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!

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• 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 Hair, IRL
Winner: Cynthia Erivo
Honorable Mention:
Rachel York
Lea Salonga

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 Prop
Winner: Patrick’s Cake Knife – American Psycho
Honorable Mention:
Pies – Waitress
Mona’s Ladder – Dames at Sea
Tony’s Shark Arms – Disaster!

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 Quick Change
Winner: Katrina Lindsay, Evelyn’s Double Quick Change – American Psycho

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

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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:

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“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

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And the complete list of recipients!

The Annual Beth Leavel Shmazie Award
Winner: Beth Leavel

Exceptional Headshot, Female
Winner: Judy Kuhn
Honorable Mention:
Mary Louise Wilson
Eloise Kropp
Mary Beth Peil
Trixie the Dog

Exceptional Headshot, Male
Winner: Timothy Yang
Honorable Mention:
Christopher Vo
Jack the Dog
Chris Newcomer
Jimmy Nail

Exceptional Fucking Hair, IRL
Winner: Carolee Carmello
Honorable Mention:
Tonya Pinkins
Cherry Jones
Rebecca Naomi Jones
Tracie Thoms
Douglas Sills

Exceptional Fucking Performance by Real Hair
Winner: Douglas Sills – Living on Love
Honorable Mention
Kate Baldwin – John & Jen

Exceptional Ass of An Actress
Winner: Alysha Umphress – On the Town
Honorable Mention
Saycon Sengbloh – Holler if Ya Hear Me
Elizabeth Stanley

Exceptional Ass of an Actor
Winner: Tony Yazbeck – On the Town
Honorable Mention:
Clyde Alves – On the Town
Jay Armstrong Johnson – On the Town
Christian Borle – Something Rotten!
Corey Cott – Gigi

The Christian Borle’s Arms Shmazie Award
Winner: Andy Karl – On the Twentieth Century
Honorable Mention:
Christian Borle – Something Rotten!
Jerry O’Connell – Living on Love
Rob McClure – Honeymoon in Vegas
Montego Glover – It Shoulda Been You
Brynn O’Malley – Honeymoon in Vegas

The “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” Shmazie Award
Winner: Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Holler if Ya Hear Me
Doctor Zhivago
Living on Love

The Honey Badger Shmazie Award
Winner: Harvey Weinstein
Honorable Mention:
Tonya Pinkins

Special Shmazie Award for Adding Lustre to the Broadway Season
Winner: Iain Armitage
Honorable Mention:
Fireworks – You Can’t Take It With You
Airline Highway
Flying Elvis – Honeymoon in Vegas
Costumes – Doctor Zhivago
Sylvia’s Death – Finding Neverland
The King and I
Choir – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Cookie Jordan, Dave Elsey, and Lou Elsey – Freak Prosthetics in Side Show

The ChristianeNollRagtime Shmazie Award for Reinterpretive Acting
Winner: Erin Davie – Side Show
              Emily Padgett – Side Show

The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting
Winner: Brandon Uranowitz – An American in Paris

Exceptional Cast Recording
Winner: Honeymoon in Vegas
Honorable Mention:
On the Town
The Last Ship
Side Show

Lifetime Achievement
Winner: Elaine Stritch

Breakout Star
Winner: Conor Ryan – John & Jen
Honorable Mention:
Alex Sharp – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Geneva Carr – Hand to God
Renée Fleming – Living on Love
Sydney Lucas – Fun Home
Emily Skeggs – Fun Home
Saul Williams – Holler If Ya Hear Me

Exceptional Theatrical Moment That Became Our Inside Joke
Winner: Tracee Beazer’s Elevator Scene – Honeymoon in Vegas
Honorable Mention:
Douglas Sills “Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful WOW!” – Living on Love
Kelli O’Hara’s adlib “it makes me throw pens!” – The King and I
Crocodile Carolee Carmello – Finding Neverland
Tiny Flying Elvis Nancy Opel – Honeymoon in Vegas
Tam Mutu sliding downstage on the steep rake – Doctor Zhivgao
“It shoulda been Lou” – It Shoulda Been You

