New York Theater News: Reviewing a revue

A tuneful Cy Coleman tribute, The Best is Yet to Come, now at 59E59 Theaters. David Burnham and an unmasked Howard McGillin are pictured.

Live from the Drama Desks

And there I was, at Table 1 (Table 1!) last night, in the presence of an august nominee who was a bit peeved not to win. But so it goes. Look for me when the show is telecast (with judicious edits, natch) on Ovation beginning June 4.

And the winners were...my personal favorites were Bobby Cannavale, sensational in The Motherf**ker in the Hat (pictured), and 12-time nominee Derek McLane, finally winning for his ship-shape Anything Goes set design. "My son always asks why I don't win one," he remarked.

The show itself was a far more opulent affair than in recent years, with welcome one-stop carousing and celebrating at the Hammerstein Ballroom and its Manhattan Center environs and actual musical performances. Not much eating, however, as nominee Colin Quinn rather devastatingly pointed out from the dais ("three ziti in a red sauce you call dinner?"), to catcalls from the staff. (It must be said that the red velvet cupcakes and brownies at the afterparty went down a treat.)

So, a good time was had by all, with the possible exception of a few nominees. Best gaffe went to presenter Christian Siriano, who referred to "The Mechanic of Venice," which then became a running gag. (And not a bad idea; Jason Statham, call your agent.) And I had nice chats with special award honoree Reed Birney and Book of Mormon nominee Andrew Rannells, who may not have won but comported himself with style and charm. I'm glad I voted for him.

Popdose: Diabolique and I Saw the Devil

After too long an absence I return to Popdose with a pair of thrillers on Blu-ray, both guaranteed to make your heart leap into your mouth.

Cineaste: Stake Land

My bite-sized take on a new horror movie.

New York Theater News: Intelligent Homosexual's Guide

It takes almost as long to say the title of Tony Kushner's new play as it takes to see it. Is it worth the effort? Well, it's no Angels in America, but what is?

Mormon converts Tony

Tony nominators are believers, too, with 14 nominations going to The Book of Mormon and another 12 to the long-shuttered Scottsboro Boys musical. But it looks like Daniel Radcliffe will be sticking close to us Drama Desk voters--he didn't make Tony's cut (nor, alas, did the wonderful but woefully overlooked Aaron Tveit, star of Catch Me If You Can). On the other hand, the equally bygone Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (pictured) got a set design nod for Donyale Werle...were the nominators reading Live Design?