A Passing

My husband's granddad passed away Tuesday night.

All weekend things were touch-and-go; his granddad was off all of the medications and he actually seemed to be improving a bit, though we knew it probably wouldn't be for long. It was more of a swan song. We finally left his parents' house on Monday morning to drive back here, as his granddad was surviving indefinitely, and we couldn't continue taking vacation time when we weren't really doing anything but waiting.

We were notified Wednesday morning of his passing.

I'm sorry I haven't been around much online, but even though we've been back since late Monday night, we both knew we'd probably have to be traveling again soon, and things were so up in the air. I've been having to prepare and such, and put my work off until we return next week.

So, I've got a lot to do today with laundry and such, since we've leaving early tomorrow.

This time, to save on gas, we're driving up to Dallas (5 hour drive) tomorrow morning, where my husband's sister and her husband live. We're going to pile into their car and drive the extra 2.5 hours to Oklahoma. We'll stay overnight Friday night, and Saturday will be the funeral. I think we'll be driving back to Dallas Saturday night, stay over with sis-in-law, and then return to our house Sunday afternoon/evening. We have a marriage class at church that night, and my husband is taking an extra bereavement day on Monday, to rest up. I may be online a little on Monday, because of that, but from tomorrow morning, until Monday, I won't have internet access.

I look forward to returning and catching up with everything here soon! Thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts.

Out of Commission for a While

My husband just called me; we'd been planning a weekend trip to his parents' house to visit with his grandparents, as his granddad hasn't been well for a long time, and is now getting worse. We were supposed to leave tomorrow morning, drive to his sister's house in Dallas, and then spend the night there, before driving to Oklahoma on Saturday morning. We were due to return on Sunday evening.

The leaving date of tomorrow morning is still the same.

However, his father just called and told him that Hospice has said it may not be long now, so we're not sure when we'll return. We're bringing enough clothes and such for a week, in case he passes during the weekend, since the funeral would only be a few days later.

*sigh* This is difficult for me, and I know it must be moreso for Michael. His granddad has not been coherent or responsive since before we met, so I've never known him any other way. It's difficult for me to sit there and not know what to say or do, and I don't really feel comfortable. I don't really feel like I have a place there in times of such stress.

Please pray and/or think happy thoughts for us. My in-laws have dial-up internet access, so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to log on and check in, but I will try to let you know whenabouts I might return.

Note: I have several websites (All Info About musicals, beauty, and marriage) that were going to be updated tomorrow and this weekend, but as these circumstances have come up, the updates will be completed at a later date.

Musicals Newsletter -- New Issue!

New newsletter at All Info About Musicals! See what's new at the site--read all about it in the new issue! Read more...

Julia
All Info About Musicals Correspondent

Message Board Issues

I'm thinking about moving the musicals message board to another hosting service. I found another one that seems to offer some great features, and might be a bit more customizable. I need to find a way to have at least ONE open forum for passers-by to take part, if they don't want to register. Right now it seems that some people don't want to register to take part.

My reasoning for not having the entire message board open is that spammers take advantage of open forums. In the interest of the visitors to the musicals site I'd rather be a little cautious. It only takes 30 seconds to register, and if anyone has difficulties with receiving their confirmation e-mail I can override and approve your membership.

Any thoughts on these issues? Suggestions? What would you look for in the ideal forum and message board?

I want this to be a fun and informative board for fans of musicals to gather. This place is for YOU! :o)

Julia
All Info About Musicals Correspondent
musicals@allinfoabout.com

Message Board and More!

In case you haven't visited the All Info About Musicals site lately, or you don't yet subscribe to the newsletter, you're missing out! Lots of news here at All Info About Musicals!

Check out the latest issue of the Musicals Newsletter! Read more...

New Features:

Ta-Da! The Musicals Message Board is finally here! Register and participate! If I find that there are many who want to participate, but who do not want to register, I will see what I can do to make everyone happy. I currently have registration required because without it, spammers like to hit message boards, and I'd like to keep them out. Read more...

Off-Broadway Musical information now at your fingertips. We now have:

We now have:

Now Playing on Broadway

New to Broadway

Upcoming on Broadway

Now Playing Off-Broadway

New to Off-Broadway

Upcoming Off-Broadway

Now Playing in the UK

Coming Soon to the UK

Have a great end-of-the-week and weekend everyone! I'm out of town, and have limited internet access at the moment.

Julia
All Info About Musicals Correspondent

Long time, no update

Wow -- sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been working on some very neat additions to the All Info About Musicals website!

