Monday, April 30, 2018

2018 Tony Nomination Predictions

Best Musical
The Band's Visit
Frozen
Mean Girls
SpongeBob Squarepants

Best Play
The Children
Farinelli and the King
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Junk
Latin History for Morons

Best Revival of a Musical
Carousel
My Fair Lady
Once on This Island

Best Revival of a Play
Angels in America
The Iceman Cometh
Lobby Hero
Three Tall Women
Travesties

Best Actor in a Musical
Henry Haddon-Patton "My Fair Lady"
Joshua Henry "Carousel"
Tony Shalhoub "The Band's Visit"
Ethan Slater "SpongeBob Squarepants"

Best Actress in a Musical
Lauren Ambrose "My Fair Lady"
Hailey Kilgore "Once on This Island"
Katrina Lenk "The Band's Visit"
Taylor Louderman "Mean Girls"
Jessie Mueller "Carousel"

Best Actor in a Play
Andrew Garfield "Angels in America"
Tom Hollander "Travesties"
Jamie Parker "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Mark Rylance "Farinelli and the King"
Denzel Washington "The Iceman Cometh"

Best Actress in a Play
Glenda Jackson "Three Tall Women"
Condola Rashad "Saint Joan" 
Lauren Ridloff "Children of a Lesser God"
Amy Schumer "Meteor Shower"
Lili Taylor "Marvin's Room"

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz "My Fair Lady"
Grey Henson "Mean Girls"
Gavin Lee "SpongeBob Squarepants"
Alex Newell "Once on This Island"
Ar'iel Statchel "The Band's Visit"

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Kerry Butler "Mean Girls"
Lindsay Mendez "Carousel"
Ashley Park "Mean Girls"
Diana Rigg "My Fair Lady"
Lea Salonga "Once on This Island"

Best Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Boyle "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Bryan Tyree Henry "Lobby Hero"
Nathan Lane "Angels in America"
James McArdle "Angels in America"
David Morse "The Iceman Cometh"

Best Featured Actress in a Play
Laura Benanti "Meteor Shower"
Noma Dumezweni "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child "
Denise Gough "Angels in America"
Laurie Metcalf "Three Tall Women"
Alison Pill "Three Tall Women"

Sunday, April 29, 2018

The 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

I will update the winners live, and you can follow along at: https://emmyonline.tv/daytime-emmy-awards/

Best Drama Series - Days of Our Lives
Best Digital Drama Series - The Bay The Series
Best Actor in a Drama Series - James Reynolds "Days of Our Lives"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Eileen Davidson "The Young and the Restless"
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Greg Vaughn "Days of Our Lives"
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Camryn Grimes "The Young and the Restless"
Best Younger Actor in a Drama Series - Rome Flynn "The Bold and the Beautiful"
Best Younger Actress in a Drama Series - Chloe Lanier "General Hospital"
Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series - Vernee Watson "General Hospital"
Best Directing Team for a Drama Series - Days of Our Lives
Best Writing Team for a Drama Series - Days of Our Lives
Best Talk Show - Entertainment - The Talk
Best Talk Show - Informative - The Dr. Oz Show
Best Talk Show Host - Entertainment - The Hosts of The Real
Best Talk Show Host - Informative - Steve Harvey "Steve"
Best Morning Program - Good Morning America
Best Culinary Program - A Chef's Life
Best Game Show - The Price is Right
Best Legal/Courtroom Program - Judge Mathis
Best Entertainment News Program - Entertainment Tonight
Best Entertainment Program in Spanish - Destinos
Best Morning Program in Spanish - Despierta America
Best Culinary Host - Lidia Bastianich "Lidia's Kitchen"
Best Game Show Host - Wayne Brady "Let's Make a Deal"
Best Talent in Spanish Language Program - Lili Estefan "El Gordo y la flaca"

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Best Actor

First 2019 Predictions
Christian Bale "Backseat"
Steve Carell "Beautiful Boy"
Robert DeNiro "The Irishman"
Ryan Gosling "First Man"
Hugh Jackman "The Front Runner"

Other Contenders - Lucas Hedges "Boy Erased", Oscar Isaac "Life Itself", Willem Dafoe "At Eternity's Gate", Bradley Cooper "A Star is Born", Jake Gyllenhaal "Rio", Lucas Hedges "Mid '90s", Rami Malek "Bohemian Rhapsody", Steve Carell "The Women of Marwen", Chadwick Boseman "Black Panther", Ryan Reynolds "Deadpool 2", John Krasinski "The Quiet Place", Stephan James "If Beale Street Could Talk", John David Washington "BlacKKKlansman", Adam Driver "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote", Joaquin Phoenix "You Were Never Really There", Rory Kinnear "Waterloo", Paul Giamatti "Private Life", Robert Redford "Old Man and a Gun", Kit Harrington "The Life and Death of John F. Donovan", Javier Bardem "Everbody Knows", Christoph Waltz "Georgetown", Nick Robinson "Love, Simon", Jason Clarke "Chappaquiddick", Brady Jandreau "The Rider", John Cena "Blockers", Alden Ehrenreich "Solo: A Star Wars Story", Andrew Garfield "Under the Silver Lake", Timothee Chalamet "Hot Summer Nights", Kevin Hart "Night School", Tom Hardy "Venom", Michael B. Jordan "Creed II", Jason Momoa "Aquaman"

Commentary - I am starting with two former winners and three former nominees, because their track records have proven themselves worthy over the years. Christian Bale is hoping that his second outing with Adam McKay will earn him another Oscar nomination. He is playing Dick Cheney, and Oscars love their biopics. Ryan Gosling and Hugh Jackman are also hoping to ride the biopic wave, playing Neil Armstrong and Gart Hart in new films from Damien Chazelle and Jason Reitman. Steve Carell already has one Oscar nod under his belt, but his career trajectory has him on path to win one of these days. This year he plays a father watching his son (Timothee Chalamet) struggle with addiction. Finally, the great pairing of Martin Scorese and Robert DeNiro just feels like Oscar magic. Let's hope The Irishman lives up to the hype. Beyond those five, there are a lot of possibilities. Lucas Hedges followed up his Oscar nod with two Oscar-nominated films, and now stars in Joel Edgerton's newest film Boy Erased and in A24 and Jonah Hill's Lady Bird spiritual followup Mid '90s. Oscar Isaac and Dan Fogelman could pull Oscar voter heartstrings, Willem Dafoe could pull a Colin Firth, where he wins after losing the year before, and Bradley Cooper could get in for his directorial debut. What about the blockbusters? I think there will be many arguing for the inclusion of folks like Chadwick Boseman, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinksi, and maybe Tom Hardy and Michael B. Jordan. Newcomers like Stephan James and John David Washington could crash the party, Steve Carell has another Oscar bait film in the canon, Rami Malek is playing Freddie Mercury, and Jake Gyllenhaal pairs up with Luca Guadagnino, Rory Kinnear with Mike Leigh, Adam Driver with Terry Gilliam, Joaquin Phoenix with Lynne Ramsay, Javier Bardem with Asghar  Farhadi, and Kit Harrington with Xavier Dolan. Also be on the lookout for Robert Redford, Jason Clarke, Andrew Garfield, Timothee Chalamet, Christoph Waltz, Brady Jandreu, and some of the funny guys like Nick Robinson, John Cena, and Kevin Hart.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

