Tony Awards: Nikki M. James wins Tony for 'Book of Mormon'

"The Book of Mormon" increased its haul of Tonys on Sunday when Nikki M. James won the award for featured actress in a musical.

James gave a rambling, effusive speech thanking colleagues and family members. She also thanked the show for "changing the face of American theater." The actress plays a member of the African village visited by two American Mormon missionaries.

James beat out stiff competition in her category, including Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Tammy Blanchard and Victoria Clark.

"The Book of Mormon" has so far won five Tonys for the evening. The musical won't sweep the awards, however, since it lost in the choreography category to "Anything Goes."

During a commercial break, the revival of "The Importance of Being Earnest" picked up an award for costume design for a play.

RELATED:

Photos: Al Pacino, Brooke Shields and more at the 2011 Tony Awards

Tony Awards: 'Book of Mormon,' 'War Horse' win for direction

Tony Awards: John Benjamin Hickey wins for 'Normal Heart'

 

 

-- David Ng

Photo (top): Nikki M. James. Credit: Peter Foley / EPA

Photo credit (bottom): American Theatre Wing

Tony Awards: 'Book of Mormon,' 'War Horse' win for direction

 

"The Book of Mormon" and "War Horse" won Tonys for direction of a musical and play, respectively. The wins are seen as harbingers for the shows' chances for winning the top awards later.

Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw shared the Tony for co-directing "The Book of Mormon." Parker thanked his parents as well as fans of "South Park," the long-running animated Comedy Central series that he co-created with Matt Stone.

So far Sunday, "The Book of Mormon" has won four Tonys.

Two directors also won for "War Horse" -- Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris. The pair directed the play at its first staging at the National Theatre in London and subsequently on the West End, before it opened in New York this season.

RELATED:

Tony Awards: John Benjamin Hickey wins for 'Normal Heart'

Tony Awards: Ellen Barkin wins Tony for 'Normal Heart'

Tony Awards: Pre-show awards go to 'Book of Mormon'

 

 

-- David Ng

Photo (top): A scene from "War Horse." Credit: Paul Kolnik / Associated Press

Photo credit (bottom): American Theatre Wing

Tony Awards: John Benjamin Hickey wins for 'Normal Heart'

Veteran stage actor John Benjamin Hickey won his first Tony for his featured performance in "The Normal Heart."

Hickey thanked the large ensemble cast of the Larry Kramer drama. "We love this play, we love doing this play," he said. The actor thanked co-directors Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, as well as the producers.

He also gave a special thanks to some cast members of Showtime's "The Big C," including Laura Linney "for getting me to the stage door on time." Hickey plays Linney's formerly homeless brother on the television comedy.

The actor saved his final thanks for Kramer, whom he called "the great bad-ass of the American theater."

Hickey plays the role of Felix Turner in "The Normal Heart."

During a commercial break, "The Book of Mormon" won the award for sound design of a musical.

RELATED:

Tony Awards: Ellen Barkin wins Tony for 'Normal Heart'

Tony Awards: Pre-show awards go to 'Book of Mormon'

Critic's Notebook: Broadway salutes a successful season, but has anything really changed?

 

 

-- David Ng

Photo (top): John Benjamin Hickey. Credit: Peter Foley / EPA

Photo credit (bottom): American Theatre Wing

Tony Awards: Pre-show awards go to 'Book of Mormon'

"The Book of Mormon" took some of the key creative and technical Tony awards that were handed out in a pre-ceremony event at the Beacon Theatre on Sunday.

[Updated 6:36 p.m.]: "Mormon" won the Tonys for original score and orchestration of a musical. The musical comedy, which tells the story of two bumbling Mormon missionaries in Africa, is expected to dominate this year's awards.

Kathleen Marshall won the Tony for her choreography for the revival of "Anything Goes."

This year's regional theater award went to Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Athol Fugard, the prolific South African-born playwright, received a lifetime achievement award. Fugard -- whose most notable dramas include "Boesman and Lena" and "Master Harold ... and the Boys" -- has explored issues of race and class in apartheid-era South Africa.

Eve Ensler, the author of "The Vagina Monologues," received the Isabelle Stevenson Award, which honors individuals who has made commitments in the fields of humanitarian and social work.

