A Stroke of Genius

Bloggy's!

   It's been too long, but not without good reason. I've been in the process of settling into a new home for the past month or so. I moved across two, count em' two, states and have been settling into my job, my home, and my new life. In case you were wondering, it's awesome. But without further ado, onward to what this is really about.

The Tony's!

     That's right folks, the 65th Annual Tony Awards were last Sunday night and it was quite the event. I want to recap the night in my own special way as well as list my favorite moments and memories from the evening. The even kind of sprung on me. I had forgot they were coming up and my boyfriend texted me that afternoon saying "It's the Tony's tonight! Ahh!!" His excitement was not without good reason. This year was what many theater goers and doers were looking to, to see what Broadway and theater as a whole was promising us. Many people described last years Tony's as a let down and in some ways I agree. The talent to be seen was somewhat, shall we say, talentless. Between Catherine Zeta Jones singing Send in the Clowns, murdering it, and then winning the Tony, and Memphis winning Best Musical despite it's lack of impressive vocals, many people thought that Broadway was starting to lose it's luster.
     Then this year rolled around and the talent gracing the Beacon Theater was extraordinary. There was an air of enthusiasm and raw passion that is unsurpassed by any Tony night I've seen. Neil Patrick Harris hosted for his second time this year and I need to say, it seems like this is what he was born to do. NPH is goofy, charismatic, and a people-pleaser. I don't know anyone who doesn't like him. Good choice American Theater Wing. The list of recipients included Sutton Foster for Best Actress, Norbert Leo Butz for Best Actor, and the Book of Mormon for Best Musical, something everyone saw coming. So here it is ladies and gentlemen, my list of favorites.

We'll do a top ten, ending in my favorite moment of the night.

10. The 'War Horse' Puppet
     Winner for Best Play, War Horse, is about a boy and a horse that is swept up by the cavalry to become a war horse. The horse is portrayed by a puppet puppeteer by three people. The horse puppets are phenomenal. Not only do they capture the movement of a horse perfectly, but the design is astounding. They are beautiful and can even support a 'horseback rider'.
9. Seeing Wendy James in Sister Act

    This being up here is a little selfish. Last year, my boyfriend assistant directed an Equity performance of the musical revue 'It's Only Life." One of the singers in the show, Wendy James, is a part of the Sister Act the Musical ensemble and let me tell you, watching the Tony's and seeing someone you know on the Tony's are two totally different things. I had quite the giddy fan girl moment.
8. Hearing and Seeing James Earl Jones

    James Earl Jones is such a beloved man. He is in 'Driving Miss Daisy' right now and he made a speech at the Tony's this year. He's so majestic. It sounds weird, but I don't know how else to say it. I could listen to that man speak for days on end.

7. Scottsboro Boys Performance

     I really want to see this show now. 'The Scottsboro Boys' is a the last complete musical by Kander & Ebb and it was so full of spirit. It was innovative and enlightening. It's a shame this show didn't win Best Composition.

6. Frances McDormand from 'Good People'

    This woman was incredibly bizarre. I'll let you judge her outfit. I'll definitely make sure to wear my obnoxious jersey dress and jean jacket next time I go to an award show. Of course I don't want to forget to not brush my hair. And as if her outfit wasn't bad enough, her speech was... indescribable. I wish I could have captured the puzzled look on my boyfriend's face as I'm sure it was graces the faces of theater lovers everywhere.

5. Norbert Leo Butz in 'Catch Me if You Can'

    This man's Tony was more than well deserved. I was so excited for Catch Me if You Can to become a musical and was so disappointed when it hit the Great White Way and tanked. Nevertheless, I'd still go see it if for no other reason to see Norbert Leo Butz. In the show's musical showcase number Butz just ate up the stage. I couldn't look away or even blink.

4. Brooke Shields Being... well Brooke Shields

     In the opening number for the show, NPH pranced around the stage singing about how Broadway is for everyone. Not only did he get some help from cast members from the nominees for Best Musical, nominees in the audience as well. One of these was the lovely Brooke Shields and boy did she botch the words. Luckily it was adorable. Even better than that is when she was presenting later in the night and tried to save herself from the "shame" and just made it worse by messing up the words on the teleprompter right in front of her. But she stayed light-hearted and enjoyed herself. Don't worry Brooke, we still love you.

3. Mark Rylance Accepting Best Actor in a Play

     This speech was... weird. What makes it one of my favorites though, is how genuine it was, and how everyone loved it. A performer is an audience grabber and he did his fair share of pleasing the audience. Well played Mr. Rylance.

2. NPH Rapping

     As the credits rolled, Niel Patrick Harris let out a wild rap. It was cute, but the real reason this is number two is because of how this rap came to be. As the show went on, writer and star of 'In The Heights', Lin Manuel Miranda, wrote the rap in the back, and then when he was done, NPH did his best to memorize it and rapped the events of the night to the audience as the show ended. Amazing.

1. Nikki M. James for Best Featured Actress

    I could probably watch her acceptance speech over and over again. This girl is adorable. She is one of the stars of 'Book of Mormon' and this is her first Tony. She was a joy to watch and the pure joy withing her was inspirational. She left the audience with this, "Scientists around the world are puzzled as to how bees can fly, but what they don't know, is the real reason they can, is because no one told them they couldn't."

And that folks is my list of favs from the night. But if you really want to capture the magic, watch the show yourself and let me know what you think!

~Just Another Starving Broadway Fan

P.S. Super mega brownie points if you can name what the title of this post is a reference to.