June 13 may be the final performance day for several Broadway shows, but at the Friends of New York Theatre Awards (or FANYs), things will look a little brighter. Shuttered shows will have a chance to vie for honors again with these prizes, likened to the "People's Choice Award for the Broadway Theatre."
The FANYs will be given at 7:30 PM at the Broadway Grill restaurant. Hors' d'oeuvres and a cash bar open at 6:30PM. Tickets to the ceremony are $35 for members and $50 for non members. For ticket information or reservations, call (212) 974-0139.
Joining 1999's FANYs will be presenters (and former FANY winners/nominees) Leo Burmester (The Civil War), Robert Cuccioli, Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde), Gordon Connell, Harry Groener (If Love Were All), Tommy Hollis (Ragtime), Michelle Pawk (Cabaret), Jennifer Piech (Titanic), Ron Taylor (It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues), Lynne Thigpen (An American Daughter), Elizabeth Parkinson, Scott Wise (Fosse) and Karen Ziemba (Chicago).
The '98-'99 FANY nomination deadline was March 28. Rendered ineligible for this year's awards are The Iceman Cometh, Marlene, Ring Round the Moon, Fascinating Rhythm, Amy's View, Ain't Nothin' But the Blues and The Lonesome West.
One award, Outstanding Book of a Musical, will not be given this year, because the required three nominees were not found for the category. The 1998-99 FANY nominees are:
Outstanding Play
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
The Judas Kiss
Not About Nightingales
Side Man
Outstanding Musical
The Civil War
Fosse
Parade
Swan Lake
Outstanding Revival
Death of a Salesman
The Lion in Winter
Little Me
Night Must Fall
Outstanding Score of a Musical
Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd & Jack Murphy, The Civil War
Tom Snow & Dean Pitchford, Footloose
Jason Robert Brown, Parade
Outstanding Director of a Play
Garry Hines, The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Michael Mayer, Side Man
Sam Mendes, The Blue Room
Trevor Nunn, Not About Nightingales
Outstanding Director 0f a Musical
Matthew Bourne, Swan Lake
Rob Marshall, Little Me
Harold Prince, Parade
Jerry Zaks, The Civil War
Outstanding Choreographer
Matthew Bourne, Swan Lake
Patti Colombo, Peter Pan
A. Ciulla, Footloose
Rob Marshall, Little Me
Outstanding Scenic Design
Bob Crowley, Twelfth Night
David Gallo, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Richard Hoover, Not About Nightingales
James Noone, Night Must Fall
Outstanding Costume Design
Les Brotherton, Swan Lake
Ann Hould-Ward, Little Me
Michael Krass, The Lion in Winter
Catherine Zuber, Twelfth Night
Outstanding Lighting Design
Allen Branton, I'm Still Here...Damn It!
Brian MacDevitt, Night Must Fall
Kenneth Posner, The Lion in Winter
Hugh Vanstone, The Blue Room
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play
James Black, Not About Nightingales
Brian Dennehy, Death of a Salesman
Finbar Lynch, Not About Nightingales
Liam Neeson, The Judas Kiss
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play
Stockard Channing, The Lion in Winter
Elizabeth Franz, Death of a Salesman
Sherri Parker Lee, Not about Nightingales
Anna Manahan, The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Kevin Anderson, Death of a Salesman
Neal Huff, The Lion in Winter
Michael Mastro, Side Man
Jim Norton, The Weir
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Claire Bloom, Electra
Patricia Kilgariff, Night Must Fall
Wendy Makkena, Side Man
Angelica Torn, Side Man
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical
Brent Carver, Parade
Jeremy Kushnier, Footloose
Martin Short, Little Me
Tom Wopat, Annie Get Your Gun
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical
Carolee Carmello, Parade
Lea DeLaria, On the Town
Bernadette Peters, Annie Get Your Gun
Faith Prince, Little Me
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
Roger Bart, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Rufus Bonds, Jr., Parade
Gilles Chiasson, The Civil War
Desmond Richardson, Fosse
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Kristin Chenoweth, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Cheryl Freeman, The Civil War
Dee Hoty, Footloose
Mary Testa, On the Town
Ruth Williamson, Little Me
Outstanding Broadway Debut
Emily Bergl, The Lion in Winter
Roger Howarth, The Lion in Winter
Judy Parfitt, Night Must Fall
Elizabeth Parkinson, Fosse
This year's Special Awards will go to Gwen Verdon and Irene Worth for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre. Alfred Uhry will receive a citation for his "outstanding contribution to this theatrical season" (which includes his book for Parade) and to playwright David Hare for his "prolific contribution to this theatrical season." Hare has had four plays on Broadway in the last year including The Judas Kiss, The Blue Room, Via Dolorosa (starring himself) and Amy's View.
The Friends of New York Theatre Awards are chosen by the members of their organization, which is open to anyone for a membership fee. Dues range from $200-$25. Tickets for the FANY Awards run $50 and $75. For information on membership and tickets, call (212) 974-0139.
-- By Christine Ehren