2018 Daytime Emmy Predictions

Best Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Best Digital Drama Series - The Bay The Series
Best Actor in a Drama Series - James Reynolds "Days of Our Lives"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Maura West "General Hospital"
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Chandler Massey "Days of Our Lives"
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Marla Adams "The Young and the Restless"
Best Younger Actor in a Drama Series - Casey Moss "Days of Our Lives"
Best Younger Actress in a Drama Series - Reign Edwards "The Bold and the Beautiful"
Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series - Vernee Watson "General Hospital"
Best Writing Team for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Best Directing Team for a Drama Series - General Hospital
Best Talk Show: Entertainment - The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Best Talk Show: Informative - The Dr. Oz Show
Best Talk Show Host: Entertainment - The Talk
Best Talk Show Host: Informative - Steve Harvey "Steve"
Best Game Show -Jeopardy!
Best Game Show Host - Steve Harvey "Family Feud"
Best Culinary Show - Valerie's Home Cooking
Best Legal/Courtroom Program - Judge Judy
Best Morning Show - CBS Sunday Morning
Best Entertainment News Show - Entertainment Tonight

The 45th Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Kristos Andrews "The Bay The Series"
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Anne Winters "Zac and Mia"
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Eric Nelson "The Bay The Series"
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Jade Harlow "The Bay The Series"
Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Patrika Darbo "The Bay The Series"
Outstanding Directing in a Digital Drama Series - The Bay The Series
Outstanding Writing in a Digital Drama Series - Zac and Mia
Outstanding Performer in a Children’s, Preschool Children’s or Educational and Informational Program - Dove Cameron "Liv and Maddie: Cali Style"
Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - Tom Kenny "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Outstanding Host in a Lifestyle/Travel/Children’s or Educational and Informational Program - Brandon McMillan "Lucky Dog with Brandon McMillan"
Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program - Jack Hanna's Into the Wild
Outstanding Special Class Series - XPloration Earth 2050
Outstanding Special Class Special - Kevyn Aucoin: Beauty and the Beast
Outstanding Special Class - Short Format Daytime Program - Sesame Street: Twinkle Twinkle -Little Star with Elmo and Julia
Outstanding Interactive Media - Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series - Fruit Ninja Frenzy Force
Outstanding Interactive Media - Original Daytime Program or Series - ASTEROIDS!
Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series - Sesame Street
Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series - Free Rein
Outstanding Education or Informational Series - Giver
Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series - Tumble Leaf
Outstanding Children’s Animated Series - SpongeBob Squarepants
Outstanding Special Class Animated Program - A StoryBots Christmas
Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement -Topical - Undocumented and Unafraid: Forbidden
Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement - Brand Image Campaign - Network or Program - Nick Junior: Girls in Charge
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series - General Hospital
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama Series - General Hospital
Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Drama Series Technical Team - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Original Song -Drama Series - General Hospital "Who I Am"
Outstanding Costume Design for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Drama Series - The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Makeup for a Drama Series - The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special - Elena of Avalor
Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program - Octonauts
Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program - Trollhunters
Outstanding Writing in a Children’s, Preschool Children’s, Family Viewing - Sesame Street
Outstanding Writing Special Class - Super Soul Sunday
Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program - Danger & Eggs
Outstanding Directing in a Preschool Animated Program- A StoryBots Christmas
Outstanding Directing in a Children’s, Preschool Children’s or Family Viewing Program - Free Rein
Outstanding Directing in a Single Camera Lifestyle/Culinary/Travel or Educational and Informational Program - Giada's Holiday Handbook
Outstanding Directing in Multi Camera Lifestyle/Culinary or Educational and Informational Program - Milk Street
Outstanding Directing in a Talk Show/Entertainment News /Morning Program - Harry
Outstanding Directing in a Game Show - The Price is Right
Outstanding Directing Special Class - Disney's Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design - Sesame Street
Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design - Mind of a Chef
Outstanding Lighting Direction - The Talk
Outstanding Technical Team - Sesame Street
Outstanding Cinematography - Scars of Nanking
Outstanding Single Camera Editing - Giada in Italy
Outstanding Multi-Camera Editing - Sesame Street
Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing - Harry
Outstanding Sound Mixing - Disney's Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall
Outstanding Sound Mixing - Animation - All Hail King Julian: Exiled
Outstanding Sound Mixing in a Preschool Animated Program - Dinotrux
Outstanding Sound Editing - Live Action - Sesame Street
Outstanding Sound Editing - Animation - All Hail King Julian: Exiled
Outstanding Sound Editing in a Preschool Animated Program - Dinotrux
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition - The Tom and Jerry Show
Outstanding Original Song - Sesame Street - A Song About Songs
Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program - The Today Show - Ben Platt and the Cast of Dear Evan Hansen
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling - The Talk
Outstanding Hairstyling - Live with Kelly and Ryan
Outstanding Makeup - Live with Kelly and Ryan
Outstanding Stunt Coordination - The Bold and the Beautiful

Thursday, April 26, 2018

The 63rd Annual Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Play
Admissions
Mary Jane
Miles for Mary
People, Places & Things
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

Outstanding Musical
Desperate Measures
KPOP
Mean Girls
Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
SpongeBob SquarePants

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Angels in America
Hindle Wakes
In the Blood
Three Tall Women
Travesties

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Amerike—The Golden Land,
Carousel
My Fair Lady
Once on This Island
Pacific Overtures

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Johnny Flynn, Hangmen
Andrew Garfield, Angels in America
Tom Hollander, Travesties
McArdle, Angels in America
Paul Sparks, At Home at the Zoo

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Carrie Coon, Mary Janep
Denise Gough, People, Places & Things
Glenda Jackson, Three Tall Women
Laurie Metcalf, Three Tall Women
Billie Piper, Yerma

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Jelani Alladin, Frozen
Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady
Joshua Henry, Carousel
Evan Ruggiero, Bastard Jones
Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Gizel Jiménez, Miss You Like Hell
LaChanze, Summer
Jessie Mueller, Carousel
Ashley Park, KPOP
Daphne Rubin-Vega, Miss You Like Hell

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Ben Edelman, Admissions
Brian Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
David Morse, The Iceman Cometh
Gregg Mozgala, Cost of Living

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Jocelyn Bioh, In the Blood
Jamie Brewer, Amy and the Orphans
Barbara Marten, People, Places & Things
Deirdre O’Connell, Fulfillment Center
Constance Shulman, Bobbie Clearly

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Damon Daunno, The Lucky Ones, Ars Nova
Alexander Gemignani, Carousel
Grey Henson, Mean Girls
Gavin Lee, SpongeBob SquarePants
Tony Yazbeck, Prince of Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Lindsay Mendez, Carousel
Kenita R. Miller, Once on This Island
Ashley Park, Mean Girls
Diana Rigg, My Fair Lady
Kate Rockwell, Mean Girls

Outstanding Director of a Play
Marianne Elliott, Angels in America
Jeremy Herrin, People, Places & Things
Joe Mantello, Three Tall Women
Lila Neugebauer, Miles for Mary
Simon Stone, Yerma
John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Christian Barry, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
Teddy Bergman, KPOP
Jack O’Brien, Carousel
Tina Landau, SpongeBob SquarePants
Bartlett Sher, My Fair Lady

