Monthly Archives: June 2012

Shmazie Award Recipients!

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When we sent out the Shmazies, we asked that the recipients send us a photo of their certificate! We’ll be updating this as (hopefully) more arrive!

“Thanks for the Shmazie Award! Such an honor!”- Nick Cartell, Best Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical

“Thanks for the award. I (and my nominated butt) are honored.” – Stephanie J. Block, Best Replacement Casting

“With my [Patty and Emily] Shmazie Award. I won best Feat. Actor but sadly lost the Award for Disabled Acting. Always next year.” – Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Best Featured Actor in an Original Musical

“Thank you!! I am honored!” – Paul Nolan, Best Sung Passage by an Actor

“Holy crap I won a Shmazie for “Best Stache – Natural.” Thanks [Patty and Emily.] I’m speechless.” – Max von Essen, Best ‘Stache – Natural

“Thanks for the Shmazie award, [Patty and Emily]!” – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Best Concert

“Thanks [Patty and Emily]for the Shmazies‬!!! You guys are awesome” – Patti Murin, Best Leading Actress in an Original Musical

“I won a Shmazie award!!!! Thank you so much!!!  Best Sasstress!!! Honored to bring y’all some sass! :)” – Kara Lindsay, Best Sasstress

“What’s better than a Shmazie‬ for my designs on Lysistrata Jones!!” – David C. Woolard, Best Costumes

“Very happy with the awards.” – Norm Lewis, Best Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical and The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting

Beyond Broadway

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Hey guys! We saw four(!) shows that opened this week, and they were all pretty great!

Sunday, we were lucky enough to attend the opening of Once On This Island at Paper Mill Playhouse. Patty has been familiar with the score for years but had never seen a production, and Emily was just being introduced to it. And it was AMAZING. First of all, it’s Aherns and Flaherty, whose music we can frequently be heard singing in public places. Second of all, every member of the cast is fierce and has a stupid amazing voice. The set and direction are gorgeous, and the production really makes you feel like you’re listening to friends tell a story. So, do yourselves a favor and get out to Millburn, NJ and see this show. Once On This Island runs at the Paper Mill Playhouse until June 24th. www.papermill.org

Another show that opened on Sunday was Potted Potter. It’s at The Little Shubert (Aw. We miss Lucky Guy…), and it’s all seven of the Harry Potter books condensed into seven minutes. Patty is a HUGE Harry Potter fan (and book lover; Emily had to calm her down when the prop books used in the show were in danger of getting wet), while Emily has only seen (and enjoyed) the movies. It was a fun family show, and if you’re into Harry Potter a definite must-see. There’s some audience participation, which leads to great “live theatre” improv moments, especially since the volunteers are small children. Creators Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner have been working on this show for years, and it’s pretty clear they’re having a lot of fun up there together. Maybe one day our street performances of The Color Purple will wind up off-Broadway, just like them! Potted Potter runs at The Little Shubert until August 12th. www.pottedpotter.com

On Wednesday night, our Memphis buddy Chad Kimball opened Murder in the First at 59E59. If there’s one thing we love besides musical theatre, it’s a courtroom drama, especially a courtroom drama from the ’90s. The playwright, Dan Gordon, just so happened to adapt this play from his 1995 courtroom drama of the same name. We were on board. And with Chad as an abused inmate on trial for the murder of a fellow prisoner at Alcatraz and Guy Burnet as the young, idealistic lawyer with something to prove, this show did not disappoint. Throw in a publicity-hungry reporter, a lady lawyer trying to make it in the ’40s, and a corporate big brother, and you have a recipe for great drama. Be advised: there are some very adult scenes, as well as some fantastic fake mustaches. Murder in the First runs until July 1st at 59E59. www.59e59.org

Then, finally last night we attended the opening night of Medieval Play at Signature Theatre. We had actually seen it early in previews, and as usual, it was great to see what had been changed. It wasn’t drastically different, and we loved it both times! It’s a hilarious play about politics and religion in the middle ages, which were so crazy the history behind the play seems like it had to be made up. But by the end, you’re realizing how much of that craziness is still around. The cast is so committed to the style of the play, it adds to how funny it is. There is a lot of going back and forth between contemporary and period speech and between acknowledging the audience and playing to the reality of the situation. And the physical comedy is fantastic; there are great death scenes, sword fights, and funny walks. Medieval Play runs at Signature Theatre until June 24th. www.signaturetheatre.org

The 1st Annual Patty & Emily Shmazie Awards

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They’re here! Check out all the winners of the Shmazies, and tell us what you think!

