Category Archives: Tony Awards

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS: Scott Joplin

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Rock the Tonysscott-joplin-1Scott Joplin

Little Rock connection: A native of Texarkana, he visited Little Rock from time to time throughout his early life and early career. His second wife, Freddie Alexander, was from Little Rock. He met her on a visit here and dedicated his composition The Chrysanthemum to her.  In June 1904, he married Freddie. She died ten weeks later of pneumonia. Aspects of her life, as well as his mothers, form the story for his opera Treemonisha.

Tony Awards connection: Treemonisha was never performed during Joplin’s lifetime. In 1975 it was produced on Broadway. Joplin received a 1976 Tony nomination for Best Score for Treemonisha – 59 years after he had died.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS: Debbie Reynolds

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Reynolds with Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe at Bolo Bash (photo by Bobby Ampezzan)

Reynolds with Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe at Bolo Bash (photo by Bobby Ampezzan)

Debbie Reynolds

Little Rock connection: Was featured guest at 2013 Bolo Bash.

Tony Awards connection: Nominated for Actress in a Musical in 1973 for revival of Irene. Her daughter Carrie Fisher was in the chorus of that show. Since today is Star Wars Day (May the 4th Be With You), it seemed appropriate to feature Reynolds today.

 

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS: Holland Taylor

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Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

HOLLAND TAYLOR

Little Rock connection: Appeared at the Clinton School speaking about the process of researching and writing her play about Ann Richards. A link to her speech can be found here.

Tony Awards connection: Nominated for the 2013 Actress in a Play Tony for her performance in Ann.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Steve Lawrence

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Rock the Tonyssl21Steve Lawrence

Little Rock connection: Has appeared in concert in Little Rock over the years.

Tony Awards connection: Served as a host of the 1964 ceremony. Nominated for Actor in a Musical in 1964 for What Makes Sammy Run? 

ROCKing the TONYS – Lynn Fontanne & Alfred Lunt

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Rock the TonysThe LuntsLynn Fontanne & Alfred Lunt

Little Rock connection: Appeared at Robinson Auditorium in 1941.  The couple often toured the country in their Broadway plays. This appearance was probably in the Pulitzer Prize winning There Shall Be No Night which had been their 1940 Broadway success.

Tony Awards connection: The couple received a special mounted dual Tony Award in 1970.

Lunt received a 1954 Tony for directing Audrey Hepburn in Ondine. The next year he received a Tony for acting in the play Quadrille. In 1959, he received a Tony nomination for his performance in the play The Visit, his final Broadway appearance as an actor.

Fontanne was nominated for her performance in The Visit, which was her final Broadway appearance.

Most of this couple’s career predated the Tony Awards. Tony nominations weren’t announced until 1956, so it is unknown whether Fontanne received a nomination for Quadrille.

ROCKing the TONYS – Nell Benjamin

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Rock the TonysNellNell Benjamin

Little Rock connection – Wrote the lyrics and libretto for Because of Winn Dixie musical which had its world premiere at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Tony Awards connection – Received a Tony nomination for the score of the musical Legally Blonde.

ROCKing the TONYS – Marvin Hamlisch

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marvin-hamlisch376x283.ashxRock the TonysMarvin Hamlisch

Little Rock connection: Appeared with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at Robinson Center Music Hall. One of his appearances was conducting a concert version of the Tony nominated musical They’re Playing Our Song.

Tony Awards connection: Won a Tony Award for composing A Chorus Line.  Also nominated for Sweet Smell of Success.  Appeared as a presenter at the 1982, 1993, 2002 and 2007 Tony ceremonies.