skynyc

So sad to read this. We haven’t been in touch in a long time, but I thought of him frequently. A kind man and funny. He even stayed at my apartment once when I was out of town.

A friend who lives in PS and has had a couple good experiences with Dallas says he's in Provincetown for the summer opening a pop-up shop of clothing. (Underwear?)

Hi...any info on this fellow? https://rent.men/COLYZAZ#platinum 45 reviews. But I haven't seen him before.

Yes, there's an edge to Jeremy's Bobby that wasn't there with Jonathan. Works wonderfully. And of course he sings it beautifully.

Now that nominatons are out...and Laurie Metcalf was only eligible in this categroy for Little Bear Ridge Road and was overlooked, I do think that Lesley Manville has the Best Actress in a Play in the bag. Rose Byrne and Kelli O'Hara will cancel each other out, Carrie Coon and Susannah Flood were in smaller shows that are long closed. Manville, even though Oedipus closed in the Fall, gave the performance of the year. Jean Smart SHOULD have been nominated. I think Laurie Metcalf will win as Best Featured Actress in a Play because her Linda Loman is so different that any I've seen previously. I was surprised that she wasn't in the Lead actress category. The other ladies were all wonderful. I think both Jane Squib and Marylouise Burke are fabulous, but as the "senior" performers, they may cancel each other...and they're both in shows produced by Non-Profits, so the producing team (who vote) is much smaller. Aya Cash is lovely, and manages to stand up against Lithgow. Betsy Aidem was amazing, but for me Liberation was such an ensemble show. I'll say again and again...the Tonys need to have an ENSEMBLE award.

Yes, Jeezifonly...you're so right. Most awards are all about marketing and politics, and I'm not a fan. The Tonys are interesting to me because I find theater to be my major form of entertainment and I'm so frustrated when marketing and politics take the stage. REalizing I should have just created one Tony nominations thread so I could rant in one space about the nods. Next year. These nominations here are not surprising. I am thrilled that Luke Evans was nominated. But I think Josh Henry should be making room on his shelf for a Tony. As for Best actress...I was surprised that Lea was not nominated. Wonder if her absences have anything to do with it. Not that the other nominees aren't terrific. I think Caissie Levy will also prevail handily. Ragtime got so many perfomers nominated. I think it will win both Best Lead role performances. Not sure about Featured. I don't know if Nichelle Lweis will win, but the other performers in her category are so diverse and all strong. I think I would vote for Ana Gasteyer. And Actor? I'm pretty sure Ben Levi Ross will not continue the Ragtime love. If I were a voter, it would be tough. I'd have to go see Titanique and Cats again to compare Andre DeShields and Layton Williams.

Of the 34 shows opening this year on Broadway, only 11 were musicals. 5 revivals and 6 originals. And while the show pickings are slim, the performances are not. The producers of Rocky Horror put Andrew Durant up for Leading Actor, which allowed the eligibility in the category to be large enough (9) for five nominees. And I heard that the producers of Ragtime were thinking of putting Brandon Uranowitz in the Supporting Category so he wouldn't have to compete with Joshua Henry in the Lead Actor race, but that didn't happen.. Josh and Brandon are both locks for nods, as are Sam Tutty for Two Strangers, and Nicholas Christopher in Chess. The fifth slot will probably go to either Luke Evans for Rocky Horror or LJ Benet for Lost Boys. I'd pick Luke but I bet LJ gets the spot. Alex Brightman doesn't really sing, and although the lead, seems secondary to the other gents in the story, Aaron Tveit sings beautifully, but doesn't soar as Freddy, and I don't think Andrew D's Brad has enough "oomph" to carry him into the list. The actress category is a tougher call. There are 10 eligible performers and I think only three of them are sure-things. Lea Michele, Caissie Levy, and Marla Mindelle. There are several who I don't think are real contenders, Christine Sherill (Mamma Mia), Stephanie Hsu (Rocky Horror), and Kelli Barrett (Beaches) Which leaves Christiani Pitts (Two Strangers), Jessica Vosk (Beaches) Kristen Chenoweth (Queen of Versailles) and Sara Chase (Schmigadoon) up for the last two slots. Chenoweth is a Broadway darling, but the show was not good and came and went quickly. But if they want her to be at the awards, they're going to have to nominate her. Christiani Pitts is great in Two Strangers, but her character is so underdeveloped that it's tough to like her. I love Jessica Vosk, who makes Beaches worth going to...maybe the token nod for this show. And Sara Chase is great in Schmigadoon, but is overshadowed by the terrific Featured performers. Me? I'd pick Vosk and Chenoweth. but I suspect it will be Pitts and Chase. LOL

