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by Michael Portantiere

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    The 65th annual Theatre World Awards for Broadway and Off-Broadway debut performances were bestowed in an alternately heartwarming and hilarious ceremony at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Tuesday, June 2. Many celebs, including past winners of the award, were on hand to to celebrate this year's honorees: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot); Chad L. Coleman (Joe Turner's Come and Gone); Jennifer Grace (Our Town), Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing: The Musical); Haydn Gwynne (Billy Elliot); Colin Hanks (33 Variations); Marin Ireland (reasons to be pretty); Susan Louise O'Connor (Blithe Spirit), Condola Rashad (Ruined); Geoffrey Rush (Exit the King); Josefina Scaglione (West Side Story); Wesley Taylor (Rock of Ages); and the cast of The Norman Conquests: Amelia Bullmore, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Mangan, Ben Miles, Paul Ritter, and Amanda Root. Here are my pics from the ceremony and the press reception that preceded it.

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    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    The highly entertaining company of The Norman Conquests.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    A king among actors: Geoffrey Rush.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    A chip off the old block: Colin Hanks.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Presenter Kristin Chenoweth, adorable as ever.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Condola Rashad (right) with her proud mother, Phylicia Rashad (now in August: Osage County).

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Chad L. Coleman with presenter Loretta Ables Sayre, who plays Bloody Mary in South Pacific

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    The lovely Josefina Scaglione, a.k.a. Maria in West Side Story.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Josh Grisetti (right) with presenter Craig Bierko (Guys and Dolls).

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Jennifer Grace with presenter Dylan Baker.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    The preternaturally talented David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Rock on, Wesley Taylor!

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Marin Ireland with presenter Jane Houdyshell, who's currently appearing Off-Broadway in Coraline.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Andrea Martin, who presented the award to her Exit the King co-star, Geoffrey Rush.

    Photo by Michael Portantiere

    Presenter Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow), with John Willis, founder of Theatre World, the oldest pictorial and statistical record of the American theatre.


    Published on Tuesday, June 2, 2009


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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