Tony Awards News | Photos | Quotes | Wiki - UPI.com Tony Awards News Next Wiki The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre. A discretionary non-competitive Special Tony Award and the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre are also given. The awards are named after Antoinette Perry, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. The rules for the Tony Awards are set forth in the official document "Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards", which applies for each season only. The Tony Awards are considered the highest U.S. theatre honor, the U.S. theatre industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion pictures. In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award. Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has generally been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television.

The 63rd Tony Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on June 7, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall, with a three-hour broadcast on CBS. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the Wikipedia article " Tony Awards ." Quotes 2009 TONY AWARDS REHEARSAL, RED CARPET & PRESS ROOM | Philly Chit Chat 2009 TONY AWARDS REHEARSAL, RED CARPET & PRESS ROOM June 15, 2009 by HughE Dillon 8 Comments According to Wikepedia: The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League [1] at an annual ceremony in New York City . The awards are for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre. A discretionary non-competitive Special Tony Award and the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre are also given. [2] The awards are named after Antoinette Perry , co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. Anne Hathaway at the 2009 Tony Awards Rehearsal.

Every year I go and shoot the departures. This year I decided to Tweet the experience through my Twitter name iPhillyChitChat; I guess they were interesting enough that the website NewYorkology (thanks!!) picked them up and told people to follow me or #Tonys, which was the Twitter search the Tony Awards set up for everyone to follow to get the minute by minute detail of the happenings. You know I enjoyed that. Lin-Manuel Miranda tells me to check out his cool SWAG bag. Lights up in the dark. Interesting enough tough guy James Gandolfini chose the Vera Bradley bag I had been following Jane Fonda on her Twitter account (she was also listed on Newyorkology @JaneFonda), and her blog and she said she was going to go to certain plays on certain days. So on Saturday I went to the Reasons to be Pretty matinee. She was having lunch with Oprah that day and I thought they would go together (Oprah went to a different play). Anyway Jane arrived by cab, I waited for her to situate herself and then asked for a photo. She was very gracious and gave me a couple good shots.

Later when I reviewed the photos she had an obvious wardrobe malfunction, that she would surely have noticed or someone would have mention to her later that day. The photo would have been worth more money because of it, but I deleted it. Later in this entry you will see the message I sent her. Here’s Jane Sunday morning at the Tony Awards Rehearsal. This year’s Tony Awards were the most fantastic ever! Neil Patrick Harris was sensational! That finale alone makes him the best host in history! If you didn’t catch the opening of the Tony’s go to YOUTUBE “2009 Tony Awards – Opening Part 1″ Then “2009 Tony Awards – Opening Part 2” It will blow you away, and sets the tone for something fantastic. Neil Patrick Harris & Boyfriend David Burtka. Tovah Feldshuh always brings it Chandra Wilson takes a break from Grey’s Anatomy to star in Chicago this summer. Note the hair is ready for her to take on the role of Matron Mama Morton.

Audra McDonald, daughter, new man and his son Five Frankie Vallis from the North American Jersey Boys (Toronto-Joseph Leo Bwarie, Las Vegas- Rick Faugno, National Tour- Courter Simmons, Chicago- Dominic Scaglione Jr., Broadway- Jarrod Spector) companies and performed “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” & “Oh What A Night” with the Broadway Cast. Pictured with Frankie Valle, from Philadelphia. Legend Dolly Parton. The only person missing this night was Lily Tomlin. She was there last year. And yes Dolly is just a little bitty thing. Same wonderful welcoming voice. Sutton Foster, up for a Tony in “Shrek The Musical,” on the red carpet. To her left is her brother Hunter Foster. Barbara Cook was sadly lost in the mix. By this time the carpet was getting packed. I recognized her, and wanted to get the shot for my friend Sarah who is a huge fan. Check out Sarah’s blog. Marcia Gay Harden and her mom. Her father, brother, and husband are all named Thaddaeus.

Anne Hathaway stars in Daniel Sullivan’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night , to play the Delacorte Theatre, June 10-July 12, with an opening set for June 25. Did you know that the Anne Hathaway (1556 – 6 August 1623) was the wife of William Shakespeare. For more information, call 212-967-7555 or visit . Colin Hanks of “33 Variations” surrounded by peeps cluttering my photo. It didn’t matter as the PR Firm PMK/HBH had placed me in a most coveted spot, the FRONT ROW. Alot of times when I am shooting, you may know, that I get 2nd or 3rd row as I have to come up from Philly and put my name down on the snapper list. I always arrive in the late afternoon, so that sucks for me. This year at the Tony’s they had marked spots and I was thrilled to be where I was, others not so happy. But is celeb photographer world you can imagine how competitve it is.

Legend of legends Angela Lansbury Lauren Graham tells me that her movie “The Answer man” opens in a few weeks. It was filmed in Philadelphia. I already saw it and enjoyed it despite the grouch Jeff Daniels being in it. Constantine Maroulis and his mom Constance P. Maroulis Noah, my friend Sarah’s friend & Phyllis Newman on the red carpet. If you are into Broadway and want to read a fantastic blog, check out Sarah’s blog. Rock of Ages band Poison. Here’s a fan on the Red Carpet getting in my picture so he could get a picture (UpdateThanks!!: [More than a fan] Barry Habib, Rock of Ages producer and all around nice guy- LOL- the entire cast was so excited about the Tonys! ) Julie Chin wouldn’t reveal any secrets to the upcoming 7th Season of Big Brother. I was over the moon when “Knots’ Landing” alum Michelle Lee came into my viewfinder, and I think she knew it as she gave me this big smile. Mark Indelicato a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Indelicato has been raised in nearby Neshaminy in Bucks County. He is of Puerto Rican and Italian ancestry.

One of three regulars on Ugly Betty with Philadelphia ties, the others being Ana Ortiz, who plays his mother Hilda on the show, and Becki Newton, the receptionist at Mode on the show. Here he is with his mother. When shooting in NYC, especially events like the Tony Awards, I do try and focus on Philadelphian’s as those are the photos Michael Klein would be interested in publishing in the inquirer. Hughe says (on Jane Fonda’s Blog, which was moderated and then she published it): The Akumalian The Akumalian. Return to Home Page 2008 Index INTRODUCTION With the H1N1 outbreak around the globe, the worldï¿½s media focused their attention on Mexico. As a result, things really slowed down with arriving, or lack of, tourists and absentee landlords. Hopefully, thing will be somewhat ï¿½back to normalï¿½ for Akumalï¿½s 50th Anniversary this weekend. MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF During the last Staff Meeting, The Staff raised the issue of reporting on the holidays year after year, when basically nothing changes on most of them.

