Unfortunately, we’re posting our closing notice. We joined YouTube in 2009 and have spent the last seven years talking theatre with each other and with you. It’s been shmazing. We got to meet and work with great people, including Beth Leavel! But just like your favorite musical, nothing lasts forever. Even Phantom. It will eventually close.
We’ll keep this website up for the foreseeable future, so you can always find all our videos, interviews, and podcast episodes. If you have a question on Twitter, we’ll do our best to answer. Barely anyone likes us on Facebook, but if you’re there, we’ll try to respond too.
Thank you so much for all your support and for having such fun with us. Go see live theatre!
Here they are! The Shmazie Awards for the 2015-2016 theatrical season! Some changes were made between the announcement of the categories and the awards.
Laura Benanti was only seen by half the committee, so is therefore ineligible.
Exceptional Featured Actor in a Revival of a Musical was suspended.
Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair was reinstated.
Exceptional Performance by the Song Amazing Grace on Broadway was added.
And here’s the complete list of winners:
The Annual Beth Leavel Shmazie Award Winner: Beth Leavel
Exceptional Hamilton Hipster Award Winner: Patty & Emily for seeing the second preview Off-Broadway and not since
Exceptional Headshot, Female Winner: Faith Prince – Disaster
Honorable Mention:
Carla R. Stewart – The Color Purple
Charity Angel Dawson – Waitress
Jane Krakowski – She Loves Me
Oneika Phillips – Amazing Grace
Exceptional Headshot, Male Winner: Matt Moisey – Fiddler on the Roof
Honorable Mention:
Kyle Skattliffe – The Color Purople
Josh Segarra – On Your Feet
Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair Winner: Roger Bart – Disaster!
Exceptional Ass of An Actress Winner: Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Audra McDonald – Shuffle Along
Faith Prince – Disaster
Alice Ripley – American Psycho
Exceptional Ass of an Actor Winner: Josh Segarra – On Your Feet
Honorable Mention:
Benjamin Walker – American Psycho
Paul Nolan – Bright Star
Kyle Scatliffe – The Color Purple
The Christian Borle’s Arms Shmazie Award Winner: Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Benjamin Walker – American Psycho
Telly Leung – Allegiance
The “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” Shmazie Award Winner: Disaster!
Honorable Mention:
Allegiance
American Psycho
The Honey Badger Shmazie Award Winner: Dogs and Dog Owners
Honorable Mention:
Amazing Grace
Ken Davenport
Special Shmazie Award for Adding Lustre to the Broadway Season Winner: Tap Dancing
Honorable Mention:
Pies – Waitress
Banjos
Terrence Mann
Carolee Carmello’s Social Media
The Wiz Live
Exceptional Comeback Winner: Chairs – The Color Purple
Exceptional Cast Recording Winner: Waitress
Honorable Mentions:
Hamilton
The Color Purple
She Loves Me
Bright Star
Lifetime Achievement Winner: Roger Rees
Breakout Star Winner: Ana Villafañe – On Your Feet
Honorable Mention:
Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple
Sarah Charles Lewis – Tuck Everlasting
Eloise Krupp – Dames at Sea
Exceptional Theatrical Moment That Became Our Inside Joke Winner: Flying Baby Suitcase – Bright Star
Honorable Mention:
“Paaaahtraaaahck” – American Psycho
Exceptional Pre-Show Announcement Winner: Waitress
Honorable Mention:
On Your Feet
School of Rock
Exceptional New Jersey Shade Winner: Disaster!
Honorable Mention:
American Psycho
Exceptional Sasstress Winner: Church Ladies – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Andrea Burns – On Your Feet
Alma Cuervo – On Your Feet
Helene Yorke – American Psycho
Keala Settle – Waitress
Isabella Russo – School of Rock
Emily Padgett and Jeff Blumencrantz – Bright Star
Lesli Margherita – Dames at Sea
Exceptional Chemistry Winner: Billy Porter and Brian Stokes Mitchell – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Sandra Mae Frank and Katie Boeck – Spring Awakening
Ana Villafañe and Josh Segarra – On Your Feet
Jessie Mueller and Drew Gehling – Waitress
Audra McDonald and Brandon Victor Dixon – Shuffle Along
Carmen Cusack and Paul Nolan – Bright Star
Lea Salonga and Michael K. Lee – Allegiance
Sarah Charles Lewis and the Frog – Tuck Everlasting
Real Tear Realness Winner: Jessica Hecht – Fiddler on the Roof
Honorable Mention:
Chuck Cooper – Amazing Grace
Andrea Burns – On Your Feet
Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple
Carmen Cusack – Bright Star
Benjamin Walker – American Psycho
Exceptional Replacement Casting Winner: Heather Headley – The Color Purple
The We’re Really Glad This Happened Shamzie Award Winner: The Announcement of Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actor Winner: Adam Pascal, “I Can’t Live” – Disaster!
Honorable Mention:
Billy Porter, “Low Down Blues” – Shuffle Along
Benjamin Walker, “I Am Back” – American Psycho
Paul Nolan, “Heartbreaker” – Bright Star
Alex Wyse, “Touch Me” – Spring Awakening
Alex Brightman, “Mount Rock” – School of Rock
Gavin Creel, “iiilona” – She Loves Me
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actress Winner: Carmen Cusack, “At Long Last” – Bright Star
Honorable Mention:
Audra McDonald, “Memories of You” – Shuffle Along
Amber Iman – vocalization during Brian Stokes Mitchell’s speech – Shuffle Along
Adrienne Warren, “I’m Simply Full of Jazz” – Shuffle Along
Jessie Mueller, “She Used to Be Mine” – Waitress
Lea Salonga, “Higher” – Allegiance
Rachel York, “Saturday Night” – Disaster!
Kerry Butler, “I Am Woman” – Disaster!
Lacretta Nicole, “Come to Me” – Disaster!
Jennifer Simard, “Never Can Say Goodbye” – Disaster!
Cynthia Erivo – I’m Here – The Color Purple
Exceptional Performance of the Song Amazing Grace on Broadway Winner: Bobbi MacKenzie – School of Rock
Exceptional Ensemble Winner: American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
On Your Feet
Waitress
Allegiance
School of Rock
Shuffle Along
Exceptional Ensemble, Dance Winner: Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
On Your Feet
American Psycho
Waitress
Tuck Everlasting
Fiddler on the Roof
Exceptional Ensemble, Vocals Winner: The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Amazing Grace
On Your Feet
Bright Star
Waitress
Shuffle Along
Exceptional Ensemble, Background Acting Winner: American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
On Your Feet
Waitress
School of Rock
The Color Purple
The Coalhouse Walker III Special Shmazie Award Winner: Claire Keane and McKenna Keane – Waitress
Exceptional Leading Child Actor in a Musical Winner: Sarah Charles Lewis – Tuck Everlasting
Honorable Mention:
Baylee Littrell – Disaster!
Exceptional Supporting Child Actor in a Musical Winner: Isabella Russo – School of Rock
Honorable Mention:
Brandon Niederauer – School of Rock
Bobbie MacKenzie – School of Rock
Jared Parker – School of Rock
Alexandria Suarez – On Your Feet
Eduardo Hernandez – On Your Feet
Exceptional Featured Actor in an Original Musical Winner: Theo Stockman – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Tom Hewitt – Amazing Grace
Chris Hoch – Amazing Grace
Alan H. Green – School of Rock
Michael Wartella – Tuck Everlasting
Jordan Dean – American Psycho
Eric Anderson – Waitress
Brooks Ashmanskas – Shuffle Along
Jeff Blumenkranz – Bright Star
Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical Winner: Patrice Covington – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Carrie Compere – The Color Purple
Rema Webb – The Color Purple
Bre Jackson – The Color Purple
Melanie Moore – Fiddler on the Roof
Exceptional Featured Actress in an Original Musical Winner: Alma Cuervo – On Your Feet
Honorable Mention:
Harriet D. Foy – Amazing Grace
Laiona Michelle – Amazing Grace
Holly James – American Psycho
Exceptional Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical Winner: Kyle Scatliffe – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Alex Wyse – Spring Awakening
Patrick Page – Spring Awakening
Isaiah Johnson – The Color Purple
John Bolton – Dames at Sea
Adam Kantor – Fiddler on the Roof
Gavin Creel – She Loves Me
Nicholas Barasch – She Loves Me
Tom McGowin – She Loves Me
Exceptional Supporting Actor in an Original Musical Winner: Brian Stokes Mitchell – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Chuck Cooper – Amazing Grace
Josh Segarra – On Your Feet
Roger Bart – Disaster!
Adam Pascal – Disaster!
Kevin Chamberlin – Disaster!
Max Crumm – Disaster!
Terrence Mann – Tuck Everlasting
Andrew Keenan-Bolger – Tuck Everlasting
Michael Park – Tuck Everlasting
Michael K. Lee – Allegiance
George Takei – Allegiance
Drew Moreline – American Psycho
Drew Gehling – Waitress
Nick Cordero – Waitress
Billy Porter – Shuffle Along
Brandon Victor Dixon – Shuffle Along
Joshua Henry – Shuffle Along
Paul Nolan – Bright Star
Exceptional Supporting Actress in a Revival of a Musical Winner: Jane Krakowski – She Loves Me
Honorable Mention:
Camryn Manheim – Spring Awakening
Jessica Hecht – Fiddler on the Roof
Samantha Massell – Fiddler on the Roof
Alexandra Silber – Fiddler on the Roof
Exceptional Supporting Actress in an Original Musical Winner: Jennifer Simard – Disaster!
