2013 Tony Award Nominations Announced!

2013 Tony Award Nominations Announced!

Kinky Boots leads with 13 nominations

They're here! Nominations for the 2013 Tony® Awards were announced this morning. The Cindy Lauper scored Kinky Boots leads with 13 nominations in the best musical, director, score and choreographer categories. Matilda is close behind with 12 nominations.

The 2013 Tony Awards will air live from the Beacon Theatre in New York on CBS on Sunday, June 9 at 7 p.m.

What show do you want to see win?

2013 Tony Award Nominees:

Best Play
The Assembled Parties by Richard Greenberg
Lucky Guy by Nora Ephron
The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang

Best Musical
Bring It On, The Musical
A Christmas Story, The Musical
Kinky Boots, The Musical
Matilda, The Musical

Best book of a musical
A Christmas Story, The Musical Joseph Robinette
Kinky Boots Harvey Fierstein
Matilda, The Musical Dennis Kelly
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella Douglas Carter Beane

Best Revival of a Play
Golden Boy Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten
Orphans
The Trip to Bountiful
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Revival of a Musical
Annie
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Pippin
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
A Christmas Story, The Musical Music and Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Hands on a Hardbody Music: Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green Lyrics: Amanda Green
Kinky Boots Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper
Matilda The Musical Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tom Sturridge Orphans

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Amy Morton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Holland Taylor, Ann
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Bertie Carvel, Matilda, The Musical
Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandelous
Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical
Patina Miller, Pippin
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Danny Burstein, Golden Boy
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Carrie Coon, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Charl Brown, Motown, The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Terrence Mann, Pippin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Lauren Ward, Matilda, The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
David Rockwell, Lucky Guy
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rob Howell, Matilda, The Musical
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Scott Pask, Pippin
David Rockwell, Kinky Boots

Best Costume Design of a Play
Soutra Gilmour, Cyrano de Bergerac
Ann Roth, The Nance
Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Catherine Zuber, Golden Boy

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots
Rob Howell, Matilda, The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Donald Holder, Golden Boy
Jennifer Tipton, The Testament of Mary
Japhy Weideman, The Nance

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kenneth Posner, Kinky Boots
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Kenneth Posner, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Hugh Vanstone, Matilda The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play
John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance
Peter John Still and Marc Salzberg, Golden Boy

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans & Garth Helm, Pippin
Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
John Shivers, Kinky Boots
Nevin Steinberg, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Direction of a Play
Pam MacKinnon, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Bartlett Sher, Golden Boy
George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy

Best Direction of a Musical
Scott Ellis, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Matthew Warchus, Matilda, The Musical

Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda, The Musical
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Chet Walker, Pippin

A ROARing Thank You!

On Monday evening the community got a chance to journey inside the theatrical wonder of Disney’s The Lion King at ROAR: A 10th Anniversary Safari Event. Attendees were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at The Lion King's Pride Rock, puppets, masks and musical instruments. The event also featured a Survival of the Fittest live auction and Pick a Paw poster sale with proceeds benefiting the Center's mission-based activities. 

Thank you to all who purchased tickets to support the Center's 10th Anniversary fundraising event and a special thanks to Disney, The Lion King cast and crew and the community for making this event a ROARing success!

The Lion King Production Stage Manager Ken Davis and
Fox Cities P.A.C Executive Vice President Maria Van Laanen emcee.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

The Lion King Head Carpenter Bill Kimberly describes Pride Rock. 

Ken Davis and Bill Kimberly explain the mechanics of a Simba puppet.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

Flutist Kay Ragsdale explains the 15 different flutes
she plays during the performance.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

Disney's The Lion King Puppet Master Michael Reilly and Zazu Actor Tony Freeman
present about the puppets and masks used in the show.

See more about the masks and puppets used in The Lion King with a behind-the-scenes look from The Post-Crescent!