The Akumalian has been including informative ï¿½stuffï¿½ about all the holidays in line with all the other stories being reported, and this has lengthened some issues quite a bit, and for most subscribers, this is repetitive information that can be found almost anywhere. So, The Staff made an executive decision that The Akumalian would now just publish a notice of the holidays, with a pointer to ï¿½the rest of the storyï¿½ for those interested in knowing more about an individual holiday. You will see this for the three holidays in June. What do you think about this new approach? Take the Survey and let The Staff know. If this is well received by the readers, it may be extended to other elements that remain constant from month-to-month or year-to-year, like ï¿½Important Month Factsï¿½ and the Solstice (1st day of summer). Two other things to note. 1. Up in the top left hand corner is a Subscribe box where you can add family and friends as Subscribers to The Akumalian. This can also be used if you are accidently unsubscribed. 2.

Over on the right hand side is the ad for the Sale of Casa Colibri in South Akumal, and this is another place where you can direct family and friends who may want a piece of Caribbean beachfront with a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house with pool and garage. TAKE THE SURVEY The aforementioned Survey is a very, very simple Survey with only two (2) questions that are quite important to the future layout of The Akumalian, and it should take less than a minute to complete. Take the Survey . IMPORTANT JUNE FACTS Several stories are passed around to show how the month of June was named. The most widely accepted explanation is that it is named after the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. Gemini May 22 - June 21 Cancer June 22 ï¿½ July 22 June Birthstone: Pearl Aphrodite's tears of joy, Cleopatra's love potion, Krishna's wedding gift for his daughter. The legends stretch fast and far, however one fact is undeniable: Pearls are the oldest known gem and were considered the most valuable, for centuries!

In fact, the Roman General Vitellius allegedly financed an entire military campaign with just one of his mother's Pearl earrings! The only jewel that is not made by mother Earth, the Pearl is created from a secreted resin of the oyster. June Flower: Rose One of the earliest flowers known to man, symbolize love magic, hope, passion. The rose represents beauty and perfection. The name rose comes from the Latin word rose which means red. Nebuchadnezzar used roses to decorate his palace. They were grown for perfume oil in Persia. The Greeks associated roses with the blood of Aphrodite's beloved Adonis. There are more than a hundred species of wild roses. 19 Hans Schmitthenner and Joan Potenza Anniversary 20 Demetrioï¿½s girls 22 Sam & Sharon Goby Anniversary 25 Janet (Triciaï¿½s mom) 25 Katie & Joel Datica Anniversary 29 Bud & Alice Blatner Anniversary There must be more than this. Letï¿½s hear about YOUR birthday. May Wedding Congratulations to Gary Phillips and Sylvia, who were married on May 30th.

June Wedding Congratulations to Juan and Lorrinda who are getting married on June 6. Missed May Birthdays and Anniversaries Nada. AKUMALï¿½S 50th ANNIVERSARY The presses are still running, but the June issue of The Akumalian is out with photos from the events from Friday and Saturday. Sundayï¿½s photos should by ready late Friday so come back to the Events page to see the ï¿½rest of the storyï¿½. Go to Akumalï¿½s 50th Anniversary . MEXICO RESORTS OFFER ï¿½FLU-FREEï¿½ DEAL May 16, 2009 ï¿½ USA Today Desperate to woo back travelers who cancelled trips in the wake of Mexico's swine flu outbreak, more than 20 coastal resort hotels have launched a "flu-free guarantee": Guests who catch the H1N1 virus in Mexico ï¿½ and have the blood test to prove it ï¿½ can get their next three vacations for free. The initiative comes as the country's tourism industry tallies staggering losses from a flu epidemic that Mexican officials first confirmed on April 23.

The country's official death toll rose to 64 Thursday, with 2,656 confirmed infections. The virus has so far infected nearly 6,500 people worldwide, including 3,352 cases in the USA. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. State Department warned travelers against nonessential trips to Mexico, U.S. cruise lines dropped port calls, airlines waived cancellation fees, and resorts emptied. The advisory remains in effect despite lobbying efforts from Mexican hoteliers and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, whose May 5 letter to Pres. Obama noted that, "it is now apparent that the health implications of H1N1 are not limited to Mexico, (and) CDC and WHO officials have publicly stated the H1N1 virus is generally no greater health risk than seasonal influenza." Tourism minister Rodolfo Elizondo estimated this week that a flu-related drop in foreign visitors could cost Mexico up to 250,000 jobs and as much as $4 billion this year, or nearly a third of what the country earned from 22.6 million visitors last year.

The new flu guarantee is offered at Real Resorts, AMResorts, and Karisma's El Dorado and Azul hotels, most in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. At least 25 Cancun hotels have closed because of low occupancy, and many are slashing rates. To qualify for a free vacation under the flu guarantee, travelers must have made a new reservation at a participating hotel between May 8 and June 30 for travel taking place between May 8 and Dec. 20, 2009. Sniffles don't count: Guests must provide a doctor's certification and positive test results, taken within five days of departure, for Influenza A ï¿½ H1N1. The three return stays ï¿½ one per year ï¿½ are valid for the original traveler plus one companion; blackout dates and other restrictions apply. HURRICANE SEASON STARTS JUNE 1st AccuWeather Cuts 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast. The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from June 1 to November 30.

There is nothing magical in these dates, and hurricanes have occurred outside of these six months, but these dates were selected to encompass over 97% of tropical activity. Forecaster cut its forecast for this year's Atlantic Hurricane season, which begins June 1, to 10 named storms from the 12 it predicted in March. AccuWeather forecast six of the storms will be hurricanes, down from eight predicted in March, with two of them rated category 3 or stronger on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. AccuWeather's forecast is the latest of several to predict a less active hurricane season than in 2008, when hurricanes Gustav and Ike shut offshore oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and refineries in Louisiana and Texas. AccuWeather predicts three tropical storms will hit the U.S. coastline, including two hurricanes, one of which could be at least category 3 strength. That forecast is unchanged from March. "Anywhere along the U.S. coast is susceptible to an impact, but the Texas coast early in the season and East Coast from Carolinas northward during the heart of the season are areas that have us worried," said AccuWeather in a statement.

