Broadway's critically acclaimed production of Denzel Washington in Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun closes tonight at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It was directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon and originally opened on April 3 for a limited engagement.
Broadway's critically acclaimed production of Denzel Washington in Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN is celebrating a big week. Not only did it take home three 2014 Tony Awards (Best Revival of a Play, Best Director of a Play -- Kenny Leon, and Best Featured Actress in a Play -- Sophie Okonedo) on Sunday night, it has also recouped its entire capitalization. The production, which began previews Saturday, March 8, officially opened on Thursday, April 3 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47 Street), where it will end its limited engagement run this Sunday, June 15.
As part of BroadwayWorld's expansive coverage of the 68th Annual Tony Awards, we are providing the full text of all of the Tony Award acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the bizarre, and everything in between. Keep up with all of the winners' speeches on our continuously updated list.
A RAISIN IN THE SUN has won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Set on Chicago's South Side, A Raisin in the Sun revolved around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee (Denzel Washington), his wife Ruth (Sophie Okonedo), his sister Beneatha (Anika Noni Rose), his son Travis (Bryce Clyde Jenkins) and matriarch Lena, called Mama (LaTanya Richardson Jackson).
Sophie Okonedo has won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for A RAISIN IN THE SUN. This is Sophie Okonedo's first Tony nomination and her Broadway debut. She starred as Cressida in the National Theatre's Troilus and Cressida (1999). Okonedo was nominated for an Academy Award for Hotel Rwanda in 2004 and a Golden Globe for Tsunami: The Aftermath in 2006.
On Tony Awards Sunday -- June 8 -- CUNY TV will present 7-1/2 hours of glorious Broadway interviews related to this year's nominated musicals, plays, and individuals - from 12:30 p.m. right up till Tony time (8 p.m. on CBS).
Look, we get it, whether due to budget or geography, you didn't see every show of the Broadway season, but that doesn't mean you can't be fully up-to-date for this Sunday's Tony Awards. To help get you prepared for the theatre's biggest night, BroadwayWorld has put together the ultimate Tonys Crash Course. We've outlined all of the shows nominated in the Best Play and Best Revival of a Play categories, and provided you 'study materials' as only BWW can, by mining our one-of-a-kind archives.
A star-studded countdown to the 68th Annual Tony Awards ceremony begins on CUNY TV with the all-new special, 2014 TONY AWARDS PREVIEW, co-hosted by entertainment reporter Pat Collins and four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, a nominee this year for his play Casa Valentina. Collins and Fierstein team up at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, where the set for the CBS telecast is being built, and with delightful banter introduce segments consisting of clips and interviews in all of the leading categories, including Best Play, Best Musical and Best Revivals.
Yesterday Julianne Moore hosted an afternoon tea in honor of Tony nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson, currently starring as Lena Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Held at Lady Mendl's at the Inn at Irving Place, an impressive group of women from theatre, film and television, including LaTanya's fellow Tony nominated costars Sophie Okonedo and Anika Noni Rose, gathered to salute LaTanya. Although she was unable to attend, First Lady Michelle Obama did send a note which was read aloud by Julianne Moore after Ms. Moore made a toast to LaTanya. Samuel L. Jackson and Bart Freundlich crashed the party to enjoy the afternoon with their wives.
A star-studded countdown to the 68th Annual Tony Awards ceremony begins on CUNY TV with the all-new special, 2014 TONY AWARDS PREVIEW, co-hosted by entertainment reporter Pat Collins and four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, a nominee this year for his play Casa Valentina. Collins and Fierstein team up at Hudson Scenic Studio in Yonkers, where the set for the CBS telecast is being built, and with delightful banter introduce segments consisting of clips and interviews in all of the leading categories, including Best Play, Best Musical and Best Revivals.
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, which is currently playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street), just released a 68-page digital souvenir book in honor of Hansberry's birthday, May 19. Click here to download the special souvenir book now!
The 59th Annual Village Voice Obie Awards, celebrating achievement in the Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway theater, were given out at a ceremony last night at Webster Hall in Greenwich Village. The awards ceremony was co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater. The awards were presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl, David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti, Kelli O'Hara, Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.
The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon was held earlier this afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners were announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event was hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. The big winners of the day included A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, All the Way, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Glass Menagerie, and Neil Patrick Harris. Click here for a list of all the nominees! BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and below, you can check out full photo coverage of all of the red carpet fashion!
The 80th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon is being held this afternoon, May 16, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square, where winners will be announced for Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. This year's event, which began at noon, is hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson. BroadwayWorld is updating the winners live! Check back in to find out who took home the big awards!
An all-new THEATER TALK celebrates Tony® Award nominees from A Raisin in the Sun and Aladdin, all moving toward the June 8 awards ceremonies with considerable momentum.
The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced today that the Lifetime Achievement Award Obie will go to the esteemed ESTELLE PARSONS. The OBIE Awards Ceremony Will Be Co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater, and presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl , David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti , Kelli O'Hara , Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.
Not all of the 2014 nominees have walked down this Tonys road before- in fact, quite a few of them earned their first nominations this morning. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a list of this year's acting nominees, who are celebrating their Tonys news for first time!
Earlier this morning, co-hosts Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff announced this year's highly anticipated Tony Award Nominations live from Paramount Hotel's Diamond Horseshoe. Below, check out how each show fared individually in a list of nominations by show. CLICK HERE for a full list of nominees.
Beautiful-The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, just gave an added performance to benefit The Actors Fund last night, April 27 at 8:00 PM. The company of Beautiful donated their time and talent for the performance, for an audience which included cast members from current Broadway shows and other areas of the entertainment community. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund, which helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special night below!
Follow us on BWW throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions, exclusive reports, surprises, behind the scenes coverage and oh, so much more! The 2014 Tony Awards, hosted by Hugh Jackman, will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, on Sunday, June 8th on CBS. Our official Tony coverage kicks off - NOW!