Honorable Mention:
Erin Mackey – Amazing Grace
Andrea Burns – On Your Feet
Hannah Ellis – Bright Star
Emily Padgett – Bright Star
Adrienne Warren – Shuffle Along
Amber Iman – Shuffle Along
Audra McDonald – Shuffle Along
Keala Settle – Waitress
Kimiko Glenn – Waitress
Morgan Weed – American Psycho
Helene Yorke – American Psycho
Alice Ripley – American Psycho
Katie Rose Clarke – Allegiance
Lea Salonga – Allegiance
Kerry Butler – Disaster!
Faith Prince – Disaster!
Rachel York – Disaster!
Lacretta Nicole – Disaster!
Carolee Carmello – Tuck Everlasting
Exceptional Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical Winner: Danny Burstein – Fiddler on the Roof
Honorable Mention:
Daniel N. Durant – Spring Awakening
Zachary Levi – She Loves Me
Exceptional Leading Actor in an Original Musical Winner: Benjamin Walker – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Alex Brightman – School of Rock
Seth Rudetsky – Disaster!
Telly Leung – Allegiance
Exceptional Leading Actress in a Revival of a Musical Winner: Cynthia Erivo – The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
Eloise Krupp – Dames at Sea
Lesli Margherita – Dames at Sea
Mara Davi – Dames at Sea
Laura Benanti – She Loves Me
Exceptional Leading Actress in an Original Musical Winner: Carmen Cusack – Bright Star
Honorable Mention:
Ana Villafañe – On Your Feet
Jessie Mueller – Waitress
Exceptional ‘Stache, Prosthetic Winner: Paul Huntley, Roger Bart’s Half Mustache – Disaster!
Exceptional ‘Stache, Natural Winner: Eric Anderson – Waitress
Honorable Mention:
Christian Dante White – Shuffle Along
Gavin Creel – She Loves Me
Exceptional Wigs Winner: Mia M. Neal – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Josh Marquette – Tuck Everlasting
Josh Marquette – School of Rock
Charles G. LaPointe – On Your Feet
Robert-Charles Vallance – Amazing Grace
Paul Huntley – Disaster!
Campbell Young Associates – American Psycho
Exceptional Male Wig Winner: Mia M. Neal, Billy Porter’s Wig – Shuffle Along
Exceptional Female Wig Winner: Josh Marquette, Carolee Carmello’s Wig – Tuck Everlasting
Honorable Mention:
Charles G. LaPointe, Ana Villafañe’s ‘90s Wig – On Your Feet
Josh Marquette, Summer’s Wig – School of Rock
Exceptional Costumes Winner: William Ivey Long – Disaster! Katrina Lindsay – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Toni-Leslie James – Amazing Grace
Gregg Barnes – Tuck Everlasting
ESosa – On Your Feet
Ann Roth – Shuffle Along
Exceptional Lighting Design of a Musical Winner: Justin Townsend – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer – Shuffle Along
Natasha Katz – School of Rock
Exceptional Set Design Winner: David Rockwell – She Loves Me Es Devlin – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Anna Louizos – School of Rock
Eugene Lee – Bright Star
Scott Pask – Waitress
Walt Spangler – Tuck Everlasting
Exceptional Tap Dance Winner: Savion Glover, “Till Georgie Took ‘Em Away” – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
JoAnne M. Hunter, “Knock Three Times” – Disaster!
Randy Skinner, “Wall Street” – Dames at Sea
Exceptional Dance Battle Winner: Savion Glover, “Rang Tang/Chocolate Dandies” – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Hofesh Shechter, “The Bottle Dance” – Fiddler on the Roof
Exceptional Dream Ballet Winner: Sergio Trujillo, Wrapped – On Your Feet
Honorable Mention:
Hofesh Shechter, The Chava Ballet – Fiddler on the Roof
Lorin Latarro, Contraction Ballet – Waitress
Exceptional Choreography Winner: Savion Glover – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Sergio Truijllo – On Your Feet
Lynne Page – American Psycho
Josh Rhodes – Bright Star
Warren Carlyle – She Loves Me
Lorin Latarro – Waitress
Casey Nicholaw – Tuck Everlasting
Hofesh Shechter – Fiddler on the Roof
Randy Skinner – Dames at Sea
JoAnn M. Hunter – Disaster!
