Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994 TAG: 9406210045
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SUSAN KING LOS ANGELES TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Anthony Hopkins and Amy Irving are the hosts for the Tony proceedings, named after the late actress Antoinette Perry, who was chairman of the board and secretary of the American Theatre Wing through World War II.
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical ``Passion'' leads the pack this year with 10 nominations, followed by the musicals ``Beauty and the Beast'' and ``She Loves Me'' with nine each. ``Angels in America: Perestroika,'' the second part of last year's Tony Award-winning best play, ``Angels in America: Millennium Approaches,'' has six nominations.
A special Tony recognizing regional theater will be given to the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J. And Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn will be the first recipients of a special Tony for lifetime achievement in the theater.
Tony Awards over the years have produced their own share of drama. Among those moments:
The first Tony Awards were presented in 1947. Jose Ferrer (``Cyrano de Bergerac'') and Fredric March (``Years Ago'') both won best dramatic actor. Ingrid Bergman (``Joan of Lorraine'') and Helen Hayes (``Happy Birthday'') won best dramatic actress.
Renowned American playwright Arthur Miller, whose new Broadway play ``Broken Glass'' is nominated this year for best drama, has had major contacts with Tony: In 1949, his legendary ``Death of a Salesman'' won prizes for best play, best featured (aka supporting) actor (Arthur Kennedy), producer (Kermit Bloomgarden and Walter Fried) and director (Elia Kazan). Star Lee J. Cobb lost the best actor Tony to Rex Harrison for ``Anne of the Thousand Days.''
Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani starred in ``The Rose Tattoo,'' the 1955 Oscar-winning adaptation of Tennessee Williams' hit 1951 play. On Broadway, Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton starred in the comedy-drama and received Tonys for best featured actor and actress.
``The Fourposter,'' Jan de Hartog's 1952 Tony Award-winning best play, was later transformed into the musical ``I Do! I Do!,'' which was nominated for best musical of 1967.
Both Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly received best actress (musical) Tonys for their performances as Mama Rose in revivals of the musical ``Gypsy.'' Ironically, Ethel Merman, who originated the role in the initial production, didn't win the 1960 best actress Tony. She lost to Mary Martin in ``The Sound of Music.''
In 1954, Audrey Hepburn was presented with a best actress Oscar for her performance in the 1953 film ``Roman Holiday.'' That year, she also won the best actress (dramatic) Tony for ``Ondine.''
Robert Montgomery may be best known for his performances in the film ``Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' and ``Night Must Fall'' - and as the father of Elizabeth Montgomery - but he also was a well-respected director. He won the 1955 best director Tony for his work on ``The Desperate Hours.''
Ray Walston, currently appearing on CBS' ``Picket Fences,'' won the best actor (musical) award for playing the Devil in the 1955 musical ``Damn Yankees.'' Victor Garber plays Walston's role in the Broadway revival and is nominated for a Tony.
Barbra Streisand (``Funny Girl'') lost the 1964 best actress (musical) Tony to Carol Channing for ``Hello, Dolly!'' Streisand played Channing's role in the 1969 film version of ``Hello, Dolly!''
Meryl Streep received a nomination for featured actress in a drama for 1976's ``27 Wagons Full of Cotton.''
Anne Bancroft won both the 1960 best actress (drama) Tony and the 1962 Oscar for her role as Annie Sullivan in ``The Miracle Worker.'' Bancroft also won a best featured actress (drama) Tony for 1958's ``Two for the Seesaw.'' Shirley MacLaine played Bancroft's role in the 1962 film version of ``Seesaw.''
Although Angela Lansbury has never received an Emmy for her work as Jessica Fletcher on ``Murder, She Wrote,'' she has won four Tony Awards for best actress (musical): 1966's ``Mame''; 1969's ``Dear World''; 1975's ``Gypsy'' and 1979's ``Sweeney Todd.''
``Cheers'' star Bebe Neuwirth, currently on Broadway in the revival of ``Damn Yankees,'' won a best featured actress (musical) Tony for the 1986 revival of ``Sweet Charity.''
Alan Alda, a musical comedy star? Well, he was nominated for best actor (musical) for the 1967 musical ``The Apple Tree.'' He lost the award to Robert Preston for ``I Do! I Do!''
``The 48th Annual Tony Awards'' airs tonight on WDBJ-Channel 7.
by CNB