by Sandi Durell . . .
The historic United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights saw its first Tony Award evening on June 11th and it was quite the show encompassing all that theater has to offer especially when it comes to diversity. Oh, what a night!
The quirkily charming Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, at the Booth Theatre, won Best Musical. An off-Broadway transfer from Manhattan Theater Club (MTC), it deals with how families react and interact with a family member in a challenging dilemma. Its teenage heroine, played by Victoria Clark, suffers from a fictionalized version of a rare syndrome—one in 50 million—similar to progeria, which makes her age five times as rapidly as anyone else. Music/lyrics are by Jeanine Tesori and book by David Lindsay-Abaire, who took Best Book of a Musical. Bonnie Milligan Won Best Featured Performer, and Victoria Clark took best Leading Actress in a Musical. The show also took Best Original Score.
The short version of Winners: Best Play went to Leopoldstadt – Best Revival of a Musical to Parade – Best Revival of a Play to Topdog/Underdog directed by Kenny Leon, along with its playwright Suzan-Lori Parks – Best Leading Actress in a Play went to Jodie Comer for Prima Facie – Best Leading Actor of a Musical went to J. Harrison Ghee in Some Like It Hot. Sean Hayes took the Tony for Best Leading Actor of a Play in Good Night, Oscar.
Best Featured Actress of a Play was won by Miriam Silverman in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, while Best Featured Actor of a Musical went to Alex Newell in Shucked. Brandon Uranowitz received a well deserved Best Featured Actor of a Play in Leopoldstadt.
Best Direction of a Musical winner was Michael Arden for Parade and Best Director of a Play went to Patrick Marber for Leopoldstadt. Some Like it Hot’s Casey Nicholaw won for Best Choreography.
Look for the full list of nominees and winners in all categories and continuing Tony coverage with photos tomorrow!!
Featured Image: Kimberly Akimbo (Photo: Joan Marcus)