Exceptional Orchestrations Winner: August Eriksmoen – Bright Star
Honorable Mention:
Sara Bareilles and The Waitress Band – Waitress
Paul Gemignani – She Loves Me
Daryl Waters – Shuffle Along
Exceptional Sound Design Winner: Dan Moses Schreier – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Mick Potter – School of Rock
Jonathan Deans – Waitress
Mark Menard – Disaster!
Exceptional Music Winner: Sara Bareilles – Waitress
Honorable Mention:
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell – Bright Star
Exceptional Lyrics Winner: Sara Bareilles – Waitress Duncan Sheik – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Glenn Slater – School of Rock
Exceptional Original Book of a Musical Winner: Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick – Disaster!
Honorable Mention:
Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione – Allegiance
Alexander Dinelaris – On Your Feet
Exceptional Adapted Book of a Musical Winner: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
George C. Wolfe – Shuffle Along
Exceptional Direction of a Revival of a Musical Winner: Scott Ellis – She Loves Me
Honorable Mention:
Bartlett Sher – Fiddler on the Roof
John Doyle – The Color Purple
Exceptional Direction of an Original Musical Winner: George C. Wolfe – Shuffle Along
Honorable Mention:
Rupert Goold – American Psycho
Jack Plotnick – Disaster!
Diane Paulus – Waitress
Honorable Mention to Plays We Saw
Eclipsed
Hir
Fool for Love
Ripcord
The Gin Game
Emily Dickinson: Paranormal Investigator
Exceptional Special Theatrical Event Winner: The Wildness
Exceptional Revival of a Musical Winner: The Color Purple
Honorable Mention:
She Loves Me
Fiddler on the Roof
Exceptional Revival of a New Musical with a Book by George C. Wolfe Winner: Shuffle Along, or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and all that Followed
Exceptional Original Musical Winner: Waitress American Psycho
Honorable Mentions:
Bright Star
School of Rock
On Your Feet
Disaster!
American Psycho – 13
The Color Purple – 11
Shuffle Along – 10
Disaster – 9
Waitress – 7
Bright Star – 4
On Your Feet – 4
Fiddler on the Roof – 3
She Loves Me – 3
School of Rock – 2
Tuck Everlasting – 2
The Wildness – 1
Patty & Emily are pleased to announce that the 5th Annual Patty & Emily Shmazie Awards winners and honorable mentions will be revealed on Monday, June 27th at 10:00am via YouTube.
After careful consideration the eligibility committee has come to the following decisions:
The Shmazie committee has retired The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting forever and apologizes for its existence.
For the 2015-2016 season:
Hamilton has been ruled ineligible for these awards, as the committee did not see the Broadway production.
For the 2015-2016 season, the following awards have been reinstated:
Exceptional Comeback
Exceptional Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Special Theatrical Event
For the 2015-2016 season, Child Acting will be broken down into two non-gendered categories:
Exceptional Leading Child Actor in a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Child Actor in a Musical
For the 2015-2016 season, the following awards have been suspended:
The ChristianeNollRagtime Shmazie Award for Reinterpretive Acting
Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair
Exceptional Child Ensemble
For the 2015-2016 season, the following categories have been added:
Exceptional Pre-Show Announcement
Exceptional Hamilton Hipster Award
The Coalhouse Walker III Special Shmazie Award
Exceptional New Jersey Shade
Exceptional Revival of a New Musical with a Book by George C. Wolfe
Below is a complete list of the Shmazie Award categories:
The Beth Leavel Shmazie Award
Exceptional Hamilton Hipster Award
Exceptional Headshot, Female
Exceptional Headshot, Male
Exceptional Fucking Hair, IRL
Exceptional Ass of An Actress
Exceptional Ass of an Actor
The Christian Borle’s Arms Shmazie Award
The “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” Shmazie Award
The Honey Badger Shmazie Award
Special Shmazie Award for Adding Lustre to the Broadway Season
Exceptional Comeback
Exceptional Cast Recording
Lifetime Achievement
Breakout Star
Exceptional Theatrical Moment That Became Our Inside Joke
Exceptional Pre-Show Announcement
Exceptional New Jersey Shade
Exceptional Sasstress
Exceptional Chemistry
Real Tear Realness
Exceptional Replacement Casting
The We’re Really Glad This Happened Shamzie Award
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actor
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actress
Exceptional Ensemble
Exceptional Ensemble, Dance
Exceptional Ensemble, Vocals
Exceptional Ensemble, Background Acting
The Coalhouse Walker III Special Shmazie Award
Exceptional Leading Child Actor in a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Child Actor in a Musical
Exceptional Featured Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Featured Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Featured Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Leading Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Leading Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Leading Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional ‘Stache, Prosthetic
Exceptional ‘Stache, Natural
Exceptional Wigs
Exceptional Male Wig
Exceptional Female Wig
Exceptional Prop
Exceptional Costumes
Exceptional Quick Change
Exceptional Lighting Design of a Musical
Exceptional Set Design
Exceptional Tap Dance
Exceptional Dance Battle
Exceptional Dream Ballet
Exceptional Choreography
Exceptional Orchestrations
Exceptional Sound Design
Exceptional Music
Exceptional Lyrics
Exceptional Original Book of a Musical
Exceptional Adapted Book of a Musical
Exceptional Direction of a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Direction of an Original Musical
Honorable Mention to Plays We Saw
Exceptional Special Theatrical Event
Exceptional Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Revival of a New Musical with a Book by George C. Wolfe
When we send out the Shmazies, we ask that the recipients send us a photo of their certificate! We’ll be updating this as (hopefully) more arrive!