And here’s the complete list of winners:

The Beth Leavel Shmazie Award
Winner: Beth Leavel

Best Comeback
Winner: Jesus, Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar
Honorable Mention: Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner

Best Headshot, Female
Winner: NaTasha Yvette Williams
Honorable Mention: Florence Lacey; Jayne Houdyshell

Best Headshot, Male
Winner: Tyler Maynard
Honorable Mention: Brandon Ellis, Michael Lanning

The “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” Shmazie Award
Winner: Lysistrata Jones
Honorable Mention: Bonnie & Clyde, Leap of Faith

The Honey Badger Shmazie Award
Winner: Frank Wildhorn
Honorable Mention: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Special Shmazie Award for Adding Lustre to the Broadway Season
Winner: Jonas’s Mirror Jacket, Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Susan Blackwell; Cathy Rigby’s Fairy Dust; Confetti

The Kerry Butler Shmazie Award for Ageless Beauty
Winner: Tracie Thoms, Stick Fly
Honorable Mention: Kendra Kassebaum, Leap of Faith

Best Concert
Winner: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s American Songbook Concert
Honorable Mentions: The Lysistrata Jones Reunion Concert; Shoshana Bean at XL

Best Cast Recording
Winner: Bonnie & Clyde
Honorable Mentions: Lysistrata Jones; Follies; Newsies

Lifetime Achievement
Winner: Arthur Laurents

Breakout Star
Winner: Jessie Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Honorable Mention: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost; Kara Lindsay, Newsies

Best Sasstress
Winner: Kara Lindsay, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Tracie Thoms, Stick Fly; Kendra Kassebaum, Leap of Faith

Best Chemistry
Winner: Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde
Honorable Mention: Raul Esparza and Jessica Phillips, Leap of Faith; Paul Nolan and Nick Cartell, Jesus Christ Superstar

Real Tear Realness
Winner: Kerry O’Malley, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Honorable Mention: Jessica Phillips, Leap of Faith; Caissie Levy, Ghost; Bernadette Peters, Follies

The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting
Winner: Norm Lewis, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Honorable Mentions: Talon Ackerman, Leap of Faith; Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Newsies

Best Replacement Casting
Winner: Stephanie J. Block, Anything Goes
Honorable Mention: Nancy Opel, Memphis

Best Ass of an Actor
Winner: Ricky Martin, Evita
Honorable Mention: Steve Kazee, Once; Raul Esparza, Leap of Faith; Richard Fleeshman, Ghost; Jeremy Jordan, Bonnie & Clyde and Newsies

Best Ass of an Actress
Winner: Jessica Phillips, Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Stephanie J. Block, Anything Goes; Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Best Backup Vocals
Winner: Biti Strauchn, Lysistrata Jones

Best Sung Passage by an Actor
Winner: Paul Nolan, “Gethsemane”
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Jordan, “Santa Fe;” Nick Cartell, “Jesus Christ Superstar”

Best Sung Passage by an Actress
Winner: Kecia Lewis-Evans, “Lost”
Honorable Mention: Patti Murin, “Where Am I Now;” Jessie Mueller, “Ev’ry Night at 7”

Best Ensemble, Dance
Winner: Newsies
Honorable Mention: Jesus Christ Superstar; Evita

Best Ensemble, Vocals
Winner: Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Lysistrata Jones; Once; Newsies

Best Ensemble, Background Acting
Winner: Follies
Honorable Mention: Evita; Leap Of Faith

Best Child Actor in a Musical
Winner: Lewis Grosso, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Talon Ackerman, Leap of Faith

Best Child Actress in a Musical
Winner: Kelsey Fowler, Bonnie & Clyde

Best Featured Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Joshua Henry, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Honorable Mention: Drew Gehling, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Max Von Essen, Evita