A weak El Nino pattern of warm water in the Pacific Ocean is expected to create wind shear to blow apart storms while cool water in the tropical Atlantic Ocean will rob the storms of their primary energy source as dust and dry air blowing from Africa will inhibit storm development, AccuWeather said. There were 16 named tropical storms in the 2008 hurricane season including eight hurricanes, of which five were considered major. Half of the 2008 tropical storms impacted the U.S. coast, including four hurricanes. ARMOR SCREEN HURRICANE PROTECTION These are the ones Luis Lobo has, so you can ask him about additional, personal information. The web site is at and the distributor in Cancun is Cortinas Anticiclonicas Inteligentes SA de CV on Av Bonampak # 3, Edif Domus; telephone is 998-892-0706. Armor Screen is Miami-Dade certified, including large missile impact and wind pressure tested to 195 PSF (276 MPH). The patented system uses deflection to cushion the impact of objects as they strike the Armor Screen.

Deflection distance varies with the height of the screen and is engineered for each opening. Armor Screen is a flexible, transparent membrane designed to withstand even the strongest hurricane winds without rupture and to deflect large and small missiles. The system is constructed of a technologically advanced, lightweight fabric which is 95 percent solid and 5 percent porous, allowing visibility and natural light into protected structures while effectively eliminating high winds and driving rain intrusion. The mounting systems for Armor Screen are important to its strength, and they must be installed according to the companyï¿½s specifications, depending on the architectural issues and constraints. Also, each screen is custom manufactured to fit each opening. As a result, only qualified Armor Screen Dealers are allowed to install these products. All Armor Screen systems are easy to deploy. The screens are light weight and the mounting systems typically require no special tools or devices. Because they offer such a wide array of mounting systems, it's impossible to estimate how long your system will take to deploy. Some systems are pulled across on a track and attached in a couple of minutes. Others are stored in bags that must be retrieved from storage and attached. But even this type of system can be deployed easily and quickly.

Most homes can be fully protected in less than one hour by one person. NAVY DAY, JUNE 1st Navy Day is an official Mexican holiday. The day is held on the June 1st and has been recognized every year since 1942. To learn more, go to Navy Day. ROBINï¿½S BEST SHIRT AWARD, JUNE 5th Come one, come all, to the Beach Bar, where weï¿½ll have a ball. Itï¿½s time for the ï¿½Best Shirt Awardï¿½, which is held on the first Friday of each month during Happy Hour at the Lol Ha Beach Bar. This award is based on Robinï¿½s penchant for good, classy Beach Bar shirts, and his sister, Mary Henderson, is ready to once again be the judge and jury as she selects the ï¿½Best Shirtï¿½ for June. And, as we go to print the criteria are still somewhat nebulous, but it looks like ï¿½coolestï¿½, ï¿½neatestï¿½, and ï¿½most colorfulï¿½ might work.

The May award for ï¿½Best Shirtï¿½ went to Gary Sparks, who had to go through some very tough scrutiny by the judges, because there was some serious competition. See May Best Shirt for more photos. BELMONT STAKES, LAST JEWEL IN TRIPLE CROWN, JUNE 6th The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes will be held at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 6. ABC-TV and ESPN will provide live coverage of the dayï¿½s events. Because of its distance and status as the race that can make or break a Triple Crown champion, the Belmont Stakes has been the venue for some of the most famous moments in American racing. The first Belmont in the United States was not the famous stakes race or even the man for whom it is named. Rather, the first Belmont was a race horse that arrived in California in 1853 from his breeding grounds of Franklin, Ohio. The Belmont Stakes, however, are named after August Belmont, a financier who made quite a name and fortune for himself in New York politics and society. Obviously, Mr.

Belmont was also quite involved in horse racing, and his imprint is even intertwined within the history of the Kentucky Derby. One thing the Belmont does have over the Derby is that it is the oldest of the three Triple Crown events. The Belmont predates the Preakness by six years, the Kentucky Derby by eight. The first running of the Belmont Stakes was in 1867 at Jerome Park, on, believe it or not, a Thursday. Here's a tidbit you didn't see in Derby or Preakness history. When Grey Lag won the Belmont in 1921, it marked the first running of the Belmont Stakes in the counter-clockwise manner of American fashion. This 53rd running was a mile and three-eighths over the main course; previous editions at Belmont Park had been run clockwise, in accordance with English custom, over a fish-hook course which included part of the training track and the main dirt oval. Itï¿½s been 30 years since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont to give racing its 11th Triple Crown winner.

There will not be a Triple Crown winner in 2009, unless itï¿½s a Triple Crown Jockey. COMINGS AND GOINGS There were a couple of ï¿½eventsï¿½ in early May, and the pace definitely slowed down as the US media wrecked havoc on the tourist industry in Mexico with their ï¿½coverageï¿½ of the H1N1 flu. Comings, in May, for Best Shirt Award and Kentucky Derby: Dennis & Barbara Rick, wife and friends from Boston area Donnie, Cheryl, and Lucy Janet Bouten and daughter, Jessie Jim Coke Arriving later in May we had: Bente Palmer stopped in for a week on her way to/from Russia. Bay & Chris Haas were back in South Akumal for a short visit. Rod & Joyce Flake were back in Playa Caribe for a brief spell Diana Wyatt was also back at Playa Caribe Laura Bush returned to host the 50th Anniversary event Elsie Bush is also in town for the 50th Anniversary Ryan Wolfe and girlfriend are also here.

Bush and his brother made a special trip for the 50th Anniversary Coming in June Thierry & Jissou VanderElst return on June 5 Richard & Arlene Pargot arrive on June 14. Goings, in Mays: ï¿½ Charlene went back to the US for a short trip. ï¿½ Didiere Jackson is off on his summer vacation in the US ï¿½ Bud Blatner returned to Philly. ï¿½ Linda Tate went back to the US for a short vacation. FULL MOON, JUNE 7th The Full Strawberry Moon occurs on June 7th at 12:30am AST. This name was universal to every Aztec tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also, because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June, so the full Moon for June was christened for the strawberry! TONY AWARDS, JUNE 7th The 63rd Annual Tony Awards On the stage at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.