“So proud! Thank you to my pin curls and Miss Clairol 43r and of course Patty & Emily …My mom will know I’ve made it!” – Carolee Carmello, Exceptional Fucking Hair, IRL
“Read it and weep bitches.” – Jackie Hoffman, Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical
“Thank you Patty & Emily! Tho unclear if this is a compliment or you’re saying I’m an asshole, or a donkey.” – Alysha Umphress, Exceptional Ass of an Actress
Patty & Emily are pleased to announce that the 4th Annual Patty & Emily Shmazie Awards winners and honorable mentions will be revealed on Monday, June 1st at 10:00am via YouTube.
After careful consideration the eligibility committee has come to the following decisions regarding the following awards categories:
For the 2014-2015 season, the following award has been reinstated:
The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting
For the 2014-2015 season, the following awards have been suspended:
Exceptional Child Actor in a Musical
Exceptional Child Actress in a Musical
Exceptional Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Special Theatrical Event
For the 2014-2015 season, the following awards have been added:
Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair
The Christian Borle’s Arms Shmazie Award
Exceptional Theatrical Moment That Became Our Inside Joke
The We’re Really Glad This Happened Shmazie Award
Exceptional Child Ensemble
Exceptional Dance Battle
Below is a complete list of the Shmazie Award categories:
The Beth Leavel Shmazie Award
Exceptional Headshot, Female
Exceptional Headshot, Male
Exceptional Fucking Hair, IRL
Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair Exceptional Ass of An Actress
Exceptional Ass of an Actor
The Christian Borle’s Arms Shmazie Award
The “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” Shmazie Award
The Honey Badger Shmazie Award
Special Shmazie Award for Adding Lustre to the Broadway Season
The ChristianeNollRagtime Shmazie Award for Reinterpretive Acting
The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting
Exceptional Cast Recording
Lifetime Achievement
Breakout Star
Exceptional Theatrical Moment That Became Our Inside Joke
Exceptional Sasstress
Exceptional Chemistry
Real Tear Realness
Exceptional Replacement Casting
The We’re Really Glad This Happened Shmazie Award
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actor
Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actress
Exceptional Ensemble
Exceptional Ensemble, Dance
Exceptional Ensemble, Vocals
Exceptional Ensemble, Background Acting
Exceptional Child Ensemble
Exceptional Featured Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Featured Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Featured Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Supporting Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional Leading Actor in an Original Musical
Exceptional Leading Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Leading Actress in an Original Musical
Exceptional ‘Stache, Prosthetic
Exceptional ‘Stache, Natural
Exceptional Wigs
Exceptional Male Wig
Exceptional Female Wig
Exceptional Prop
Exceptional Costumes
Exceptional Quick Change
Exceptional Lighting Design of a Musical
Exceptional Set Design
Exceptional Tap Dance
Exceptional Dance Battle
Exceptional Choreography
Exceptional Dream Ballet
Exceptional Orchestrations
Exceptional Sound Design
Exceptional Music
Exceptional Lyrics
Exceptional Original Book of a Musical
Exceptional Adapted Book of a Musical
Exceptional Direction of a Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Direction of an Original Musical
Honorable Mention to Plays We Saw
Exceptional Revival of a Musical
Exceptional Original Musical
New York, NY – For the first time, Girl Be Heard and Human Rights Watch, will bring together actors from across the globe (who are flying in for this show) to present BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARD atthe Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam Street). In an effort to break the cycle of silence around gender-based violence, this groundbreaking collaboration features selections from Breaking the Silence, written for Human Rights Watch, and Girl Be Heard’s, Trafficked and disPLACEd. BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARDruns for three performances only: Thursday, February 19, Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21 at 8:00PM. Tickets are $35 and are $20 for students and senior. Tickets are available by visiting http://girlbeheard.org/.
BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARD highlights a number of global issues faced by millions of women daily. Told through a series of monologues and songs from individual perspectives, the performance is based on fact and exposes the greater universal truths. Issues raised range from trafficking, child marriage to domestic violence, and rape as a war crime; while also addressing wider related issues of refugees, the right to a voice and the right to ownership and education. With a wonderful star cast from stage and cinema, the production is a spotlight on the work of Human Rights Watch, and the horrors that continues to flourish in darkness and silence today. The work is based on the reports and the research of Human Rights Watch as well as the true experiences of Girl Be Heard members, their international partners.
“Breaking the Silence with Girl Be Heard, is evidence that theatre’s healing power transcends borders. This ground-breading collaboration, between Girl Be Heard and Human Rights Watch, is elevating the stories of survivors to the global stage, by harnessing the voices of actors, activists and advocates from around the world. Together, we are breaking the cycle of silence that perpetuates gender-based violence,” said Jessica Morris, CEO of Girl Be Heard.
BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARD is an awareness raising play, written for the Women’s division of Human Rights Watch; and was successfully performed in Geneva 2013 and London 2014. It was selected for the closing ceremony for Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict hosted by William Hague and Angelina Jolie, and will be performed in The Hague April 2015. Premiering in New York Thursday the 19th to the 21st February 2015, to coincide with The World Day of Social Justice. The production also opens just two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his campaign “It’s On Us” to end violence against women and girls during the 2015 Grammy Awards.
BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARDis a collaboration of selections from Trafficked and disPLACEd from Girl be Heard, and Breaking the Silence from Human Rights Watch. The cast and writers for selections from Trafficked and disPLACEd include: Aya Abdelaziz, Deanna Alexandra, Georgie Exniord, Noelia Mann, Betsy Perez, Tiff Roma, Melanie Thompson, Danielle Walker, and Sophie Walker. The cast and writers for selections from Breaking the Silence include: Gemma Aston, Susan Craig, Amelia Donker, Adam James, Fraser James, Charlotte Longfield, Katrina Syran, and guitarist Jad Azkoul.
Girl Be Heard is a non-profit theatre and educational program that provides a safe environment for girls to write, direct, and perform theatre productions under the guidance of professional directors, playwrights, actors, activists, and intellectuals. Girl Be Heard’s performances have received critical acclaim from The White House, The United Nations, the New Yorker, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Ebony Magazine, National Public Radio, and media outlets across the globe. Join the movement at girlbeheard.org.
Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, human rights organization made up of roughly 400 staff members around the globe. Its staff consists of human rights professionals including country experts, lawyers, journalists, and academics of diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of media, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups. Each year, Human Rights Watch publishes more than 100 reports and briefings on human rights conditions in some 90 countries, generating extensive coverage in local and international media. With the leverage this brings, Human Rights Watch meets with governments, the United Nations, regional groups like the African Union and the European Union, financial institutions, and corporations to press for changes in policy and practice that promote human rights and justice around the world.
The performance schedule for BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARDis Thursday, February 19, Friday, February 20, Saturday, February 21 at 8:00PM. Tickets are $35 or $20 for students and seniors. For more information, visit http://girlbeheard.org/.
When we go into a Terrence McNally play, we have certain expectations. Maybe that’s our fault, but with Mothers and Sons fresh in our minds and Ragtime forever playing in the back of our minds, it’s hard to reconcile the straight up comedy that we saw. We expect to be moved by a Terrence McNally play. We want to laugh, yes, but also cry. So, it was just a little strange to see this early work (updated for today), It’s Only a Play.
There was a lot to like about It’s Only a Play, and that was mostly the cast. Megan Mullally and Nathan Lane especially led this show. Megan’s odd southern accent and bright optimism in her producer character nailed that type of rich person who just wants to do something fun with their money. And Nathan Lane is Nathan Lane and is great in anything, even The Addams Family (joked about in this show). We were also “introduced” (as their posters say) to Micah Stock. He was fantastic as the coat check guy, who is allowed into this crazy world, and gives the best rendition of Defying Gravity on a Broadway stage this side of 49th street. The rest of the cast was great, though with so much going on, the outsized characters played by Stockard Channing, F. Murray Abraham, and Rupert Grint got to be a bit much. Matthew Broderick was apparently doing his Matthew Broderick thing and seeming to float his way through everything, even his long and strange monologues on “Great American Theatre.”
The play itself was wacky and fun, though sometimes seemed to try a little too hard. There’s a bit with the coats of guests coming in, and one of the running jokes is that casts of other Broadway shows are crashing the party. But their coats look like costumes from the shows and we all know you’re not allowed to leave the theatre in your costume! For a show that calls out real people and makes very real New York theatre references, bits like this for the sake of a laugh take a way from the reality. If you’re going to have Nathan Lane mention The Addams Family (and Nathan Lane), then you have to mention Curious Incident, not make up a show when talking about those imports from London. Shows about New York often have jokes that are for New Yorkers and jokes that are for tourists. It’s Only a Play had some fantastic jokes for New Yorkers, but too many terrible jokes for tourists. If there could be a better balance and a little more heart, it might feel like a Terrence McNally play.
Well, the title of the play says it all. It’s called The Country House. And the types of people who have country houses are typically rich families. So, here’s another play about a rich family all stuck in one place getting their shit out together. A slight twist on the formula, though borrowing from another formula: this family is all actors. So it’s a play about actors too! And frankly, it was all a lot of stuff we’ve seen before.
The cast was fine. Led by Blythe Danner, whose character makes some comment about how she wouldn’t be able to open a play on Broadway because she’s not a movie star. Cut to the marquee of the Friedman that is just a giant photo of movie star Blythe Danner. It’s supposed to be a self-aware joke, but it kind of fell flat since that tends to actually be the sad reality.Sarah Steele was really great, and funnily enough, hers was the only character who wasn’t in the “family business” of acting. Unfortunately, the play didn’t really make it easy to like any of the other characters, so the actors had to work extra hard because we think we were supposed to like them?
The one thing this play about a family didn’t have was a “big reveal.” Instead, the second act devolved into everyone discussing the unloved son and his issues with his mother. Again, how original. But not to be outdone, everyone got a chance to explain why their situation was worse. It was like that scene in Notting Hill where Julia Roberts tries to convince everyone that her life as a super rich, super famous actress is worse than the others (including a woman in a wheelchair). She doesn’t win the brownie, and neither did any of the characters in The Country House. It did have a lovely living room set, though. That’s about it.
When they were in grad school, Rachel Sullivan and Maggie Keenan-Bolger were working on a thesis together about women’s experiences in public spaces. At the end of the project, they realized sexuality was never directly discussed, though it clearly influenced the topic. Aside from already having an interest in sexuality, Maggie and Rachel have a theatre company, Honest Accomplice, which focuses on topics that aren’t openly discussed or seen as shameful. And so, The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged was born.
Patty talked to Maggie and Rachel, along with three of the actors, Liza Fischer, Holly Sansom, and (someone you might know) Emily Faye Oakley, about the experience of putting this show together. Maggie and Rachel didn’t sit down at a computer and write up a script. The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged is a devised theatre piece. It’s created by the actors working together and using real life experiences to create a piece about different aspects of sexuality. This isn’t the first production of the show. We saw the show last year, and when she saw they were doing it again, Emily wanted to be a part of it. She also wanted to be a part of telling a different kind of story. Holly, who was a part of conceiving the project the first time around, said what partly drew her to it was the varied types of people who were represented; people she didn’t normally see on stage. Liza had helped with props the first time around and comes from a more traditional theatre background. She was excited to be working on a show that was trying to say something and wasn’t focused on the commercial aspects.
So, what is it trying to say? After surveying over 2,000 people online, talking to friends, and working with the original and current casts, The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged is saying what Salt ‘n Pepa said way back in 1991: Let’s Talk About Sex. The previous production was more of a series of thematically connected scenes. While in this production, each character has a through line that you follow. Just like the rest of us, these characters are dealing with topics of body image, race and sexuality, hookup culture, gender, etc. And the hope is that you leave talking about these issues and maybe even opening up about your own experiences. The show isn’t meant to make anyone uncomfortable; it’s not gratuitously sexual or, at the other end, overly clinical. It’s a representation of many topics not often discussed; experiences people have, but don’t talk about. So, here it is. Maggie, Rachel, and their cast are having The Talk. The one about the birds and the bees.
The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged runs October 8th-12th. The show is double cast. The cast for October 8th & 10th is Samantha Cunha, Meggan Dodd, Liza Fischer, Cat Fisher, Lindsay Griffen, Austin Klich, E. Okobi, Julia Osen Averill, and Holly Sansom. The cast for October 9th, 11th, & 12th is Mike Burke, Ruth Cooper, Suzu Ledoux, Emily Faye Oakley, E. Okobi, Julia Osen Averill, Mary Parker, Holly Sansom, and Mary Sheridan. Get your tickets here.
Of course, even during this discussion of serious, important (and fun!) topics, we had to throw in our little nonsense survey for these ladies. Here it is!
PATTY & EMILY: Do you know Beth Leavel?