The LaDuca Award for Outstanding Choreography
Camille A. Brown, Once on This Island
Christopher Gattelli, SpongeBob SquarePants
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
Justin Peck, Carousel
Nejla Yatkin, The Boy Who Danced on Air

Outstanding Music
The Bengsons, The Lucky Ones
Ben Caplan, Christian Barry, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
David Friedman, Desperate Measures
Erin McKeown, Miss You Like Hell
Helen Park, Max Vernon, KPOP

Outstanding Lyrics
Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls
Quiara Alegría Hudes/Erin McKeown, Miss You Like Hell
Peter Kellogg, Desperate Measures
Helen Park, Max Vernon, KPOP

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Tina Fey, Mean Girls
Kyle Jarrow, SpongeBob SquarePants
Peter Kellogg, Desperate Measures=
Hannah Moscovitch, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story

Outstanding Orchestrations
Tom Kitt, SpongeBob SquarePants
Annmarie Milazzo and Michael Starobin (John Bertles and Bash the Trash, found instrument design) Once on This Island
Charlie Rosen, Erin McKeown, Miss You Like Hell
Jonathan Tunick, Pacific Overtures
Jonathan Tunick, Carousel

Outstanding Music in a Play
Imogen Heap, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Justin Hicks, Mlima’s Tale
Amatus Karim-Ali, The Homecoming Queen
Justin Levine, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Adrian Sutton, Angels in America

The Hudson Scenic Studio Award for Outstanding Set Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, Three Tall Women
Bunny Christie, People, Places & Things
Lizzie Clachan, Yerma,
Maruti Evans, Kill Move Paradise
Louisa Thompson, In the Blood

Outstanding Set Design for a Musical
Louisa Adamson, Christian Barry, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
Beowulf Boritt, Prince of Broadway
Dane Laffrey, Once on This Island
Santo Loquasto, Carousel
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants

Outstanding Costume Design for a Play
Dede M. Ayite, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and the King
Katrina Lindsay, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Ann Roth, Three Tall Women
Emilio Sosa, Venus, Signature Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Mean Girls
Clint Ramos, Once on This Island
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants
Catherine Zuber, My Fair Lady
Dede M. Ayite, Bella: An American Tall Tale

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
Neil Austin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Natasha Chivers, 1984
Alan C. Edwards, Kill Move Paradise
Paul Gallo, Three Tall Women
Paul Russell, Farinelli and the King

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Louisa Adamson, Christian Barry, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story,
Amith Chandrashaker, The Lucky Ones
Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer, Once on This Island
Brian MacDevitt, Carousel
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, KPOP

Outstanding Projection Design
David Bengali, Van Gogh’s Ear
Andrezj Goulding, People, Places & Things
Peter Nigrini, SpongeBob SquarePants
Finn Ross and Adam Young, Mean Girls
Finn Ross and Ash J. Woodward, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Brendan Aanes, Balls
Gareth Fry, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Tom Gibbons, 1984
Tom Gibbons, People, Places & Things
Stefan Gregory, Yerma
Palmer Hefferan, Today is My Birthday

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Kai Harada, The Band’s Visit
Scott Lehrer, Carousel
Will Pickens, KPOP
Dan Moses Schreier, Pacific Overtures

Outstanding Wig and Hair
Carole Hancock, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Campbell Young Associates, Farinelli and the King
Cookie Jordan, School Girls; or The African Mean Girls Play
Charles G. LaPointe, SpongeBob SquarePants
Josh Marquette, Mean Girls

Outstanding Solo Performance
Billy Crudup, Harry Clarke
David Greenspan, Strange Interlude
Jon Levin, A Hunger Artist
Lesli Margherita, Who’s Holiday!
Sophie Melville, Iphigenia in Splott

The Chase Award for Unique Theatrical Experience
Derren Brown: Secret
Master, Foundry Theatre
Say Something Bunny!

Outstanding Fight Choreography
J. David Brimmer, Is God Is
Steve Rankin, Carousel
Unkle Dave’s Fight House, Oedipus El Rey

Outstanding Puppet Design
Finn Caldwell, Nick Barnes, Angels in America
Michael Curry, Frozen
Charlie Kanev, Sarah Nolan, and Jonathan Levin, A Hunger Artist
Vandy Wood, The Artificial Jungle

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The 84th Drama League Nominations

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Animal
Hangmen
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
In the Body of the World
Is God Is
Meteor Shower
Oedipus El Rey
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Until the Flood

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Angels in America
Children of a Lesser God
Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo
Hamlet
The Iceman Cometh 
Lobby Hero
Saint Joan
Three Tall Women
Torch Song
Travesties
Yerma

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
The Band's Visit
Bella: An American Tall Tale
Frozen
Hundred Days
KPOP
Mean Girls
SpongeBob SquarePants
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Woody Sez: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Carousel
My Fair Lady
Once On This Island
Pacific Overtures

NOMINEES FOR THE DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD
Jelani Alladin, Frozen
Lauren Ambrose, My Fair Lady
Annaleigh Ashford, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Laura Benanti, Meteor Shower
MaameYaa Boafo, School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play
Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
Juan Castano, Oedipus El Rey
Billy Crudup, Harry Clarke
Eisa Davis, Kings
Ariana DeBose, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Noma Dumenzweni, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two
Deanna Dunagan, The Treasurer
Eve Ensler, In The Body of the World
Chris Evans, Lobby Hero
Johnny Flynn, Hangmen
Alfie Fuller, Is God Is
Andrew Garfield, Angels in America
Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady
Rebecca Hall, Animal
Harriet Harris, The Low Road
Brian-Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero
Joshua Henry, Carousel
Tom Hollander, Travesties
Oscar Isaac, Hamlet
Chukwudi Iwuji, The Low Road
Glenda Jackson, Three Tall Women
Joshua Jackson, Children of a Lesser God
Hailey Kilgore, Once On This Island
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Katrina Lenk, The Band’s Visit
Robert Sean Leonard, Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo
Taylor Louderman, Mean Girls
Elizabeth Marvel, Julius Caesar
James McArdle, Angels in America
Laurie Metcalf, Three Tall Women
Jessie Mueller, Carousel
Patti Murin, Frozen
Alex Newell, Once On This Island
Sahr Ngaujah, Mlima’s Tale
Seth Numrich, Travesties
Deirdre O’Connell, Fulfillment Center
Ashley Park, Mean Girls and KPOP
Billie Piper, Yerma
Karen Pittman, Pipeline
Condola Rashad, Saint Joan
Lauren Ridloff, Children of a Lesser God
Roslynn Ruff, X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation
Amy Schumer, Meteor Shower
Tony Shalhoub, The Band’s Visit
Paul Sparks, Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo
Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living
John Douglas Thompson, Julius Caesar
Michael Urie, Torch Song and The Government Inspector
Denzel Washington, The Iceman Cometh
Dianne Wiest, Happy Days

The Drama League also wishes to acknowledge the previous recipients of the Distinguished Performance Award who appeared in Broadway or Off-Broadway productions this season.  As the Award can only be won once in a performer’s lifetime, they are ineligible to be nominated; however, their exemplary work is recognized and applauded.

Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady and The Whirligig
Kathleen Chalfant, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
John Lithgow, John Lithgow: Stories By Heart
Bernadette Peters, Hello, Dolly!
Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

68th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
The Children
Farinelli and the King
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Junk

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
Escape to Margaritaville
Frozen
Mean Girls
Prince of Broadway
SpongeBob SquarePants

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Admissions
Cost of Living
Hangmen
The Low Road
Mlima’s Tale

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Cruel Intentions
Desperate Measures
Jerry Springer- The Opera
Miss You Like Hell
Woody Sez

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Tina Fey "Mean Girls"
Quiara Alegría Hudes "Miss You Like Hell"
Kyle Jarrow "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Peter Kellogg "Desperate Measures"

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman,John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil’C, Jonathan Coulton, Tom Kitt, David Friedman & Peter Kellogg "Desperate Measures"
Imogen Heap "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Erin McKeown and Quiara Alegría Hudes "Miss You Like Hell"
Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez "Frozen"

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Angels in America
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
Lobby Hero
Three Tall Women
Travesties

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Carousel
My Fair Lady
Once on This Island
Pacific Overtures

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Jo Bonney "Cost of Living"
Marianne Elliott "Angels in America"
Patrick Marber "Travesties"
Joe Mantello "Three Tall Women"
John Tiffany "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Michael Arden "Once on This Island"
Bill Castellino "Desperate Measures"
Tina Landau "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Casey Nicholaw "Mean Girls"
Bartlett Sher "My Fair Lady"

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Camille A. Brown "Once on This Island"
Christopher Gattelli "My Fair Lady"
Christopher Gattelli "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Steven Hoggett "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Justin Peck "Carousel"

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Miriam Buether "Three Tall Women"
Myung Hee Cho "In the Body of the World"
Christine Jones "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Michael Yeargan "My Fair Lady"
David Zinn "SpongeBob SquarePants"

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Katrina Lindsay "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Clint Ramos "Once on This Island"
Paloma Young "Time and the Conways"
David Zinn "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Catherine Zuber "My Fair Lady"

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Kevin Adams "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Neil Austin "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Paule Constable "Angels in America"
Paul Russell "Farinelli and the King"
Lap Chi Chu "Mlima’s Tale"

OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Tim Reid "1984"
Finn Ross "Frozen"
Finn Ross "In the Body of the World"
Finn Ross & Adam Young "Mean Girls"
Finn Ross & Ash Woodward "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Gareth Fry "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Kate Marvin "[Porto]"
Fitz Patton "Napoli, Brooklyn"
Marc Salzberg "My Fair Lady"
Darron L. West "Mlima’s Tale"

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRATIONS
Jason Robert Brown "Prince of Broadway"
Tom Kitt "SpongeBob SquarePants"
AnnMarie Milazzo & Michael Starobin "Once on This Island"
Jonathan Tunick "Carousel"
Claire Van Kampen "Farinelli and the King"

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Sean Carvajal "Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train"
Andrew Garfield "Angels in America"
Tom Hollander "Travesties"
Gregg Mozgala "Cost of Living"
Michael Urie "The Government Inspector"

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
MaameYaa Boafo "School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play"
Jessica Hecht "Admissions"
Glenda Jackson "Three Tall Women"
Lauren Ridloff "Children of a Lesser God"
Katy Sullivan "Cost of Living"

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Harry Hadden-Paton My Fair Lady
Joshua Henry Carousel
David M. Lutken Woody Sez
Conor Ryan Desperate Measures
Ethan Slater SpongeBob SquarePants

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Lauren Ambrose "My Fair Lady"
Erika Henningsen "Mean Girls"
Hailey Kilgore "Once On This Island"
Taylor Louderman "Mean Girls"
Patti Murin "Frozen"

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Anthony Boyle "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"
Johnny Flynn "Hangmen"
Nathan Lane "Angels in America"
David Morse "The Iceman Cometh"
Paul Sparks "At Home at the Zoo"

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jamie Brewer "Amy and the Orphans"
Denise Gough "Angels in America"
Harriet Harris "The Low Road"
Laurie Metcalf "Three Tall Women"
Mary Testa "The Government Inspector"

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Norbert Leo Butz "My Fair Lady"
Alexander Gemignani "Carousel"
Gavin Lee "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Nick Wyman "Desperate Measures"
Tony Yazbeck "Prince of Broadway"

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kerry Butler "Mean Girls"
Lindsay Mendez "Carousel"
Lauren Molina "Desperate Measures"
Ashley Park "Mean Girls"
Emily Skinner "Prince of Broadway"

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Billy Crudup "Harry Clarke"
Eve Ensler "In the Body of the World"
Alison Fraser "Squeamish"
John Lithgow "Stories By Heart"
Sharon Washington "Feeding the Dragon"

JOHN GASSNER AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Kate Benson "Porto"
Jocelyn Bioh "School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play"
Lindsey Ferrentino "Amy and the Orphans"
Meghan Kennedy "Napoli, Brooklyn"
Dominique Morisseau "Pipeline"

Monday, April 16, 2018

The 53rd Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award Winners

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Old Dominion

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Lauren Alaina

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Young

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Midland

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton “From A Room Vol. 1”

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR
Sam Hunt “Body Like a Back Road”

SONG OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall “Tin Man”

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brothers Osborne “It Ain’t My Fault”

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
 Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood “The Fighter”

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rhett Akins

Sunday, April 15, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Best Actress

First 2019 Predictions
Cate Blanchett "Where'd You Go Bernadette?"
Glenn Close "The Wife"
Viola Davis "Widows"
Saoirse Ronan "Mary, Queen of Scots"
Michelle Williams "Rio"

Other Contenders - Renee Zellweger "Judy",  Felicity Jones "On the Basis of Sex", Melissa McCarthy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", Penelope Cruz "Everybody Knows", Lady Gaga "A Star is Born", Kiki Layne "If Beale Street Could Talk", Emma Stone "The Favourite", Emily Blunt "Mary Poppins Returns", Emily Blunt "A Quiet Place", Chloe Grace Moretz "The Miseducation of Cameron Post", Toni Collette "Hereditary", Kristen Stewart "JT Leroy", Olivia Wilde "Life Itself", Hilary Swank "Where They Had", Natalie Portman "Annihilation", Keira Knightley "Collette", Julianne Moore "Gloria", Judi Dench "Red Joan", Charlize Theron "Tully", Melissa McCarthy "Life of the Party", Elle Fanning "Mary Shelley", Rosamund Pike "Beirut", Rachel McAdams "Game Night", Leslie Mann "Blockers", Amy Schumer "I Feel Pretty", Anna Faris "Overboard", Sandra Bullock "Oceans 8", Constance Wu "Crazy Rich Asians", Anna Kendrick "A Simple Favor", Anne Hathaway "Serenity", Jamie Lee Curtis "Halloween", Claire Foy "The Girl in the Spider's Web"