The three-hour ceremony will be broadcast live (ET/PT time delay) on the CBS Television Network from 8:00 ï¿½ 11:00 p.m. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are for Broadway productions and performances, as well as discretionary non-competitive Special Tony Awards and the Regional Theatre Tony Award, and the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre. While the theatre-going public may consider the Tony Awards to be the Oscars of live theatre, critics have suggested that the Tony Awards are primarily a promotional vehicle for a small number of large production companies and theatre owners in New York City. Only shows playing in one of 39 "Broadway" theatres designated by the Tony Awards Management Committee are eligible for the Tony Awards. The 39 "Broadway" theatres are all large venues located between 40th and 66th Streets and 6th and 10th Avenues in New York City, an area surrounding Broadway from Times Square to Lincoln Center.

Shows playing in "off-Broadway" or "off-off-Broadway" theatres, or shows playing outside of New York City, are not eligible. Since there are only 39 theatres, only a portion of which will be featuring a "new" production in any given season, and 27 award categories, it's likely that many "new" shows will reap at least one award. DID YOU KNOW? TONY TRIVIA ï¿½ Harold Prince has won 21 Tony Awards, more than anyone else, including eight for directing, eight for producing, two as producer of the year's Best Musical, and three special Tony Awards. ï¿½ "The Producers" won the most Tony Awards ever received by a musical with 12 awards, including best musical.

ï¿½ Stephen Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer, with eight Tony Awards: Best Music and Best Lyrics for Company (1971); Best Score for Follies (1972), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd (1979), Into the Woods (1988), Passion (1994); and Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008). ï¿½ Julie Harris has won the most performance Tony Awards, and has been nominated more than any other performer. She has won five awards for her roles in I Am a Camera - 1952, The Lark - 1956, Forty Carats - 1969, The Last of Mrs. Lincoln - 1973, and The Belle of Amherst - 1977. She has been nominated a total of ten times. ï¿½ Bob Fosse has won the most Tony Awards for choreography, eight, and one more for direction.

Choreography: The Pajama Game (1955), Damn Yankees (1956), Redhead (1959), Little Me (1963), Sweet Charity (1966), Pippin (1973), Dancin' (1978), and Big Deal (musical) (1986). Direction: Pippin (1973). WHATï¿½S NEW AROUND TOWN? AKUMAL Rain Well, on Monday, May 18, Akumal finally got some well-needed rain from the north-west side. The Staffï¿½s Rain Dance was meant to bring a gentle, prolonged shower between 10:00pm and 6:00am, for three days, but ï¿½somebodyï¿½ must have missed a step here or there. Unfortunately, the ï¿½stormï¿½ that brought the rain interrupted CFEï¿½s ability to distribute electricity for some time afterwards. The Bridge is Open The bridge that connects vehicular traffic between the pueblo and Akumal Central/North has been open to vehicular traffic, including bicycles.

Unfortunately, once the bicycles cross over to the east side of the highway, they have no way to get onto the sidewalk, so they stay in the road. When entering Akumal from the highway, it is absolutely imperative that you be extra cautious of the bridge traffic coming on your left. There is a 40Km sign as well as one for ï¿½Ceda el Pasoï¿½. Graffiti It has not taken long, and the graffiti has already started on the bridge, and the first visible ones are right at the entrance going into the pueblo. The Fence In conjunction with the bridge now being open, a fence is being erected in the median strip in an effort to keep pedestrians from crossing the highway. It remains to be seen just how effective this will be, considering the bridge was build without a sidewalk for pedestrians. Of course, there is the pedestrian overpass, which is rarely used. The Akumal Topes Are gone! The topes on MX307 at the entrance to Akumal are now history. They have been removed, but not all of the locations where they were have been cemented over. The Akumal Sign Is Down!

Remember back in September 2008, The Akumalian showed a photo of the two highway signs just prior to the entrance on the northbound side of MX307, and we questioned which one would fall down first? Well, the sign for ï¿½Akumalï¿½ is down, but The Staff has no reports on how it came down. It is very possible that the highway department is in the process of installing one of those signs that extends across the highway. Blacktopping MX307 Work has resumed on blacktopping the southbound lane of MX307 beyond Akumal. The Turtles Are Back It is turtle season in Akumal, and there already has been an attempt at setting a nest in South Akumal. This was an area not conducive to digging a nest, so it was a vain attempt. FLAG DAY, JUNE 14th The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885.

FATHERï¿½S DAY, JUNE 21st Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father's Day even thousands of years ago. Their studies say that 4,000 years ago in Babylon, a son called Elmesu carved a father's day message on a clay card. In his message Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life. SUMMER SOLSTICE, JUNE 21st This is the first day of summer!! Solstice, from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90ï¿½). At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator, about 23 1/2ï¿½ of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about 2:06pm on June 21, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer. In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer.

At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to day. SUMMER SOLSTICE AT CHICHEN ITZA The Kukulcï¿½n pyramid at Chichen Itza is notable for the fact that at the spring and fall equinoxes (March 21 and September 22) the sun projects an undulating pattern of light on the northern stairway for a few hours in the late afternoonï¿½a pattern caused by the angle of the sun and the edge of the nine steps that define the pyramid's construction. These triangles of light link up with the massive stone carvings of snake heads at the base of the stairs, suggesting a massive serpent snaking down the structure. EVENTS During the month of May, there was one other ï¿½Eventï¿½ beside the Best Shirt Award , and that was the Kentucky Derby ï¿½partyï¿½ on May 3rd.

For photos, go to Kentucky Derby. And, who could forget the fantabulous ï¿½Akumal 50th Anniversaryï¿½ ? Tony Award : Map (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Wikipedia article: Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City . The awards are for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre. A discretionary non-competitive Special Tony Award and the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre are also given. The awards are named after Antoinette Perry , co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. The rules for the Tony Awards are set forth in the official document "Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards", which applies for each season only. The Tony Awards are considered the highest U.S. theatre honor, the U.S. theatre industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion pictures . In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award .

Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has generally been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television. The 63rd Tony Awards ceremony was held on June 7, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall, with a three-hour broadcast on CBS. History The award was founded by the American Theatre Wing in 1947 at the suggestion of a committee of theatrical producers headed by Brock Pemberton , but it was not until the third awards ceremony in 1949 that the first Tony medallion was given to award winners. The award is named for Antoinette Perry , an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who had recently died. The first awards ceremony was held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television, except in 1999, when it was held at the Gershwin Theatre .

Awarded by a panel of approximately 700 judges from various areas of the entertainment industry and press, the Tony Award is generally regarded as the theatre's equivalent to the Oscars , for excellence in film; the Grammys for the music industry , and the Emmys for excellence in television. In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award . A number of the world's longest-running and most successful shows, as well as some actors, directors, choreographers and designers, have been successful in receiving both Tony Awards and Olivier Awards. Since 1967, the award ceremony has been broadcast on U.S. national television and includes songs from the nominated musicals, and occasionally has included video clips of, or presentations about, nominated plays. The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League jointly present and administer the awards. Audience size for the telecast is generally well below that of the Academy Awards shows, but the program reaches an affluent audience, which is prized by advertisers. According to an article in The New York Times: "What the Tony broadcast does have, say CBS officials, is an all-important demographic: rich and smart.

Jack Sussman, CBS's senior vice president in charge of specials, said the Tony show sold almost all its advertising slots shortly after CBS announced it would present the three hours. 'It draws upscale premium viewers who are attractive to upscale premium advertisers,' Mr. Sussman said..." For example, the 2008 Tony Awards telecast had 6.2 million viewers, the same as the 2007 telecast but down from 2006, which had 7.79 million. In contrast, the 2009 Oscar telecast had 36.3 million viewers. The Tony Award trophy consists of a medallion, a mix of mostly brass and a little bronze, with a nickel plating on the outside; a black acrylic glass base, and the nickel-plated pewter swivel.

Details of the Tony Awards Note: all information are from: "Tony Rules and Regulations", accessed June 1, 2009 Rules for a "new" play or musical For the purposes of the award, a "new" play or musical is one that has not previously been produced on Broadway and is not "determined to be 'classic' or in the historical or popular repertoire", as determined by the Administration Committee, (per Section (2g)of the Rules and Regulations). This phrase has been the subject of some controversy, as some shows have been ruled ineligible for the "new" categories, meaning that their authors did not have a chance to win the marquee awards of Best Play or Best Musical (or Best Score or Best Book for musicals). On the other hand, some people feel that allowing plays and musicals that have been frequently produced to be eligible as new gives them an unfair advantage, because they will have benefited from additional development time as well as additional familiarity with the Tony voters. Shows recently transferred from Off-Broadway or the West End are eligible as new, as are productions based closely on movies.

Committees and voters The Administration Committee has 24 members: 10 designated by the American Wing, 10 by The Broadway League, and one each by the Dramatists Guild, Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. This committee, among other duties, determines eligibility for nominations in all awards categories. The Nominating Committee makes the nominations for the various categories. This rotating group of up to 30 theatre professionals is selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve three-year terms and are asked to see every new Broadway production. There are approximately 700 eligible Tony Award voters, a number that changes slightly from year to year and was decreased in 2009 when the first-night critics were excluded as voters. These include the board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee of the American Theatre Wing; members of the governing boards of Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, United Scenic Artists, and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers; members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America; and voting members of The Broadway League.

Eligibility date ("Season"); "Broadway" theatre To be eligible for Tony Award consideration, a production must have officially opened by the "eligibility date" that the Management Committee establishes each year. For example, the cut-off date for eligibility the 2008-09 season was April 30, 2009. The "Season" for Tony Award eligibility is defined in the Rules and Regulations. A Broadway theatre is defined as having 500 or more seats, among other requirements. While the Rules define a "Broadway" theatre in terms of its size, not its geographical location, the list of "Broadway" theatres is determined solely by the Tony Awards Administration Committee, and as of the 2008-2009 season, the list consists solely of theaters located in the vicinity of Times Square in New York City (plus one at Lincoln Center ). Award categories There are presently 26 categories of awards, plus several special awards. Starting with 11 awards in 1947, the names and number of categories have changed over the years; a complete history of each award category was published in 2005.

A newly established non-competitive award, The Isabelle Stevenson Award, was given for the first time at the awards ceremony in 2009. The award is for an individual who has made a "substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations." The category of Special Theatrical Event was "retired" as of the 2009-2010 season. Best Director (split into two categories: Best Direction of A Musical & Best Direction of A Play) Criticism While the theatre-going public may consider the Tony Awards to be the Oscars of live theatre, critics have suggested that the Tony Awards are primarily a promotional vehicle for a small number of large production companies and theatre owners in New York City. Only shows playing in one of 40 large "Broadway" theatres designated by the Tony Awards Management Committee are eligible for the Tony Awards. Only a portion of the Broadway theatres feature a "new" production in any given season, and there are 27 award categories, so most new shows receive one or more nominations. However, producers say that the Tony Award is the only award that sells tickets.

"Winning best musical or best play, they say, means money in the bank." Award milestones Some notable records and facts about the Tony Awards include the following: Productions The most Tony Awards ever received by a musical was The Producers with 12 awards, including best musical. The most Tonys ever received by a non-musical was The Coast of Utopia with seven awards, including best play, in 2007. The musicals that fared the worst on Tony night were Chicago (1976, losing in many categories to A Chorus Line ) and Steel Pier (1997), both of which received 11 nominations, but won no awards. Ironically, Steel Pier lost in several categories to the revival of Chicago. Coincidentally, both Chicago and Steel Pier have scores by Kander and Ebb . The play Indiscretions (1995), was nominated for nine awards but did not win any. Tony Award : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki More info on Tony Award Wikis Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it!

See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tony Award Designed by Herman Rosse, 1949 Awarded for The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League [1] at an annual ceremony in New York City . The awards are for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre. A discretionary non-competitive Special Tony Award and the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre are also given. [2] The awards are named after Antoinette Perry , co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. The rules for the Tony Awards are set forth in the official document "Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards", which applies for each season only. [3] The Tony Awards are considered the highest U.S. theatre honor, the U.S. theatre industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion pictures . In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award .

Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has generally been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television. The 63rd Tony Awards ceremony was held on June 7, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall, with a three-hour broadcast on CBS. Contents History Former logo The award was founded by the American Theatre Wing in 1947 at the suggestion of a committee of theatrical producers headed by Brock Pemberton , but it was not until the third awards ceremony in 1949 that the first Tony medallion was given to award winners. The award is named for Antoinette Perry , an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who had recently died. The first awards ceremony was held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television, except in 1999, when it was held at the Gershwin Theatre .

[4] Awarded by a panel of approximately 700 judges from various areas of the entertainment industry and press, the Tony Award is generally regarded as the theatre's equivalent to the Oscars , for excellence in film; the Grammys for the music industry , and the Emmys for excellence in television. In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award . A number of the world's longest-running and most successful shows, as well as some actors, directors, choreographers and designers, have been successful in receiving both Tony Awards and Olivier Awards. Since 1967, the award ceremony has been broadcast on U.S. national television and includes songs from the nominated musicals, and occasionally has included video clips of, or presentations about, nominated plays. The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League jointly present and administer the awards. Audience size for the telecast is generally well below that of the Academy Awards shows, but the program reaches an affluent audience, which is prized by advertisers. According to an article in The New York Times: "What the Tony broadcast does have, say CBS officials, is an all-important demographic: rich and smart.

Jack Sussman, CBS's senior vice president in charge of specials, said the Tony show sold almost all its advertising slots shortly after CBS announced it would present the three hours. 'It draws upscale premium viewers who are attractive to upscale premium advertisers,' Mr. Sussman said..." [5] [6] For example, the 2008 Tony Awards telecast had 6.2 million viewers, the same as the 2007 telecast but down from 2006, which had 7.79 million. [7] In contrast, the 2009 Oscar telecast had 36.3 million viewers. [8] The Tony Award trophy consists of a medallion, a mix of mostly brass and a little bronze, with a nickel plating on the outside; a black acrylic glass base, and the nickel-plated pewter swivel.

[9] Details of the Tony Awards Note: all information are from: "Tony Rules and Regulations", accessed June 1, 2009 Rules for a "new" play or musical For the purposes of the award, a "new" play or musical is one that has not previously been produced on Broadway and is not "determined to be 'classic' or in the historical or popular repertoire", as determined by the Administration Committee, (per Section (2g)of the Rules and Regulations). This phrase has been the subject of some controversy, as some shows have been ruled ineligible for the "new" categories, meaning that their authors did not have a chance to win the marquee awards of Best Play or Best Musical (or Best Score or Best Book for musicals). On the other hand, some people feel that allowing plays and musicals that have been frequently produced to be eligible as new gives them an unfair advantage, because they will have benefited from additional development time as well as additional familiarity with the Tony voters. Shows recently transferred from Off-Broadway or the West End are eligible as new, as are productions based closely on movies.

Committees and voters The Administration Committee has 24 members: 10 designated by the American Wing, 10 by The Broadway League, and one each by the Dramatists Guild, Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. This committee, among other duties, determines eligibility for nominations in all awards categories. [10] The Nominating Committee makes the nominations for the various categories. This rotating group of up to 30 theatre professionals is selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve three-year terms and are asked to see every new Broadway production. [11] There are approximately 700 eligible Tony Award voters, a number that changes slightly from year to year and was decreased in 2009 when the first-night critics were excluded as voters.

[12] These include the board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee of the American Theatre Wing; members of the governing boards of Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, United Scenic Artists, and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers; members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America; and voting members of The Broadway League. Eligibility date ("Season"); "Broadway" theatre To be eligible for Tony Award consideration, a production must have officially opened by the "eligibility date" that the Management Committee establishes each year. For example, the cut-off date for eligibility the 2008-09 season was April 30, 2009. The "Season" for Tony Award eligibility is defined in the Rules and Regulations. A Broadway theatre is defined as having 500 or more seats, among other requirements.

While the Rules define a "Broadway" theatre in terms of its size, not its geographical location, the list of "Broadway" theatres is determined solely by the Tony Awards Administration Committee, and as of the 2008-2009 season, the list consists solely of theaters located in the vicinity of Times Square in New York City (plus one at Lincoln Center ). [3] [13] Award categories There are presently 26 categories of awards, plus several special awards. Starting with 11 awards in 1947, the names and number of categories have changed over the years; a complete history of each award category was published in 2005. [14] A newly established non-competitive award, The Isabelle Stevenson Award, was given for the first time at the awards ceremony in 2009. The award is for an individual who has made a "substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations." [15] The category of Special Theatrical Event was "retired" as of the 2009-2010 season.

[16] Best Director (split into two categories: Best Direction of A Musical & Best Direction of A Play) Criticism While the theatre-going public may consider the Tony Awards to be the Oscars of live theatre, critics have suggested that the Tony Awards are primarily a promotional vehicle for a small number of large production companies and theatre owners in New York City. [17] Only shows playing in one of 40 large "Broadway" theatres designated by the Tony Awards Management Committee are eligible for the Tony Awards. Only a portion of the Broadway theatres feature a "new" production in any given season, and there are 27 award categories, so most new shows receive one or more nominations. However, producers say that the Tony Award is the only award that sells tickets. "Winning best musical or best play, they say, means money in the bank." [18] Award milestones Some notable records and facts about the Tony Awards include the following: [19] Productions The most Tony Awards ever received by a musical was The Producers with 12 awards, including best musical.

The most Tonys ever received by a non-musical was The Coast of Utopia with seven awards, including best play, in 2007. The musicals that fared the worst on Tony night were Chicago (1976, losing in many categories to A Chorus Line ) and Steel Pier (1997), both of which received 11 nominations, but won no awards. Ironically, Steel Pier lost in several categories to the revival of Chicago. Coincidentally, both Chicago and Steel Pier have scores by Kander and Ebb . The play Indiscretions (1995), was nominated for nine awards but did not win any. Three musicals have won all "big six" awards for Best Musical , score , book , leading actor , actress and direction : South Pacific , Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Hairspray . South Pacific (1950) is the only show (play or musical) to win Best Production (Musical), Actor (Ezio Pinza), Actress (Mary Martin), Featured Actor (Myron McCormick), Featured Actress (Juanita Hall) and Direction (Joshua Logan).

