Theater News

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TM is on the scene for the 2005 Lucille Lortel Award nominees party and other major events.

New York City

The Lucille Lortel Awards celebrate excellence in Off-Broadway theater. A cocktail party for this year’s nominees was held last evening at Ruby Foo’s (Broadway at 77th Street). Here are Ethan Hawke, Josh Hamilton, and Parker Posey, all nominated for their performances in the smash hit revival of David Rabe’s Hurlyburly.

Among the other nominees on hand: Celia Keenan-Bolger and composer-lyricist William Finn, nominated for their work on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a show that has moved to Broadway…

Doug Hughes, nominated for his direction of Doubt, which has also moved to Broadway…

…Elizabeth Marvel, nominated for her performance in the title role of the New York Theatre Workshop production of Hedda Gabler, pictured here with pal Alicia Goranson (a.k.a. Becky on TV’s Roseanne)…

…Ashlie Atkinson, nominated for her performance in Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig, seen here with actor Michael Carbonaro…

…choreographers Devenand Janki and Christopher Gattelli, respectively nominated for their work on Junie B. Jones and Altar Boyz…

…two more nominees for Altar Boyz, book writer Kevin Del Aguila and actor Tyler Maynard…

….and two featured actor/actress nominees, Jenn Harris (for Modern Orthodox) and Kevin Cahoon (for The Foreigner). To access TheaterMania’s news story including a complete list of this year’s Lortel Award nominees, click here.

Last night marked Christina Applegate’s first Broadway performance in the title role of Sweet Charity (though the show doesn’t officially open until May 4). Here’s Applegate during the curtain call…

…and here she is again, having her feet kissed by co-star Denis O’Hare.

Yet another of last night’s events was the opening of The Light in the Piazza at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, with an after-party held at nearby Tavern on the Green. Here is Victoria Clark, who plays Mrs. Margaret Johnson in the Adam Guettel-Craig Lucas musical…

…and here’s Kelli O’Hara, who plays her daughter Clara. To access David Finkle’s TheaterMania review of The Light in the Piazza, click here.

On Friday, April 15, Robert Goulet gave his first performance as Georges in the Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, and a party in his honor was held afterwards at Tony’s DiNapoli Restaurant on West 43rd Street. Here’s Goulet (right) with co-star Gary Beach, who plays Albin…

…and here’s Goulet again with members of the show’s creative team: book writer Harvey Fierstein (left), composer-lyricist Jerry Herman (foreground), and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (right).

Finally, also on April 15, the cast of Brooklyn The Musical celebrated the show’s 200th performance back stage at the Plymouth Theatre.