While New Yorkers crowd into a not-yet-specificed Broadway venue or crowd around their TV sets on Tony Awards night, June 3, Los Angelinos can come out and party, thanks to the Actors' Fund of America and Aid for AIDS. Their West Coast Tony party will be held at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica, CA. Proceeds will go to both the Fund, a not-for-profit social welfare organization that assists entertainment professionals, and to help those with AIDS and HIV.
This year's L.A. Tony party will bestow the Julie Harris Lifetime Achievement Award on Lauren Bacall, last on Broadway in Waiting in the Wings and best known for her stagework in Applause and Woman of the Year and for her legendary film career.
Previous Julie Harris Award winners include: Tyne Daly (2000), Charles Durning (1999) and Gwen Verdon (1998).
According to the Actors' Fund website, the Tony event features "a live feed of the Tony Awards telecast from New York, projected on several large screens; cocktails and dinner; an auction of theatrical memorabilia, travel packages and other items."
For tickets ($160) and information on the June 3 fete call (323) 933-9244 or check out http://www.actorsfund.org/tickets/tony.html. *
In a letter mailed to the theatre industry Jan. 19, the Tony Awards organization (jointly run by the American Theatre Wing and the League of American Theatres and Producers) announced that this season's Tony eligibility deadline is May 2. Shows must open at a Tony eligible house by that date in order to be considered for award recognition this season. The Tony nominations press conference will be held on Monday morning, May 7.
There is no venue for the Tonys as yet. Speculation ranges from a repeat staging at Radio City Music Hall (which may be contingent on Tony broadcaster CBS ponying up additional funds to secure the venue) to an unnamed Broadway house. A spokesperson would not comment on specifics but did indicate that several options were still being considered.
Last year's Tony winners included Copenhagen (play), Contact (musical), The Real Thing (play revival) and Kiss Me, Kate (musical revival).