Three musicals have won the Tony Award for Best Musical while the book, music and lyrics were written by one person: The Music Man ( Meredith Willson ), The Mystery of Edwin Drood ( Rupert Holmes ) and Rent ( Jonathan Larson ). RENT and The Mystery of Edwin Drood also won the Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score, while the categories did not exist in 1957 when The Music Man was eligible. Seven shows have won the design awards for sets, costumes and lighting: Follies (1972), The Phantom of the Opera (1986), The Lion King (1998), The Producers (2001), The Light in the Piazza (2005), The Coast of Utopia (2007) and the revival of South Pacific (2008). The 2008 revival of South Pacific is the only production to have won all four Creative Arts Tony Awards in Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design.

Individuals Harold Prince has won 21 Tony Awards, more than anyone else, including eight for directing, eight for producing, two as producer of the year's Best Musical, and three special Tony Awards. Stephen Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer, with eight. Bob Fosse has won the most Tonys for choreography, also eight. Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury tie for the most performance Tony Awards with five each. Harris also has been nominated more often than any other performer, a total of ten times. Three actresses have been nominated in two acting categories in the same year: Amanda Plummer , Dana Ivey and Kate Burton . Plummer in 1982 was nominated for best actress in a play for A Taste of Honey and best featured actress in a play for Agnes of God , for which she won. Ivey in 1984 was nominated as best featured actress in a musical for Sunday in the Park with George and best featured actress in a play for Heartbreak House ,and Burton in 2002 was nominated for best actress in play for Hedda Gabler and best featured actress in a play for The Elephant Man .

Boyd Gaines was the first performer to be nominated for all four performance awards for which a performer is eligible: Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1989 for The Heidi Chronicles , Best Actor in a Musical in 1994 for She Loves Me , Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2000 for Contact , Best Actor in a Play in 2007 for Journey's End , and again for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2008 for Gypsy . The only time Gaines was nominated but did not win was for Journey's End. Raúl Esparza was the second performer to be nominated in all four categories, achieving this over a mere six seasons: Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2004 for Taboo , Best Actor in a Musical in 2007 for Company , Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2008 for The Homecoming , and Best Actor in a Play in 2009 for Speed-the-Plow . He has yet to win.

While several performers have won Tonys for roles that have involved cross dressing, only two have won for playing a character of the opposite sex: Mary Martin in the title role of Peter Pan (1955) and Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2003). Oliver Smith has won a record eight scenic design Tony Awards, and Jules Fisher has won the most lighting design awards, also eight. Fisher has received 19 nominations as a lighting designer and one as a producer. The First time that three lead actors were nominated and won in the same category were David Alvarez , Trent Kowalik , and Kiril Kulish for Billy Elliot . References in media In the Seinfeld episode " The Summer of George ", Jerry and Kramer are at the Tonys and Kramer is seen carrying a Tony for the fictional play, Scarsdale Surprise, that he took along with him. Unfortunately, after a beatdown by Raquel Welch , his Tony is smashed to bits. In the musical [title of show] , the two main characters imagine what it would be like to win a Tony with "The Tony Award Song".

References ^ The League of American Theatres and Producers was renamed "The Broadway League", see Gans, Andrew. "League of American Theatres and Producers Announces Name Change", playbill.com, December 18, 2007 ‘An American in Paris,’ ‘Fun Home’ Lead the Way With 12 Tony Nominations - The New York Times The New York Times Live Coverage | ‘An American in Paris,’ ‘Fun Home’ Lead the Way With 12 Tony Nominations Search April 28, 2015 8:10 am ET Apr 28, 2015 2015-04-28T18:06:43+00:00 “An American in Paris” and “Fun Home” emerged as favorites in the best musical category , with 12 nominations each. The musical “Something Rotten!” received 10 nods.

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is strong contender for the best play Tony , along with the dark comedy “Hand to God” and “Wolf Hall, Parts 1 and 2.” The 69th Tony Awards, to be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, will be presented at Radio City Music Hall on June 7. CBS will broadcast the ceremony. 8:45 am ET Apr 28, 2015 2015-04-28T16:51:47+00:00 Michael Paulson Photo “Fun Home” netted 12 nominations.Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Three wildly different new musicals, “An American in Paris,” “Fun Home” and “Something Rotten!” were showered with Tony nominations Tuesday morning, setting up one of the toughest choices for Tony voters in years.

[View the full list of 2015 Tony Nominees here ] The three shows offer voters, and Broadway ticket buyers, the full range of the American musical: the elegant “An American in Paris,” powered by eye-popping ballet sequences and romantic Gershwin tunes; “Fun Home,” a heart-rending look at one woman’s effort to better understand her identity and her upbringing; and “Something Rotten!,” a comedy about Shakespeare and his rivals, replete with bawdy jokes and over-the-top musical numbers. “An American in Paris” and “Fun Home” got 12 nominations each; “Something Rotten!” got 10.

Theater lovers will be keeping an especially close eye on the race for best actress in a musical, which features three of Broadway’s most beloved performers, each of whom this year is playing a fierce woman standing up for herself against a man who had underestimated or wronged her: Kristin Chenoweth, nominated for her role as an up-from-her-bootstraps Hollywood starlet in “On the Twentieth Century” ; Chita Rivera, playing a vengeful European zillionaire in “The Visit” ; and Kelli O’Hara, who received her sixth nomination — she has yet to win — for her role as the expatriate British schoolteacher in “The King and I.” Also nominated in that category: the Royal Ballet dancer Leanne Cope of “An American in Paris” and Beth Malone of “Fun Home.” Ms. Chenoweth will also host the ceremony along with Alan Cumming, a previous Tony winner and a regular on television’s “The Good Wife.” In the race for best actress in a play, Helen Mirren is poised to accomplish a rare feat: winning a Tony after having previously won an Oscar for playing the same character, Queen Elizabeth, whom Ms.

