Santo Loquasto News

Yesterday, BWW interviewer Pat Cerasaro conducted an InDepth InterView with legendary Tony-winning set and costume designer Santo Loquasto which will be featured on BWW in the coming weeks, as well as his input on a feature article detailing the Grand Design of twelve-time Tony-nominated revival of FENCES which is currently playing. The following is his courteous and diplomatic response to being nominated for a Tony for his work on this season's revival of RAGTIME only to subsequently have the nomination removed on the basis that the Tony committee now feels his work is ineligible due to having created the costumes for the original production of the show and any new work done for the revival being largely a recreation.

American Ballet Theatre's 2010 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 17-July 10, will celebrate the Company's 70th Anniversary with a tribute to legendary ballerina Alicia Alonso and the 30th Anniversary of Natalia Makarova's production of La Bayadère. The season will also feature the Company Premiere of John Neumeier's Lady of the Camellias. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on March 28.

Voting is fully underway for BroadwayWorld's 2010 Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, with thousands of votes already in and recording voting numbers already being set. So far there have been early leads established for some surprising and not so suprising early leaders.

It was announced yesterday that the Tony Awards overseers (members of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League) had decided to withdraw the nomination for Best Costume Design from Santo Loquasto for his work on Ragtime on the basis that he, along with his team, created similar designs for the original 1998 production. Now, the Drama Desk has followed suit. In a letter to voters and members,William Wolf, President and Barbara Siegel, Chairperson, The Nominating Committee write that

The New York Times is reporting that the Tony Awards overseers (members of the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League) have decided to withdraw the nomination for Best Costume Design from Santo Loquasto for his work on Ragtime on the basis that he, along with his team, created similar designs for the original 1998 production.

The New York Times is reporting that Eddie Izzard will take over for James Spader in RACE beginning on June 21st. This now completes the new cast along with Afton C. Williamson and Dennis Haysbert along with Richard Thomas who will remain with the show.

The producers of RACE have announced that Afton C. Williamson, who made her Broadway debut in Joe Turner's Come and Gone, will take over the role of 'Susan' from Kerry Washington, beginning Tuesday, June 15th. Williamson made a striking impression on the creative team when, as understudy, she replaced Kerry Washington the one night Kerry missed a performance, due to a previous obligation to go to the White House as part of the President's national Arts Council.

Two-time Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, currently starring alongside Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Viola Davis in the first Broadway revival of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning FENCES, was featured on 'Live with Regis & Kelly' yesterday.

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson's 1987 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play FENCES broke the box office record at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, NYC) for the week ending May 9, 2010, grossing $1,008,103.50.

Voting is fully underway for BroadwayWorld's 2010 Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, with thousands of votes already in and early leads established for some surprising and not so suprising early choices. Voting will continue through June 4, 2010 and anything can happen between now and then. In the meantime early leaders range from those overlooked by the TONY nominations to fan favorites. Check out the current stats below by category after the first weekend audit on the votes.

In a lighthearted piece by NY Magazine, Sarah Paulson provides insight into her NY lifestyle.

2010 Tony Award nominee DAVID ALAN GRIER and acclaimed film star KERRY WASHINGTON will conclude their critically acclaimed performances in David Mamet's RACE on SUNDAY, JUNE 13th. Emmy Award winner JAMES SPADER, in the pivotal role of lawyer 'Jack Lawson', will play his final performance on SUNDAY, JUNE 20th.

Voting is fully underway for BroadwayWorld's 2010 Theatre Fans' Choice Awards, with thousands of votes already in and early leads established for some surprising and not so suprising early results. Voting will continue through June 4, 2010 and anything can happen between now and then. In the meantime early leaders range from those overlooked by the TONY nominations to fan favorites. Check out the current stats below by category.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present two-time Academy Award-winner Dianne Wiest in THE FOREST, by Alexander Ostrovosky, translated by Kathleen Tolan, and directed by Brian Kulick, beginning performances Friday, April 23 at CSC with an official press opening Thursday, May 6 at 7pm. THE FOREST will also star Obie Award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson, who earned great acclaim last year for his title role performance in Othello at Theatre for a New Audience. THE FOREST will play a limited engagement through Sunday May 30 only.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 64th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 4, 2010 by Broadway Star Lea Michele and Tony Award Nominee Jeff Daniels.

The Tony Awards Nominations were announced this morning on Tuesday, May 4th. The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 13, 2010.

The 17th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, posthumously honoring and celebrating the work of lighting and set designer Michael Philippi (Desire Under the Elms, Death of a Salesman), 'an esteemed longtime collaborator and friend', will take place on Monday, May 3, at the Goodman Theatre.

Tthe 55th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. Former Drama Desk Award winner Patti LuPone will host the awards ceremony.

The U.K. Daily Mail is reporting that the Broadway production of FENCES, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis may transfer to the West End following it's final curtain call in New York on July 11, 2010. Washington is reportedly in the early stages of negotiations to make the transfer with the show.

From April 30 to May 23, Yangtze Repertory Theatre of America (www.yangtze-rep-theatre.org) will present 'Laughing in the Wind: A Cautionary Tale in Martial Arts,' based on a novel by Jin Yong, China's most popular writer of the Martial Arts (Wuxia) genre, and arguably the most widely read author in the Chinese speaking world.