Anika Noni Rose News

'Right now I am slightly hung over and a little constipated (not the best combination!) Working with Jeffrey Lane on this was a fantastic experience. He's brilliant. We went into this process together knowing that it was a giant challenge, and the early process of building this from the ground up was the best part of the experience for me. The fun really began when we were fortunate enough to get Pedro Almodovar involved. The on stage highlight for me was seeing Laura Benanti's number 'Model Behavior' fully realized. That was the product of true collaboration between me, Jeffrey, Bartlett Sher and Laura. That's what's special about musical theater - when one person's idea sets off another idea, which builds on another idea and then another. And then to watch Laura hit it out of the park was truly special. That was collaboration that worked. Tonight I play poker, which hopefully will be a continuation of the celebration (unless I lose, of course!).'

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

Past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announced the 2011 Tony Awards nominees live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City. BroadwayWorld.com will be talking to all of the nominees to hear their exciting stories of how they heard, who they told and more! Click below to watch the video of the nominations, courtesy of Broadway Beat!

Los ganadores de la pasada edición de los Premios Tony: Anika Noni Rose y Matthew Broderick, han anunciado los nominados para los Premios Tony 2011. Se trata de la edición número 65 de los premios y tendrá lugar en el Beacon Theatre el próximo 12 de junio.

Los ganadores de la pasada edición de los Premios Tony: Anika Noni Rose y Matthew Broderick, han anunciado los nominados para los Premios Tony 2011. Se trata de la edición número 65 de los premios y tendrá lugar en el Beacon Theatre el próximo 12 de junio.

'It's kind of a really cool morning! I'm in LA at the moment, so I was in my hotel room bed, and I think, okay, let's watch the announcements just for fun and see whats up. Once they started reading and saying 'The Scottsboro Boys' my heart started racing. Anika is my very best friend in the whole world, and as she is reading off the nominations she hits the podium, and I thought, 'wow, she must be excited for something.' Then she read my name! It couldn't be more perfect than to have your best friend reading your name for a nomination. She called me right after they were off the air and she told me that originally Matthew was supposed to read that part but she took it from him. (Laughs.) In regards to all the nominations post closing, and the idea of reopening, well, it would be nice to reopen! This all just shows you that anything can happen. This helps me know that what we did was something significant, something the audience felt was as special as we thought it was, and it is nice to know that that was appreciated. As for The Scottsboro Boys returning in London or Broadway, the location isn't as important. It is just nice to know that it is not the end of the journey. To celebrate I am going to go to Denny's, because I am starving! And I have been on the phone for hours, so I am going to order a grand slam, or maybe a lumber jack special while I change my flight to get back to the press junket tomorrow.'

'I feel pretty remarkable. In fact, it's pretty remarkable how many phone calls the iPhone can handle. I've heard noises and beeps from this thing this morning that I've never heard before. It's so exciting and what an honor. I was avoiding reading or watching anything so that if I didn't get nominated it wouldn't feel like such a bust. I didn't even know what time the nominations were being announced. But then the phone rang with my manger screaming as I was feeding the baby, so then I squealed, which then set off this chain reaction of the baby screaming and the dog barking and then the baby messing the diaper, so my joy lasted for about two seconds but it was a good two seconds. 14 nominations for the show...wow! Of course I prayed that it would happen, but I never imagined to be honored like this! I feel so lucky to have been able to originate this role with this amazing creative team and have the opportunity to give it my voice. Having been able to build something from scratch over the course of three years is the greatest achievement for me.'

'I was sleeping in bed when the announcement came, I don't know if it is a 'head in the sand type thing,' where it can only be good news if I'm not watching! (Laughs.) But anyway, my good friend called me and let me know. I have a really amazing support system and great friends. Once I found out I called my brother and sister in law, I wanted to catch them before they left for work. Then I had to track my mother down, she works in a hospital so I had to call five different nursing stations to find her! We were cried together. Later today I am getting a massage and I'm getting together with the cast for a lunch to celebrate the 14 nominations. In regards to being surprised about the show's multiple nominations, you can't know until you know. You can feel really positive and I did, but I also haven't seen a lot of the other shows. The best moment for me was when I saw that Andrew and Josh were nominated as well. I believe that the show is so good because every person is doing the best work possible.'

