Cruelest Cuts of the Tony Awards Committee

"If/Then," featuring Tamika Lawrence, Jenn Colella, LaChanze and Idina Menzel. Photo from production.

BY TAMARA BECK

WHEN Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff announced the nominations for the “68th Annual Tony Awards” on 29 April, there were serious oversights.

Some fine and/or interesting productions, as well as superb performances were overlooked. First, gripes about the ones that shoulda been named, then predictions about the winners from those that made the cut.

If this reviewer takes it personally, imagine how the casts and creatives on the unacknowledged and under-acknowledged shows feel. Maybe it's just the Tony committee messing with the regular theater-lover's head.

"The Realistic Joneses," Will Eno's comic tragedy and its deserving star, Toni Colette, did not get a mention. (http://www.bit.ly/1x8UT0S) Although the play left a lot of holes in its odd plot points, it was well-staged and wildly interesting.

The acting from the ensemble of Tracy Letts (a past Tony winner), Michael C. Hall, Marisa Tomei (Academy award winner) and the aforementioned TC, was top-notch. The Joneses meet cute, with one couple stumbling onto the other’s property in the dead of night bearing a bottle of wine. Existential issues are then addressed.

Another overlooked drama was "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Do note, however, that Audra McDonald, as Billie Holiday, was nominated in the Best Actress category. (http://www.bit.ly/1jRGDzG; see video above).

Broadway's producers are to be congratulated for taking the chance on so many straight plays, an oft misunderstood and under-appreciated entertainment this season. The applause would be that much louder, though, if unconventional vehicles like “The Realistic Joneses” were in the Tony running.

Other major snubs include “Bullets Over Broadway,” “If/Then,” “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Rocky.” The blow to all is lessened because each got nods in other categories.

Tracy Letts, Toni Collette, Marisa Tomei and Michael C. Hall in "The Realistic Joneses." Photo from production.

For instance, Woody Allen was tapped for Best Book of a Musical for “Bullets.” Also Nick Cordero is up for Best Featured Actor in a musical for his role as Cheech. “If/Then's” amazing star, Idina Menzel, is up for Best Actress in a Musical. The musical's creative team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics) are up for Best Original Score.

Next week: And the Tony goes to ...

The “68th Annual Tony Awards” airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 8 June on CBS. Visit http://www.tonyawards.com/ to learn more about the nominations and broadcast.

Discovering Lincoln Center's 'American Songbook'

BY TAMARA BECK

ONE night, it was Broadway wunderkind Tom Kitt and a huge cast from past and future Brian Yorkey-TK collaborations; the next brought indie recording artist Ingrid Michaelson and her merry band.

Opening up oneself to new musical experiences can be both liberating and enlightening. To that end, consider "Lincoln Center presents American Songbook." The series of concerts, which started in late January and goes through 20 April, is a sort of go-to for learning about all forms of the popular and the arcane.

Tonight, cabaret sensation Meow Meow is on the stage at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, one of the two venues where the concerts are performed. The other is the Allen Room.

Meow Meow. Will she purr or will she roar? Photo from American Songbook Web site.

Tom Morello appeared in the Allen Room as “The Nightwatchman,” a musical activist who uses his voice to make the world a better place. With confederate Rick Costello (guitar and vocals), TM played to a packed house.

Many fans in the audience crowded the stage, sharing the fervor in songs like “One Man Revolution” and “Midnight in the City of Destruction.” TM was a discovery for this old fogey; truthfully, he won’t be on my playlist anytime soon. Nonetheless, the show was spectacularly entertaining. (See video at top).

Another American Songbook “discovery,” Cecile McLorin Savant, also came with a passel of fans. Her repertoire of well-honed Cole Porter classics was beautifully rendered and often inspiring.

Backed by the brilliant young pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Paul Sikvie and Rodney Green on drums, CMcLS channeled Bessie Smith and other greats in the jazz and cabaret tradition. The Miami native was a wonderfully rare find. Look for her on the 2013-14 Jazz at Lincoln Center calendar, http://www.jalc.org/events/event/t-1203#.UVUu6KK-o0E. (See video above).

In this year's extended American Songbook season, there are still opportunities to make some discoveries. Coming to the Penthouse stage on 6 April is Ricky Ian Gordon, headlining Green Sneakers, for Baritone, String Quartet, Empty Chair, and Piano. On the bill for 19 April is the songwriting team of Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan. The duo has made huge inroads on iTunes and YouTube. (See video above).

Closing out the American Songbook season on 20 April is Ben Sollee who uses the cello to merge various musical genres.

Visit http://www.americansongbook.org to learn more about “Lincoln Center presents American Songbook." Rx