moviequips blog: Plays with popcorn

Checking out the televised Tony Awards was a blast this past weekend - partially because of the surprising number of Hollywood screen faces seen. Daniel Radcliffe, James Earl Jones, Al Pacino, Chris Rock and Hugh Jackman, to name just a few.

Yes, moviequips.ca's outsider insight on theatre continues. Relax. I'll keep it brief...

"The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards® are presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. The two organizations have jointly administered the Tonys since 1967, the year of the first Tony telecast."

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html

The Tony Awards ceremony was first held in April 1947, at New York City's Waldorf Astoria hotel, and the award is named after American Theatre Wing co-founder Antoinette "Toni" Perry (June 27, 1888 – June 28, 1946).

Another interesting tidbit involving American Broadway theatre mentioned during the Tony Awards was that its latest season was the biggest ever, financially. According to The Broadway League (http://www.broadwayleague.com) - the Manhattan-based national trade association for the Broadway industry - the 2010-2011 season made a staggering $1,080 million USD. By comparison, Broadway's 2009-2010 season brought in $1,020 million and 2008-2009 reaped a $943 million winfall.

On the flipside, the Reuters News site recently posted writer Suzy Evans' article "Hollywood stars at center of Broadway backlash", which cites "Last year's star-studded broadcast disheartened many New York actors, including Hunter Foster, who started the Facebook group Give the Tonys Back to Broadway! in an effort to combat the Tinseltown effect. With the now almost 9,000-member group, Foster hopes to restore the ceremony as a beacon of hope for the next generation of stage performers." Check it out:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/30/us-stage-actors-idUSTRE74T06K20110530

One of the Broadway plays featured during this year's Tony Awards was Stephen Sondheim's revival of the 70s stage musical Company. TV's Neil Patrick Harris stars, with Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton amongst the cast. As it happens, Company is coming to town - only on June 15 - screened by Cineplex at SilverCity and South Keys in Ottawa, and StarCité in Gatineau, and by Empire 7 Cinemas at the World Exchange Plaza. Showtime is 7pm at all locations, fresh popcorn optional.

"Company’s plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. It’s a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby’s 35th Birthday."

http://www.cineplex.com/Movies/MovieDetails/Stephen-Sondheim-s-Company.aspx?loc_cookie=OTTAWA+-+ON

So, what of the Great White North's answer to the Great White Way? Hugh Jackman is bringing his one-man stage show to Toronto. So, not much...

The Prix Rideau Awards recently celebrated Ottawa-Gatineau talent during a wonderfully entertaining and worthwhile ceremony this past Spring. However, from this outsider's vantage, it seems the larger question of Canadian Theatre and its financial future compared to that of just Broadway alone remains unanswered - except perhaps amongst the video sessions found at Theatre Museum Canada's truly informative Toronto-based website:

"Welcome to Theatre Museum Canada. Our goal is to share the wonder of theatre in Canada, through our collection of artifacts, designs, photos, videos and interviews, using every marvel of technology to help you experience the thrill of live theatre, past and present. Theatre Museum Canada is the only museum devoted to celebrating Canada's theatrical heritage."

http://www.theatremuseumcanada.ca/

On a positive note here in the capital, both the Great Canadian Theatre Company and La Nouvelle Scène have announced their 2011-2012 seasons. There's some interesting-looking stuff coming to the local stage beginning in July, check it out: