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Albums from Miles Davis, Mary J. Blige, Elton John and 'Minecraft' enter National Recording Registry

Albums from Miles Davis, Mary J. Blige, Elton John and 'Minecraft' enter National Recording Registry

Independent09-04-2025

Albums from Elton John, Miles Davis, Tracy Chapman, Mary J. Blige and the cast of ' Hamilton" are entering America 's audio canon, along with singles from Helen Reddy and Celine Dion and the music of 'Minecraft.'
New inductees into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress include Davis' groundbreaking 1970 merger of jazz and rock 'Bitches Brew,' John's loaded-with-hits 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" from 1973, Chapman's self-titled 1988 album that included 'Fast Car," Blige's deeply introspective 1994 'My Life," and the 2015 original Broadway cast album of "Hamilton."
They were among the 25 recordings entering the archive in the class of 2025, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced Wednesday. The recordings were chosen for their 'cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation's recorded sound heritage'
'These are the sounds of America — our wide-ranging history and culture,' Hayden said in a statement. 'The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation's playlist.'
Helen Reddy's 1972 'I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar" and Celine Dion's 1997 'My Heart Will Go On" from the film 'Titanic' are among the singles entering the archive.
Among the more unusual inclusion's are the original music for the video game (and now monster hit movie) 'Minecraft" from German producer Daniel Rosenfeld, as collected on the 2011 album, 'Minecraft: Volume Alpha," and the reboot sound for Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system, created by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician and producer Brian Eno.
Announcer Chuck Thompson's radio broadcast of the 1960 World Series between the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates — clinched with a Game 7 home run by the Pirates' Bill Mazeroski — is also entering the registry.
The oldest recording in the class of 2025 is 1913's 'Aloha 'Oe' by the Hawaiian Quintette. The most recent is the 2015 'Hamilton' album, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Other albums that won inclusion are 1968's 'Hello Dummy' from insult comic Don Rickles, 1969's 'Chicago Transit Authority' from the band Chicago, 1975's 'I've Got the Music in Me' from Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker, 1976's 'Fly Like an Eagle' from the Steve Miller Band, and 2006's 'Back to Black' from Amy Winehouse.
Career-defining singles from other canonical artists are joining those of Reddy and Dion, including 1952's 'Happy Trails' from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Freddy Fender's 1975 'Before the Next Teardrop Falls," and 1971's 'Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'' from trailblazing Black country artist Charley Pride.

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Tony Awards 2025 WINNERS: Sobbing Nicole Scherzinger triumphs for Sunset Boulevard as George Clooney is snubbed
Tony Awards 2025 WINNERS: Sobbing Nicole Scherzinger triumphs for Sunset Boulevard as George Clooney is snubbed

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Tony Awards 2025 WINNERS: Sobbing Nicole Scherzinger triumphs for Sunset Boulevard as George Clooney is snubbed