Exceptional Sasstress
Winner: Harriet Harris – It Shoulda Been You
Honorable Mention:
Emily Padgett – Side Show
Dee Hoty – Gigi
Alysha Umpress – On the Town
Tyne Daly – It Shoulda Been You
Edward Hibbard – It Shoulda Been You
Tyrone – Hand to God
K. Todd Freeman – Airline Highway

Exceptional Chemistry
Winner: Renee Fleming and Douglas Sills – Living on Love
Honorable Mention:
Emily Padgett and Erin Davie – Side Show
Ryan Silverman and Emily Padgett – Side Show
John Cariani and Kate Reinders – Something Rotten!
Tam Mutu, Kelli Barrett, and Lora Lee Gayer – Doctor Zhivago
Rob McClure and Brynn O’Malley – Honeymoon in Vegas
Kristin Chenoweth and Andy Karl – On the Twentieth Century
Victoria Clark and Dee Hoty – Gigi
*No Spoilers* – The Cast of It Shoulda Been You
Emily Skeggs and Roberta Colindrez – Fun Home
Robert Fairchild and Jill Paice – An American in Paris
Annaleigh Ashford and Will Brill – You Can’t Take It With You
Kate Baldwin and Conor Ryan – John & Jen
Cherry Jones and Fun Home

Real Tear Realness
Winner: Julie White – Airline Highway
Honorable Mention:
Kate Baldwin – John & Jen
Erin Davie – Side Show
Tonya Pinkins – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Elena Shadow – The Visit
John Riddle – The Visit
Tracie Thoms – Lost Lake
Carrie Coon – Placebo

Exceptional Replacement Casting
Winner: Jenni Barber – Wicked
Honorable Mention:
Norm Lewis – The Phantom of the Opera

The We’re Really Glad This Happened Shamzie Award
Winner: John Cameron Mitchell – Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actor
Winner: Ryan Silverman – End of Private Conversation
Honorable Mention:
Matthew Morrison – End of Stronger
Josh Grisetti – “It’s a sign” in the Opening
Paul Nolan – End of No Mercy At All

Exceptional Sung Passage by an Actress
Winner: Judy Kuhn – Days and Days
Honorable Mention:
Alysha Umphress – I Can Cook Too Reprise – On the Town
Elizabeth Stanley – End of Carried Away – On the Town
Charity Angel Dawson – Solo in The Devil You Know
Emily Padgett – “Who will change my monogram,” – Who Will Love Me As I Am
Erin Davie – End of I Will Never Leave You
Ruthie Ann Miles – Something Wonderful
Kelli O’Hara – End of Hello Young Lovers
Ashley Park – I Have Dreamed
Laura Michelle Kelly – All That Matters Now
Lisa Howard – Beautiful
Heidi Blickenstaff – Right Hand Man
Victoria Clark – Say A Prayer
Kristin Chenoweth – I’ve Got It All
Renee Fleming – “Did I just hear the birds singing? Oh no, that was me!”
Kelli Barrett – When the Music Played
Nancy Opel – Never Get Married

Exceptional Ensemble
Winner: Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Something Rotten!
The King and I
Honeymoon in Vegas
Holler if Ya Hear Me
The Visit
Doctor Zhivago
On The Twentieth Century

Exceptional Ensemble, Dance
Winner: Something Rotten!
Honorable Mention:
On the Town
The King and I
An American in Paris
Finding Neverland
The Last Ship

Exceptional Ensemble, Vocals
Winner: Side Show
Honorable Mention:
The Last Ship
The King and I
The Visit
On The Twentieth Century
Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Ensemble, Background Acting
Winner: The King and I
Honorable Mention:
Honeymoon in Vegas
Side Show
The Visit

Exceptional Child Ensemble
Winner: The King’s Children – The King and I
Honorable Mention:
Bechtel Brothers – Fun Home