Commentary - This year's race is stacked with so many previous nominees and winners, I wonder if any newcomers can breakthrough. I am going to start with Saoirse Ronan playing Mary Stuart in Mary, Queen of Scots opposite Margot Robbie. It would be her fourth nomination, and it might be the right time for the Academy to recognize her. Still looking for her Oscar, Glenn Close could score her seventh nomination for The Wife. It is not a big movie, and doesn't have a lot of buzz outside of her performance, but that has actually been a winning formula for overdue veterans lately. Christopher Plummer in Beginners, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, Julianne Moore in Still Alice. If they can play up the narrative that she has never one, and once again knocks it out of the park, she might finally win an Oscar. Michelle Williams joins Close and Ronan as another overdue vet, this time pairing up with Luca Guadagnino, who has finally got the notice of the Academy, for Rio opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Benedict Cumberbatch. In the final two slots, I am going with recent winners in buzzed projects. Viola Davis is starring in Widows, Steve McQueen's first big project since 12 Years a Slave. Finally, perennial nominee Cate Blanchett has a great role in Richard Linklater's adaptation of the hugely popular novel Where'd You Go Bernadette. This race though has tons of contenders, and will once again be a tight race, which is fantastic after all those years of not enough quality leading roles for women. Renee Zellweger has been out of this circuit for a long time, but the former Oscar winner is returning playing Judy Garland, while Lady Gaga takes on a role once helmed by Garland herself. Both roles look like Oscar bait, but are going to have to be seen to be believed. Felicity Jones is tackling Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a role that could land her a second nomination. Melissa McCarthy, who is a previous nominee, has a baity dramedy role in Marielle Heller's latest with Nicole Holofcener writing the script. Mostly comedic actors who have tried more dramatic roles have caught the eye of voters before, and this looks intriguing. Penelope Cruz stars in Asghar Farhadi's latest which will premiere at Cannes in a few weeks, Emily Blunt has two major roles in contention, and Life Itself could be the This is Us of Oscars with Hilary Swank and Olivia Wilde as possibilities. Kristen Stewart has been flirting with Oscar since she made the switch from Twilight movies to indies, and actresses like Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Rachel McAdams, Leslie Mann, Anne Hathaway, Claire Foy, Keira Knightley, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Toni Collette are sure to be on people's minds. Finally, Barry Jenkins' If Beale Street Could Talk could have this year's Oscar breakthrough with Kiki Layne.

Friday, April 13, 2018

The 29th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners: Part 1 (Los Angeles)

The other half of the awards will take place on May 5th in New York. 

Outstanding Film - Limited Release
A Fantastic Woman 

Outstanding Drama Series
This Is Us

Outstanding Comedy Series
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Outstanding Individual Episode
Master of None - Thanksgiving

Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series
We We Rise

Outstanding Daily Drama
The Bold and the Beautiful 

Outstanding Kids and Family Programming
Andi Mack

Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Spanish-Language)
Las chicas del cable

Outstanding Comic Book
Black Panther: World of Wakanda - Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Yona Harvey, and Rembert Browne

Outstanding Digital Journalism Article
Samantha Allen "Why Bisexual Men are Still Fighting to Convince Us They Exist" (Splinter)

Outstanding Digital Journalism (Spanish Language)
Tres hermanos para dos papas (laopinion.com)

Outstanding Blog
Transgriot

Thursday, April 12, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Best Supporting Actor

First 2019 Predictions
Timothee Chalamet "Beautiful Boy"
Benedict Cumberbatch "Rio"
Al Pacino "The Irishman"
Joe Pesci "The Irishman"
Sam Rockwell "Backseat"

Other Contenders - Corey Stoll "First Man", Kyle Chandler "First Man", Jesse Plemmons "The Irishman", Bobby Cannavale "The Irishman", Harvey Keitel "The Irishman", Russell Crowe "Boy Erased", Joel Edgerton "Boy Erased", Billy Crudup "Where'd You Go Bernadette", Michael B. Jordan "Black Panther", Donald Glover "Solo: A Star Wars Story", J.K. Simmons "The Front Runner", Colin Farrell "Widows", Liam Neeson "Widows", Robert Duvall "Widows", Andre Holland "Widows", Sam Elliott "A Star is Born", Andrew Dice Clay "A Star is Born", Dave Chappelle "A Star is Born", Adam Driver "BlackkKlansman", Corey Hawkins "BlackkKlansman", David Tennant "Mary, Queen of Scots", Antonio Banderas "Life Itself", Samuel L. Jackson "Life Itself", Mandy Patinkin "Life Itself", Hugh Grant "Paddington 2", Lin-Manuel Miranda "Mary Poppins Returns", Jonah Hill "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot", Jack Black "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot", Jacob Tremblay "The Life and Death of John F. Donovan", Nicholas Hoult "The Favourite", Joe Alwyn "The Favourite", Sylvester Stallone "Creed II", Armie Hammer "On the Basis of Sex", Sam Waterston "On the Basis of Sex", Woody Harrelson "Solo: A Star Wars Story"

Commentary - On the surface, this race feels lighter than normal, but it is most likely because there are a lot of contenders in the same movies, and it will take seeing the films to figure out which one will rise to the top. The biggest cast is probably The Irishman. I feel like this is going to be a huge Oscar contender, and will rack up a bunch of nods. This is a category where two folks from the same film can easily get in (just ask Rockwell and Harrelson last year), so I think both Pacino and Pesci, previous Oscar winners and gangster film veterans will make enough of a splash to return to this race. Sam Rockwell could be the first actor since Tom Hanks to win back to back Oscars. He is playing President Bush in the new Dick Cheney biopic with Adam McKay at the helm. Something tells me this will be an easy and awesome role for Rockwell, who is finally on the Academy's radar. After gaining a huge following and working the circuit like crazy, Timothee Chalamet may capitalize on his new found stardom opposite Steve Carell in Beautiful Boy. Finally, Luca Guadgnino's follow-up Rio could have tons of Oscar potential, and Benedict Cumberbatch is due for a second nomination. From there you have to start sorting out the large casts. The Irishman, First Man, Boy Erased, Widows, A Star is Born, Life Itself, Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot, The Favourite, BlackkKlansman, and On the Basis of Sex all have multiple contenders that could breakthrough. J.K. Simmons, Jacob Tremblay, Sly Stallone, Billy Crudup, and David Tennant are all possibilities. And this year could prove fruitful to some of the blockbusters with performances from Michael B. Jordan, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, and Lin-Manuel Miranda gaining a lot of buzz.

