The Tony Award nominations came out this week, and there are a few Alabama connections you may or may not be aware of.
There are Birmingham connections to “New York, New York,” nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best New Musical. Among the producing team? Both Red Mountain Theatre and Theatre UAB’s Carolyn Violi, as well as Beards on Broadway, a team comprised of Louise Beard, Lanford Beard and John Beard.
Violi and the Beards are also among the co-producers of “Fat Ham,” nominated for five awards, including Best New Play.
Louise Beard is also among the producing team of “The Piano Lesson,” nominated for Best Revival of a Play.
One other connection: “Parade” is up for Best Revival of a Musical. Its composer is Jason Robert Brown, an honorary board member at Red Mountain Theatre. (Side note: In 1999, Brown won the Tony for Best Original Score for the original production of “Parade.”)
And though they weren’t nominated, Jordan Fischer is co-starring in “Sweeney Todd,” nominated for Best Revival of a Musical; and Audrey Cardwell is in “Shucked” and DeMarius R. Copes in “Some Like it Hot,” both nominated for Best New Musical.
By the way, if you’re looking for somewhere to watch the Tony Awards, think about Theatre Downtown’s Tony Awards Viewing Party on June 11 at 6 p.m. at Avenue D, 3008 4th Ave. South. Admission is $15, and prizes will be awarded. The theater will also present a preview of its 2023-24 season. Got to theatredowntown.org for tickets.