Exceptional Featured Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Matthew Patrick Davis – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Brandon Bieber – Side Show
Derek Hanson – Side Show
Javier Ignacio – Side Show
Barrett Martin – Side Show
Kelvin Moon Loh – Side Show
Con O’Shea-Creal – Side Show
Don Richard – Side Show
Michaeljon Slinger – Side Show
Josh Walker – Side Show
Paul Nakauchi – The King and I
Jon Victor Corpuz – The King and I
Conrad Ricamora – The King and I
Phillip Boykin – On the Town

Exceptional Featured Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: Brad Oscar – Something Rotten!
Honorable Mention:
George Merrick – Honeymoon in Vegas
Matthew Saldivar – Honeymoon in Vegas
Joel Perez – Fun Home
Jonathan Ritter – Finding Neverland
Josh Lamon – Finding Neverland
Paul Slade Smith – Finding Neverland
Adam Heller – It Shoulda Been You
Edward Hibbard – It Shoulda Been You
Michael James Scott – Something Rotten!
Peter Bartlett – Something Rotten!
Donald Webber, Jr. – Holler Ya Hear Me
Gary Milner – Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Jackie Hoffman – On the Town
Honorable Mention:
Allison Guinn – On the Town
Lauren Elder – Side Show
Jordanna James – Side Show
Hannah Shankman – Side Show
Steffanie Leigh – Gigi
Mary Louise Wilson – On the Twentieth Century

Exceptional Featured Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Tonya Pinkins – Holler if Ya Hear Me
Honorable Mention:
Shawna M. Hamic – The Last Ship
Tracee Beazer – Honeymoon in Vegas
Veanne Cox – An American in Paris
Carolee Carmello – Finding Neverland
Teal Wicks – Finding Neverland
Anne L. Nathan – It Shoulda Been You
Nancy Opel – Honeymoon in Vegas
Jacqueline Anataramian – Doctor Zhivago
Jesse Wildman – Doctor Zhivago
Melody Butiu – Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Supporting Actor in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Ryan Silverman – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Tony Yazbeck – On the Town
Jay A. Johnson – On the Town
Clyde Alves – On the Town
Matthew Hydzik – Side Show
David St. Louis – Side Show
Robert Joy – Side Show
Ken Watanabe – The King and I
Corey Cott – Gigi
Andy Karl – On the Twentieth Century

Exceptional Supporting Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: David Josefberg – Honeymoon in Vegas
              Michael Cerveris – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Max von Essen – An American in Paris
Jimmy Nail – The Last Ship
Aaron Lazar – The Last Ship
Michael X. Martin – It Shoulda Been You
Chip Zien – It Shoulda Been You
David Burtka – It Shoulda Been You
Josh Grisetti – It Shoulda Been You
Brooks Ashmanskas – Something Rotten
John Earl Jelks – Holler if Ya Hear Me
Ben Thompson – Holler if Ya Hear Me
Christopher Jackson – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Paul Nolan – Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Supporting Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Ruthie Ann Miles – The King and I
Honorable Mention:
Alysha Umphress – On the Town
Elizabeth Stanley – On the Town
Ashley Park – The King and I
Blair Ross – Side Show
Charity Angel Dawson – Side Show
Dee Hoty – Gigi

Exceptional Supporting Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Jill Paice – An American in Paris
              Sydney Lucas – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Rachel Tucker – The Last Ship
Brynn O’Malley – Honeymoon in Vegas
Judy Kuhn – Fun Home
Emily Skeggs – Fun Home
Roberta Colindrez – Fun Home
Laura Michelle Kelly – Finding Neverland
Tyne Daly – It Shoulda Been You
Harriet Harris – It Shoulda Been You
Sierra Boggess – It Shoulda Been You
Montego Glover – It Shoulda Been You
Lora Lee Gayer – Doctor Zhivago
Heidi Blickenstaff – Something Rotten!
Kate Reinders – Something Rotten!
Saycon Sengbloh – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Elena Shadow – The Visit
Mary Beth Peil – The Visit
Michelle Vientimilla – The Visit