2018 Cannes Film Festival Lineup

OPENING NIGHT FILM
Everybody Knows, dir: Asghar Farhadi

COMPETITION
Le Livre D’Image, dir: Jean-Luc Godard
Blackkklansman, dir: Spike Lee
Three Faces, dir: Jafar Panahi
Cold War, dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Leto, dir: Kirill Serebrennikov
Lazzaro Felice, dir: Alice Rohrwacher
Under The Silver Lake, dir: David Robert Mitchell
Capernaum, dir: Nadine Labaki
At War, dir: Stephane Brizé
Asako I&II, dir: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Sorry Angel, dir: Christophe Honoré
Dogman, dir: Matteo Garrone
Girls Of The Sun, dir: Eva Husson
Yomeddine, dir: A.B Shawky
Burning, dir: Lee-Chang Dong
Shoplifters, dir: Kore-Eda Hirokazu
Ash Is Purest White, dir: Jia Zhang-Ke

SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Dead Souls, Wang Bing
10 Years In Thailand, dirs: Aditya Assarat, Wisit Sasanatieng, Chulayarnon Sriphol & Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Pope Francis – A Man Of His Word, dir: Wim Wenders
La Traversée, dir: Romain Goupil
To The Four Winds, dir: Michel Toesca
Le Grand Cirque Mystique, dir: Carlos Diegues
The State Against Mandela And The Others, dirs: Nicolas Champeaux & Gilles Porte

MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS
Arctic, dir: Joe Penna
The Spy Gone North, dir: Yoon Jong-Bing

OUT OF COMPETITION
Le Grand Bain, dir: Gilles Lellouche
Solo: A Star Wars Story, dir: Ron Howard

UN CERTAIN REGARD
Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Bi Gan
Little Tickles, dir: Andréa Bescond & Eric Métayer
Sofia, dir: Meyem Benm’Barek
Border, dir: Ali Abbasi
Sextape, dir: Antoine Desrosières
The Gentle Indifference Of The World, dir: Adilkhan Yerzhanov
El Angel, dir: Luis Ortega
In My Room, dir: Ulrich Kohler
The Harvesters, dir: Etienne Kallos
My Favorite Fabric, dir: Gaya Jiji
Friend, dir: Wanuri Kahiu
Euphoria, dir: Valeria Golino
Angel Face, dir: Vanessa Filho
Girl, dir: Lukas Dhont
Manto, dir: Nandita Das

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

77th Annual Peabody Award Nominations

CHILDREN’S & YOUTH PROGRAMMING
“Andi Mack”
“A Series of Unfortunate Events”

DOCUMENTARY
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”
“America ReFramed: Deej”
“Chasing Coral”
“City of Ghosts”
“Heroin(e)”
“I Have A Message For You”
“Indivisible”
“Last Men in Aleppo”
“Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise”
“Motherland”
“Newtown”
“Planet Earth II”
“Strong Island” Y
“The Bad Kids”
“The Defiant Ones”
“The Islands and the Whales”
“Time: The Kalief Browder Story”
“Tower”
“Oklahoma City”

ENTERTAINMENT
“Alias Grace”
“American Vandal”
“Bala Loca”
“Better Call Saul”
“Halt and Catch Fire”
“Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King”
“Insecure”
“Jazz Night in America”
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
“Legion”
“One Day at a Time”
“Saturday Night Live: Political Satire 2017”
“Star Trek: Discovery”
“The Good Place”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

NEWS
“Big Buses, Bigger Problems: Taxpayers Taken for a Ride” NBC5/KXAS-TV Dallas-Fort Worth
“Charlottesville: Race & Terror” VICE Media (HBO)
“Cracking the Code” & “Medical Waste” WVUE-TV, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune/Clear Health Costs (WVUE-TV)
“Fall of ISIS in Iraq and Syria” CNN (CNN)
“Human Toll in Yemen” BBC News (BBC World News/BBC World News America)
“Inside Putin’s Russia” PBS NewsHour (PBS, WETA)
“Leyla Santiago’s Hurricane Maria Coverage” CNN (CNN)
“My Reality: A Hidden America” ABC News 20/20 (ABC)
“Plight of Rohingya Refugees” BBC News (BBC World News)
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The Strongman-Ramzan Kadyrov” HBO Sports (HBO)
“The Whistleblower” CBS News 60 Minutes (CBS)
“USA Gymnastics” CBS News 60 Minutes (CBS)

PUBLIC SERVICE
“The Cut: Exploring FGM” Al Jazeera Correspondent (Al Jazeera)
“Predator In My Phone” R.AGE, Star Media Group (R.AGE)
“Sex.Right.Now. with Cleo Stiller” Fusion Media Group (FUSION)

RADIO/PODCAST
“Ear Hustle” Radiotopia from PRX (Radiotopia from PRX)
“Lost Mothers: Maternal Mortality in the U.S.” NPR and ProPublica (NPR)
“74 Seconds” Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media (MPR News)
“S-Town” Serial and This American Life (stownpodcast.org)
 “Scene on Radio: Seeing White” The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University (podcast.cdsporch.org)
“The Pope’s Long Con” Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, Louisville Public Media (Louisville Public Media)
“The View from Room 205” WBEZ-Chicago Public Media (WBEZ)
“Uncivil: The Raid” Gimlet Media (Gimlet Media)

Sunday, April 8, 2018

2018 Olivier Awards

Best New Musical
Hamilton

Best New Play
The Ferryman

Best Musical Revival
Follies

Best Revival
Angels in America

Best New Comedy
Labour of Love

Best Actor
Bryan Cranston "Network"

Best Actress
Laura Donnelly "The Ferryman"

Best Supporting Actor
Bertie Carvel "Ink"

Best Supporting Actress
Denise Gough "Angels in America"

Best Actor in a Musical
Giles Terera "Hamilton"

Best Actress in a Musical
Shirley Henderson "Girl from the North Country"

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Michael Jibson "Hamilton"

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Sheila Atim "Girl from the North Country"

Best Director
Sam Mendes "The Ferryman"

Best New Dance Production
Flight Pattern

Outstanding Achievement in Dance
Francesca Velicu "Le Sacre Du Printemps"

Best Entertainment and Family
Dick Whittington

Best New Opera Production
Semiramide

Outstanding Achievement in Opera
Joyce Didonato and Daniela Barcellona "Semiramide"

Best Choreographer
Andy Blakenbuheler "Hamilton"

Best Costume Design
Vicki Mortimer "Follies"

Best Lighting Design
Howell Binkley "Hamilton"

Best Music
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Lacamoire "Hamilton"

Best Set Design
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions "An American in Paris"

Best Sound Design
Nevin Steinberg "Hamilton"

Best Achievement in Affiliate Theater
Killology

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Best Supporting Actress

First 2019 Predictions
Amy Adams "Backseat"
Vera Farmiga "The Front Runner"
Claire Foy "First Man"
Regina King "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Margot Robbie "Mary, Queen of Scots"

Other Contenders - Nicole Kidman "Boy Erased", Julia Roberts "Ben is Back", Kristen Wiig "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", Judy Greer "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", Katherine Waterston "Mid '90s", Leslie Mann "The Women of Marwen", Janelle Monae "The Women of Marwen", Gwendoline Christine "The Women of Marwen", Meryl Streep "Mary Poppins Returns", Angela Lansbury "Mary Poppins Returns", Emily Mortimer "Mary Poppins Returns", Anna Deveare Smith "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", Laura Dern "JT Leroy", Amy Ryan "Beautiful Boy", Annette Bening "Life Itself", Uma Thurman "The House that Jack Built", Natalie Portman "The Life and Death of John F. Donovan", Rachel Weisz "The Favourite", Danai Gurira "Black Panther", Lupita Nyong'o "Black Panther", Michelle Rodriguez "Windows", Elizabeth Debicki "Widows", Kathy Bates "On the Basis of Sex", Sissy Spacek "Old Man and the Gun", Tatiana Maslany "Destroyer", Jennifer Ehle "The Miseducation of Cameron Post", Riley Keough "Under the Silver Lake", Elizabeth Marvel "The Last of Steady Habits", Edie Falco "The Land of Steady Habits", Emilia Clarke "Solo: A Star Wars Story", Maya Rudolph "Life of the Party", Catherine Keener "Sicario: Day of the Soldado", Diane Lane "Serenity"

