Brian Lane Green
Little Rock connection: Starred as Joseph in the 2000 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
Tony Awards connection: Nominated for Actor in a Musical in 1989 for his performance in Starmites. (The show opened on Broadway 25 years ago today.)
Photo courtesy of Playbill
Ann Duquesnay
Little Rock connection: Starred in Cookin’ at the Cookery at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Though Tony nominees had appeared on Rep stage before, she was the first Tony winner to appear on Arkansas Rep stage in a play.
Tony Awards connection: Won the 1996 Featured Actress in a Musical Tony for her performance as “‘da Singer” in Bring in ‘da Noise/Bring in ‘da Funk.
In 2013, she starred in the New York City premiere of Cookin’ at the Cookery, which explores the life of blues singer Alberta Hunter.
Rocco Landesman on stage at the Arkansas Rep
Rocco Landesman
Little Rock connection: Visited Little Rock in 2012 in his capacity as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts for the Obama Administration.
Tony Awards connection: As a Broadway producer, won Tony awards for the musical Big River (which opened on this day in 1985), The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Best Play), City of Angels (1990 Best Musical), Guys and Dolls (1992 Best Revival), Angels in America: Millennium Approaches (1993 Best Play), Angels in America: Perestroika (1994 Best Play), Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995 Best Play), The King and I (1996 Best Musical Revival), Titanic (1997 Best Musical), Death of a Salesman (1999 Best Play Revival), Proof (2001 Best Play), The Producers (2001 Best Musical), 42nd Street (2001 Best Musical Revival), Into the Woods (2002 Best Musical Revival), Jersey Boys (2005 Best Musical), Hair (2009 Best Musical Revival) and Kinky Boots (2013 Best Musical). He has been nominated for 33 additional Tony Awards.
At the 1989 Tony Awards, photo by Anita & Steve Shevett
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Little Rock connection: Danced in an event produced by Ballet Arkansas in 1983 at Robinson Center Music Hall.
Tony Awards connection: Nominated for Actor in a Play for his performance as a man turned into a cockroach in a stage adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis.
To see what Ballet Arkansas is currently producing, attend Momentum this weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The Ballet Arkansas company will be performing on the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s stage.
Maurice Evans as Shakespeare’s Richard II
Maurice Evans
Little Rock connection: Appeared at Robinson Auditorium in 1947 and 1949.
Tony Awards connection: Though primarily known for his classical roles, usually in the plays of Shakespeare, his two Tony nominations came for non-classical roles. The first was in 1957 for a revival of Shaw’s The Apple Cart and the second came in 1961 for the musical Tenderloin. He did receive two Tony Awards, but not for his acting. In 1950, he received a special Tony for producing a successful season of theatre at New York’s City Center. In 1954, he received a Tony as producer of The Teahouse of the August Moon, which was named Best Play.
(Evans’ claim to fame for wide acclaim was his role as Samantha’s father on “Bewitched” on TV.)
John Lithgow
Little Rock connection: As an author, spoke to a packed house as part of the Clinton School of Public Service speaker series.
Tony Awards connection: Won a Featured Actor in a Play Tony in 1973 for The Changing Room and an Actor in a Musical Tony in 2002 for Sweet Smell of Success. Has received four other Tony nominations – most recently for The Columnist by former Little Rock resident David Auburn. Lithgow has also appeared in numerous Tony ceremonies as a presenter and performer.
Robert Goulet
Little Rock connection: Appeared in Little Rock on several national tours of shows including South Pacific and Camelot.
Tony Awards connection: Won the 1968 Tony Award for his performance in the musical The Happy Time. Appeared at Tony Awards ceremonies in 1961, 1962, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1996. In 2005, made his final Tony appearance introducing revival of La Cage aux Folles in which he was appearing.
Another Tony connection is that he is referenced in a song lyric in the Tony winning score of A Chorus Line.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 