Entertainment NOW

2 • June 12 - 18, 2022 Entertainment Now By Dana Simpson TV Media N ow that the 2022 awards season is well underway, fans of the performing arts are re- minded of a rare, coveted, acro- nymic title: EGOT winner. Be- stowed upon those who have won all four major awards in the United States performing arts scene — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony — the hon- or is one of the highest in the in- dustry. It's true that the Oscars and the Grammys have already taken place this year (and the Daytime Emmys are scheduled to air June 24), but one awards show prom- ises to make waves on small screens across North America this week. The 75th Annual Tony Awards airs live Sunday, June 12, on CBS and Paramount+. Named for Antoinette Perry, the multitalented wartime leader of the American Theatre Wing who had recently died, the first Tony Awards were held in 1947 and designed to honor the best in live theater performance. Now three-quarters of a century later, the tradition continues; this time from Radio City Music Hall in New York City, just steps from one of the world's most famous theater districts: Broad- way. Back in full swing following a series of delays and postpone- ments during the coronavirus pandemic, this year's event features a pre-show event, named "The Tony Awards: Act One," hosted by American actor/ singer/songwriter Darren Criss ("Glee") and former "Dancing With the Stars" professional Juli- anne Hough. While that segment will only be available to stream on the platform, the Tony Awards show itself will be simulcast across both the streamer and its home network. Hosted by Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose ("West Side Story," 2021), this year marks the first time in history that the four-hour event will be broadcast live from coast to coast. While the nominees include 34 shows that span sev- eral different genres and a total of 26 awards categories, only one show has managed to rake in 11 nominations of its own. "A Strange Loop," the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical from Michael R. Jackson ("Only Chil- dren" at NYU's Frederick Loewe Theatre), will likely walk away with at least one Tony this year, given its nominations in nearly half of the ceremony's catego- ries. It tells the story of Usher (newcomer Jaquel Spivey), a Black, queer writer who is writing a play about a Black, queer writer named Usher, who is, in turn, also writing a play about a Black, queer writer named Usher. As the show's title suggests, Usher is stuck in a "strange loop," a term coined by American cognitive scientist and author Douglas Hofstadter (of "Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid" literary fame). Some of the categories within which "A Strange Loop" is nominated are Best Musi- cal, Best Musical Score, Best Actor in a Musical (for Spivey), Best Direction of a Musical (for Stephen Brackett of 2019's "Be More Chill") and Best Book of a Musical. Also seeing several nomina- tions at this year's awards are Best Musical nominees "Six: The Musical," "Girl From the North Country," "MJ," "Paradise Square" and the Billy Crystal-led musical comedy "Mr. Saturday Night." Cover Story Billy Crystal and Shoshanna Bean are both nominated for a Tony "Mr. Saturday Night" 'A Strange Loop,' 'Mr. Saturday Night' await results at 75th Annual Tony Awards Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12. Advertise Your Business In Call Advertising at 217-477-5105

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