Commentary -  Is this the year that Amy Adams finally wins an Oscar? This race doesn't feel particularly strong this year when looking at the totality of the contenders, and she is way overdue for a gold statue. She is playing Lynne Cheney in Adam McKay's first film since he won an Oscar for The Big Short. On paper, this looks like a perfect Oscar role. Margot Robbie could return to this race as she faces off against her competitor last year, Saoirse Ronan, in Mary, Queen of Scots. Barry Jenkins is returning after his Oscar-winning Moonlight with the adaptation of Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk. Regina King looks to have a prominent role. Now that the Emmys have finally recognized her after years of quality television work, she might be in the perfect moment to capture the film industry's attention as well. Claire Foy has become an overnight sensation with her Emmy-nominated role in Netflix's The Crown. This time she will play the wife of Neil Armstrong, Janet, in Damien Chazelle's La La Land follow-up First Man, opposite Ryan Gosling. Like King, she might make the jump from Emmy favorite to Oscar favorite. Finally, it has been almost a decade since Vera Farmiga earned her first Oscar nomination. Since then, she has largely been off of the Oscar circuit playing more genre fair, and earning praise for her television series Bates Motel. Now that the show is off the air, she looks to rejoin the Oscar conversation re-teaming with Jason Reitman to play Gary Hart's wife Lee Hart opposite Hugh Jackman. These five though are all big question marks, which leaves plenty of room for other contenders. Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts are Oscar winners playing mom roles, which often do well in this race. Kristen Wiig and Judy Greer are hoping to bring humor to this category with their roles in Linklater's adaptation of Where'd You Go Bernadette. Robert Zemeckis The Women of Marwen brings Janelle Monae, Leslie Man, and Gwendoline Christie into the fold. Mary Poppins returns could add to Meryl Streep's nomination total, or voters could go for Angela Lansbury or Emily Mortimer instead. Plenty of former winners and nominees are joining the mix including Laura Dern, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Diane Lane, Annette Bening, Uma Thurman, and Amy Ryan. I think Katherine Waterston could be this year's Laurie Metcalf, as Mid '90s is going to be Jonah Hill's version of Lady Bird with A24, Anna Deveare Smith could shine against Melissa McCarthy, and the dynamic duos in Widows and Black Panther could break through.

Friday, April 6, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Best Original Screenplay

First 2019 Predictions
Adam McKay "Backseat"
Jonah Hill "Mid '90s"
Mike Leigh "Peterloo"
Tamara Jenkins "Private Life"
Benh Zeitlin "Wendy"

Other Contenders - Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara "The Favourite", Asghar Farhadi "Everybody Knows", Julian Schnabel and Jean-Claude Carriere "At Eternity's Gate", Steven Knight "Rio", Woody Allen "A Rainy Day in New York", Justin Haythe, Anthony McCarten, Peter Morgan, Stephen J. Rivele, and Christopher Wilkinson "Bohemian Rhapsody", Elijah Bynum "Hot Summer Nights", Caroline Thompson and Robert Zemeckis "The Women of Marwen", Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Kunichi Nomura "Isle of Dogs", Nicole Holofcener "The Land of Steady Habits", Xavier Dolan and Jacob Tierney "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan", Diablo Cody "Tully", James Gray and Ethan Gross "Ad Astra", Richard Glatzer, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Wash Westmoreland "Colette", Ari Aster "Hereditary", Oja Kodar and Orson Welles "The Other Side of the Wind", Daniel Stiepleman "On the Basis of Sex", Lars Von Trier "The House that Jack Built", Terrence Malick "Raegund", David Robert Mitchell "Under the Silver Lake", Dan Fogelman "Life Itself", David Auburn "Georgetown", Mark Burton, James Higginson, Nick Park "Early Man", Cory Finley "Thoroughbreds", Brian and Jim Kehoe "Blockers", Paul Schrader "First Reformed"

Commentary - When we star this process, it is so easy to stick to known quantities. We know that there is going to be a first time or a surprise entry, but it is so hard to guess which one it is going to be. So, that being said, my first predictions in this category are probably playing it safe. Mike Leigh gets nominations here all the time, even if his films inspire enough support for Best Picture. Tamara Jenkins has not made a movie since The Savages, and her last film earned her an Oscar nod. Word of of Sundance was positive. Adam McKay's The Big Short was a surprise Oscar breakthrough for the director of the Anchorman movies, and it earned him a screenwriting Oscar. It looks like he is sticking with prestige pictures, as his Dick Cheney biopic looks to be a big contender. Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of the Southern Wild was one of the Cinderella stories of the 2012 Oscar season, and he looks to return with his first feature since, Wendy. Now that he is on the map, I think voters will be paying attention. Finally, A24 looks to repeat on its Lady Bird success, with Mid '90s. This time it is Jonah Hill who is tackling his teenage years in Los Angeles. Hill is a two-time Oscar nominee, and A24 knows what it is doing. Beyond those five, there are plenty of recent Oscar favorites with potentials. Luca Guadagnino (Rio), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite), Asghar Farhadi, Julian Schnabel, Woody Allen (although I think his Oscar days are over), Robert Zemeckis, and Wes Anderson all have films returning to this race, and all are the kind of auteurs and esoteric picks the writers love to honor. Bohemian Rhapsody has had a lot of setbacks in production, but there are some interesting names on its screenplay credits. Elijah Bynum could score with Hot Summer Nights starring Timothee Chalamet, Nicole Holofcener could score double nominations in both original and adapted, Hereditary could follow Get Out's Sundance trajectory, Xavier Dolan could finally get into this race, and Orson Welles could win a posthumous Oscar if his long lost film is as good as his work in his life. Also watch out for Terrence Malick, David Robert Mitchell, Dan Fogelman, Wash Westmroeland and Richard Glatzer, and Lars Von Trier.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

33rd Annual Off-Broadway League's Lucille Lortel Award Nominations

The ceremony celebrating the best of Off-Broadway will be held May 6th:

Outstanding Play
Cost of Living
Miles for Mary
Pipeline
School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
The Treasurer

Outstanding Musical
Bella: An American Tall Tale
Desperate Measures
Hundred Days
Jerry Springer - The Opera
KPOP

Outstanding Revival
Fucking A
In The Blood
Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train
The Government Inspector
Torch Song

Outstanding Solo Show
Harry Clarke
Who's Holiday!

