On this week’s episode, the 2020 Tony Award nominations are announced, a virtual reading benefits the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and Cameron Mackintosh releases two live recordings.
2020 Tony Award Nominations Announced October 15
Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart revealed the much-anticipated 2020 Tony Award Nominations via YouTube on Thursday, October 15. Jagged Little Pill, the rock musical inspired by the Alanis Morissette album of the same name, earned the most nominations with 15. Moulin Rouge! was a close second with 14, and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical tied with the critically-acclaimed Slave Play with 12 nominations. The 74th annual ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in June, but was soon postponed to a later date. The American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League now plan to hold the ceremony virtually. More information is set to be announced soon.
April Matthis to Lead Toni Stone Virtual Reading on Play-PerView
The cast of Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2019 production of Toni Stone will reunite November 10 at 7 p.m. for a virtual reading of the play by Lydia R. Diamond. The show tells tells the story of Toni, who was the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. Throughout her career, she played for the Indianapolis Clowns, the San Francisco Sea Lions, the New Orleans Creoles and the Kansas City Monarchs before she retired in 1954. Proceeds from the virtual reading benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, located right here in the Jazz district in Kansas City. Tune in to Play-per-view, a streaming service for Live Theatrical and Original Content, on November 10 at 7 p.m.
Live Recordings of Mary Poppins and Les Misérables Will Drop This Fall
Two live cast recordings of popular musicals are hitting the airwaves this fall. Mary Poppins and Les Miserables - The Staged Concert were captured prior to the coronavirus shutdown, and both will be released in November. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, these award-winning productions are West-End and Broadway hits. Mary Poppins returned to the West End in October 2019, while Les Miserables - The Staged Concert was actually a temporary production while the original production’s theatre received renovations. A DVD of Les Miserables - The Staged Concert will also be available in November.
