Theater News

Alan Cumming, Bruce Vilanch to Host GLAAD Ceremonies; Hair Cast, Cynthia Nixon to Receive Special Awards

A scene from Hair
(© Joan Marcus)
A scene from Hair
(© Joan Marcus)

The Broadway cast of Hair and theater veteran Cynthia Nixon will receive special recognition at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which honor entertainment and news media for their representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Tony winner Alan Cumming will host the New York ceremony on March 13 at the Marriott Marquis, while Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch is set to host the San Francisco ceremony on June 5 at The Westin St. Francis. A host for the Los Angeles ceremony, to be held on April 17 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, has not yet been announced.

Broadway and Off Broadway theater nominees are Colman Domingo’s A Boy and His Soul, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brother/Sister Plays, Geoffrey Nauffts’ Next Fall, Qui Nguyen’s Soul Samurai, and Jon Marans’ The Temperamentals. Off-Off-Broadway nominees include Abraham Lincoln’s Big Gay Dance Party by Aaron Loeb, Devil Boys From Beyond by Buddy Thomas, The Lily’s Revenge by Taylor Mac, She Like Girls by Chisa Hutchinson, and Wickets created and conceived by Clove Galilee and Jenny Rogers, adapted from Fefu and Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes.

Los Angeles Theater nominees include 40 is the New 15 with book and lyrics by Larry Todd Johnson, music by Cindy O’Connor; Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins by Brian Christopher Williams; Battle Hymn by Jim Leonard; Bingo with the Indians by Adam Rapp; and Lydia by Octavio Solis.

Nominations that prominently feature theater alumni include Taking Woodstock and A Single Man, nominated for Outstanding Film; Grey’s Anatomy featuring Sara Ramirez as bisexual Dr. Callie Torres; Mad Men with Bryan Batt as a closeted gay man, and True Blood which has a number of theater veterans, all competing in the Outstanding Drama Series category; and Glee featuring Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, and Jane Lynch, Modern Family (with Jesse Tyler Ferguson as part of a gay couple), and United States of Tara starring Toni Collette, in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Other prominent nominees include Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, and RuPaul.

Nixon will be honored with the Vito Russo Award, which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights. She will receive the award at the New York ceremony. The Hair cast is being recognized for their commitment to raising visibility for marriage equality.

For more information, and a full list of nominations, visit www.glaad.org

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