Latest news with #HarveyFierstein
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night?FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts?FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then?FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down?FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season?FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it?FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night? FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts? FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady idea. AP: Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to do. AP: You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then? FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay people. AP: You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down? FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it all. AP: What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season? FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a play. AP: Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and wallets. AP: What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it? FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems appropriate. FIERSTEIN: I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
George Clooney's black hair dye fades back to gray for Tony nominee luncheon
George Clooney resembled his old silver foxy self while attending the 78th Annual Tony Awards Nominees Luncheon, which was held at 30 Rock's Rainbow Room in Midtown Manhattan on Monday. The 64-year-old first-time thespian has clearly been using temporary black hair dye to stain his signature gray locks in order to more authentically embody Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, And Good Luck. George - who kept his baseball cap on - impressively scored a Tony nod for best performance by a leading actor in a play for his Broadway debut as the late broadcast journalist interviewing Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clooney rubbed elbows with Broadway legends like Harvey Fierstein, who will receive the Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theatre when the ceremony airs June 8 on CBS. The two-time Oscar winner was all smiles while chatting with Sunset Boulevard star Tom Francis, who's nominated for best actor in a musical. George was joined by his lead producer Sue Wagner as they chatted up Purpose star Kara Young, who's nominated for best featured actress in a play. Clooney will face heavy competition for the prize against Oh Mary's Cole Escola, Purpose's Harry Lennix, Purpose's Jon Michael Hill, Yellow Face's Daniel Dae Kim, and Stranger Things' Louis McCartney. The $4M-grossing play is also up for best scenic design, best costume design, best lighting design, and best sound design of a play at the Tonys. On June 7, CNN will make history as the first network to air a play live when they broadcast Good Night, and Good Luck. 'I can't tell you how exciting it is to do something that's never been done,' the Wolfs producer-star said in the press release. 'CNN is the perfect place to bring this story of courage to so many more people than we could have ever hoped. Live TV. No net. Buckle up everyone.' Director David Cromer's 1954-set drama, set in CBS Studios at Grand Central, runs through June 8 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. George previously directed David Strathairn in the same exact role in his 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck while he took on the role of Fred W. Friendly, a producer friend of Murrow's. Clooney will next take on the titular role in Noah Baumbach's heartbreaking comedy Jay Kelly, which hits limited US theaters November 14 before streaming December 5 on Netflix. Jay Kelly will also feature Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup, Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig, Isla Fisher, Riley Keough, Emily Mortimer, Patrick Wilson, Stacy Keach, and Jim Broadbent. George was joined by his lead producer Sue Wagner (R) as they chatted up Purpose star Kara Young (L), who's nominated for best featured actress in a play On June 6, the Nespresso brand ambassador and his second wife Amal Alamuddin will celebrate the eighth birthdays of their fraternal twins - son Alexander and daughter Ella. Last Saturday, the 47-year-old human rights lawyer daringly broke the Cannes Film Festival dress code by donning a black archival John Galliano gown for Christian Dior featuring a since-banned train. Amal glammed up to attend the world premiere of Apple TV+ documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender, which captures the U2 frontman's Beacon Theatre performance. The married couple of a decade - who began dating in 2013 - have been friends with the 65-year-old Irish rocker for years attending each other's birthdays, weddings, and Easter celebrations.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' and 'Death Becomes Her' lead 2025 Tony nominations
* Hollywood stars Clooney and Snook nominated * Harvey Fierstein to receive Lifetime Achievement award * Musicals 'Gypsy' and 'Sunset Blvd.' among notable revivals nominated * Cynthia Erivo of 'Wicked' to host June 8 awards NEW YORK, - Broadway musicals "Maybe Happy Ending," "Buena Vista Social Club" and 'Death Becomes Her" led the tally of Tony Award nominations, each with 10, when they were announced on Thursday ahead of the June 8 awards ceremony. The 78th annual Tony Award nominations, celebrating the best in Broadway theater, reflect a season shaped by unique storytelling and genre experimentation with new works that push boundaries in form, subject and perspective. Previous Tony Award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce announced the awards. 'Maybe Happy Ending' is a story about obsolete robots in a futuristic Seoul; 'Buena Vista Social Club' brings the iconic Cuban musical collective's story to the stage, and 'Death Becomes Her' is based on a dark comedy film. In the Best Play category, nominees include 'John Proctor Is the Villain,' which draws on 'The Crucible' to examine teenage self-discovery in the #MeToo era; 'Oh, Mary!,' the much-talked-about satirical reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's personal life, by Cole Escola, who is also nominated as its star; and 'The Hills of California' by Jez Butterworth, a family drama set in a declining British seaside town. Notable revivals nominated are 'Gypsy,' 'Sunset Blvd.,' and 'Our Town.' Some of this season's Hollywood heavyweights were also nominated, including George Clooney in his Broadway debut in 'Good Night, and Good Luck'; Sarah Snook, who plays more than two dozen characters in the one-woman reimagination of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and Sadie Sink in 'John Proctor Is the Villain.' But high-priced 'Othello,' starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, was completely left out of the nominations. Leading acting nominations in musicals include Jonathan Groff for his performance as Bobby Darin in 'Just in Time'; six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald in the legendary role of Mama Rose in the revival of 'Gypsy'; and Nicole Scherzinger in a much-lauded performance as fading movie star Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Blvd.' Directing nominations for musicals include Michael Arden for 'Maybe Happy Ending' and Jamie Lloyd for 'Sunset Blvd.' and Sam Mendes for 'The Hills of California' and Danya Taymor for 'John Proctor Is the Villain.' Special awards have been announced ahead of the ceremony. Harvey Fierstein will receive the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, and Celia Keenan-Bolger will be honored with the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her advocacy work through the arts. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. This year's awards will be hosted by Oscar-winner 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo. Read the full list of nominations here.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Tonys: Harvey Fierstein to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
NEW YORK — Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein will receive the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. The four-time Tony Award winner and LGTBQ+ trailblazer will be honored for 'his contributions to the American theatre, both as an artist and activist, represent an extraordinary legacy,' according to Thursday's official announcement from Tony Award producers. 'We are thrilled to honor him with this year's Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Award and can't wait to celebrate one of our icons at the Tony Awards on June 8th.' The 78th Annual Tony Awards are scheduled to take place June 8 at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live on CBS and on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. Fierstein, 72, made his breakthrough with the 1982 play 'Torch Song Trilogy' — winning two Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor in a play. The Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, native also won Tony Awards for best book of a musical for 'La Cage Aux Folles' and best actor in a musical for 'Hairspray,' where he originated the crossdressing role of Edna Turnblad. Among his other credits, he wrote the book for the Tony Award-winning musical 'Kinky Boots' and scripted the musical 'Newsies" and the plays 'Casa Valentina,' 'A Catered Affair' and 'Flatbush Tosca.' More recently, he revised the book for the 2022 Broadway revival of 'Funny Girl,' starring Beanie Feldstein and replacement Lea Michele. ________