The Musicals message board and forum is almost ready; I'm in the process of tweaking it a bit, and then I'll unveil it and announce it officially open for chatting! I'm very excited, as this will give visitors to All Info About Musicals and this All About Musicals blog a place to come and chat about everything musical-related.

Also, I just added a new page in the "Now Playing" section of the website. It's called "Upcoming on Broadway," and it features information about future Broadway shows, both in the near future, and up to two years away. There are some very exciting developments about upcoming shows, including a new musical based on the hit film "The Wedding Singer!" Check out the new page!

As always, stay tuned for more! I'll be updating soon with some more cool features and news!

Julia
All Info About Musicals Correspondent

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who tuned in tonight for the continuous live coverage of the 2005 Tony Awards! Please don't forget to visit our main site at All Info About Musicals. A complete list of winners is located here. If you'd like to see a list of nominees and compare who won, you can find that list here.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to share them with me at musicals@allinfoabout.com, or leave a comment here at this blog!

Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned for more musical information!

Julia
All Info About Musicals Correspondent

Best Musical

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Producers: Marty Bell, David Brown, Aldo Scrofani, Roy Furman, Dede Harris, Amanda Lipitz, Greg Smith, Ruth Hendel, Chase Mishkin, Barry and Susan Tatelman, Debra Black, Sharon Karmazin, Joyce Schweickert, Bernie Abrams/Michael Speyer, Barbara Whitman, Weissberger Theater Group/Jay Harris, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Jean Cheever, Clear Channel Entertainment, Harvey Weinstein, MGM on Stage/Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber

The Light in the Piazza
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten

Monty Python's Spamalot - WINNER!!!
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V. McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Clear Channel Entertainment

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Producers: David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

Best Musical

So who do you think is going to win?

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Bernadette Peters is SO adorable!

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Hank Azaria, Monty Python's Spamalot
Gary Beach, La Cage aux Folles
Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels- Winner!
Tim Curry, Monty Python's Spamalot
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Christina Applegate, Sweet Charity
Victoria Clark, The Light in the Piazza - Winner
Erin Dilly, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sutton Foster, Little Women
Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Play

Democracy
Author: Michael Frayn
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Jean Doumanian, Stephanie P. McClelland, Arielle Tepper, Amy Nederlander, Eric Falkenstein, Roy Furman

Doubt - Winner!
Author: John Patrick Shanley
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays, MTC Productions, Inc., Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Roger Berlind, Scott Rudin

Gem of the Ocean
Author: August Wilson
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jujamcyn Theaters

The Pillowman
Author: Martin McDonagh
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Robert Fox, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie P. McClelland, Debra Black, Dede Harris/Morton Swinsky, Roy Furman/Jon Avnet, Joyce Schweickert, The National Theatre of Great Britain

Spamalot & Thank YOU!

SPAMALOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sits back and has a great laugh*

Thank you to everyone who has been visiting this blog as the Tony Awards are announced! Feel free to click on some Google ads if you care to!

Feel free to browse any of our Amazon merchandise, and buy buy buy! :o)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Alan Alda is hilarious!

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Cherry Jones, Doubt - Winner!
Laura Linney, Sight Unseen
Mary-Louise Parker, Reckless
Phylicia Rashad, Gem of the Ocean
Kathleen Turner, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Philip Bosco, Twelve Angry Men
Billy Crudup, The Pillowman
Bill Irwin, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Winner!
James Earl Jones, On Golden Pond
Brían F. O'Byrne, Doubt

Best Revival of a Play

Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Producers: Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Daryl Roth, Terry Allen Kramer, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, James L. Nederlander, Nick Simunek, Joey Parnes

Glengarry Glen Ross - Winner!
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Boyett Ostar Productions, Ronald Frankel, Philip Lacerte, Stephanie P. McClelland/CJM Productions, Barry Weisbord, Zendog Productions, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy

On Golden Pond
Producers: Jeffrey Finn, Arlene Scanlan, Stuart Thompson

Twelve Angry Men
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy

Awards Announced Earlier in the Evening

William Barfee (Bar-fay), played by Dan Fogler, in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, looks like such a funny character.

Oooh...the beautiful Idina Menzel! How lovely she was as Elphaba in Wicked! She is re-capping
the following awards, which were announced and presented before the telecast of the Tony Awards:

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Scott Pask for The Pillowman

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Michael Yeargan for The Light in the Piazza

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jess Goldstein for The Rivals

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Catherine Zuber for The Light in the Piazza

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Brian MacDevitt for The Pillowman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Christopher Akerlind for The Light in the Piazza

Best Orchestrations
Ted Sperling, Adam Guettel and Bruce Coughlin for The Light in the Piazza

Regional Theatre Tony Award®
Theatre de la Jeune Lune
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Edward Albee

Best Revival of a Musical

Keri Russell from "Felicity" is also a stage actress -- who would have thunk it? And Jon Cryer -- 80's hearthrob! Wow! :o)

Best Revival of a Musical - Winner!