A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger accepted her first ever Broadway honor at the star-studded 78th Annual Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sunday. The Pussycat Dolls singer, 46, won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder. 'Growing up I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last,' she shared in her acceptance speech, before thanking her fiancé Thom Evans, adding he 'believes in me when I forget to believe in myself.' Darren Criss, 38, won big, earning his first Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance in Maybe Happy Ending, written by Will Aronson and Hue Park. The play — which explores themes of love, loneliness, and mortality and follows two 'Helperbots', robots designed to assist people, named Oliver and Claire — also won the top honor for Best Musical, with producer Jeffrey Richards accepting the award. Meanwhile George Clooney, 64 — who was nominated for Good Night, And Good Luck — was shockingly snubbed, when he lost the Best Actor in a Play award to Cole Escola, 38. The star, who uses they/them pronouns, won for their performance in Oh, Mary! which they wrote and star in. The Pussycat Dolls singer teared up after winning the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance of aging Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wild The show, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, celebrated Broadway's brightest talents in singing, acting, dancing and more. Nicole started her acceptance speech by telling the audience: 'First of all, I just have to thank God, for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory.' 'I'm so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl's dream come true. So proud to represent.' She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she 'had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.' She then thanked composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, sharing: 'It has been such an honor to be able to create with you the past 15 years.' Later she gave a shout out to producer Jamie Lloyd: 'Jamie, you saw in me what no one else did. You have given us all new ways to dream and you have changed my life forever.' Nicole wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, 'If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong, or your time hasn't come, don't give up.' 'Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.' 'This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you,' the singer added at the end. In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. In his acceptance speech, Criss gave a shout out to his wife Mia Swier, as well as actress Helen J. Shen. 'I share this with one of the best leading actresses is in a Broadway musical the season, Helen J. Shen,' he said. 'I am so proud of you and your Broadway debut is for the books. This is where you belong.' He then thanked his wife: 'The real hero for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia, who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the theater eight times a week.' 'Mia, you are the very pedestal that upholds the shiny spinny bit in our lives, and your love and support for me and our beautiful children combined with the miracle working at something as magical as "Maybe Happy Ending" has been and will always be award enough.' He finished his speech by dedicating his Tony Award to the memory of his father, Bill, and his brother, Chuck. She also thanked composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, sharing: 'It has been such an honor to be able to create with you the past 15 years' Tony Awards 2025 winners: AT A GLANCE MUSICAL CATEGORIES A sobbing Nicole Scherzinger won the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award, for her performance in Sunset Boulevard Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd. Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Darren Criss — Maybe Happy Ending Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Jak Malone — Operation Mincemeat Best Musical: Maybe Happy Ending Best Revival of a Musical: Sunset Blvd. Best Direction of a Musical: Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending PLAY CATEGORIES Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Cole Escola — Oh, Mary! Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Kara Young — Purpose Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Francis Jue — Yellow Face Best Play: Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Best Revival of a Play: Eureka Day — Author: Jonathan Spector Best Direction of a Play: Sam Pinkleton — Oh, Mary! Sarah Snook, 37, kicked off the show, winning the Best Leading Actress in a Play award for her unbelievable performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray, where she played all 26 characters, including Dorian and Lord Henry. The Succession star made her Broadway debut in the ambitious stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1890 novel, directed and written by Kipp Williams. Snook beat out a strong lineup of nominees including Laura Donnelly for The Hills of California, acting legend Mia Farrow for The Roommate, LaTanya Richardson Jackson for Purpose, and Stranger Things star Sadie Sink for John Proctor Is the Villain. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter presented her with the award. She noted that the Tony Awards audience is an 'intimidating room of incredibly talented people.' She went on: 'Thank you so much for this. This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway.' 'Thank you to my incredible team... and just everybody on stage. [The Picture of Dorian Gray] is billed as a one person show, and I don't feel alone any night that I do this show.' 'There are so many people on the stage making it work and so many people behind the stage making it work.' She also thanked her husband Dave Lawson: 'And an exceptional thank you, the biggest thank you I can ever give to my husband, my soulmate, you are so brilliant holding family together and looking after the phones.' The Picture of Dorian Gray follows a handsome young man whose painted portrait grotesquely ages with each of his sins, while he remains eternally youthful. Aside from Clooney, who was nominated for Good Night, And Good Luck, Escola beat out Jon Michael Hill for Purpose, Daniel Dae Kim, for Yellow Face, Harry Lennix for Purpose, and Louis McCartney for Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Set in the weeks before Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the 80-minute one-act dark comedy Oh, Mary! shares a glimpse into the suffocated life of Mary Todd Lincoln. A thrilled Escola told the crowd: 'Julie Harris has a Tony for playing Mary Todd Lincoln!' They went on to acknowledge their fellow nominees, including George: 'I want to thank the other nominees. George and Jon and Harry and Daniel and Louis. It's an honor to be in your company.' They then joked, 'More than that, it's been a sincere pleasure spending time with you over these warm salads at all these luncheons.' The star then quipped: 'I have to thank - oh, first of all, hi, mom. I love you. I'll call you when I can.' They then jokingly thanked 'Tebow from Grindr', the dating app for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. Meanwhile Francis Jue, 61, won the best featured actor in a play for his performance in Yellow Face. 'Thank you so much for this. This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway,' Sarah told the crowd as she accepted the award Sarah beat out a strong lineup of nominees including Laura Donnelly for The Hills of California , Mia Farrow for The Roommate, LaTanya Richardson Jackson for Purpose, and Sadie Sink for John Proctor Is the Villain Katie Holmes and Danielle Brooks presented him with the award. He beat out Glenn Davis for Purpose, Gabriel Ebert for John Proctor Is the Villain, Bob Odenkirk for Glengarry Glen Ross, and Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary! He gave a passionate speech, telling the crowd: 'For those who don't feel seen, for those being targeted in these authoritarian times, I see you. At its best, this community sees you. And I hope that encourages you to be brave and to dream and to dream big.' He began his speech saying: '20 years ago, wonderful actor, singer Alvin Ing gave me this tux. He had it made for himself for the opening of "Pacific overtures" on Broadway in 1976.' 'When he gave it to me he told me he wanted me to wear it when I accepted my Tony award. I am only here because of the encouragement and inspiration of generations of wonderful Asian artists who came before me, and never got the opportunities that I have had.' 'It can be difficult in challenging times to be brave, so I would like to thank Scott Ellis and roundabout theater for daring to do a play called "Yellow face" in an election season. Thank you to David Henry Hwang for giving me and so many others a voice.' Hwang's Yellow Face is a semi-autobiographical satirical comedy that explores the complexities of race and identity. English actor Jak Malone, 30, nabbed the win for best featured actor in a musical, for his Broadway debut in Operation Mincemeat. He gave a passionate speech, telling the crowd: 'For those who don't feel seen, for those being targeted in these authoritarian times, I see you. At its best, this community sees you. And I hope that encourages you to be brave and to dream and to dream big' English actor Jak Malone, 30, nabbed the win for best featured actor in a musical, for his Broadway debut in Operation Mincemeat In an impassioned speech, Malone told the audience: 'Eight times a week I walk out on that stage and tell the audience I'm a woman. I'm not one. I only convey it through simple adjustment to posture, voice, and energy, but night after night the audience is believe in Hester' 'If you watched our show and found yourself believing in Hester, I'm so glad to tell you that intentionally or otherwise you might have just bid farewell to cynicism, outdated ideas of that rotten old binary and open yourself up to a world that's already out there in glorious technicolor and isn't going away anytime soon' He received the award from Adam Lambert and Charli D'Amelio He beat out Brooks Ashmanskas for Smash, Jeb Brown for Dead Outlaw, Danny Burstein for Gypsy, and Taylor Trensch for Floyd Collins. In an impassioned speech, Malone told the audience about his portrayal of a woman in the play: 'Eight times a week I walk out on that stage and tell the audience I'm a woman. I'm not one. I only convey it through simple adjustment to posture, voice, and energy, but night after night the audience is believe in Hester.' 