'Well, I had to be sitting up in front of the TV for in the nominations because my mother is in Australia and she insisted on hearing them live with me. I had to hold the phone up to the TV and it turned out that she couldn't hear it, so I had to remember them and repeat it all! It's extraordinary and so nice I've been from the show since the first workshop, building the character. I've had so much input onto the show and my character and I feel so emotionally invested in the production -- it's the first all Australian musical on Broadway. Audiences in New York have been exactly the same, it's an audience show rather than a critics show and the audiences just go crazy every night. It's very exciting, there's a roar that goes up every night at the end of the show so we know we're doing something right!'

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 65th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced May 3, 2011 by Tony Award winning actor Matthew Broderick and Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.

'I was waiting for the book fair to begin at my son's school when my manager and friend Richie Jackson called with the news of my Tony nomination. I am deeply honored to have been acknowledged in this way - for theater in New York City - this is a very big thrill for me.'

'I am very excited and gratified for all 5 of these well deservered nominations. I am so happy for everyone involved with the show. I woke up early and actually listened to the live feed on BWW, and started jumping up and down with my wife when the news come through. It's been a long and complicated journey, it's been absolutely thrilling to have the show finally land in New York and watch the audience enjoy it every night. This show is about fun and these nominations are just icing on the cake.' Glenn Slater, nominee for Best Original Score for Sister Act

'We're feeling pretty good. I've been up since 6 o'clock this morning, so unlike those who were sleeping I was wide awake. It's just wonderful because you see a classic show like this get so recognized in such a wonderful season with so many new and exciting shows and musicals. It's lovely, it's a wonderful gift and the double nomination, plus everything for the show - it's like Christmas morning with a bike and dollhouse under the tree! You are my first phone call, I got lots of emails from folks, but we were feeding breakfast to our twins with NY1 on in the background. I couldn't be happier!'

Past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announced the 2011 Tony Awards nominees live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City. BroadwayWorld.com will be talking to all of the nominees to hear their exciting stories of how they heard, who they told and more!

On Saturday, April 30 at 7:00pm, members of the Bay Area Cabaret & Theatrical communities join forces to raise funds for, and honor the work of, cabaret columnist and award-winning director Mike Ward, facing the final months of terminal, inoperable liver cancer.

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, May 2 at the St. Regis New York hotel (2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue). This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, will honor Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season inAnything Goes and director of The Normal Heart), recipient of the Theater Artist Award, presented by Anything Goes director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall; Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles), recipient of the Theater Professional Award, presented by Benjamin Moore (Managing Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre) and Richard Thomas (Race on Broadway and The Public's Timon of Athens); and BNY Mellon, recipient of the Corporate Leadership Award, presented by Tony Award-winning stage and film actress Anika Noni Rose. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (PARADE, 13, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD) and Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Anika Noni Rose (DREAMGIRLS) and The Caucasian Rhythm Kings begin a special three-night concert engagement tonight at the Henry Street Settlement - Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand at Pitt). The concerts will also be filmed for future broadcast on PBS.

Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, 13, The Last Five Years, Songs for a New World) and Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) and The Caucasian Rhythm Kings begin a special three-night concert engagement tonight at the Henry Street Settlement - Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand at Pitt). The concerts will also be filmed for future broadcast on PBS.

Tune into BroadwayWorld.com at 8am on May 3 to watch past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announce the 2011 Tony Awards nominees! The video webcast will air live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.

The pair gave BroadwayWorld.com a sneak peek at their rehearsals and the scoop on what they'll be performing! We are also excited to offer a special BroadwayWorld.com discount for $20 tickets to Thursday's show, using code: JRBBWW.