Friday, June 15, 2012

Harvey @ Studio 54


Growing up, most people can say that they had an invisible friend.  This loyal pal would sit at the dinner table, watch television with us, and, of course, keep a watchful eye for the Boogieman at night.  Elwood P. Dowd, however, has decided to take this theme to new heights.  Jim Parsons, from television’s The Big Bang Theory, brilliantly brings this slightly crazed man back to life in Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Harvey.  Complete with hilarious performances from the entire cast, stunning design, and elegant direction, this revival is the perfect way to open up the 2012 - 2013 Broadway season!
Veta Louise Simmons, along with her daughter Myrtle Mae, currently resides with Elwood P. Dowd in the family estate of Veta and Elwood’s late mother.  The only problem is that this family of three feels more like a family of four now that Harvey is in the picture.  While Elwood loves Harvey and considers him his closest friend, it brings the family great shame and embarrassment … mainly due to the fact that Harvey is an incredibly tall, talking, invisible, rabbit!  Along with the help of world renowned psychologist William R. Chumley, M.D., Veta decides that enough is enough; it is time to get Harvey out of their lives once and for all.  Getting Elwood committed, however, is much easier said than done.  As multiple doctors, politicians, and family members run amuck, it becomes clearer and clearer that Harvey might be the sanest person in the family!
Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons, who was last seen on Broadway in The Normal Heart, shines in a part that he was clearly born to play.  Elwood may see a giant bunny rabbit walking around the stage, but he is also warm, friendly, and charismatic - qualities that Parsons one hundred percent captures.  From his very first entrance, Parsons transforms himself to the point where the audience actually begins to think that it is normal for a grown man to have an invisible friend; a friend that is so clearly created in his mind that the audience begins to see him as well.  Elwood’s clam, smooth moves brings out the crazy going on around him, especially in sister Veta, brilliantly brought to life by Jessica Hecht (the 2010 revival of A View from the Bridge).  Hecht taps into the unstable world of Veta - a concerned mother, tortured sister, and desperate social figure.  She delivers big laughs as event after event keeps getting scrambled from the original plan.  Other members of the family Myrtle Mae (Tracee Chimo - Second Stage’s Bachelorette) and Aunt Ethel (Angela Paton - film’s American Wedding), add to the chaos that surrounds this family; for all they want is to understand why Harvey has joined the family.  Helping take down Harvey is the top notch, and insanely funny, medial team lead by William R. Chumley, M.D., portrayed by Murphy Brown star Charles Kimbrough.  After mental patients are confused and lost and drinks are had with Harvey, Dr. Chumley begins to see the world a little bit differently.  Kimbrough, delivers a stunning performance and connects beautifully with the rest of his staff, played by Holley Fain (Present Laughter), Rich Sommer (television’s Mad Men), and Morgan Spector (the 2010 revival of A View from the Bridge).  The true scene stealer award goes to the always funny Carol Kane known for her television work on Taxi and stage work in Wicked.  Kane portrays the somewhat ditzy wife to Dr. Chumley, Betty Chumley, and brings her high pitched wit and crazy to the stage.  Together this ensemble shines while bringing back Mary Chase’s classic comedy!
Scott Ellis (Curtains) finds the brilliance in this tale and gives both the actors and design team stunning direction.  Flowing brilliantly from scene to scene, scenic designer David Rockwell (The Normal Heart) creates a stunning rotating set that captures the feel of the 1940s with bright colors and lavish dressings.  Adding to this blast from the past is costume designer Jane Greenwood (the upcoming Rebecca) who captures the style of this decade with rich suits and fancy dresses.  All of which is lit with the talents of designer Kenneth Posner (the current The Best Man).  The design team creates a picture that brilliantly crosses the line from realism to fantasy, which adds to the mystical world of the invisible Harvey.  Ellis creates a world that captures the 1940s while still bringing this play into the 21st century.  While some plays come back dated and worn, Harvey still feels fresh all these years later - proving that true comedy never goes out of style.
Harvey opens up the new theatre season with big laughs, wonderful design, and great performances! Jim Parsons proves once more why he is one of the greatest comedic actors of this generation, for him and his big invisible friend are a true delight!

 

Monday, June 11, 2012

2012 Tony Awards


Best Play
* Clybourne Park - Author: Bruce Norris
Other Desert Cities - Author: Jon Robin Baitz
Peter and the Starcatcher - Author: Rick Elice
Venus in Fur - Author: David Ives

Best Musical
Leap of Faith
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
* Once

Best Revival of a Play
* Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
Master Class
Wit

Best Revival of a Musical
Evita
Follies
* The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Book of a Musical
Lysistrata Jones - Douglas Carter Beane
Newsies - Harvey Fierstein
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Joe DiPietro
* Once - Enda Walsh

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Bonnie & Clyde - Music: Frank Wildhorn - Lyrics: Don Black
* Newsies - Music: Alan Menken - Lyrics: Jack Feldman
One Man, Two Guvnors - Music & Lyrics: Grant Olding
Peter and the Starcatcher - Music: Wayne Barker - Lyrics: Rick Elice

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
* James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
Frank Langella, Man and Boy
John Lithgow, The Columnist

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
* Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin, The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon, Wit

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Danny Burstein, Follies
Jeremy Jordan, Newsies
* Steve Kazee, Once
Norm Lewis, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines, Follies

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jan Maxwell, Follies
* Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti, Once
Kelli O’Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
* Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Linda Emond, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher
* Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad, Stick Fly

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris, Evita
David Alan Grier, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
* Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Elizabeth A. Davis, Once
Jayne Houdyshell, Follies
* Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Jessie Mueller, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost the Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, Other Desert Cities
Daniel Ostling, Clybourne Park
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
* Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
* Bob Crowley, Once
Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll, Ghost the Musical
Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel, Newsies
George Tsypin, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark

Best Costume Design of a Play
William Ivey Long, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Paul Tazewell, A Streetcar Named Desire
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
* Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Costume Design of a Musical
* Gregg Barnes, Follies
ESosa, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark
Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Lighting Design of a Play
* Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher
Peter Kaczorowski, The Road to Mecca
Brian MacDevitt, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Kenneth Posner, Other Desert Cities

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Christopher Akerlind, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Natasha Katz, Follies
* Natasha Katz, Once
Hugh Vanstone, Ghost the Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, One Man, Two Guvnors
Scott Lehrer, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Gareth Owen, End of the Rainbow
* Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
* Clive Goodwin, Once
Kai Harada, Follies
Brian Ronan, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Evita
* Christopher Gattelli, Newsies
Steven Hoggett, Once
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, One Man, Two Guvnors
Pam MacKinnon, Clybourne Park
* Mike Nichols, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Direction of a Musical
Jeff Calhoun, Newsies
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Diane Paulus, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
* John Tiffany, Once

Best Orchestrations
William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Bill Elliott, Nice Work If You Can Get It
* Martin Lowe, Once
Danny Troob, Newsies


Please Vist Playbill.com & Broadway.com for a complete list of winners from some of Broadway's other leading awards - including The Drama Desk Awards, Critics' Circle Awards, and more . . .