Live auctioneers Mike Weller and Beth Flaherty help raise
funds for the Center's 10th Anniversary.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

Funds were also raised through the Pick a Paw Poster Tent.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

Guests enjoyed a dessert reception after the presentation.
Photo Credit: Bill Garvin

Special lobby decorations

Simba Mask on display during the event

Lion King Pride - Little Known Facts About Broadway's Biggest Blockbuster

Lion King Pride
Little Known Facts About Broadway's Biggest Blockbuster

Did you know?

 

The tallest animals in the show are the four, 18-foot exotic giraffes from “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”  The two giraffes in “Circle of Life” are 14 feet high.  Two actors trained in stilt-walking, climb 6-foot ladders to fit inside the puppets, mount stilts and enter stage left to cross the stage.

“The Giraffes” in the opening number “The Circle of Life” from THE LION KING National Tour.  ÓDisney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  

Six Languages are spoken in the show: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa (the click language), Sotho, Tswana and Congolese.

 

 

The Timon meerkat puppet weighs 15 pounds.

Nick Cordileone as “Timon” and Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa” in THE LION KING National Tour. 
©Disney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  

The North American touring production (launched in April 2002) uses 18 trucks to transport puppets, set pieces and other materials from city to city. Fourteen of the trucks are 53’ long semi-trailers.

 

The most complicated set piece is Pride Rock, which appears five times during each performance.  On tour, Pride Rock is a battery-powered set piece which expands out like an accordion to 18’ wide at its fullest position onstage and compresses to 8’ when it is offstage in the wings.  Learn more about Pride Rock at ROAR on April 22!

“Circle of Life”.  ©Disney.  Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus.  

Inside the Fox Cities P.A.C.: 

Over 11,000 bottles of water will be sold.

8,640 Volunteer hours will be donated.

287 different groups will attend; ranging in size from 15 – 336 attendees each!

6,000 ounces of specialty drink will be consumed.

1,500 Annual Partners will visit the Partners Lounge.

See Disney's The Lion King at the Fox Cities P.A.C. tonight through May 5!

Q&A with Vusi Mhlongo of Disney’s The Lion King

Q&A with Vusi Mhlongo of Disney’s The Lion King

Vusi Mhlongo

Disney's The Lion King is a worldwide phenomenon, and it brings together a talented cast with ties around the globe. Vusi Mhlongo, a member of the ensemble, sat down with us to share about his journey from his home in Durban, South Africa to the Fox Cities P.A.C. stage.

Fox Cities P.A.C.: How long have you been performing with Disney’s The Lion King?

Vusi Mhlongo: I've been performing with the show for 11 years.

FCPAC: What is your favorite role in the ensemble and how does it add to the production?

VM: I enjoy all my ensemble roles in the show, but my favorite is singing "Circle of Life." My part adds authenticity and uniqueness to the show with my South African culture and experience.

FCPAC: How does The Lion King remind you of South Africa?

VM: The music, the harmonies, the rhythm and all aspects of the show remind me of South Africa. Also I'm reminded that I'm here because I'm a South African and makes me proud to share my culture.

FCPAC: Do you think being from South Africa gives you a unique perspective on the show?

VM: The songs to me have a profound meaning with themes of courage and hope in the face of adversity.

FCPAC: As an actor you’ve toured Europe and now the United States. What have been your favorite places to perform and why?

VM: That is a hard question because I've been to so many places. I like a lot of the United States' cities because of a lot of good people I've met in these places. And also I've learned a lot about the United States because of the tour. Every city has its own experience.

FCPAC: What do you hope audiences take away from The Lion King and its portrayal of the African savannah?

VM: With The Lion King experience I hope the audience gets to appreciate Africa and the beauty that comes from it through our diverse culture and the natural world.

You can see Vusi and more than 48 talented actors create theater magic with Disney’s The Lion King tonight through Sunday, May 5. For tickets, call the ticket office at (920) 730-3760 or visit foxcitiespac.com!