Exceptional Leading Actor in an Original Musical
Winner: Rob McClure – Honeymoon in Vegas
Honorable Mention:
Matt Morrison – Finding Neverland
Tam Mutu – Doctor Zhivago
Christian Borle – Something Rotten!
Brian d’Arcy James – Something Rotten!
Saul Williams – Holler If Ya Hear Me

Exceptional Leading Actress in a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Erin Davie – Side Show
              Emily Padgett – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Kristin Chenoweth – On the Twentieth Century
Kelli O’Hara – The King and I
Victoria Clark – Gigi
Vanessa Hudgens – Gigi

Exceptional Leading Actress in an Original Musical
Winner: Kelli Barrett – Doctor Zhivago
Honorable Mention:
Beth Malone – Fun Home
Lisa Howard – It Shoulda Been You
Chita Rivera – The Visit

Exceptional ‘Stache, Prosthetic
Winner: George Merrick, Flight Attendant ‘Stache – Honeymoon in Vegas
Kelsey Grammer, Hook ‘Stache – Finding Neverland

Exceptional ‘Stache, Natural
Winner: Andy Karl – On the Twentieth Century
Honorable Mention:
Christian Borle – Something Rotten!

Exceptional Wigs
Winner: Charles G. LaPointe – Doctor Zhivago
Honorable Mention:
Richard Mawbey – Finding Neverland
Paul Huntley – Fun Home
Charles G. LaPointe – Honeymoon in Vegas
Paul Huntley – It Shoulda Been You
Greg Bazemore – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Charles G. LaPointe – Side Show
Leah J. Loukas – On the Town
Paul Huntley – On the Twentieth Century
Tom Watson – The King and I
David Brian Brown – Gigi

Exceptional Male Wig
Winner: Paul Huntley – Michael Cerveris’s Wig in Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Richard Mawbey – Kelsey Grammer’s Hook Wig in Finding Neverland
Charles G. LaPointe – Kelvin Moon Loh’s Half Man Half Woman Wig in Side Show

Exceptional Female Wig
Winner: Charles G. LaPointe – Kelli Barrett’s Wig in Doctor Zhivago
Honorable Mention:
Josh Marquette – Heidi Blickenstaff’s Wig in Something Rotten!
Josh Marquette – Kate Reinders’s Wig in Something Rotten!
Richard Mawbey Carolee Carmello’s Wiig in finding Neverland
Tom Watson – Kelli O’Hara’s Wig in The King and I
Charles G. LaPointe – Erin Davie and Emily Padgett’s Red Wigs in Side Show
Paul Huntley – Kristin Chenoweth’s Veronique Wig in On the Twentieth Century

Exceptional Prop
Winner: Andy Karl’s Fake Headshot – On the Twentieth Century
Honorable Mention:
Glass Champagne Glasses – Gigi
Liquid Vessels – Doctor Zhivago
Small Allison’s Barrette – Fun Home
Lemon Pledge – Fun Home
Jackie Hoffman’s Piano Bar – On the Town
Chita Rivera’s Cane – The Visit

Exceptional Costumes
Winner: Paul Tazewell – Doctor Zhivago
Honorable Mention:
Bob Crowley – An American in Paris
David Zinn – Fun Home
Suttirat Anne Larlarb – Finding Neverland
Gregg Barnes – Something Rotten
Reggie Ray – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Jess Goldstein – On the Town
William Ivey Long – On the Twentieth Century
Catherine Zuber – The King and I
Catherine Zuber – Gigi

Exceptional Quick Change
Winner: Erin Davie and Emily Padgett, Pantsuit – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Jill Paice, off-stage – An American in Paris
Rob McClure, Elvis – Honeymoon in Vegas
Kristin Chenoweth, Veronique – On the Twentieth Century
Laura Benanti, Dream Ballet – Spring Spectacular

Exceptional Lighting Design of a Musical
Winner: Japhy Weideman – The Visit
Honorable Mention:
Natasha Katz – An American in Paris
Christopher Akerland – The Last Ship
Ben Stanton – Fun Home
Howell Binkley – Doctor Zhivago
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer – Side Show

