BROADWAY MAGAZINE – And the winners were…here is your complete list of all the winners for the 2009 Tony Awards. The ceremony was wonderful, and the shows were all deserving. Congratulations to all.

BEST MUSICAL: Billy Elliot

BEST PLAY: God of Carnage

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL: Hair

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY: The Norman Conquests

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL: Lee Hall, Billy Elliot

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATER: Next to Normal

Music: Tom Kitt, Lyrics: Brian Yorkey

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Alice Ripley, Next to Normal

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY: Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Karen Olivo, West Side Story

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY: Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY: Peter Darling, Billy Elliot

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS (Tie): Martin Koch, Billy Elliot & Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY: Derek McLane, 33 Variations

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY: Anthony Ward, Mary Stuart

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Tim Hatley, Shrek the Musical

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY: Brian MacDevitt, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY: Gregory Clarke, Equus

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot

SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT: Liza’s at the Palace . . .

SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATER: Jerry Herman

REGIONAL THEATER TONY AWARD: Signature Theater (Arlington, Va.)

ISABELLE STEVENSON AWARD: Phyllis Newman

SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE THEATER: Shirley Herz

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – The 2009 Tony Awards take place tonight, but there is a rehearsal going on at this minute. As Jane Fonda and Tony Tweeter Mark Indelicato, and many others describe, the opening number is amazing. Spoiler alert, if you want to enjoy the ceremony and not know what is going to happen, don’t read this post…or do read the post actually. We won’t give away any of the surprises, except to say you’ll see some legends, and lots of nominees and the opening number brought down the house this morning. Will this be the most watched Tony Awards ever? We’ll see.

Join us tonight with our live stream from the winners press room, and watch on CBS as the opening number kicks in at 8pm ET.

 Broadway and Godot

BROADWAY MAGAZINE—Nothing to be done. Wish we could’ve been there to hear Nathan Lane after he found out he didn’t get a Tony Award nomination. We imagine he was fiercely funny. This has been a remarkable season of Broadway, and Mr. Lane’s work deserved attention. Still, getting the Tony Nomination for Best Revival this season is an amazing accomplishment. A strong production of a challenging play, it may not win, but we wouldn’t be sad if it did. We’ve got your inside seat with the winners at The Tony press room on Sunday night. Join us starting at 7pm EST to see the winners meet the Broadway press. Here’s your Godot Go To Guide for Tony night.
“Waiting for Godot,” the famous existentialist play by Samuel Beckett, returned to the stage this year starring Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman, and John Glover. The show about two lost and confused men waiting for someone named Godot and their very  strange encounters and experiences has garnered 3 Tony nominations: Best Revival, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (John Glover), and Best Costume Design of a Play (Jane Greenwood)

Biggest Prize at stake is Ticket Buyers

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – While the critics are not all in agreement, there is no doubt that audiences like their Rock of Ages. On Tony Award night, this tribe of 80’s characters will take to the stage to perform a number from the show and anyone watching will be singing along. FUN is sometimes a four-letter word on Broadway, so the show is a bit of a long shot. We had a good time, and as the poet says “don’t need nothing but a good time, and it don’t get better than this.” It won’t win Best Musical, but it may win the grand prize –a big increase in ticket sales from a performance on Tony night. Join us for a live video stream from the Tony Award winners press room starting at 7pm ET tomorrow night.

“Rock of Ages” is a new musical by Chris D’Arienzo, built around classic rock hits and glam metal bands of the 1980’s. Directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine, the musical tells the story of a small-town girl with dreams of being a movie star and a city boy from Detroit aspiring to be a rockstar. They meet and work in a famous bar on L.A’s sunset strip, and begin a musical journey full of love, music, and big hair. The hilarious new show nabbed 5 Tony noms: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Constantine Maroulis), Best Direction of a Musical (Kristin Hanggi), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Gregory Gale), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Peter Hylenski)

Revenge is dish best served nude? 

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Here come HAIR on Tony Award night, and let’s hope the tribe brings something to carry home the Tony Award. Will they be nude on the Broadcast…on CBS? Not too likely, but their emotions and energy are always raw to the truthful core. HAIR may need a wheelbarrow on Tony Night, and could best Billy Elliot for total awards won on Tony night. Call it sweet revenge. During the show’s first run the show was controversially excluded from Tony eligibility, and a lawsuit was brought in 1968. A brave and notorious musical that challenges on all levels, HAIR will win Best Revival of a musical and more! Join us live in the Winners Press room with our video stream during Tony night and ask a question of a Tony winner live. Here is the overview of HAIR:

“Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. Hair tells the story of a “tribe” of politically active, long-haired hippies fighting against the Vietnam War in New York City. The show deals with sex, love, drugs, and rebellion in an era of war and confusion. The hit 2009 revival has garnered 8 Tony nominations: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Gavin Creel), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Will Swenson), Best Direction of a Musical (Diane Paulus), Best Choreography (Karole Armitage), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Michael McDonald), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Acme Sound Partners)

Will President Obama’s Visit Help Show? 

