Nikki M. James wins for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris have a Tony Host-off

Frances McDormand’s Jean Jacket Loves the Beacon Theatre

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Good People
The Motherf**ker With the Hat
*War Horse

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
*The Book of Mormon
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Sister Act
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Blood From a Stone
Kin
*Other Desert Cities
The Other Place

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Freckleface Strawberry
In Transit
*The Kid
Tomorrow Morning

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
*The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
Sister Act
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Born Yesterday
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
*The Normal Heart

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
*Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Hello Again
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
*Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris, War Horse
Emma Rice, Brief Encounter
Anna D. Shapiro, The Motherf**cker With the Hat
Daniel Sullivan, Good People

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
*Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon
Jerry Zaks, Sister Act

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Ross Coleman, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
*Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw, The Book of Mormon

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest
Derek McLane, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
*Neil Murray, Brief Encounter
Todd Rosenthal, The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Lez Brotherston, Sister Act
*Tim Chappel & Lizzie Gardiner, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest
Lizz Wolf, Baby It’s You!

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
*Paule Constable, War Horse
Natasha Katz, Sister Act
David Lander, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Malcolm Rippeth, Brief Encounter

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reed Birney, The Dream of the Burning Boy
Bobby Cannavale, The Motherf**ker With the Hat
Joe Mantello, The Normal Heart
Al Pacino, The Merchant of Venice
*Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
*Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light, Lombardi
*Frances McDormand, Good People
Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can
*Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
Daniel Radcliffe, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Aaron Tveit, Catch Me If You Can

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Victoria Clark, Sister Act
*Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Beth Leavel, Baby It’s You!
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
*Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Evan Jonigkeit, High
Stacy Keach, Other Desert Cities
Seth Numrich, War Horse
Yul Vázquez, The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Good People
Linda Lavin, Other Desert Cities
Estelle Parsons, Good People
Alison Pill, The House of Blue Leaves
*Elizabeth Rodriguez, The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Colin Donnell, Anything Goes
*Adam Godley, Anything Goes
Chester Gregory, Sister Act
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
John McMartin, Anything Goes

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
*Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Marla Mindelle, Sister Act
Laura Osnes, Anything Goes

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Daniel Beaty, Through the Night
Mike Birbiglia, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
*John Leguizamo, Ghetto Klown
Michael Shannon, Mistakes Were Made

JOHN GASSNER AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Amy Herzog, After the Revolution
*Matthew Lopez, The Whipping Man
David West Read, The Dream of the Burning Boy
Kim Rosenstock, Tigers Be Still

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Ellen Barkin for her Outstanding Broadway Debut in The Normal Heart

Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company
Puppet Design, Fabrication and Direction for
War Horse

The 2010-11 Outer Critics Circle Executive/Nominating Committee includes Simon Saltzman (President), Mario Fratti (Vice-President), Patrick Hoffman (Corresponding Secretary), Stanley L. Cohen (Treasurer), Glenn Loney (Historian & Member-at-Large), Rosalind Friedman (Recording Secretary) and Aubrey Reuben, Thomás Gentile & Harry Haun (Members-at-Large).

Outer Critics Circle is the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway. Celebrating its 61st season, the members of the Outer Critics Circle are affiliated with more than 90 newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad.

Check back for details

Happy New Year! Broadway has seen a lot of changes, with the closing of nearly twenty shows. One thing that gives us comfort is that The Addams Family is not going anywhere.

Gypsy of the year, Broadway Cares’ annual winter benefit raised over 3 million dollars. The event was accomplished with a winning performance by Rock of Ages cast members, the legendary Carol Channing performing a great opening number, and Seth Rudetsky talking about himself.

Spider-man postpones opening again.

In a recent interview Rosie O’Donnell pleaded to the producers of the impending revival of Annie to cast her as Miss Hannigan. She later went on to mention others who could do a better job than her, including Mary Testa and Christine Ebersole. In other news, Mary Testa sent Rosie O’Donnell a muffin basket from her dressing room at Annie.

Happy Holidays! Ok, so it’s not even December, but as many of you are traveling to NY or making plans to hang with friends and family during this festive month, don’t forget, it’s your last chance to see some great theater. There are over 15 shows closing in December and January that you don’t want to miss out on.  So get your tickets fast, before it’s too late.