Exceptional Set Design
Winner: David Zinn – Fun Home
              Scott Pask – The Visit
Honorable Mention:
David Zinn – The Last Ship
Anna Louizos – It Shoulda Been You
Michael Scott-Mitchell – Doctor Zhivago
Scott Pask – Something Rotten!
Edward Pierce – Holler if Ya Hear Me
David Rockwell – On the Twentieth Century
Michael Yeargan – The King and I
David Rockwell – Side Show
Derek McLane – Gigi

Exceptional Tap Dance
Winner: Life is a Like a Train – On the Twentieth Century
Honorable Mention:
Omelette the Musical – Something Rotten!
One Plus One Equals Three – Side Show

Exceptional Dance Battle
Winner: Casey Nicholaw – Christian Borle and Brian d’Arcy James’s Tap in Something Rotten!
Honorable Mention:
Kelly Divine – It’s a Godsend in Doctor Zhivago
Wayne Cilentro – I Get Around/Keep Ya Head Up in Holler If Ya Hear Me

Exceptional Dream Ballet
Winner: Anthony van Laast – Private Conversation in Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Joshua Bergasse – Presentation of Miss Turnstiles in On the Town
Joshua Bergasse – Lonely Town Pas de Duex in On the Town
Christopher Wheeldon – Riverside Ballet in An American in Paris
Christopher Wheeldon – An American in Paris Ballet in An American in Paris

Exceptional Choreography
Winner: Mia Michaels – Finding Neverland
              Joshua Bergasse – On the Town
Honorable Mention:
Christopher Wheeldon – An American in Paris
Steven Hoggett – The Last Ship
Denis Jones – Honeymoon in Vegas
Danny Mefford – Fun Home
Wayne Cilento – Holler If Ya Hear Me
Casey Nicholaw – Something Rotten
Warren Carlyle – On the Twentieth Century
Christopher Gatelli – The King and I
Anthony van Laast – Side Show
Joshua Bergasse – Gigi

Exceptional Orchestrations
Winner: Danny Troob – Doctor Zhivago
Honorable Mention:
Jason Robert Brown, Larry Blank, Charlie Rosen – Honeymoon in Vegas
Christopher Austin – An American in Paris
Harold Wheeler – Side Show
John Clancy- Fun Home

Exceptional Sound Design
Winner: Peter Helinski – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Jonathan Deans – Finding Neverland
Nevin Steinberg – It Shoulda Been You
Brian Ronan – The Last Ship
Scott Lehrer- Honeymoon in Vegas
Kai Harada – Fun Home

Exceptional Music
Winner: Jeanine Tesori – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Jason Robert Brown – Honeymoon in Vegas
Sting – The Last Ship
John Kander and Fred Ebb – The Visit
Lucy Simon – Doctor Zhivago
Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick – Something Rotten!

Exceptional Lyrics
Winner: Lisa Kron – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Jason Robert Brown – Honeymoon in Vegas
John Kander and Fred Ebb – The Visit
Michael Korie and Amy Powers – Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Original Book of a Musical
Winner: Brian Hargrove – It Shoulda Been You
Honorable Mention:
Todd Kreidler – Holler If Ya Hear Me

Exceptional Adapted Book of a Musical
Winner: Lisa Kron – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
Terrence McNally – The Visit
Michael Weller – Doctor Zhivago

Exceptional Direction of a Revival of a Musical
Winner: Bill Condon – Side Show
Honorable Mention:
Bartlett Sher – The King and I
John Rando – On the Town

Exceptional Direction of an Original Musical
Winner: Sam Gold – Fun Home
Honorable Mention:
John Doyle – The Visit
Des McAnuff – Doctor Zhivago
David Hyde Pierce – It Shoulda Been You
Kenny Leon – Holler If Ya Hear Me

Honorable Mention to Plays We Saw
You Can’t Take It With You
Airline Highway
Hand to God
Living on Love
The Heidi Chronicles
Constellations
The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time
Disgraced
Love Letters
The Country House
It’s Only a Play

