Tony Awards excitement comes to a head in Music City USA, as the Broadway theater awards presentation gets the full Nashville treatment with two events designed to involve the local theater community in the celebration.
First up is First Night: The Tony Concert, to be presented by Keeping Scores Concerts at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre on Monday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring some of Nashville's biggest and brightest theater stars performing songs from Tony Award-winning musicals, the concert serves as the kick-off of the 2011 First Night Season in Nashville, culminating with First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors, which will be presented at Belmont University's Troutt Theatre on Sunday, September 4.
On Sunday, June 12, while the 2011 Tonys are being handed out in New York City, Nashville's theaterati will gather at The Keeton Theatre in Donelson for First Night: The Tony Party. A red carpet event starting at 6:30 p.m. will welcome party-goers who'll celebrate the night while watching the CBS telecast of The Tony Awards and indulging in fun and frivolity of a Music City variety.
Tickets for First Night: The Tony Concert and for First Night: The Tony Party are $15 each. For more information about First Night Events, call (615) 530-6178 and to learn more about First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors, visit the website at www.FirstNightNashville.com.
Martha Wilkinson, who's claimed nine First Night Awards during her career, just completed a run in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's Pump Boys and Dinettes and is in pre-production as director of Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre's summer musical Annie. After that, she goes into rehearsals to play the role of The Nurse in Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Romeo and Juliet.
What song are you singing in the concert? "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard.
How does this song or this show speak to you personally - or reflect who you are? I feel it's the quintessential theatrical song...what every performer should hope to be able to achieve when performing...how their work should touch the audience.
What's your favorite Tony Award telecast memory? Well, I don't usually watch The Tonys. I'm not a big fan of selecting the "best," as I think we all strive to be our best and, well, it's a team effort. I know that sounds like a fricking embroidered pillow from Cracker Barrel, but I mean it. It takes more than one person to bring a show to life and to pick out the best seems silly to me. But with that said, I did enjoy the year Glenn Close won for Sunset Boulevard and she thanked my pal Alice Ripley - we were in Grease at Tennessee Repertory Theatre together - therefore, I felt like I was a part of the process
What show will win the Tony this year for Best Musical? Hell, I don't even know what's nominated...something with a bunch of young actors, a big, flashy set and puppets?
Matt Baugher won critical praise and audience love earlier this season for his portrayal of Frank Butler in Boiler Room Theatre's production of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun. He'll be among the performers headlining First Night, The Nashville Theatre Honors on Sunday, September 4, paying tribute to the 2011 Class of First Night Honorees.
What song are you singing in the concert? I'll be singing "She Likes Basketball" from Promises, Promises.
How does this song or this show speak to you personally - or reflect who you are? I've always been a huge Burt Bacharach fan. His melodies are unmatched and the music always has such a classic feel. This particular song appropriately celebrates that moment early in a relationship where each party begins to learn about the other. Sometimes, it's the silliest thing that gets our heart racing. In this case, it's the fact that the woman likes basketball. As the song says, "Who ever would've dreamed, every would've thought that my favorite girl likes my favorite sport?" I definitely relate to the fun and whimsical part of romance and this song is a great deal of fun to sing.