A Little Night Music (closes Jan 9th)
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (closes Jan 2nd)
Brief Encounter (closes Jan 2nd)
Driving Miss Daisy (closes Jan 29th)
Elf (closes Jan 2nd)
Fela! (closes Jan 2nd)
A Free Man of Color (closes Jan 9th)
In the Heights (closes Jan 9th)
La Bete (closes Jan 9th)
Merchant of Venice (closes Jan 9th)
Next to Normal (closes Jan 16th)
Pee Wee Herman (closes Jan 2nd)
The Pitmen Painters (closes Dec 12th)
Promises, Promises (closes Jan 2nd)
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles (Closes Jan 9th)
The Scottsboro Boys (Closes Dec 12th)
Time Stands Still (closes Jan 23rd)
West Side Story (closes Jan 2nd)
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (closes Jan 23rd)

Andrew Jackson was our seventh president of the U.S., most remembered for his support of popular democracy, support of slavery, and Emo music?

1776, the year of our independence and in true spirit, lots of political figures, singing their hearts out about voting yes to independence.

Why is George W. Bush the only one in his family to speak with a Texan accent? Thank you Will Ferrell

Christine O’Donnell may not be a witch (nor did she win any popular vote yesterday), but we couldn’t resist including this one as well.

Just In Time – The Judy Holliday Story
Writer: Bob Sloan
Director: Bob Sloan
A fast-paced romp through the life of the Original Dumb Blond and one of the funniest actresses of all time. Featuring such exalted cohorts as Orson Welles, Katherine Hepburn, Comden & Green, Gloria Swanson, and Jimmy Durante.

open heart
joes & co.
Writer: Joe Salvatore
Director: Joe Salvatore
What’s it like in a gay relationship that allows for outside sexual partners? Find out through the actual words of men who shared their personal stories and thoughts on monogamy, fidelity, sex, and open relationships.

Picking Palin
A Family Affair Films
Writer: Stephen Padilla
Director: Stephen Padilla
How did a certain first-term, little-known governor from Alaska become the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate? The better question is why. Find out in this FringeNYC World Premiere.

Julius Caesar: The Death of a Dictator
The Gangbusters Theatre Company
Writer: Based on text by William Shakespeare, Adapted by Orson Welles, with Music by Metallica
Director: Leon Shanglebee
Choreographer: Nicole Langevin
The Gangbusters Theatre Company bring their trademark Speed & Violence to Orson Welles’ adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece. Set in a militant future and scored to the music of Metallica, this one-act production will punch you in the throat.

We will be featuring more shows next week!

We are excited to announce the release of the app you’ve all been waiting for. iBroadway is finally here! It’s the easiest, most savvy way to access all things Broadway, all via you iPhone and iPod touch. Watch exclusive videos, read from Theater’s top bloggers (more on that to come), get show listings, and be able to buy tickets all from your phone. To download the app, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibroadway/id349362702?mt=8. It’s fast and free!

People applauded Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon for his drunken Nixon monologue (rightfully so), but for me the moment is when Nixon knows he is stuck in a corner and realizes that he has to admit his wrongdoing. There are no words, just Nixon and Frost on stage in silence, with Nixon’s face on the TV screens with the look of horror. That sent chills up my spine. A brilliant theatrical moment.

I had the opportunity to see Billy Elliot on Sunday afternoon. To be perfectly honest,  I was never excited about this show coming to Broadway and I thought it would be just another tourist trap. I had seats in center rear mezzanine and to me seats far back can ruin a show. To my pleasant surprise, I loved it, I thought it was wonderful and although it’s  very large (the cast is the biggest I have seen in a long time for a commercial production), it feels surprising intimate in the very large Imperial Theater.

To me what made Billy Elliot good was not the music (it was fine, but nothing to write home about), but the story, dance and lighting design. I haven’t seen the movie, but I just loved the story of Billy’s struggle to find himself in a narrow-minded community. The dancing was fantastic and the lighting design was amazing. Billy Elliot had two moments that, for me, made the show go from good to extraordinary.

Both scenes occur act the end of the acts (spoiler alert!). The Act One finale is a long sequence with Billy  dancing alone while riots occur behind him. It’s a chilling moment that beats out any flying witches or crashing chandeliers. There’s no song, just Billy expressing his frustration through dance. The other moment occurs at the end of Act Two when Billy says goodbye to his best friend, Michael, who rides a bike to the spotlit center of the darkened stage. You do not see Michael’s face, he is alone, watching  his friend achieve his dream while he is left behind in a community that is crumbling. In the silence it is just Michael and in a moment Billy runs up to embrace his friend, probably for the last time.