Exceptional Revival of a Musical
Winner: Side Show
The King and I
Honorable Mention:
On the Town

Exceptional Original Musical
Winner: Fun Home
Honorable Mentions:
Doctor Zhivago
The Visit
Honeywood in Vegas
Holler If Ya Hear Me
Something Rotten!
It Shoulda Been You

Side Show: 15
Fun Home: 10
Doctor Zhivago: 5
Honeymoon in Vegas: 5
The King and I: 4
On the Town: 4
On the Twentieth Century: 4
Something Rotten: 3
An American in Paris: 2
Finding Neverland: 2
It Shoulda Been You: 2
Living on Love: 2
The Visit: 2
Airline Highway: 1
Hedwig and the Angry Inch: 1
Holler If You Hear Me: 1
John & Jen: 1
Wicked: 1

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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

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PRESENTS

WORLD PREMIERE COLLABORATION OF

BREAKING THE SILENCE WITH GIRL BE HEARD

FOR THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY:

February 19, 20, 21 at 8:00PM

AT THE SOHO PLAYHOUSE (15 Vandam Street)

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 at the 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 HEARD runs 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 19^th to the 21^st 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 HEARD is 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 HEARD is 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/.

Photo by Ashley Marinaccio.

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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.

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.

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 8^th-12^th. 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 8^th-12^th. And you can get tickets here.

Egging Peter along and profiting off her residents’ ignorance is the delightful Cady Huffman, as the Mayor of Elbowville. Her elaborate plans are matched only by her elaborate costumes. The main industry in Elbowville is fishing lobsters, which end up being a running theme in her amazing costumes. Peter also wants to help his brother Stein (Brad Nacht) and Stein’s wife Asrun (Kate Shindle — who also has her own costume moment in an amazing latex outfit), so pulls them unknowingly into the financial spiral. (There’s another brother played by Graydon Long, who leaves Elbowville as part of an unnecessary love triangle.) When the bubble bursts, Kate Shindle gets pissed off and confronts Cady Huffman in an amazing, but WAY too short belt off.

Without giving anything away, the ending is pretty satisfying. It’s not quite Urinetown in its clever and bleak truth, but it does point out interesting things about society. There were a few strings left untied; it seemed as if Kate Shindle was going to have a bigger role in the end. But Revolution in the Elbow… was a fun, strange, thought-provoking musical.

Revolution in the Elbow… runs through September 20th, so go see it! Get your tickets here.

Broadway Up Close offers three tours, starting with the Act 1, which is what we took. There are no set tour times, so you can request a time that works best for you! Act 1 starts at the Nederlander and covers the history of 42nd street, and the Broadway houses on the east side up to 45th street. There was such a wide range of information, history, and stories that everyone can get something out of it. We don’t want to give it all away, but we’ll share this one tidbit: Jujamcyn got its name from the first names of the children of the original owners, Judith, James, and Cynthia. It all makes sense now! The tour was about two hours, and even though you’re walking, it’s pretty stop and start, so there’s lots of resting. We had a great time, learned a lot, and got to spend a morning talking Broadway!

These tours are great if you’re visiting New York, but also if you live here! They’re great for theatre lovers, and also anyone interested in the rich history of New York City. For more information on booking your tour, visit www.broadwayupclose.com.

Here’s a photo of us and our tour group!

This production of A Little Night Music is presented by The Berkshire Theatre Group. We saw the most recent Broadway revival (both casts). Emily barely remembered it, and Patty remembered it being slow and long. This production, however, was much lighter and moved quickly. Kate (serving Mother-in-Ragtime Realness) was both hilarious and heartbreaking as Charlotte. A feat made more impressive given she had to play against her talented husband Graham Rowat, here playing the awful rogue Count. The rest of the cast was fantastic, especially Matt Dengler as Henrick and the great Penny Fuller as Madam Armfeldt. Her last scene was beautiful and highlighted the great direction of Ethan Heard. Night Music may not be our favorite Steven Sondhiem show, but it has a beautiful score, and we would travel pretty much anywhere to hear Kate Baldwin sing it.