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – The amazing revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone deserves the Tony Award for Best Revival for many reasons, not the least of which is the power to bring a sitting president to Broadway for the first time since Eisenhower (who saw Hello Dolly). Will the 800+ Tony voters overlook August Wilson to genuflect to the West End? Quite likely. Again these are all exceptional productions in this category, The Norman Conquests is highly entertaining and a buzz getter, but Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is entertaining and ennobling. Shame if it is neglected. Check out the Tony Award Winners room live on www.Broadway.tv tomorrow night, and ask a question of a Tony Award Winner. Here’s a look at Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Tony Night.

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” is a play by American playwright, August Wilson, and the second installment of his decade-by-decade chronicle of the African-American experience, “The Century Cycle.” The play chronicles the lives of freed former enslaved African-Americans in the North, dealing with issues of race, personal identity and finding your way through life’s complications. The 2009 revival garnered 6 Tony Nominations: Best Revival of a Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (Roger Robinson), Best Direction of a Play (Bartlett Sher), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Michael Yeargan), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Brian MacDevitt), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg)

 Sadowski, Ireland and LaBute May Sweep

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – When it comes to Best Play, reasons to be pretty has many supporters. If the lemming theory of Broadway holds true, God of Carnage will likely win Best Play, but this may be a category where the upstart bests conventional wisdom. We’d love Horton Foote to get it, and he may, but Hallie Foote may take home a Tony Award for the family. Nothing would make us happier. Join us live during Tony Night for a Video Stream from Rainbow Room where all the winners will meet the press. Ask questions of Mr. LaBute if he wins…and be prepared for a spicy answer, we hope. Here’s your reasons to be pretty run-down for Tony night.
“Reasons to be Pretty,” the new play by Neil LaBute, is the story of what happens when Steph (Marin Ireland) overhears her boyfriend offhandedly make a comment about how her face is plain and ordinary. This comment causes all hell to break loose, soon involving another couple with their own issues. The bittersweet comedy is about love, sex, relationships, and the emphasis society puts on beauty. The show garnered 3 Tony nominations: Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play (Thomas Sadoski), and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (Marin Ireland)

BROADWAY MAGAZINE—If Billy Elliot is the Goliath, Next To Normal could well be David at the 2009 Tony Awards tomorrow night. Both are deserving of awards, but there can only be one winner. Will this gutsy new musical thrive on Tony Night tomorrow? It will surely win some awards, best bet is Alice Ripley for Leading Actress in a Musical. Tune in tomorrow at 8 PM EST to see. Also, join us right here in the blog for a live video stream from the winners room. Here is the rundown on Next to Normal.

“Next to Normal”, a rock musical by Brian Yorkey and  Tom Kitt., is the story of a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical, which tackles the difficult issues of grief, suicide, drug abuse, and suburban life.

The musical is nominated for 11 Tony’s: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (J. Robert Spencer), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Damiano), Best Direction of a Musical (Michael Greif), Best Book of a Musical (Brian Yorkey), Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey), Best Orchestrations (Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Mark Wendland), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Brian Ronan)

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – It may not be the exact same thing as seeing Brodway with President Obama, but it could well be close. This weekend, Jane Fonda will return to her adopted home of Broadway in anticipation for the Tony Awards on Sunday night. She’ll be presenting the award for Best Featured Actor in a Play! Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’s
Roger Robinson is our vote, though all the candidates were fantastic. Anyway, if you want to SEE A SHOW WITH JANE FONDA, she has announced her schedule in her blog. As we say always, if you haven’t read Jane Fonda’s blog, you should. So, here is what she writes:

Tomorrow Night (Thursday) – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Friday – Ruined

Saturday Matinee – reasons to be pretty

Saturday Night – The Norman Conquets: Round and Round The Garden (followed by dinner with Jeff Daniels)

Sunday – Collect a Tony Award (ok, she didn’t write that one, but she’d have every right to do so)

Verify the info for yourself directly from her blog.

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – A bounty of Broadway award booty is currently up for auction. Producer Jane Gaynor is currently selling a treasure trove of awards won by the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. On the block are the Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Award, plus quite a bit of other related material. There seems to be a trend here. Didn’t we just do this a little while back. What would Fats Waller say? Cash for your trash?!

Note: This is a stock photo of Tony Award used for this post. Ms. Gaynor’s Tony Award may not have blue sparkler’s shooting from it.