Tony Awards 2011

The Tony Awards were held last night at the Beacon Theatre in New York City to award the top honors of Broadway.

Actor Neil Patrick Harris hosted the big show and there were plenty of big celebs in the room!

Find a list of all the winners here.

We've put together some links where you can find out more about the show and get an inside look as the stars!

Official website of the Tony Awards

Photo Gallery of the Tony Awards Ceremony

CBS.com

Also, here are some videos of YOUR favorite moments!

Neil Patrick Harris and the Opening Number

Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman - Dueling Hosts

Neil Patrick Harris and the Closing Rap

John Fleming writes about all-new Wonderland

The Lewis Carroll-inspired musical, which premiered in Tampa, returns after revisions.
By: John Fleming

Welcome to an all-new Wonderland.

Composer Frank Wildhorn’s musical, inspired by the Lewis Carroll classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, returned to Tampa this week for 14 performances at the Straz Center, where it premiered in 2009. Since then, it has been staged in Houston and is being prepped for a Broadway production in New York, which is scheduled to begin previews March 21 and open April 17.

In the year since Wonderland debuted, the musical has undergone a few revisions — so if you saw it the first time around, here are a few significant changes you’ll notice.

1. It’s all about Alice.

“Coming out of Tampa and Houston, it became very clear that the story had to be totally about Alice,’’ says Judy Lisi, president of the Straz Center, who has been intimately involved with Wonderland from the beginning. “There were too many stories before.’’ There were too many times when Alice, who is having a crisis involving her work, her husband and her daughter, made a rather vague, unconvincing impression.

The show’s creators have now tailored the part to star Janet Dacal. “She’s a wonderful comedian,” Wildhorn says. “She’s kind of kooky, like Lucy (Lucille Ball). She dances great. When she smiles, it’s a moment, a powerful thing. After Houston, we said, ‘How can we create more moments for Janet?’” Even the color of Alice’s dress has been changed.

2. A new Hatter in town.

In Tampa and Houston, Dacal’s Alice never really clicked with her nemesis, the Mad Hatter, the hardrocking, villainous aide to the Queen of Hearts. So the Mad Hatter has been refashioned into a character who represents the dark side of Alice.

Nikki Snelson, who had been with the production since its first Actors Equity reading, was replaced with Kate Shindle, who was Miss America in 1998 and who played Vivienne, the haughty law student in the musical Legally Blonde . Unlike Snelson, Shindle is a statuesque presence, standing at least 6 feet in heels, and her Hatter towers over the 5-foot-5 Dacal’s Alice. Shindle has a sleek, ice-princess vibe that contrasts with Dacal’s warm, emotive style.

3. A new daughter, too.

Also recast was Chloe, Alice’s 10 year-old daughter who runs away to Wonderland with her mother in pur­suit. In Tampa and Houston, Chloe was played by a young adult actor, Julie Brooks, mainly for practical reasons, such as finances, but Brooks looked old enough to be Alice herself.

Now the role is played by 11-yearold Carly Rose Sonenclar, and that makes a big difference in the motherdaughter dynamics onstage. “It’s very easy to be more compassionate and connected when it’s actually a child,’’ says Dacal, bonding with Sonenclar in rehearsal, giving the girl a kiss on the top of her head at the end of one number. “Having a little one really plucks at the heartstrings.’’

4. More scenes, more music!

Whole scenes have been added (a tea party in Wonderland) and subtracted (a cocktail party in New York). The Jabberwock, a character with a big second-act number, was eliminated. Wildhorn and Murphy wrote four new songs, and several were cut.

Of course, what was cut can always be restored. Don’t Wanna Fall in Love , a bouncy argument song for Alice and her husband, Jack, was in the score in Tampa, out in Houston and is back in again, but in a different place. “We wanted to make the story move more swiftly,’’ Boyd says. “It took too long to get to Wonderland. Now I think it goes like a shot.’’


In the Picture at top: Wonderland cast members rehearse at New York’s New 42nd Street Studios.

Pictured: Darren Ritchie (standing on a chair), who plays Jack, the White Knight and Lewis Carroll; Janet Dacal (fourth from left, wearing No. 5), who plays Alice; and Kate Shindle (in top hat), who plays the Mad Hatter.

More information about Wonderland at the Straz, click HERE. On Broadway, click HERE.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010

The 84th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off the holidays in New York City and on NBC on Thursday, November 25th! Every year, Macy’s exciting holiday tradition is seen by more than 3.5 million people who line the streets in New York and another 50 million people who tune into NBC to watch the giant balloons, one-of-a-kind floats, the nation’s best matching bands, hundreds of cheering clowns and a host of celebrities!

Something WE look forward to every year is the Broadway performances. Word on the street is that this year there will be performances from Billy Elliot, Memphis, American Idiot, Elf, Million Dollar Quartet and the Radio City Rockettes. Also look out for RAIN, A Tribute to the Beatles.

Other fun things include a giant balloon of Shrek, a float of Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure from Nickelodeon, clowns and talent.
For a full list of line-up click HERE.

Still no deal with Broadway negotiations

Just the financial impact alone:

The (New York) city comptroller’s office has said that the strike, which began Nov. 10, costs the city $2 million a day, but officials from the League of American Theaters and Producers place the cost much higher. Last year, Broadway pulled in around $42 million in grosses over Thanksgiving week and the week before.

Check out the full story here.

Broadway musical chairs

For those of you who don't keep track, here's a little update of the shows closing in New York and those highly anticipated Broadway additions coming soon. There's a great reason to see any, and all, of these shows so if you have the opportunity make sure you take advantage!

Closing

• June 24: LoveMusik (the love story of German composer Kurt Weill and his muse)
• June 24: Talk Radio (the classic Bogosian play starring Liev Schreiber)
• July 1: Company (2007 Tony Award-winning Best Revival)
• July 1: Radio Golf (a classic August Wilson play)
• July 8: Inherit the Wind (1925 Scopes "monkey trial" starring Brian Dennehy and Christopher Plummer)
• July 29: 110 in the Shade (Four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald... that's enough of a reason)
• July 29: Beauty and the Beast (a classic Disney love story for the whole family)
• July 29: Gypsy (a limited engagement performance opening July 9 starring Patti Lupone... You gotta love Ms. Lupone!)

Opening

• July 9: Gypsy (Did I mention Ms. Lupone?)
• July 10: Xanadu (yes... it's an adaptation of the movie that stars Olivia Newton-John)
• August 16: Grease (It's the word... and America voted for "Sandy" and "Danny")
• Nov. 8: Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks new musical comedy)
• Nov. 9: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (It's a holiday classic!)
• Dec. 6: The Little Mermaid (Disney's new addition to their Broadway line up)

For a complete description of all the on & off Broadway shows, visit Broadway.com or the Internet Broadway Database.