'If you watched our show and found yourself believing in Hester, I'm so glad to tell you that intentionally or otherwise you might have just bid farewell to cynicism, outdated ideas of that rotten old binary and open yourself up to a world that's already out there in glorious technicolor and isn't going away anytime soon.' He received the award from Adam Lambert and Charli D'Amelio. Operation Mincemeat is a fast-paced musical comedy dramatizing the true 1943 Allied deception: tricking the Nazis into believing they'd invade Greece instead of Sicily. Kara Young won best featured actress in a play for her performance in Purpose. She triumphed over Tala Ashe for English, Jessica Hecht for Eureka Day, Marjan Neshat for English, and Fina Strazza for John Proctor Is the Villain. Purpose is a darkly comedic family drama that delves into the complex legacy of a prominent African-American family. Kara sweetly thanked her mother before making a statement on how theater brings people together, even in a world that often feels fractured. Kara Young won best featured actress in a play for her performance in Purpose 'In this world that we are so divided, theater is a sacred space! It's a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure. And it makes us united,' she stated in her acceptance speech She was presented the award by Carrie Preston and Harry Potter star Tom Felton 'Thank you to my mother and my father. My mother, who is my date, Vanessa Jenkins Young. My Belizean queen of the bay who cooked and stewed and brewed me for nine months. Thank you. My father, Klay Young, and my brother, Klay Jr. I love you guys.' She then stated: 'In this world that we are so divided, theater is a sacred space! It's a sacred space that we have to honor and treasure. And it makes us united. Thank you so much.' She was presented the award by Carrie Preston and Harry Potter star Tom Felton. The Best Featured Actress in a Musical award went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, 56, for her performance in Buena Vista Social Club. It was her first Tony nomination and win, and the star got emotional while accepting her award. At one point Belcon also joked about having an 'obsession' with actor Jason Momoa, quipping, 'Hey, Jason. How you doing?' Buena Vista Social Club is inspired by the beloved Cuban ensemble of the same name, which recorded a hit eponymous album in 1997 and was documented in Wim Wenders' acclaimed documentary (also of the same name) in 1999. Belcon then thanked the 'real Buena Vista Social Club, who of course we could not do this without. I hope you will see this. I hope you are proud of us. It is such an honor to portray you.' 'My fellow nominees, your performances are all incredibly inspiring. My friends and family, thank you for listening to me cry and cackle and complain at 3:00 in the morning.' She won out against Julia Knitel for Dead Outlaw, Gracie Lawrence for Just in Time, and Justina Machado for Real Women Have Curves, and Joy Woods for Gypsy. She received the award from Rachel Bay Jones and Kristin Chenoweth. The Best Featured Actress in a Musical award went to Natalie Venetia Belcon, 56, for her performance in Buena Vista Social Club It was her first Tony nomination and win, and the star got emotional while accepting her award At one point she also joked about having an 'obsession' with actor Jason Momoa, quipping, 'Hey, Jason. How you doing?' She then thanked the 'real Buena Vista Social Club, who of course we could not do this without. I hope you will see this. I hope you are proud of us. It is such an honor to portray you' She received the award from Rachel Bay Jones and Kristin Chenoweth The best new play award went to author Branden Jacobs Jenkins and producer Glenn Davis for Purpose They were presented the award by actor Ben Stiller The best new play award went to author Branden Jacobs Jenkins and producer Glenn Davis for Purpose. They were up against Oh, Mary!, John Proctor Is the Villain, English, and The Hills of California. Author Jonathan Spector and producer Lynne Meadow accepted the award for Best Revival of a Play for Eureka Day. They were up against Our Town, Romeo + Juliet, and Yellow Face. Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson presented them with the award. The best direction of a play award was given to theatre director Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary!. The award was presented by two-time Tony nominee Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney. Pinkleton won out against Knud Adams for English, Sam Mendes for The Hills of California, Danya Taymor for John Proctor Is the Villain, and Kip Williams for The Picture of Dorian Gray. 'We can bring joy to people at the end of a crappy day and that feels like a big deal to me. I love making theater and I love being part of this community. Thank you so much! I love you!' he said while accepting his award. Meanwhile the best direction of a musical Tony award went to Michael Arden for Maybe Happy Ending. He beat out Saheem Ali for Buena Vista Social Club, David Cromer for Dead Outlaw, Christopher Gattelli for Death Becomes Her, and Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard. Arden thanked playwrights Will Aronson and Hue Park for writing, 'a perfect musical.' Author Jonathan Spector and producer Lynne Meadow accepted the award for Best Revival of a Play for Eureka Day Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson presented them with the award The best direction of a play award was given to theatre director Sam Pinkleton for Oh, Mary! The award was presented by two-time Tony nominee Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney Meanwhile the best direction of a musical Tony award went to Michael Arden for Maybe Happy Ending They were presented the award by Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit Elsewhere on the show Cynthia, 38, and Sara Bareilles honored those in the theater community who died over the last year by singing Tomorrow from Annie Another high point of the night took place when the original cast of Broadway's iconic 'Hamilton' reunited for a performance, ten years after the debut of the beloved show Scherzinger performed a number from Sunset Blvd. onstage Cynthia kicked off the show with a theatrical performance Nicole soaked in her win alongside Oprah Keanu and Alex were pictured backstage 'It dares us to love with radical abandon despite the fact that we know we have shelf lives. He reminds us that compassion is the antidote for isolation, and that empathy is not weakness, but a gift and our shared responsibility.' 'The experience of live theater confirms, no matter how different we may be from one another, we are all connected and we are all here and in it together in this brief beautiful life.' At the end of his acceptance speech he gave a shout out to composer Stephen Sondheim and the queer community, quipping, 'As daddy Sondheim said, give us more to see. And if there are any queer people watching tonight, Happy pride.' Producer Jamie Lloyd and legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber accepted the award for Best musical revival for Sunset Boulevard. They won out against Floyd Collins, Gypsy and Pirates! The Penzance Musical. They were presented the award by Lea Michele and Aaron Tveit. The prestigious ceremony honoring theatre is hosted by three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, who kicked off the show with a thrilling performance featuring Oprah. Clooney lost out for his massively successful play Good Night, And Good Luck in the lead actor in a play category; pictured with wife Amal Clooney on the red carpet Nicole cozied up to her other half Thom, whom she thanked in her acceptance speech The duo shared a sweet kiss Snook wowed earlier on the red carpet Pictured with husband Dave Lawson, whom she thanked in her acceptance speech Acting legend Mia Farrow was nominated in the lead actress in a play category but lost; pictured May 16 in NYC; pictured with son Ronan Farrow Stranger Things star Sadie Sink was nominated for John Proctor Is The Villain Nicole and Lea Michele brought plenty of glamour to the red carpet Brooke Shields put on a leggy display Ariana DeBose wowed in a cream silk dress while Katie Holmes opted for a pop of color The show was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and hosted by three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo Cole wowed in front of the cameras Darren beat out Jonathan Groff in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category Elsewhere on the show Cynthia, 38, and Sara Bareilles honored those in the theater community who died over the last year by singing Tomorrow from Annie. Another high point of the night took place when the original cast of Broadway's iconic 'Hamilton' reunited for a performance, ten years after the debut of the beloved show. Erivo was better known for her work in the theatre before expanding into a successful film and television career. The Wicked Star — who recently stirred up controversy when she was announced as the star of a production of Jesus Christ Superstar being held at the Hollywood Bowl in August — is already three-quarters of the way toward completing the rare and coveted EGOT after winning an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony. Along the way, she also received nominations for four Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She previously starred on Broadway in the popular adaptation of The Color Purple, which led to her performing its song I'm Here at the 2016 Tonys. Tony Awards 2025 WINNERS Best Musical Buena Vista Social Club Dead Outlaw Death Becomes Her Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical Best Revival of a Play Eureka Day — Author: Jonathan Spector - WINNER Romeo + Juliet Thornton Wilder's Our Town Yellow Face — Author: David Henry Hwang Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play George Clooney — Good Night, And Good Luck Cole Escola — Oh, Mary! - WINNER Jon Michael Hill — Purpose Daniel Dae Kim — Yellow Face Harry Lennix — Purpose Louis McCartney — Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Darren Criss — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER Andrew Durand — Dead Outlaw Tom Francis — Sunset Blvd. Jonathan Groff — Just In Time James Monroe Iglehart — A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical Jeremy Jordan — Floyd Collins Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Glenn Davis — Purpose Gabriel Ebert — John Proctor Is The Villain Francis Jue — Yellow Face - WINNER Bob Odenkirk — Glengarry Glen Ross Conrad Ricamora — Oh, Mary! Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Brooks Ashmanskas —SMASH Jeb Brown — Dead Outlaw Danny Burstein — Gypsy Jak Malone — Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical - WINNER Taylor Trensch — Floyd Collins Best Direction of a Play Knud Adams — English Sam Mendes — The Hills Of California Sam Pinkleton — Oh, Mary! - WINNER Danya Taymor — John Proctor Is The Villain Kip Williams — The Picture Of Dorian Gray Best Book of a Musical Buena Vista Social Club — Marco Ramirez Dead Outlaw — Itamar Moses Death Becomes Her — Marco Pennette Maybe Happy Ending — Will Aronson and Hue Park - WINNER Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Best Scenic Design of a Play Marsha Ginsberg — English Rob Howell — The Hills of California Marg Horwell and David Bergman — The Picture of Dorian Gray Miriam Buether and 59 — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER Scott Pask — Good Night, and Good Luck Best Costume Design of a Play Brenda Abbandandolo — Good Night, And Good Luck Marg Horwell — The Picture of Dorian Gray - WINNER Rob Howell — The Hills Of California Holly Pierson — Oh, Mary! Brigitte Reiffenstuel — Stranger Things: The First Shadow Best Lighting Design of a Play Natasha Chivers — The Hills Of California Jon Clark — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER Heather Gilbert and David Bengali — Good Night, And Good Luck Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski — John Proctor Is The Villain Nick Schlieper — The Picture Of Dorian Gray Best Sound Design of a Play Paul Arditti — Stranger Things: The First Shadow - WINNER Palmer Hefferan — John Proctor Is The Villain Daniel Kluger — Good Night, And Good Luck Nick Powell — The Hills Of California Clemence Williams — The Picture of Dorian Gray Best Choreography Joshua Bergasse — SMASH Camille A. Brown — Gypsy Christopher Gattelli — Death Becomes Her Jerry Mitchell — BOOP! The Musical Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Best Play English — Author: Sanaz Toossi The Hills of California — Author: Jez Butterworth John Proctor Is The Villain — Author: Kimberly Belflower Oh, Mary! — Author: Cole Escola Purpose — Author: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins - WINNER Best Revival of a Musical Floyd Collins — Book/Additional Lyrics: Tina Landau; Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel Gypsy Pirates! The Penzance Musical Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Laura Donnelly — The Hills Of California Mia Farrow — The Roommate LaTanya Richardson Jackson — Purpose Sadie Sink — John Proctor Is The Villain Sarah Snook — The Picture Of Dorian Gray - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Megan Hilty — Death Becomes Her Audra McDonald — Gypsy Jasmine Amy Rogers — BOOP! The Musical Nicole Scherzinger — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Jennifer Simard — Death Becomes Her Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Tala Ashe — English Jessica Hecht — Eureka Day Marjan Neshat — English Fina Strazza — John Proctor Is The Villain Kara Young — Purpose - WINNER Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Natalie Venetia Belcon — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Julia Knitel — Dead Outlaw Gracie Lawrence — Just In Time Justina Machado — Real Women Have Curves: The Musical Joy Woods — Gypsy Best Direction of a Musical Saheem Ali — Buena Vista Social Club Michael Arden — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER David Cromer — Dead Outlaw Christopher Gattelli — Death Becomes Her Jamie Lloyd — Sunset Blvd. Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Dead Outlaw — Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna Death Becomes Her — Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey Maybe Happy Ending —Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park - WINNER Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts Real Women Have Curves: The Musical — Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez Best Orchestrations Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber — Just in Time Will Aronson — Maybe Happy Ending Bruce Coughlin — Floyd Collins Marco Paguia — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber — Sunset Blvd. Best Scenic Design of a Musical Rachel Hauck — Swept Away Dane Laffrey and George Reeve — Maybe Happy Ending - WINNER Arnulfo Maldonado — Buena Vista Social Club Derek McLane — Death Becomes Her Derek McLane — Just In Time Best Costume Design of a Musical Dede Ayite — Buena Vista Social Club Gregg Barnes — BOOP! The Musical Clint Ramos — Maybe Happy Ending Paul Tazewell — Death Becomes Her - WINNER Catherine Zuber — Just In Time Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles — Sunset Blvd. - WINNER Tyler Micoleau — Buena Vista Social Club Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun — Floyd Collins Ben Stanton — Maybe Happy Ending Justin Townsend — Death Becomes Her Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans — Buena Vista Social Club - WINNER Adam Fisher — Sunset Blvd. Peter Hylenski — Just In Time Peter Hylenski — Maybe Happy Ending Dan Moses Schreier — Floyd Collins

The Jaws test: We're going to need a bigger boat for political sharks
The Jaws test: We're going to need a bigger boat for political sharks

The Herald Scotland

time2 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

The Jaws test: We're going to need a bigger boat for political sharks

But what do you know, the kid stayed on the picture, the shark scared the popcorn out of audiences, and the score by John Williams will live forever. The picture won three Oscars. It deserved double. Spielberg went on to his next project, a modest something or other about aliens, and the rest is probably being discussed on a podcast somewhere in the distant universe. The moral of the Jaws story is that things can be turned around. What earns brickbats one day can come up roses the next. There endeth the lesson, or so it seemed. As I watched the film again the other day, it occurred to me that Jaws had more to teach us about modern politics and those who swim in its waters. Let's be topical and start with Rachel Reeves. In the Commons today, just after PMQs, the Chancellor will deliver her spending review. Having U-turned on pensioners' winter fuel payments, Ms Reeves must hope that she can put some distance between herself and the worst decision of any government in its first months in office, far less a Labour one. But pensioners, and Labour MPs, have long memories. That was evident on the doorsteps of Hamilton, regardless of the eventual wafer-thin win. The subject will surface again if Ms Reeves comes for personal independence payments (PIP), a lifeline for so many disabled people. The U-turn on winter fuel could run into trouble. Paying the allowance to all, then clawing it back from some, is a plan that's fraught with difficulties. Ms Reeves will get through today, but she must know this is not over. The idea that she can go into the next election, however distant, as Chancellor, is ridiculous. Such is the ill feeling caused by scrapping the winter fuel payments, nothing less than her resignation will put it right. Even her boss knows that. So no, Ms Reeves. It might look calm out there, but it is not safe to go back in the water. Have a paddle close to shore, and get out at a time that suits you. Another takeaway from Jaws is that all politicians can be placed in one of two categories. The first lot are led by Mayor Larry Vaughn, played in the movie by Murray Hamilton. The elected leader of the fictional Amity Island is worried that the great white terrorising his shores is bad for business. Whatever it takes, he wants everyone back in the water on the 4th of July, having a good time. Warning him in the strongest possible terms against this is police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider). He wants to wait for the experts (Dreyfuss and Shaw's oceanographer Matt Hooper and Navy veteran Quint) to do their thing before he declares the sea safe. Boris Johnson is an obvious Mayor Vaughn. Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, JD Vance, every blowhard who ever appealed for common sense to prevail. Nicola Sturgeon and gender recognition reform is a Mayor Vaughn: wave after wave of supporters, sent to their doom. Her? Didn't even get the ends of her hair wet. John Swinney at the Hamilton by-election: it's only us and Reform out there, nothing to worry about. Total Mayor Vaughn. What of the police chief Brodys? Keir Starmer is one, even if he is clueless at reading the political weather. He will warn against going in the water initially, but then suddenly everything is fine, much like with the economy. Liberal Democrats, Greens - Brodys forever, though the latter cannot be trusted with making the arrangements to close the beach. Whatever the plan, it will cost three times as much and they will screw it up anyway. Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, in Jaws (1975) (Image: free) Moving on to Quint, the grizzled veteran who has seen some sights in his time as a shark hunter and has the 1000-yard stare to prove it. Jim Sillars and Alex Neil come to mind. Know-all Hooper is every young buck who has never had a job outside politics. There are too many of those to choose from. The shark? Take your pick. It could be a person (Putin the obvious choice) or an event (climate change catastrophe). Either way, it's coming, and it's not going to stop till you can see its dead black eyes. Not that this is any reason to change our ways any time soon. Goodness no, we have all the time in the world for that. Jaws had its US release on June 20, 1975. In the UK we had to wait till Boxing Day to see what the fuss was about. It was one of the first films I saw in the cinema and I love it still. The only regret is that it spread misinformation about sharks, even though the term 'fake news' did not exist then. Sharks don't hunt humans. They don't bear grudges. They are not 25 feet long. Spielberg himself told Desert Island Discs in 2022: 'I truly and to this day regret the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film.' He's done his bit, alongside conservationists, to increase shark numbers. Things can turn out okay after all. If it has been a while since you last saw Jaws, it will be on ITV4 at 9.05pm on Friday, June 20. It's a special birthday screening, all welcome, especially current and former First Ministers. Alison Rowat is a Herald columnist and writer