Outstanding Director
Lileana Blain-Cruz, Pipeline
Michael Greif, The Low Road
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Lila Neugebauer, Miles for Mary
Leigh Silverman, Harry Clarke

Outstanding Choreographer
Camille A. Brown, Bella: An American Tall Tale
Bill Castellino, Desperate Measures
Byron Easley, X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation
Sonya Tayeh, The Lucky Ones
Jennifer Weber, KPOP

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Sean Carvajal, Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train
Peter Friedman, The Treasurer
Chukwudi Iwuji, The Low Road
Namir Smallwood, Pipeline
Michael Urie, Torch Song

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, The Amateurs
MaameYaa Boafo, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
Carrie Coon, Mary Jane
Cristin Milioti, After the Blast
Karen Pittman, Pipeline

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Marc Bovino, Miles for Mary
Edi Gathegi, Jesus Hopped The ‘A’ Train
Gregg Mozgala, Cost of Living
Paul Sparks, Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo: Homelife and The Zoo Story
John Tufts, Pride and Prejudice

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Vanessa Aspillaga, Amy and the Orphans
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, As You Like It
Liza Colón-Zayas, Mary Jane
Mirirai Sithole, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Damon Daunno, The Lucky Ones
Steven Eng, Pacific Overtures
Terrence Mann, Jerry Springer – The Opera
Wade McCollum, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me
James Seol, KPOP

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Abigail Bengson, Hundred Days
Ashley D. Kelley, Bella: An American Tall Tale
Julia Knitel, A Letter to Harvey Milk
Lauren Molina, Desperate Measures
Ashley Park, KPOP

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Sean Patrick Doyle, Jerry Springer – The Opera
Brandon Gill, Bella: An American Tall Tale
Paolo Montalban, Bella: An American Tall Tale
Thom Sesma, Pacific Overtures
Jason Tam, KPOP

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Vanessa Kai, KPOP
Tiffany Mann, Jerry Springer – The Opera
Maryann Plunkett, The Lucky Ones
Myra Lucretia Taylor, The Lucky Ones
Adina Verson, The Lucky Ones

Outstanding Scenic Design
Gabriel Hainer Evansohn, KPOP
Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
Laura Jellinek, Mary Jane
Amy Rubin, Miles for Mary
Louisa Thompson, In The Blood

Outstanding Costume Design
Dede M. Ayite, Bella: An American Tall Tale
Dede M. Ayite, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
Tricia Barsamian, KPOP
Tilly Grimes, The Government Inspector
Emily Rebholz, The Low Road

Outstanding Lighting Design
Alan C. Edwards, Harry Clarke
Bradley King, The Treasurer
Ben Stanton, The Low Road
Japhy Weideman, Mary Jane
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, KPOP

Outstanding Sound Design
Mikhail Fiksel, The Treasurer
Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane
Bray Poor, The Last Match
Bray Poor, Office Hour
Brandon Wolcott, After the Blast

Outstanding Projection Design
Lucy Mackinnon, After the Blast
Alexander V. Nichols, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me
Brad Peterson, The Stone Witch
Hannah Wasileski, Pipeline
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, Relevance

Lifetime Achievement Award
Eve Ensler

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Michael Friedman

Outstanding Body of Work
WP Theater

Monday, April 2, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: First 2019 Predictions - Adapted Screenplay

First 2019 Predictions
Nicole Perlman and Josh Singer "First Man"
Barry Jenkins "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Brad Bird "The Incredibles 2"
Steve Zaillian "The Irishman"
Steve McQueen and Gillian Flynn "Widows"

Other Contenders - Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Rob Liefield "Deadpool 2", Ryan Coogler and Joe Ryan Cole "Black Panther", Joel Edgerton "Boy Erased", Matt Bai, Jay Carson, and Jason Reitman "The Front Runner", Beau Willimon "Mary, Queen of Scots", Luke Davis "Beautiful Boy", Richard Linklater, Holly Gent Palmo, and Vincent Palmo Jr. "Where'd You Go Bernadette", J.K. Rowling "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald", Alex Garland "Annihilation" David Magee "Mary Poppins Returns", Nicole Holofcener "Can You Ever Forgive Me?", Zak Penn and Ernest Cline "Ready Player One", Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely "Avengers: Infinity War", Will Fetters, Bradley Cooper, Eric Roth, Irene Mecchi, Stephen J. Rivele, and Christopher Wilkinson "A Star is Born", Andrew Haigh "Lean on Pete", Cheo Hodari Coker, Ryan Coogler, and Sylvester Stallone "Creed II", Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan "Wildlife", Joe Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan "Solo: A Star Wars Story" Desiree Akhavan and Cecilia Frugiuele "The Miseducation of Cameron Post", Phil Johnston, Jim Reardon, and Pamela Ribon "Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2", Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse "The Aftermath", Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel and Kevin Willmott "Black Klansman", Tom Edge "Judy", Taylor Sheridan "Sicario: Day of the Soldado", David Gordon Green and Danny McBride "Halloween", Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim "Crazy Rich Asians", Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"

Commentary - I want to feel emboldened in this category. After Logan made the cut last year, I want to believe that one of the big guys, the comic book films or sci-fi adventures can make the cut. Just look at all the films that are potentials: Deadpool 2, Black Panther, Fantastic Beasts 2, Annihilation, Avnengers: Infinity War, Ready Player One, Solo, Mary Poppins Returns, Wreck-It Ralph 2, Halloween, and Jurassic World 2. Can any of them make the cut? Are any of them this year's Logan? It really is too soon to tell. The only limb I am going out on right now is Brad Bird for The Incredibles 2. Pixar gets into these screenplay races every couple of years, and if this film lives up to the hype it could easily take a slot. Beyond that, I am sticking with more predictable Oscar fare. Three of the most intriguing filmmakers to emerge out of the last several years are all return to the fold: Barry Jenkins, Steve McQueen, and Damien Chazelle. All three are returning to the fold this year with If Beale Street Could Talk, Widows, and First Man. If they are as good as their previous projects, they could be forces to reckon with across a lot of categories, including this one. For the final slot, I am saving a place for Martin Scorsese's latest, The Irishman. He has become an Oscar favorite over the last twenty years or so, and even the late-breaking Wolf of Wall Street managed to do well with Oscar voters. There are though tons of possibilities left, which makes this race exciting. This is a welcomed change from last year where it was not competitive at all. Joel Edgerton continues his work behind the camera with the adaptation of Boy Erased. The Gift proved he is a talented behind the camera, and this could be his big breakthrough. Nicole Holofcener might finally get some recognition, as her Enough Said and Please Give were criminally ignored. This time she teams with Melissa McCarthy in what looks like a fascinating dramedy that could show McCarthy's range. Jason Reitman hasn't had an Oscar it since Up in the Air, but The Front Runner about Gary Hart, with Hugh Jackman at its center is intriguing. Previous nominee Beau Willimon bring Mary, Queen of Scots with Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, Bradley Cooper's remake of A Star is Born could be a hit or a flop, Spike Lee's Black Klansman could be his most relevant film in years (although I still thought Chi-Raq was underrated), and Ryan Coogler and Taylor Sheridan are hoping their sequels to Creed and Sicario are as successful as their predecessors. One of the more intriguing possibilities, that I almost put in, is Linklater's adaptation of Where'd You Go Bernadette. At my library, this has been a massively successful novel, with a lot of movie potential. But after Everybody Loves Somebody and Last Flag Flying failed to capture awards attention, I am a bit hesitant to put it in quite yet. Finally, watch out for the Judy Garland biopic with Renee Zellweger, and the writing duo of Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan in Dano's directorial debut Wildlife looks like one to watch out for.