‘Suffs’ shines a light on women’s voting rights
“Suffs” is a women’s production through and through, from the all-female cast to powerful figures behind the scenes.
The musical, set in the years leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, is largely the brainchild of Shaina Taub. The show’s book, music and lyrics were all written by Taub, who also stars as suffragette Alice Paul.
The production received six Tony nominations, including for best musical. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai are among the producers.
What's the likelihood that a play that has already closed will win a Tony?
Of the 28 nominated shows, 10 have closed before the ceremony: “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Here Lies Love,” “Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch,” “Doubt: A Parable,” “Prayer for the French Republic,” “Lempicka,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” “Gutenberg! The Musical!” and “Grey House.”
“Uncle Vanya,” which has one nomination, closes today, and “An Enemy of the People,” which is nominated for five Tonys, is closing June 23.
See some early red (blue) carpet looks
Tony Award nominees, presenters and producers have already started walking the red carpet, which is actually blue this year.
Nomination snubs: Steve Carell and ‘The Wiz’ skipped over
When this year’s slate of nominees was announced, Broadway observers were surprised to see Steve Carell left off the list. Carell, who made his Broadway debut in a Lincoln Center revival of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” failed to pick up a nod for best actor in a play. However, Tonys voters recognized one of Carell’s co-stars, William Jackson Harper, in that category, giving “Vanya” its sole nomination this year.
Meanwhile, a revival of “The Wiz” — a retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” anchored by a Black cast and Black musical styles — got shut out of the running altogether. The new version of “The Wiz” has been a hit with audiences, but critics have been lukewarm. The original incarnation of the show won a commanding seven Tonys when it debuted in 1975, including best musical, best original score, best choreography and best costume design.
Ariana DeBose serves as a host and producer
DeBose posted a selfie to her Instagram on Friday from Lincoln Center, where the awards are taking place.
In the caption, she gave a shoutout to “every single department working” the Tonys this year, which includes “800 staff and crew + 440 additional people associated with performances.”
“Serving as a producer this year has given me an even deeper look into the process of making LIVE TV!” she wrote.
Tony Awards producers promise ‘a really “wow” kind of show’
Producing duo Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, who have produced and directed the Tony Awards telecast since 2003, gave Variety a preview of what to expect at this year’s show.
“I think it’s going to be, from the very start, a really ‘wow’ kind of show,” Weiss said.
The audience can also expect great performances from nominated casts and speeches from winners.
“Because Broadway has such a sense of community, I think some of the best acceptance speeches I’ve ever heard in my life have come on this show,” Weiss said.
Playwright Amy Herzog is a double nominee
Playwright Amy Herzog is a double nominee, with her play “Mary Jane” nominated for best play and her adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” nominated for best revival of a play. It’s the first time a playwright has been nominated in both categories in the same year.
“I’m thrilled to be nominated for two plays I care so deeply about — ‘An Enemy of the People’ and ‘Mary Jane.’ I salute my extraordinary leading actors, Tony nominees Jeremy Strong and Rachel McAdams, for carrying the hell out of these plays eight times a week,” Herzog said in a statement.
Herzog was nominated for best revival of a play last year for her adaptation of another Ibsen play, “A Doll’s House,” which starred Jessica Chastain.
'Cabaret’ star Ato Blankson-Wood on rebuilding the Cliff role from scratch
One of the main characters in the renowned musical “Cabaret,” bisexual American writer Clifford Bradshaw, is a cipher for author Christopher Isherwood, whose book “The Berlin Stories” serves as the musical’s inspiration.
Ato Blankson-Wood, the first Black actor to play Clifford on Broadway looked beyond Isherwood for inspiration.
“It was really important to me that I wasn’t a Black body playing Christopher Isherwood,” Blankson-Wood told NBC News. “I looked at a lot of his biography, but he is so deeply embedded in the role, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of him I wanted to highlight.”
Read the full story here.
‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ captures the essence of African hair braiding salons
“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” nominated for five Tony Awards, replicates the dynamic hustle found in a typical salon’s day. Customers trickle in and out of the chairs, relaying distinct visions for their hair. Braiders gossip — in jest and in envy — as they labor over their clients. Afrobeats fill the rare silences.
To playwright Jocelyn Bioh, the African hair braiders of Harlem are icons.
“They’re a large part of the economy of Harlem,” Bioh said of the Manhattan neighborhood. “Those are women-owned businesses and for the most part -led.”
Read the full story here.
Who's performing at the Tonys?
It is customary for the nominated shows to perform musical numbers during the broadcast. This year will feature performances from the casts of “Stereophonic,” “Cabaret,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Illinoise,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Suffs,” “The Outsiders,” “The Who’s Tommy” and “Water for Elephants.”