Awards traditionally, but unofficially conclude a theatre season. Sometimes in a rush of wisdom, but usually in a frenzy of horror at what some people consider quality.
This year, among those nominated for Tony Awards, for performances on the Broadway stage, were the veteran actor Earle Hyman for Edward Albee’s latest flop, The Lady from Dubuque, and Debbie Allen for her role as Anita in West Side Story. Unfortunately, both lost out.
Never before had so many blacks been nominated for so many different plays in one season. [The other nominees were author Samm-Art Williams and actor Charles Brown for Home, and Gregory Hines for his performance as Scrooge in the musical Comin’ Uptown.] It should also be noted, however, that this year, more black theatre professionals were on the nominating committee than in previous years.
The biggest outrage in this year’s Tony defeats was Debbie Allen’s failure to win over Priscilla Lopez from A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine. Allen is one of the most exciting performers to hit Broadway in years. She is trained as well as instinctive, even though her acting in West Side Story was perhaps less impressive than her singing and dancing. What she failed to express in dialogue came through with fire in her voice and her movements.
Obies, awards given for off-Broadway performances, went to Hattie Winston and Morgan Freeman and to Ntozake Shange for her adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage at Joe Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival. This production moved the tale from its original setting during the 30-Years War in 17th Century Europe to 19th Century America where hues of racism are blended with the primary colors of motherhood defending offspring.
Gloria Foster, in the title role, was magnificent as usual and Ruthanna Graves’s portrayal of Mother Courage‘s mute daughter was heartbreaking and wrong. Winston, an extraordinary actress, played the whore with delusions of grandeur, and Freeman was convincing the minister who stays with Mother Courage as a man around the wagon.
Other major contributions to theatre that unfortunately were left unacknowledged in the annual awards handouts included:
- Brenda Pressley‘s passionate rendition of one black woman’s — every black woman’s — lifetime in Maya Angelou’s And Still I Rise at Amas Repertory Company.
- Jeffrey V. Thompson, Nat Morris, See Harney, et al, in the vibrant musical Tie More You Get, The More You Want.
- The cast of the blues/vaudeville musical One Mo’ Time, headed by director Vernel Bagneris, at the Village Gate.
- Richard Allen Center‘s revival of James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones with 2 wealth of young talent.
- Clarence Williams‘s and Anthony Call‘s performances in Suspenders at the Henry Street Settlement.
- Joyce Sylvester playing Whatever Her Heart Desires at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn.
…Mabel King, the original Evilene from The Wiz, made her return to Broadway in Micki Grant’s It’s So Nice to Be Civilized, which opened and quickly closed at the Martin Beck Theatre, The show also starred Vivian Reed and Obba Babatunde, who formerly appeared in Reggae and Timbuktu!
…Micki Grant made Broadway history by having two shows open within one week of each other. Preceding Civilized was the return of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God, which received such critical acclaim on its national tour that producer Tom Mallow brought it back to Broadway’s Ambassador Theatre on June 2. The Vinette Carroll musical, choreographed by Telley Beatty moved from Broadway after a year-long run in 1978. Unfortunately, in its revived state, the musical does not feature Delores Hall, who won the Tony for her superlative performance in the show. Miss Hall, however, is still tearing the roof off the 46th Street Theatre just a few blocks away in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
…Andre DeShields, who sang and danced his way into the hearts of New Yorkers in Ain’t Misbehavin’, is currently starring in Jazzbo, now running off-Broadway, with prospects of making it to the big time. The show, choreographed by Louis Johnson, who did the honors for Purlie, the movie The Wiz, Miss Truth, and Daddy Goodness, is a period piece which features lots of tap dancing, and, of course, jazz.
…Ain’t Misbehavin’, meanwhile celebrated its third anniversary in May and appears to be headed for another.
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