La Cage aux Folles
Producers: James L. Nederlander, Clear Channel Entertainment, Kenneth Greenblatt, Terry Allen Kramer, Martin Richards

Pacific Overtures
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy, Gorgeous Entertainment

Sweet Charity
Producers: Barry and Fran Weissler, Clear Channel Entertainment, Edwin W. Schloss

Best Direction of a Musical

Matthew Broderick is fantastic!

Best Direction of a Musical

James Lapine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Mike Nichols, Monty Python's Spamalot - Winner!
Jack O'Brien, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Bartlett Sher, The Light in the Piazza

James Lapine is a genius! He's also partly responsible for Into the Woods!

Regional Theatre Tony Award®

Regional Theatre Tony Award®

Theatre de la Jeune Lune
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association, the Theatre de la Jeune Lune of Minneapolis, MN will be the recipient of the 2005 Regional Theatre Tony Award, accompanied by a grant of $25,000 sponsored by Visa USA. This award is given to a regional theatre company that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally.

Source

Best Special Theatrical Event

Nathan Lane!!! What's all this about him saying Elaine Stritch squeezing Hugh Jackman's buttocks, and then holding Norbert Leo Butz "hostage?" Butts and Butz...ha ha!

Best Special Theatrical Event

Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance!
Producers: Creative Battery, Harley Medcalf and Boxjellyfish LLC

Laugh Whore
Producer: Showtime Networks

700 Sundays - Winner!(So, Billy Crystal finally got his Tony, for his show!)
Producers: Janice Crystal, Larry Magid, Face Productions

Whoopi, the 20th Anniversary Show
Producers: Mike Nichols, Hal Luftig, Leonard Soloway, Steven M. Levy, Tom Leonardis, Eric Falkenstein, Amy Nederlander

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Edward Albee

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Dan Fogler, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Winner!
Marc Kudisch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Michael McGrath, Monty Python's Spamalot
Matthew Morrison, The Light in the Piazza
Christopher Sieber, Monty Python's Spamalot

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

James Earl Jones' voice never ceases to make me stop and listen!

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Joanna Gleason, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Jan Maxwell, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Sara Ramirez, Monty Python's Spamalot - Winner!

Best Direction of a Play

John Crowley, The Pillowman
Scott Ellis, Twelve Angry Men
Doug Hughes, Doubt - Winner!
Joe Mantello, Glengarry Glen Ross

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Just how classy is Emmy Rossum, who played Christine in the film version of "The Phantom of the Opera?" She made a great presentation! What a young lady!

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek

The Light in the Piazza
Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel - Winner!

Monty Python's Spamalot
Music: John Du Prez and Eric Idle; Lyrics: Eric Idle

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music & Lyrics: William Finn

Best Choreography

Okay, I don't know about you, but I want to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the musical. What a great performance of that song, with Norbert Leo Butz!

Best Choreography

Wayne Cilento, Sweet Charity
Jerry Mitchell, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Jerry Mitchell, La Cage aux Folles - Winner!
Casey Nicholaw, Monty Python's Spamalot

Best Book of a Musical

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Book: Jeffrey Lane

The Light in the Piazza
Book: Craig Lucas

Monty Python's Spamalot
Book: Eric Idle

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Book: Rachel Sheinkin - Winner!

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Wow, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) sure can dance and sing, eh?

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Mireille Enos, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Heather Goldenhersh, Doubt
Dana Ivey, The Rivals
Adriane Lenox, Doubt - Winner!
Amy Ryan, A Streetcar Named Desire

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Alan Alda, Glengarry Glen Ross
Gordon Clapp, Glengarry Glen Ross
David Harbour, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Liev Schreiber, Glengarry Glen Ross - Winner!
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Pillowman

Visit the Musicals Blog! Tony Awards Coverage!

If you're visiting All Info About Musicals in search of continuing coverage of the 59th Annual Tony Awards,visit All About Musicals the BLOG for frequent updates live during the Tony Awards. I'll be updating frequently throughout the evening, starting within the next half an hour. The blog feed on the All Info About Musicals website has a 2-hour delay, so stay tuned to this blog for the current information. Thank you!

-- Julia
All Info About Musicals