Category Archives: Theatre

ROCKing the TONYS – Rebecca Luker

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Rock the TonysRebecca LukerRebecca Luker

Little Rock connection: Has twice appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Once it was the Valentine Pops concert singing Broadway songs, the second was a semi-staged concert version of The Music Man.

Tony Awards connection: She has been nominated for three Tony Awards. The first was in 1995 as Actress in a Musical for Show Boat, the second was in 2000 as Actress in a Musical for The Music Man and the third was in 2007 as Featured Actress in a Musical for Mary Poppins.  She has also performed on the Tony Awards with The Secret Garden and The Sound of Music.

Today is her birthday.

ROCKing the TONYS – Japhy Weideman

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Rock the TonysJaphy Weideman

Japhy

Photo courtesy of Shevett Studios

Little Rock connection: Designed the lighting for several shows at Arkansas Repertory Theatre including The Grapes of Wrath, All My Sons and God’s Man in Texas.

Tony Awards connection: Received a 2013 nomination for his lighting design of The Nance.  This season he has been represented on Broadway with The Snow Geese, Macbeth and Of Mice and Men. The latter play, starring James Franco, Chris O’Dowd, Leighton Meester and Jim Norton, opens on Broadway tonight.

ROCKing the TONYs – Tallulah Bankhead

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Rock the TonysTallulah MidgieTallulah Bankhead

Little Rock connection: Appeared at Robinson Auditorium in 1941 and 1950.

Tony Awards connection: Received a Tony nomination for Actress in a Play for her performance in Midgie Purvis.  A play about her, entitled Looped netted Valerie Harper a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Bankhead.

ROCKing the TONYs – David Auburn (who also Rocked the Pulitzers too)

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Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Rock the TonysDavid Auburn

Little Rock connection: Graduated from Hall High School. Participated in Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre.

Tony Awards connection: Won a Tony for writing Proof, 2001 Best Play. The play also won Tony’s for Actress in a Play (Mary-Louise Parker) and Director of a Play (Daniel Sullivan) and received three other nominations for the other members of the cast: Larry Bryggman, Ben Shenkman and Johanna Day. His 2013 play The Columnist netted a Tony nomination for John Lithgow.  His next play, Lost Lake, premieres Off Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club later this year.

Auburn also won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Proof. This year’s Pulitzer prizes are to be announced today.

ROCKing the TONYS – Bernadette Peters

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Rock the TonysBernadette_Peters_a_pBernadette Peters

Little Rock connection: In February 1997, appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at Robinson Center Music Hall.

Tony Awards connection: Winner of two Tony Awards for Actress in a Musical (Song & Dance – 1986 and Annie Get Your Gun – 1999), in 2013 she received the Isabelle Stevenson Award recognizing her philanthropic efforts as a co-founder of “Broadway Barks.” She has hosted the Tony Awards ceremony and appeared as a presenter and entertainer on several other occasions.  Peters has also been nominated for Tonys for Featured Actress in a Musical (On the Town – 1972) and Actress in a Musical (Mack & Mabel – 1975; Sunday in the Park with George – 1984; The Goodbye Girl – 1993; and Gypsy – 2003). She has also starred in the Tony winning productions of George M!, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music and Follies.

ROCKing the TONYS – Ann Miller

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Rock the TonysAnn-Miller-minkAnn Miller

Little Rock connection: Starred in national tour of Sugar Babies in Little Rock in April 1986.  Celebrated her 63rd birthday while in Little Rock (today is her birthday)

Tony Awards connection: Received a Tony nomination for her starring role in Sugar Babies and appeared on the Tony Awards. She also succeeded Angela Lansbury’s Tony winning turn in Mame on Broadway.

ROCKing the TONYS – Million Dollar Quartet

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Rock the Tonys

Lewis, Perkins, Presley, Cash

Lewis, Perkins, Presley, Cash

Million Dollar Quartet – Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley

Little Rock connection: Though they never appeared onstage in Little Rock together, each of these four made various appearances in Little Rock throughout their careers – usually at Robinson Auditorium. Presley also appeared at Barton Coliseum, while one of Cash’s last appearances in Little Rock was at Wildwood Park for the Arts.

Tony Awards connection: A musical was written based on this quartet’s famous December 4, 1956 impromptu recording session at Memphis’ Sun Records. It opened on this date (April 11) in 2010 and ran for 489 performances. The show received three Tony nominations including one for Best Musical. Levi Kreis won the Featured Actor in a Musical Tony for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis.

Celebrity Attractions will be bringing the national tour of Million Dollar Quartet to Central Arkansas next spring.