Best Featured Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Alex Wyse, Lysistrata Jones; John E. Brady, Newsies

Best Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Mary Beth Peil, Follies
Honorable Mention: NaTasha Yvette Williams, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Kerry O’Malley, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Rachel Potter, Evita

Best Featured Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Kendra Kassebaum, Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Laurie Veldheer, Newsies; Krystal Joy Brown, Leap of Faith

Best Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Nick Cartell, Jesus Christ Superstar
Honorable Mention: David Turner, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Philip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Best Supporting Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: Leslie Odom, Jr., Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Jason Tam, Lysistrata Jones; Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Clayborne Elder, Bonnie & Clyde

Best Supporting Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Terri White, Follies
Honorable Mention: Jessie Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Lindsey Mendez, Godspell; Bryonha Parham, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Elaine Paige, Follies

Best Supporting Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Melissa van der Schyff, Bonnie & Clyde
Honorable Mention: Jessica Phillips, Leap of Faith; Kara Lindsay, Newsies; Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Lysistrata Jones; Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leap of Faith, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost; Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Jennifer Laura Thompson, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Norm Lewis, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Honorable Mention: Danny Burstein, Follies; Paul Nolan, Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Leading Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: Raul Esparza, Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Jordan, Bonnie & Clyde; Steve Kazee, Once

Best Leading Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Honorable Mention: Jan Maxwell, Follies; Bernadette Peters, Follies

Best Leading Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Patti Murin, Lysistrata Jones
Honorable Mention: Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde; Caissie Levy, Ghost; Kelli O’Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best ‘Stache, Prosthetic
Winner: Charles G. LaPointe, Roosevelt’s ‘stache – Newsies

Best ‘Stache, Natural
Winner: Max Von Essen, Evita

Best Wig
Winner: Richard Mawbey, Michael Cerveris’s wig – Evita

Best Prop
Winner: Clyde’s Ukulele, Bonnie & Clyde
Honorable Mention: Lyssie J’s Phone, Lysistrata Jones; The Newspapers, Newsies; Bess’s Cocaine, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

Best Costumes
Winner: Thomas Charles LeGalley and David C. Woolard, Lysistrata Jones
Honorable Mention: Catherine Zuber, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever; Gregg Barnes, Follies

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Winner: Neil Austin, Evita
Honorable Mention: Don Holder, Leap of Faith; Hugh Vanstone, Ghost

Best Set Design of a Musical
Winner: Christopher Oram, Evita
Honorable Mention: Derek McLane, Follies; Tobin Ost, Bonnie & Clyde

Best Tap Dance
Winner: Newsies
Honorable Mention: Follies

Best Choreography
Winner: Christopher Gattelli, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Lisa Shriver, Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Orchestrations
Winner: Danny Troob, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Cullen, Evita

Best Lyrics
Winner: Lewis Flinn, Lysistrata Jones
Honorable Mention: Jack Feldman, Newsies;  Glenn Slater, Leap of Faith

Best Music
Winner: Alan Menken, Newsies and Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Frank Wildhorn, Bonnie & Clyde; Lewis Flinn, Lysistrata Jones

Best Original Book of a Musical
Winner: Douglas Carter Beane, Lysistrata Jones
Honorable Mention: Ivan Menchell, Bonnie & Clyde

Best Adapted Book of a Musical
Winner: Harvey Fierstein, Newsies
Honorable Mention: Warren Leight and Janus Cercone, Leap Of Faith; Joe DiPietro, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Direction of a Musical
Winner: Christopher Ashley, Leap of Faith
Honorable Mention: Diane Paulus, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess; Jeff Calhoun, Bonnie & Clyde

Honorable Mention to Plays We Saw
Seminar; Venus In Fur; Other Desert Cities; Peter & The Starcatcher; Wit; Stick Fly; Master Class; Don’t Dress For Dinner; One Man, Two Guvnors; The Columnist; Clybourne Park; The Lyons
Best Special Theatrical Event
Winner: An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin

Best Revival of a Musical
Winner: The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess; Follies

Best Original Musical
Winner: Leap of Faith; Newsies; Lysistrata Jones