Lucille Lortels

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 10:53pm

Does anyone know what went down yet? I'm dying...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 10:59pm

I'm curious too. I just looked around and the info doesn't seem to be up yet.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:17pm

Just came back.
Spelling Bee won Best Musical.
The performance by Altar Boyz tonight was outstanding.

The Spelling Bee number was a mess.
I was really looking forward to Bee, but after seeing the number tonight I am not sure I want to see it.
Some highlights of the night:
A very funny play called Nina by Charles Busch. Had me in stitches. The man is brilliant.

The opening act was by Forbidden Broadway. Jen Simard and the entire cast were wonderful.
Gerard did a piece called Off-Broadway which was very funny.
The best part of the whole evening was Bruce Vilanch.
He is so funny. His one liners were more entertaining then the shows themselves.
Julie was also very funny but for me Bruce stole the show.
Best play- Doubt (surprise surprise)
Cherry Jones- Actress

I loved Nina and Off Broadway. Moving and very clever stuff.
Altar Boyz and Forbidden Broadway were the most entertaining musical numbers. Lone Star Love was also wonderful.
Bee was a train wreck. Maybe it was because I was upstairs and the choregraphy of the number was out of my view for half of it.
But the mic was not working and it was terrible.
TERRIBLE!
Hope to see it from start to finish.
The energy of Altar Boyz was incredible. I can't wait to see it.


I would love to see Mary Louise Burke play Nina.
That would be a hoot.
Also Barrett Foa brought Rod. Barrett looked smashing in a gorgeous pink tie and pinestripe suit.
He has Rod down now. I wanted more.


Updated On: 5/3/05 at 11:17 PM

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:34pm

I just got back from the after-party, and, since Corine2 beat me to the punch with the winners, I'll just add my comments:

"Spelling Bee won Best Musical."
Although I like this show, I was sad about this win. "Spelling Bee" is good, but it did not deserve to win over "Altar Boyz".

Likewise, Dan Fogler (as wonderful a performer as he is) didn't deserve to beat Tyler Maynard.

"The performance by Altar Boyz tonight was outstanding."
Except for when the sound system malfunctioned... It was fun to see them in their promo costumes, though.

"The Spelling Bee number was a mess."
That was the understudy, and he was sick. The number that he sang is actually one of the best songs in the show; it truly kicks ass when sung properly and in the right space (and Stage 3 at the Dodger complex is NOT the right space).

"Some highlights of the night:
A very funny play called Nina by Charles Busch. Had me in stitches. The man is brilliant."
I wasn't overly impressed by the performances, but the writing was good.

Highlights for me:

-"The opening act was by Forbidden Broadway. Jen Simard and the entire cast were wonderful."
True dat. SO good.

-There was a number called "Off-White Way" performed by David Beach and Kevin Kern, the "Altar Boyz" standby. Kern was pretty damn phenomenal, too. That vocal part is much better-suited to his voice, as well- he isn't really a 'pop' voice.

-Theresa Aceves did an Off-Broadway Impression called "Nina" that was so funny I almost peed myself.

-Christopher Gattelli's win for Choreography. He totally deserved it, and his speech was so nice.

-Charles Ludlam's Playwrights' Sidewalk induction. I forget the name of the gentleman who accepted the award on Ludlam's behalf, but his speech moved me.

-The three-way tie for Best Featured Actress between Parker Posey, Jenn Harris, and Adriane Lenox. Posey didn't show, which was disappointing, but Adriane was funny as hell, and Harris is so sweet, and she was so charmingly overwhelmed by the whole situation. It was a great moment.

-"The best part of the whole evening was Bruce Villanch.
He is so funny. His one liners were more entertaining then the shows themselves."
Vilanch was wonderful. Best line of the night (after the "Altar Boyz" number): "I'd like to formally announce my conversion."

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 11:34 PM

[CattleCall]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:34pm

who won best featured actor?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:38pm

Nina was there? What did she perform? How did she look? Did anyone record this?

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:39pm

I'm still sulking about Jen.
I saw Modern Orthodox and even though Jenn Harris was the best part of the show.(The only thing good about Modern Orthodox)
Her performance did not compare to Jen Simard.
Not in a million years.
I was very disappointed. Especially for three women to tie and exclude the woman who in my opinion deserved it most.
Updated On: 5/2/05 at 11:39 PM

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:41pm

I'm just happy that I didn't have to choose between Parker Posey and Jenn Harris after all.

I enjoy Simard, but I didn't think that her performance rivaled the two that I just mentioned. Just my opinion, though.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 11:41 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:43pm

Corine- dont fret about the 'BEE' "train wrek". If you loved Avenue Q (which I know you did ), you will absolutley adore Bee. I think its better and funnier than Q but thats just me.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 11:44pm

Did you see Simard in Forbidden Broadway.
Did you see her:
Bernadette, Chenoweth and Christmas Eve?
How about her flawless Judy?
I have seen Jen over 10 times and she deserved it.
More then Parker Posey.
Jenn Harris has a part that lasts for maybe twenty minutes of the show. A very small part.
Jen Simard on the other hand does over 20 impersonations and zillions of costume changes. A very talented person has to pull off all of that and remain flawless.
Jen Simard is a very talented performer and a lady.

How can anything be better then Q? Updated On: 5/2/05 at 11:44 PM

[williamsburg]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:07am

Any chance of a complete list of the winners minus editorial comment? The comments are fine but would just like to know the facts ma'am.

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:40am

aww go Christopher Gattelli!!!!!!!!! though i'm a little devastated about the other Altar Boyz noms

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:40am

what number did Bee perform?

