Tilting Towards Some Tonys!
After premiering at The 5th Avenue, "Shrek" gathers eight Tony nominations
SEATTLE - This year's Tony nominations include a healthy showing for a production brought to life at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, Shrek: the Musical. The fractured fairy tale about a big green ogre who saves a princess garnered eight nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book (by David Lindsay-Abaire),Best Original Score (Jeanine Tesori, music, Lindsay-Abaire, lyrics), Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Brian d'Arcy James), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Sutton Foster), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Christopher Sieber), Best Orchestrations (Danny Troob and John Clancy), and Best Costume Design (Tim Hatley).
This strong showing for another musical premiered on the stage of The 5th Avenue helps bolster the Theatre's reputation as one of the preeminent companies in the country for developing new musicals.
In addition to Shrek: The Musical, Seattle was well-represented in the Tony nominations, with a nod to Intiman's Bartlett Sher for his direction of Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and 11 nominations for Next To Normal, with book and lyrics by Northwest artist Brian Yorkey. Next to Normal stars Aaron Tveit, next seen at The 5th Avenue in the world premiere of Catch Me If You Can, as well as Louis Hobson, a regular on our stage. In addition, Larry Blank (who is up for a Tony for Best Orchestrations for his work on White Christmas) will be back in Seattle working as co-orchestrator for Catch Me If You Can.
Catch Me If You Can, which premieres at The 5th Avenue July 23, also brings back to our stage the powerhouse team behind Hairspray, including five-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien, Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell and Tony Award-winning composing team Marc Shaiman (music & lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics). (Four time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally provides the book.) Hairspray, which also received its world premiere at The 5th Avenue Theatre, went on to win eight Tony Awards (out of thirteen nominations) including Best Musical, and enjoyed a hugely successful six and a half year run on Broadway.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle's premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of over 25,000 and an annual attendance of more than 287,000. It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org.
Please contact John Longenbaugh, Public Relations Manager, at (206) 625-1418 with questions.