Seven Safari Stops before Disney's The Lion King

Fun Things to See and Do at the Fox Cities P.A.C. Before Disney’s The Lion King

1. 10th Anniversary Timeline. Don’t pass by this 33 foot display located near the exterior valet entrance. Take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the best and brightest moments from the Center’s 10 year history.

2. Tobias Keene Painting. On loan from The Trout Museum of Art, see the 72 inch oil painting “Girl on a Golden Swing.” It was created by third generation British painter Tobias Keene who currently lives and works in Los Angeles. His work is a part of the Generations Exhibition at The Trout Museum of Art though July 21.

3. Disney’s The Lion King Souvenirs. Take home your piece of the magic with a souvenir from the show. There is something for The Lion King fans of any age.

4. 2013-14 Season Ticket Table. The Fox Cities P.A.C. announced the 2013-14 Season just two weeks ago. Stop by the table in the main lobby to learn more about the upcoming shows and the many great benefits of becoming a Boldt Arts Alive! or Kimberly Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Season Ticket Holder.

5. The Lion King Themed Concessions. No need to worry about going hungry or thirsty during your trip to the African pride lands. Try a “Hakuna Matata” specialty drink or snack on some tasty treats that would satisfy any king or queen.

6. The Illusion of Joey Display. Much like Disney’s The Lion King, the five-time Tony Award®-winning production of War Horse uses groundbreaking puppetry to tell a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. Learn how the 6 foot, 120 pound horse Joey was developed and created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company and how it takes three actors to bring the horse to life before your eyes onstage. The display is located near entrances 11 and 12 on the orchestra level.

7. Photo Station. The popular photo station is back! Grab a fun picture with your family and friends and show us your creativity using the props. The photo will be posted on the Center’s Facebook page the day after the performance for weeknight performances (Tuesday - Thursday) and the following Monday for all weekend performances (Friday - Sunday Evening).

Use Care when Purchasing The Lion King Tickets

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center proudly presents some of the most popular touring productions with its Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America – Fox Cities Series. The upcoming four-week engagement of Disney’s The Lion King is no exception, and tickets are in hot demand as the event draws near. 

Tickets are still available through the only authorized online ticket seller, Ticketmaster.com, by calling (866) 870-2717 or in person at the Center’s ticket office.

Due to the popularity of touring productions like The Lion King, ticket buyers often find that tickets are available through third party ticket agencies or brokers, especially online, but the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center cautions consumers that Ticketmaster is the only authorized online ticket seller.

Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party, should be aware that the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is unable to:

• reprint or replace your tickets if they are lost or stolen.
• contact you with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

Tickets for Disney’s The Lion King are on sale now and start at $35. Tickets may be purchased at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center’s ticket office and online at ticketmaster.com or  lionking.com. To charge tickets by phone, call (866) 870-2717. 

Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling (920) 730-3786. Group discounts and additional fees may apply.

Preparing for Disney's The Lion King

All week at the Center, we've been prepping for the arrival of a Fox Cities favorite — Disney's The Lion King! Starting tomorrow, The Lion King will take the stage for a multiple week run April 9 - May 5.

Here's what we've been up to in preparation for their arrival at the Center:

When you're driving through downtown Appleton, you can't miss the "Lion King bling" we've added to the Center's front windows and along the College Avenue side of the building. If you weren't aware that The Lion King is playing at the Center in April and May, you are now!

We made sure our friends in the local media are ready for the show's arrival too, with a press packet filled with The Lion King swag including a water bottle, CD soundtrack and more - we even added some Wisconsin shaped cheese!

The show has been loading in all week and we got to see the arrival of Pride Rock and the rest of the behind-the-scenes preparations to get ready for the cast to hit the stage!

Haven't got your tickets yet? You're in luck, tickets are still available for this return engagement. Click here or call the ticket office at (920) 730-3760 today!