Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Presented by John Turturro (loved him in Quiz Show) & the ethereal Anne Heche. I try not to hold her leaving Ellen against her, I mean Ellen’s moved on, I should too. I don’t know it still doesn’t sit right with me so I’m going to have to say that Heche’s jewelry is as minimal as her talent. What can I say? I’m a fiercely devoted fan.
Winner: Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon.
Performance from GreyGardens
I can only imagine what it must feel like to come out every night & know that you’re the best thing on BWay. Sorry, Audra. I was awestruck by Ebersole in Grey Gardens. It was the highlight of the 6 shows that I saw this year. I often find myself listening to “Jerry Likes my Corn” & “Around the World” at work.
Best Play
The Coast of Utopia
Performance by the cast of Spring Awakening
Yeah, besides the weird hair I remembered being distracted by the mics. I mean I’m a big fan of the juxtaposition of the rock musical form with the 1891 German play of the same title by Frank Wedekind, but I guess small things in terms of execution bugged me, but who am I? They’re winning almost every Tony tonight, right?
Jane Alexander (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images via http://www.viewimages.com)
10:40pm
Jane Alexander, a seven-time Tony nominated actress who won in 1969 for The Great White Hope. She served as chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts from ‘93 to ‘97 & was the first to bring rubies to the Tony Awards this evening wearing a stunning pair of ruby drop earrings to introduce Fantasia.
Fantasia (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images http://www.viewimages.com)
Looking like a modern-day Josephine Baker, Fantasia sang a selection from Oprah’s The Color Purple. Now, I loved the movie, loved the book & was not a fan of the musical. I know I’m going to be read the riot act on this one, but truly, I was underwhelmed.
I felt that the production (not the actors) was just swallowed whole by the content & had a hard time stepping out of the shadow of the text & movie. (Also, if you listen closely, about 4 bars from the chorus of All-4-One’s “I Swear” is heavyily repeated throughout the score.) I will say that I saw LaChanze & that she earned that 2006 Tony.
(Bryan Bedder/Getty Images via http://www.viewimages.com)
10:45pm
Sorry, Maloney & Krakowski, Peters & Fierstein win the award for best presenting duo.
David Hyde Pierce wins for best joke during his acceptance speech: “An emotional Pierce was reminded of his first line in a Broadway play – “I’m sorry, we’re going to have to ask you to leave.” Acknowledging the talent of his fellow nominees, he said if he heard his name called, it would be to say, “David Hyde Pierce. I’m sorry we’re going to have to ask you to leave.’ I can’t believe [this].” (source) Oh yeah & he won Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
Who Were They Wearing?
Keyshia Cole
Tichina Arnold
Julie Christie
Jennifer Hudson
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jennifer Garner
Ciara
Roselyn Sanchez
Hilary Swank
Natasha Bedingfield
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Heidi Klum
At the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Halle Berry
Britney Spears
Kristin Cavallari
Anjelica Huston
Jessica Alba
Ali Larter
At the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
Hayden Panettiere
Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Kelly Carlson
At the 61st Annual Tony Awards
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