Featured Actor in a Musical Tony for his role of the Genie in Aladdin and thanking all the pertinent people - burst in to what he called his must-do “Praise Shout” – accompanied by the ultimate happy dance.

Best Surprise

Carole King’s appearance and duet with Tony winner (Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Beautiful - The Carole King Musical?) Jessie Mueller. Loved it.

Best (Anticipated) Wins

Bryan Cranston’s Best Actor in a Play (All in Way)

Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Mark Rylance (Twelfth Night)

And lastly, in the Best Musical Category: the most excellent and finally recognized A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder!

 


Best Musical

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder earns 10 Tony nominations
Jefferson Mays as Henry D'Ysquith, Jennifer Smith, and Bryce Pinkham as Monty Navarro in a scene from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. Photo: Joan Marcus.

After Midnight
Aladdin
Beautiful -The Carole King Musical

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Play

Act One
All the Way

Casa Valentina
Mothers and Sons
Outside Mullingar

Best Revival of a Musical

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Les Misérables
Violet

Best Revival of a Play

The Cripple of Inishmaan
The Glass Menagerie

A Raisin in the Sun

Twelfth Night

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Bryan Cranston in All the Way on Broadway
Bryan Cranston in All the Way. Photo: Eugenia Eliseeva

Samuel Barnett, Twelfth Night
Bryan Cranston, All the Way

Chris O’Dowd, Of Mice and Men
Mark Rylance, Richard III
Tony Shalhoub, Act One

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Brill
Photo: Warwick Saint

Tyne Daly, Mothers and Sons
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, A Raisin in the Sun
Cherry Jones, The Glass Menagerie
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

Estelle Parsons, The Velocity of Autumn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig on Broadway
Photo: Joan Marcus

Neil Patrick Harris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Ramin Karimloo, Les Misérables
Andy Karl, Rocky
Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
Bryce Pinkham, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Jessie Mueller in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Photo: Joan Marcus

Mary Bridget Davies, A Night With Janis Joplin
Sutton Foster, Violet
Idina Menzel, If/Then
Jessie Mueller, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Kelli O’Hara, The Bridges of Madison County

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Reed Birney, Casa Valentina
Paul Chahidi, Twelfth Night
Stephen Fry, Twelfth Night
Mark Rylance, Twelfth Night

Brian J. Smith, The Glass Menagerie

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Sarah Greene, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The Glass Menagerie
Sophie Okonedo, A Raisin in the Sun

Anika Noni Rose, A Raisin in the Sun
Mare Winningham, Casa Valentina

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Danny Burstein, Cabaret
Nick Cordero, Bullets Over Broadway
Joshua Henry, Violet
James Monroe Iglehart, Aladdin

Jarrod Spector, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Linda Emond, Cabaret
Lena Hall, Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Anika Larsen, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Adriane Lenox, After Midnight
Lauren Worsham, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Direction of a Musical

Warren Carlyle, After Midnight
Michael Mayer, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Leigh Silverman, Violet
Darko Tresnjak, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Direction of a Play

Tim Carroll, Twelfth Night
Michael Grandage, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun

John Tiffany, The Glass Menagerie

Best Book of a Musical

Aladdin
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Bullets Over Broadway

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Aladdin
The Bridges of Madison County

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
If/Then

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, Act One
Bob Crowley, The Glass Menagerie
Es Devlin, Machinal
Christopher Oram, The Cripple of Inishmaan

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Christopher Barreca, Rocky
Julian Crouch, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Alexander Dodge, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
Santo Loquasto, Bullets Over Broadway

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jane Greenwood, Act One
Michael Krass, Machinal
Rita Ryack, Casa Valentina
Jenny Tiramani, Twelfth Night

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Linda Cho, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
William Ivey Long, Bullets Over Broadway
Arianne Phillips, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Isabel Toledo, After Midnight

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Paule Constable, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Jane Cox, Machinal
Natasha Katz, The Glass Menagerie

Japhy Weideman, Of Mice and Men

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kevin Adams, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Christopher Akerlind, Rocky
Howell Binkley, After Midnight
Donald Holder, The Bridges of Madison County

Best Sound Design of a Play

Alex Baranowski, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

Dan Moses Schreier, Act One
Matt Tierney, Machinal

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Peter Hylenski, After Midnight
Tim O’Heir, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Mick Potter, Les Misérables
Brian Ronan, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Best Choreography

Warren Carlyle, After Midnight
Steven Hoggett & Kelly Devine, Rocky
Casey Nicholaw, Aladdin
Susan Stroman, Bullets Over Broadway

Best Orchestrations

Doug Besterman, Bullets Over Broadway
Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County

Steve Sidwell, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Jonathan Tunick, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder


Final Tally:

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder – 4

Hedwig and the Angry Inch - 4

A Raisin in the Sun - 3

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical - 2

The Bridges of Madison County - 2

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill - 2

Twelfth Night - 2

Act I – 1

After Midnight - 1

Aladdin – 1

The Glass Menagerie – 1

Rocky - 1

About the Author

City Guide Theatre Editor Griffin Miller moved to New York to pursue an acting/writing career in the 1980s after graduating magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, she has written for The New York Times, For the Bride, Hotels, and a number of other publications, mostly in the areas of travel and performance arts. An active member of The New York Travel Writers Association, she is also a playwright and award-winning collage artist. In addition, she sits on the board of The Lewis Carroll Society of North America. Griffin is married to Richard Sandomir, a reporter for The New York Times.

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