MAGGIE KEENAN-BOLGER: Yes.
RACHEL SULLIVAN: Made a sad face because she doesn’t know who that is.
LIZA FISCHER: Nope.
HOLLY SANSOM: I love her.
P&E: Which show do you most want revived?
MKB: Side Show, but they’re doing it now!
RS: I’ll just go with Side Show.
LF: I know they just did it, but I missed it. I want to see Angels in America.
HS: Can we have another Ragtime that stays?
P&E: Have you ever fallen asleep on stage while pretending to be asleep or dead on stage?
MKB: When I was five, I did The Sound of Music, and they had to cancel the rest of rehearsal because I fell asleep on the bed.
RS: I don’t know if I’ve ever had to pretend to be… I definitely haven’t ever had to be dead. I don’t think I ever had to be asleep.
LF: I did an outdoor Hamlet and was being eaten by mosquitoes when I was carried out dead. So, no.
HS: I feel like any time I ever had to be dead, I’ve been in really uncomfortable positions. So, not a factor.
P&E: What’s your favorite Broadway house?
MKB: Can I say my sister’s house?
RS: BAM. The Harvey Theater.
LF: I like the one that they did Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf in. The Booth. And I also have to shout-out the A.R.T. was my childhood theatre.
HS: I just went to the Winter Garden for the very first time, and I love the mezzanine. It made me feel welcome as a poor person.
P&E: Dreamcast us in a show
MKB: Side Show!
RS: Side Show?
LF: Yes.
HS: Definitely.
P&E: Do you have a monologue?
MKB: That you want me to do right now?!
RS: I probably would need a few hours.
LF: I totally do.
HS: I don’t audition any more. No.
P&E: What is the show you’ve seen the most times?
MKB: Rent
RS: I’ve seen the video…the original The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews. I know that’s not live, but that shit was my favorite.
LF: Probably The Seagull.
HS: I was weirdly obsessed with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in college.
P&E: Who would you fangirl(boy) over?
MKB: Does it have to be a Broadway person? Zoe Palmer.
RS: One of the coolest things I ever saw was this nine-hour play directed by Robert Lepage. And I think anyone that can get me to sit in a theatre for nine hours? That’s pretty cool. Or maybe Cate Blanchett.
LF: I met Frances McDormand. She came into my coffee shop. And I was like, “Are you Frances McDormand?” And she said yes. And I said, “I think you’re amazing. I’m and actress.” I was right out of college. And she said, “Oh, that’s great! There should be more actors.” And she tipped me 50 cents.
HS: Sara Ramirez.
P&E: On a scale of 1-10, how awful is the Broadway World message board?
MKB: Laughs.
RS: Not applicable?
LF: 20.
HS: I think All That Chat is worse though.
P&E: Comps and a Time Machine.
MKB: Into the Woods
RS: I feel like I’d like to go back to a really different time period, like Sarah Bernhardt. And see how the audiences dressed and how the acting styles were so different.
LF: Yeah, the original Seagull.
HS: I mean, Ragtime. The original cast.
Again, The Birds and the Bees: Unabridged runs October 8th-12th. And you can get tickets here.
If you don’t know anything about Love Letters before you see it, don’t let the title fool you. This was not, in our opinion, a romantic show. It was a tragic one. If you find it romantic, we’d love to talk to you about why. It also wasn’t much of a show. While we may gravitate towards bigger, splashier shows (and musicals), we don’t need those elements to enjoy ourselves. But this was two actors sitting at a table on an otherwise empty stage, reading their lines. That’s not to say they weren’t performing. But the nature of the play has them literally reading the letters to each other. It was like seeing a staged reading, but this was no benefit. It was a full price, for profit Broadway show.
The story itself is not anything that hasn’t been told before. An upper class boy and girl (then man and woman) weave in and out of friendship and more as their lives pull them apart. But they can’t seem to stop writing letters to each other. Emily was pretty angry that it seemed as soon as Melissa said they were better off friends, her life went downhill. Patty just wasn’t very moved by the relationship between the two, many problems which seemed to arise by bad decisions by one or both of them. The redeeming part of the show was Mia Farrow, who had some really great moments, and gave humanity to what could be a thankless role. Brian Dennehy was commanding, but we weren’t able to sympathize with or like his character at all.
All this being said, there is a rotating amazing set of actors tackling this play. And since it’s really just the actors on stage alone, with no sets, costumes, sound, etc., you really are paying to see them. So if you want to see Brian Dennehy, Mia Farrow, Carol Burnett, Alan Alda, Candice Bergen, Stacy Keach, Diana Rigg, Martin Sheen, or Anjelica Huston, here’s your chance.
