Category Archives: Tony Awards

Thrice Trice, or Tony Toni Tone

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Last night at the 68th Tony Awards, Little Rock native Will Trice (pictured above at the ceremonynwith his sister Kathryn Pryor and mother Judy Trice) earned his third Tony as a producer, in as many years. Robert Schenkkan’s political drama All the Way was named Best Play. In accepting the award, lead producer Jeffrey Richards paid special tribute to Will.

Last year, Will won a Tony for producing a revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and in 2012 he earned the rotating silver medallion for a revival of Porty and Bess.

There were 26 Tonys handed out last night, Will was a producer of four shows which won Tonys. these accounted for seven of the awards. over one quarter of the Tonys last night went to shows he produced.

Best Play – All the Way
Actor in a Play – Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Actress in a Play – Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Score – Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County
Orchestrations – Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County
Lighting Design of a Play – Natasha Katz, The Glass Menagerie
Sound Design of a Play – Steve Canyon Kennedy, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Denzel Washington

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Rock the TonysDenzelDENZEL WASHINGTON

Little Rock connection: Played baseball at Lamar Porter Field while filming scenes for A Soldier’s Story.

Tony Awards connection: Won the 2010 Tony for Actor in a Play for his performance in Fences. Currently starring in A Raisin in the Sun which is nominated for five Tony Awards tonight, including Best Revival of a Play.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Wayland Holyfield

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Rock the TonysHolyfield_WaylandWAYLAND HOLYFIELD

Little Rock connection: This Arkansas native wrote the song “Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me” for the 1986 Arkansas Sesquicentennial. He has performed it many times in Little Rock over the years. He was present at the opening of the CALS Ron Robinson Theater where a new video of it debuted.
Tony Awards connection: His song “May I Have This Dance” was part of the Tony nominated score of Urban Cowboy in 2003.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Remmel T. Dickinson

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Rock the TonysRTDREMMEL T. DICKINSON

Little Rock connection: Little Rock native (and nephew of Little Rock Mayor Pratt C. Remmel) and supporter of Little Rock arts scene and institutions.

Tony Awards connection: Received Tony Awards for producing 2010 Best Play War Horse, 2010 Best Musical Memphis and 2009 Best Play Revival The Norman Conquests.  He has also been nominated for producing Catch Me If You Can (2011) and Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012). This season he produced the musical First Date, the play A Time to Kill and the musical The Bridges of Madison County.  The latter musical received four Tony nominations.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Larry Payton

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Rock the TonyspaytonLARRY PAYTON

Little Rock connection: Founder and longtime leader of Celebrity Attractions which has brought Broadway shows to Little Rock since 1998. Though he died in 2013, the firm continues to bring shows to Little Rock.

Tony Awards connection: Nominated for producing the revivals of Peter Pan and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

He was a partner in the Independent Presenters Network which won Tonys for producing Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), Spamalot (2005), and La Cage aux Folles (2010). It also was nominated for producing The Color Purple and Leap of Faith as well as revivals of Guys and Dolls and Ragtime. Last season, it won Tonys for producing Kinky Boots and Pippin.

Larry was also served on the Board of Governors for The Broadway League, the presenter of the Tonys, and was a Tony voter.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Cathy Rigby

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Rock the TonysCathy+Rigby+Arrivals+Tony+Awards+Viewing+Party+WRZOEScg6aplCATHY RIGBY

Little Rock connection: Has appeared in Little Rock at Robinson Center Music Hall as part of national tours of Peter Pan

Tony Awards connection: As a performer, was nominated for Actress in a Musical for Peter Pan in 1991.  As a producer, was nominated for Musical Revival for a production of Peter Pan in 1999.

ROCKing the TONY AWARDS – Klein, Arnaz & Luckinbill

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Klein, Luckinbill and Arnaz. Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Klein, Luckinbill and Arnaz. Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Robert Klein, Lucie Arnaz, Laurence Luckinbill

Little Rock connection: Klein and Arnaz appeared with the Arkansas Symphony in a semi-staged version of the Tony nominated musical They’re Playing Our Song at Robinson Center Music Hall. Arnaz and her husband Luckinbill (who hails from Fort Smith) have appeared in Little Rock for personal visits as well as in touring shows.

Tony Awards connection: Klein was nominated for his performance in They’re Playing Our Song and has appeared on numerous Tony programs. Arnaz has appeared on Tony ceremonies as well.  Luckinbill was nominated in 1977 for Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in The Shadow Box.