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:43am

My unfortunate errection.
The mic was not working.
It was poor.
I felt bad for the guy he even hit Tim Daly in the head with Dorito's.

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 1:13am

who won sound design?

[allamarane]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:32am

From Broadway World:

Outstanding Play
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley
Producer: Manhattan Theatre Club

Outstanding Musical
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Producer: Second Stage Theatre

Outstanding Solo Show
Nine Parts of Desire Starring and Written by Heather Raffo
Produced by Manhattan Ensemble Theater

Outstanding Revival
Counsellor-At-Law by Elmer Rice
Produced by Peccadillo Theater Company

Outstanding Director
Doug Hughes, Doubt

Outstanding Choreographer
Christopher Gattelli, Altar Boyz

Outstanding Lead Actor
John Rubinstein, Counsellor-At-Law

Outstanding Lead Actress
Cherry Jones, Doubt

Outstanding Featured Actor
Dan Fogler, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Outstanding Featured Actress
THREE-WAY TIE
Jenn Harris, Modern Orthodox
Adriane Lenox, Doubt
Parker Posey, Hurlyburly

Outstanding Scenic Design
Derek McLane, Intimate Apparel

Outstanding Costume Design
Catherine Zuber, Intimate Apparel

Outstanding Lighting Design
David Weiner, Rodney’s Wife

Outstanding Sound Design
Obadiah Eaves, Nine Parts of Desire

Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence:
Frances Sternhagen

Outstanding Body of Work:
The Irish Repertory Theatre
2005 Lucille Lortel winners

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:25am

"Did you see Simard in Forbidden Broadway.
Did you see her:
Bernadette, Chenoweth and Christmas Eve?
How about her flawless Judy?"
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

"I have seen Jen over 10 times and she deserved it."
I've seen Jenn over 50 times and she deserved it.

"Jenn Harris has a part that lasts for maybe twenty minutes of the show. A very small part."
This is true; however, the script that she has to work with is drek. It's terribly unfunny. And yet she finds a way to infuse her character with irrisistable charm and humor... and she does it flawlessly every night.

"Jen Simard is a very talented performer..."
As were all of the performers nominated in the category.

"...and a lady."
Well, technically, the award shouldn't be based on anything but the performance itself. But if personality has to be dragged into it, then let me vouch that Jenn Harris is one of the warmest people I've ever met.

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:30am

"Corine- dont fret about the 'BEE' "train wrek"."

Like I said before, Corine2, the "Spelling Bee" number wasn't up to par at all. It was an understudy, and he was under the weather.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 7:51am

You have seen Jen 50 times.
Great to hear that about Bee. I admit to going to this award show to cheer Forbidden Broadway but I also wanted to see Spelling Bee perform.
I was most excited by Altar Boyz and Charles Busch's Nina.
I bought my ticket for Altar Boyz now I need to buy one for Spelling Bee.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:03am

Repeating my self. Very pleased re Attorney @ Law and John Rubinstein. Lovely little period piece very well done. Glad someone noticed.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:45am

So Jen Simard is a loser?
By the way, I don't think I ever want to see Forbidden Broadway because I saw a girl perform the Annie number at a mall in Olathe, Kansas and she was terrible. She was supposed to be the best girl in Olathe High School for the Performing Arts, but she was terrible. So I don't think I would like that show AT ALL!

And no one has said what number our Nina performed.

[Loppy]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:48am

"Although I like this show, I was sad about this win. 'Spelling Bee' is good, but it did not deserve to win over 'Altar Boyz'."

They are both slightly over-blown SNL skits that operate on exaggerated stereotypes. "Spelling Bee", however, has a better book and more varied humor. It throws in some social commentary. It's humor comes from a more honest and relatable place. If the set design off-broadway is comparable to the broadway set, it is clearly superior to "Altar Boyz". The cast, for the most part, of "Spelling Bee" is better.

"Altar Boyz" is 90 minutes of the same two jokes. It's peppy and cute, but it says very little. Maynard is very good, but by the end of the night you're sort of like "Yes, we get it. You're gay." There no development at all in his character. None of the rest of the cast particularly stood out. They were good, but not exceptional. "Altar Boyz" is cute and it has a lot going for it-but it's not great theatre.

Neither is , "Spelling Bee", really. But it comes a little closer.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:54am

Sueleen,
Jen is not a loser and I know you are saying this to upset me.
Every nominee is a winner.
Slap!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:09am

Oh Corine, I didn't mean to upset you. And I really prefer a spank!

[magic8ball]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:17am

"You have seen Jen 50 times."

-"Modern Orthodox" is one of the shows that I work.

"They are both slightly over-blown SNL skits that operate on exaggerated stereotypes. "Spelling Bee", however, has a better book and more varied humor. It throws in some social commentary. It's humor comes from a more honest and relatable place. If the set design off-broadway is comparable to the broadway set, it is clearly superior to "Altar Boyz". The cast, for the most part, of "Spelling Bee" is better."

-It's true that "Spelling Bee" has more varied humor; however, I must disagree about the "some social commentary" thing simply because, what good is social commentary if you're not going to flesh it out? Either explore the issues or don't. Don't tip-toe around them superficially (which is exactly what "Spelling Bee" does).

The set design of "Spelling Bee" was absolutely wonderful.

Finally, you saw "Altar Boyz" towards the beginning of the run, and a lot has changed since then. (I wasn't crazy about it at first, either.) But the cast has grown into their roles more- a lot more- and now I would never say that the cast of "Spelling Bee" was stronger. The show is SO much tighter and poignant than it was at the beginning of the run. Plus, your view of the show was tainted by outside circumstances...

Updated On: 5/3/05 at 11:17 AM