I'm back. LOL. Another incredible set of performances in Plays. How annoying is it that Tonys still haven't updated their categories to enter the 21st century. Ensemble? Projections? Make-up/Hair? Some of the other awards do honor these important categories. At any rate...the actresses.... I think Laurie Metcalf, Lesley Manville and Jean Smart are given...(even though Jean's Izzy has been gone since August.) Could Metcalf pull off a double nomination for Little Bear Ridge Road AND Salesman? Carrie Coon is a likely nominee for Bug...shivers just thinking about that play. And Ayo Edebiri gives a nuanced and conflicted performance in Proof. (And I see that Don Cheadle will be up for Lead Actor in this...when I thought it a supporting role, and he's wonderful.) Much as I enjoyed Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne in Fallen Angels, I suspect they'll be excluded... Liberation should get an Ensemble Award... As should Marjorie Prime. I'd be hard pressed to pick Cynthia Nixon over June Squibb. If anyone one in one of the comedies this year deserves a nod it's Anika Noni Rose for Balusters, but with the incredible dramas, I fear that the comedies will be overlooked.

I also have been "collecting" Hedwigs. Like Rose in Gypsy, this role allows such a vast range of interpretations. And so many have been so different. I have definite faves...a couple that I thought were missteps, and some real surprises. Darrin Criss? Almost made me think he was Tommy Gnossis all along and that Hedwig was Tommy's alter ego. Came to that at the very end and went back to see if my thoughts were possible and yes, they were. LOL. Other than JCM, my other favorite was Euan Morten whom I saw in New Brunswick, NJ. Followed closely by NPH.

Nominations come out next week and I've been fortunate to see most of the eligible productions... Thought I'd muse a bit about the some of the races. When I saw Oedipus last Summer, I thought immediately about the Tonys...Mark Strong was giving such a commanding performance, the race begins. Liberation and Izzy all women. I don't think Alex or Keanu were strong in Godot, and Neil Patrick, James, and Bobby kind of cancel each other out in Art. And the Punch ensemble is really an ensemble. AND they've all been closed a long time! And then the spring season started. John Lithgow is astounding in Giant. "Oh, he's got it." I thought. John Bernthall is giving a masterful "against-type" performance in Dog Day Afternoon, but the play wasn't well reviewed. More on that later. Then I saw Nathan in Death of a Salesman! It's really going to be a race. I haven't seen Adrian in Fear of 13 yet...this weekend, but I hear he's "being Adrian". And I would LOVE to see Richard Thomas get a nomination for The Balusters. He's a favorite, consistently outstanding performer.

I've not been on for awhile, but had to mention that the current Death of a Salesman with Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf at the Winter Garden is the best of the six productions I've seen over the years. Lane is lost from the first scene...he doesn't grow into his instability. Metcalf and Christopher Abbott who plays Biff are both extraordinary. Joe Mantello's direction is spare and very effective. Runs 2:50 with an intermission, and I didn't look at my watch once.

I saw him last week in NY, not as a client, but at the theater with an older gentleman. I know he's here with some regularity and I reached out at one point and asked if he posted a travel schedule, and he responded that when he's here, he's on a working trip and doesn't do side-appointments. I'd love to have some time with him, but can't bring him in for an extended visit. More power to him!

Pre-Covid I had him fairly regularly. Have since passed him twice in Hells kitchen and he still looks great. Nodded acknowledgement with a smile. May have to give him another go.

I don't see a lot of movies, but my gang went to this on Christmas. It's a lush, full production. And he gives a strong performance as a totally amoral Ping Pong savant. I think he might win, simply because many think he was robbed last year for his portrayal of Bob Dylan. I recommend the film as an entertainment...a dark comedy. But whereas I'll often watch movies again when I come across them on TV...I never need to see this one again.

I saw it last year in New York and loved it. I may try to get to Philly to see again. He also does a one-performer version of Great Expectations and his Miss Havisham was delicious. I wish someone would mount a full production to do it in full force.