A Little Night Music only runs through July 19th, so get your tickets now! It’s a great reason to get out of the city, breathe in some mountain air, and watch some fantastic musical theatre. If you can’t make it out, check out all the other shows The Berkshire Theatre Group is producing, including a children’s production of Suessical. We just may have another mountain road trip in our future. For tickets and information, visit www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.

Before the show, as an added bonus to the Phantom experience, there was a reception at NYY Steak, a Yankees themed restaurant. We were excited to see that they even offer Broadway themed cocktails, like the Bronx Bomber! Then someone reminded us that’s a nickname for the Yankees, not just a play from last season starring Chris Jackson. The next time you have sports loving relatives in town, take them to NYY Steak. It’ll ease the transition into the glitz of Broadway. Plus, they had delicious sliders and cheese empanadas.

See Norm Lewis and Sierra Boggess in The Phantom of the Opera! Get tickets here!

Shanelle’s collaborator on the music and lyrics is actually her husband Spencer Williams. They met in college and starting writing music together, and people would comment on how their sound would work well in musical theatre. As theatre lovers themselves, they thought they’d try their hand at it. The idea for For Tonight actually came from Spencer’s own great-great-great grandfather. Teaming up with book writer Whitney Rhodes, the show follows the lives of siblings in Wales after the loss of their parents. The music of the show does have Welsh influence, including a Welsh folksong “Suo Gan,” but Shanelle describes the overall sound as “somewhere between musical theatre and Nickel Creek and Coldplay.”

NYMF will be the show’s public debut, having only presented one private reading about a year ago. After editing, they submitted show to NYMF. When they received the call that they had been accepted, Shanelle was almost nine months pregnant. And while the prospect of coming out to New York, doing more rewrites, and putting on your show may seem daunting enough without a new baby, Shanelle says it has been a great experience. Only a few the actors have been with project since the beginning, but working with a New York director Joe Barros and musical director Drew Wutke who knew the mostly New York cast helped everyone smoothly collaborate on this fantastic production. We can’t wait to see this new work from these up-and-coming writers!

And of course the best way for us to get to know Shanelle was to give her our questionnaire. Here’s what she had to say!

Patty & Emily: Do you know Beth Leavel?

Shanelle Williams: No.

P&E: Which show do you most want revived?

SW: Oh, that’s a tough one because there’s been a lot revivals lately of things I have wanted revived and now they’re all coming true. Spencer’s in the room here. He likes to pitch in. He’s excited about On the Town right now. And I haven’t seen that one, so I guess I’m excited about that one was well. Oh, Side Show is another. Put down Side Show.

P&E: Have you ever fallen asleep on stage while pretending to be asleep or dead on stage?

SW: Uh, no but one time I did fall asleep in the orchestra pit. Fortunately it was only tech rehearsal though.

P&E: What’s your favorite Broadway house?

SW: Oh, I really liked…where did Pippin play?

P&E: The Music Box.

SW: I like that one.

P&E: Do you have a monologue?

SW: No. Heavens no. In fact, I botched an audition, like, three years ago. It had been a long time since I had performed. And I went into this audition; I picked up a monologue the night before, and I totally botched it. So, I definitely don’t have a monologue prepared right now.

P&E: What’s the show you’ve seen the most time?

SW: I think Next to Normal was the show I saw the most.

P&E: Who would you fangirl over?

SW: I’m kind of having a fangirl experience over our leading man in our show. He’s pretty sexy, and he sings amazing. His name’s Brandon Kalm.

P&E: On a scale of 1-10, how bad is the Broadway World message board?

SW: It’s so bad that I never go there.

P&E: Comps and a time machine.

SW: Hmm. I would really like to see the original production of Cabaret.

For Tonight has three performances at NYMF: Wednesday, July 9^th at 4pm and 8pm and Saturday, July 12^th at 4pm. We’ll be there, and we hope to see you there as well! You can get tickets here.