Midler and ‘Oslo’ take top honors
‘Come From Away’ wins outstanding musical at Drama Desk
NEW YORK, June 5, (Agencies): The musical “Come From Away,” the play “Oslo,” and Bette Midler in a hit revival of “Hello, Dolly!” were among the top winners at Sunday’s Drama Desk Awards, one of a series of theater honors leading up to Broadway’s top honors, the Tony Awards.
“Come From Away,” set in Gander, Newfoundland where dozens of jetliners were forced to land, stranding passengers after the Sept 11 attacks, was named best musical, while Midler won best actress in a musical for her star turn in “Hello, Dolly!” which also took the best musical revival prize.
“Oslo,” J.T. Rogers’ play about the behind-the-scenes negotiations in Norway that led to the historic 1993 peace accord between Israel and the PLO, won best play, while August Wilson’s “Jitney” was named best play revival.
Other big winners included best actor in a play Kevin Kline in Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” and Laura Linney, who took best actress in a play for “The Little Foxes.”
Cynthia Nixon in “The Little Foxes” and Danny DeVito in “The Price” took honors for featured performances in a play.
Almost all the winners are seen as frontrunners for the Tony Awards, which will be handed out on June 11 at a gala ceremony hosted by Kevin Spacey at Radio City Music Hall, though Linney faces stiff competition from favorite Laurie Metcalf in “A Doll’s House, Part 2.”
Best actor in a musical went to Andy Karl for “Groundhog Day,” an adaptation of the popular Bill Murray film.
“Dear Evan Hansen,” the favorite for the best musical Tony, was not eligible for this year’s Drama Desks, having played off-Broadway last year.
The Drama Desk awards are chosen by theater critics and writers to honor Broadway, off-Broadway and offoff-Broadway productions, unlike the Tonys, which are limited to Broadway shows.
Winners
Outstanding Musical: Come From Away
Outstanding Revival of a Musical: Hello, Dolly!
Outstanding Play: Rogers
Oslo, by J. T.
Outstanding Revival of a Play: Jitney
Outstanding Actor in a Play: Kevin Kline, Present Laughter
Outstanding Actress in a Play: Laura Linney, The Little Foxes
Outstanding Actor in a Musical: Andy Karl, Groundhog Day
Outstanding Actress in a Musical: Bette Midler, Hello, Dolly!
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Danny DeVito, The Price
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Cynthia Nixon, The Little Foxes
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Gavin Creel, Hello, Dolly!
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Jenn Colella, Come From Away
Outstanding Director of a Play: Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Jitney
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812; David Cromer, The Band’s Visit
Outstanding Music: David Yazbek, The Band’s Visit
Outstanding Lyrics: The Band’s Visit
Outstanding Book of a Musical: Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away
Outstanding Orchestrations: Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen, Bandstand
David Yazbek,
Choreography: Andy Blankenbuehler, Bandstand
Outstanding Fight Choreography: U. Jonathan Toppo, Sweat
Outstanding Solo Performance: Ed Dixon, Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose
Unique Theatrical Experience: The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart
Outstanding Adaptation: David Ives, The Liar
Outstanding Revue: Life is for Living: Conversations with Coward
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play: Jane Greenwood, The Little Foxes
Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical: Catherine Zuber, War Paint
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play: Christopher Akerlind, Indecent
Outstanding a Musical: Bradley King, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Outstanding Set Design for a Play: Nigel Hook, The Play That Goes Wrong
Outstanding Set Design for a Musical: Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Outstanding Sound Design for a Play: Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin, The Encounter
Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical: Nicholas Pope, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Outstanding Projection Design: Aaron Rhyne, Anastasia
Outstanding Wig and Hair: Brian Brown, War Paint
Outstanding Puppet Design: Basil Twist, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Outstanding Music in a Play: Sims Jr, Jitney Special Awards
Outstanding Ensemble: Wolves
Sam Norkin Award: Phil LaDuca
LOS ANGELES:
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Lila Neugebauer,
Rapper Common and Universal Pictures president of production Peter Cramer were among the honorees at the 16th Annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball Saturday night.
The event, which benefits Chrysalis and its mission to help homeless (an estimated 58,000 in Los Angeles alone — a 23% increase from the previous year) and low-income individuals find and retain jobs, was held at the private estate of Susan Harris and Hayward J. Kaiser for the eleventh year. A record number of guests — 800 in total — attended the fundraiser.
Netflix exec Scott Stuber, who hosted the pre-dinner cocktail party with wife Molly Sims, set the inspirational tone for the evening by saying, “No one wants a hand-out; they want a hand up.”
The spirit of giving was kicked off by celebrity chef Curtis Stone and wife Lindsay Price, who donated a private dinner for 12 that raised $30,000 for the non-profit.
Emcee Jussie Smollet then welcomed the first presenter, Halle Berry, whom he worked with 25 years ago as a child actor in 1993’s “Queen.” Smollet pleaded “love me Halle, please” before the Oscar winner took the stage to present the Spirit of Chrysalis Award to Peter Cramer.