Rousuck on Theater: 2020 Tony Nominees & Best New Streams

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom again today with updates on the nation's pandemic-era theater community, leading off with the 74th Annual Tony Award nominations anounced Thursday. Judy talks about some of the major contenders for theater's most prestigious honor, including the musical Jagged Little Pill, which garnered the most Tony nominations this season -- 15 - including Best Musical; and Slave Play, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Play -- a record-breaking number for a non-musical.And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep the nation's theaters dark, Judy spotlights some of the continuing efforts by local and national companies to present inspiring performances in filmed and live online streaming productions...Among these is the new film production of musician David Byrne's American Utopia, a cinematic rendition of the currently suspended hit Broadway musical that was, in turn, based on Byrne's album and concert concepts. Byrne, a native Baltimorian and former Talking Heads band leader, teamed with director Spike Lee on the new film, which begins streaming on HBOMax this Saturday at 8pm. Judy also describes Baltimore Center Stage's announcement that it's partnering on an hour-long streaming production next Thursday designed to encourage voter engagement in the crucial November 3rd elections. An evening of spoken word, song and dance written, directed, and performed by some of the most important voices in the American theatre, Act Out: Vote 2020 will be available to stream on October 29 at 9:00 PM ET at www.ActOutVote2020.com.Here are links to all the productions Judy and Tom discussed today:American Utopia https://www.hbo.com/specials/american-utopiaAct Out: Vote 2020 www.ActOutVote2020.comThe Discourse Project https://www.quarrytheatre.com/the-discourse-projectCabaret Macabre https://www.theatreproject.org/upcoming-shows/Death of a Salesman https://playbill.com/playbillplayback/salesmanShakespeare trilogy https://stannswarehouse.org/show/donmar-trilogy/Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.