Minecraft fan wins Latitude festival poetry competition for kids
Minecraft fan wins Latitude festival poetry competition for kids

BBC News

time2 hours ago

  • BBC News

Minecraft fan wins Latitude festival poetry competition for kids

A seven-year-old Minecraft fan has a won a festival poetry competition for from Wymondham, Norfolk, wrote A Friend Like Steve, which he will get to perform on stage to open this year's Latitude festival at Henham Park, Suffolk, on 24 and poet Luke Wright said: "I love the fact he chose the language he feels comfortable with, the language of Minecraft. The best thing to do is write about something you love, which is why this is so excellent."The competition was run in partnership with the BBC, and open to seven to 11-year-olds in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Myles' mother, Charlotte, said: "I'm so proud of him, it came out beautifully. "Myles' dad listens to the radio, so he heard about the competition and mentioned it to Myles - who was probably playing Minecraft at the time!"If he's not playing it, he's wearing it or talking about it.. he's quite the fanatic."Myles said he worked on the poem for two days. Poetry 'essential to the festival' The competition began for the 2024 festival as a collaboration with BBC Radio Suffolk, and was open just to young people who lived or went to school in expanded to cover three counties for this year's Benn, founder of the Latitude Festival, said: "Myles' poem is delightful and shows why this competition is so important."At just seven years old, he's taken the world of Minecraft, something that truly speaks to his generation, and turned it into a beautiful exploration of friendship and shared adventure. "This is exactly what Latitude is all about: celebrating creativity in all its forms, giving a platform to new voices."This year will also see a bigger input from the BBC Music Introducing teams which cover Suffolk and Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire and Essex, with 21 local acts performing on the Lavish Lounge stage. Poems on the theme of friendship were judged by BBC presenters Sarah Lilley and Louise Hulland, along with poet Luke Wright and Latitude arts curator Kirsty Taylor. Two runners up were also chosen and invited to read their pieces at the festival alongside the 11, from Gorleston, wrote What Can I Do? telling the story of her school friend moving away to Peterborough."Two hours is far too long, it might as well be two years," she 11, from Cromer, wrote Someone, a poem that explored how it felt to be without a special friend."Friends are the family you choose, but I've not yet been found," Eleanor wrote. BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Sarah Lilley said: "The entries this year took the judges on a rollercoaster of emotions, with some of the pieces showing real maturity about different aspects of having friends, being a friend and sometimes, missing or not having friends."I was so impressed with all of them, but our three finalists are exceptional."Charlotte Spackman, BBC Suffolk executive producer said: "To be able to give young people from our region such an amazing opportunity to take to the stage at Latitude is really special."Creativity is one of the BBC's core values, and it is essential we play our part in nurturing, developing and sharing the stories of the huge talent we have in the East."Watch last year's winner, 11 year old Anna, perform via BBC Suffolk's Facebook pageThe Latitude Festival is 24 - 27 July 2025 at Henham Park, Suffolk, with Sting, Snow Patrol and Fatboy Slim headlining. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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