Mirren portrays on stage in “The Audience,” and whom she had previously played in the movie “The Queen.” Among the other Hollywood notables up for awards are Bradley Cooper for the title role in “The Elephant Man,’’ a drama he had wanted to act in since studying it in school. But just as present are up-and-coming performers like Alex Sharp, a 26-year-old just out of Juilliard, who was selected to play a young man with Asperger’s syndrome in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” which was also nominated for best play. And the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein came up seriously short in his debut as a lead producer on Broadway. The musical “Finding Neverland,” which was derided by critics but has been an audience hit, went without a single nomination, even for its popular stars Matthew Morrison and Kelsey Grammer — a stunning rebuke. The nominees for 24 competitive award categories were chosen by a committee of 38 arts professionals and academics who are not involved with this year’s productions.

The nominations were announced Tuesday morning by the actors Mary-Louise Parker (who won a Tony in “Proof”) and Bruce Willis (who is scheduled to make his Broadway debut this fall in “Misery”); the announcement sets off weeks of campaigning, as producers of the nominated shows try to win support from the 843 Tony voters; unlike the nominators, many of the voters do have a stake in the competing shows. The Tony Awards – especially the award for best new musical — can make a significant difference for shows that are struggling to sell tickets; last year’s best new musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” credited its Tony win with a turnaround in its box office fortunes. The awards broadcast also serves as a major marketing tool for Broadway – unlike the Oscars, which recognize movies that have been running for some time, the Tonys recognize shows that have often just opened, and the musical numbers performed on the broadcast are often cited as significant drivers of ticket sales. This year’s Tony Awards are to be announced on June 7 in a ceremony to be broadcast on CBS.

The Tony Awards, which are administered by the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing, recognize only shows on Broadway; the season that ended last week saw the openings of 20 plays and 15 musicals. In a new procedure this year, the awards committee could choose as many as five productions to nominate if there was a close vote in a show category with more than nine eligible plays or musicals. Even before Tuesday’s nominations were announced, Tony administrators had named a number of other awards to be granted this year. Tommy Tune, the much-honored dancer and choreographer, will be given a lifetime achievement award. Stephen Schwartz, the composer of “Godspell,” “Pippin” and “Wicked,” who has been nominated for Tony awards six times but has never won, will be given the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for volunteerism, in recognition of his service as as President of the Dramatists Guild and his work with the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop and ASCAP Foundation. John Cameron Mitchell, the creator of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” will be given a special Tony. And the Cleveland Play House, which is celebrating its centennial, will be given the annual award recognizing a regional theater.

Bret Michaels' Representatives Issue Statement Regarding Tony Award Injury Bret Michaels' Representatives Issue Statement Regarding Tony Award Injury Representatives for POISON singer, and reality tv star, Bret Michaels have issued a statement regarding the on-going story of his collision with a piece scenery at the 2009 Tony Awards. The statement is as follows: After a performance by [POISON and] singer Bret Michaels at the Tony Awards Sunday night, he turned to exit the stage and was struck in the head by a descending half-ton stage prop, sweeping him off his feet causing contusions to his face and knocking him to the ground. Even at that point of impact, the heavy prop was still not halted and continued to descend even though Michaels remained underneath it. Witnesses state the singer moved himself out of the way just moments before the prop touched down. Janna Elias, a representative for Michaels, stated, "With all due respect to everyone working the Tony Awards, somewhere down the line there was a lack of communication and the prop should have been immediately halted until Michaels was clear.

Sunday morning at rehearsals, Bret was never informed that the descending set piece existed, let alone would be moving into position as he was exiting the stage." Although Bret was visibly dazed, he remained extremely calm backstage as members of POISON's road crew brought him a towel to wipe the blood from his face. His only comment at the time was, "What the hell just hit me?" The severity of this injury is not being taken lightly as symptoms from head and neck injuries at first may seem like nothing and sometimes do not present for days. At this time, the full extent of his injuries remain to be seen until all x-rays are back. Added Elias: "I find it surprising that a Tony spokesperson would brush off this incident with a comment stating, Mr. Michaels missed his mark,' with no mention of concern for his condition. If everyone at the Tonys were aware that Bret missed his mark, then they should have been aware enough to stop the set piece from hitting him or at least slowed it down until he cleared the stage. I feel had this incident happened to Liza Minneli, Dolly Parton or Elton John , the Tonys would have at least issued a letter of concern.

"Bret has performed live, with POISON or solo, for over 20 years and on a daily basis is around pyro, lasers and a moving light show. He understands that there is always an element of risk in any live performance, but Bret entrusts his safety to the crew whose job it is to make sure the show goes off without a hitch, and should any member of the band be in harm's way, that they do not complete the gag. However, in this situation, Bret was not on his stage but was at the mercy of the Tonys. He was performing on the Tonys stage and had the reasonable expectation that that safety of the artist was a priority and at no time did he do anything over the top or outlandish that would have put himself or others in a dangerous situation. "To put this into perspective, a garage door has a safety mechanism so that it doesn't come down if your child should accidentally walk under it while it is in motion. You mean to tell us that with all the technology, producers, directors, stage managers and crew that no one at the Tonys saw Mr.

Michaels clearly backing up and turning to exit the stage or was capable of halting the prop or slowing it so it didn't strike Bret? There was no official mark; Bret did what he was instructed to do, which was to finish the song and return to the retractable stage platform, which was exactly what he was doing when the prop struck his head." Bob Wallerstein, a representative for Michaels, said "We realize the show is live and must go on, however it is unfortunate that the show's host made light of the situation without having any knowledge of the severity of Bret's injuries. Comments that Mr. Harris was doing shots backstage with Mr. Michaels and that Bret was completely fine were untrue considering Bret never saw Mr. Harris prior to, during, or after the Tonys, but in fact was being attended to by medical personnel backstage. Michaels did not return to the stage, the seats nor attend any after-parties." An official statement by Michaels on this incident is expected by the end of the week. POISON appeared with the cast of " Rock of Ages ", the jukebox musical about an aspiring rock group on the Sunset Strip.

The dark-horse show, which originated at Hollywood's King King club before moving to Las Vegas and then Broadway, received five nominations, including one for best musical. The appearance was the first time that Michaels has appeared with POISON on the red carpet since the infamous fight between him and C.C. DeVille took place at MTV Music Awards. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony"® Awards were held at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2009 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com . Related Articles

Question: June 7 saw the 63rd annual ceremony for what award given to recognize achievement in live American theatre?
Answer: Tony Award