Other recipients of special awards include Philip J. Smith, William Berloni and the Drama Book Shop. The Handspring Puppet Company, which designed the equine puppetry in "War Horse," also received a special award.

RELATED:

Tony Awards: 'The Book of Mormon' leads 2011 Tony nominations 

Tony Awards: Charles McNulty picks this year's winners

Critic's Notebook: Broadway salutes a successful season, but has anything really changed?

 

 

-- David Ng

Photo (top): Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad in "The Book of Mormon." Credit: Joan Marcus / Associated Press

Photo credit (bottom): American Theatre Wing

Tony Awards: Live coverage of Broadway's biggest night

Welcome to our live coverage of the Tony Awards ceremony. The awards, organized by the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, will be broadcast live on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET, with a delay for the West Coast.

This year's ceremony is taking place at the Beacon Theatre in New York. We'll be live blogging the event here so check back throughout the ceremony for updates and commentary. (Here's a list of this year's nominees.)

In addition, we will be hosting a live Tonys chat at The Envelope.

"The Book of Mormon" is the heavy favorite going into tonight's ceremony, with a total of 14 nominations. The musical comedy, from the makers of "South Park," has a chance of breaking the record for the most Tonys won by  a musical, which is the 12 won by "The Producers" in 2001.

In the play category, the favorite is harder to call, but many expected "War Horse" to be the big winner. The British war drama, adapted by Nick Stafford from the book by Michael Morpurgo, uses life-size puppets to represent its equine characters.

This year's host is Neil Patrick Harris, who previously hosted the Tonys in 2009.

RELATED:

Tony Awards: Pre-show awards go to 'Book of Mormon'

Tony Awards: Charles McNulty picks this year's winners

Critic's Notebook: Broadway salutes a successful season, but has anything really changed?

 

 

-- David Ng

Photo (top): Neil Patrick Harris arrives at the Tony Awards ceremony at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty Images

Photo credit (bottom): American Theatre Wing

Emmy contenders: Where would TV be without its police shows? We talk to five top cops

Law enforcers have been patrolling television’s mean streets since even before LAPD detective Sgt. Joe Friday went about asking for “just the facts, ma’am” on “Dragnet.” But television long ago filed away those kind of black-and-white, simplistic Friday figures in favor of complex and conflicted cops and operatives. “We’re not necessarily telling new stories,” says “Southland” star Michael Cudlitz, “but we’re telling stories in new ways.”

Here, The Envelope talked to five of our favorite law-and-order types about their characters and their approach to crime fighting.

MICHAEL CUDLITZ -- ‘SOUTHLAND’
The character: Los Angeles Police Department senior lead officer John Cooper, an exemplary cop who also happens to be gay. Chronic back trouble leads to pain pill addiction, a condition he finally owns in the Season 3 finale.

Contribution to crime fighting: “John has a definite sense of right and wrong and likes to feel that he’s in control of himself when it comes to crossing that line,” Cudlitz says. “He has a sense of urgency in helping those in need. Like most cops, he wants to make a difference.”

Kindred qualities: “I was brought up with strong morals. When people get caught doing the wrong thing, they should suffer the consequences. It’s not a moral high ground. It’s just: Don’t make your mistake someone else’s fault. Cop to it.”

Could he do the job? “I could have easily gone into some kind of service — military, police or fire department. I don’t know if I’d be a good cop because I tend to get very emotionally involved in things. It would eat me up.”

Emmy chances: Even after a remarkable third season, “Southland” remains one of TV’s most underappreciated dramas.

 
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT -- ‘JUSTIFIED’
The character: Old-school, Southern-fried U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a man given to dispensing justice on his terms rather than by the book.

Contribution to crime fighting: “He was born 100 years too late. And he knows that and wonders how he’d size up against the Old West marshals,” Olyphant says.

Kindred qualities: “I often wonder how I would do on stage in 1890. Nah … I don’t know. I’m not as cool, I can tell you that. But, having read the [Elmore Leonard] books, I can imagine what it’s like. And that’s given me enough confidence.”

Could he do the job? “I’d be scared. The marshals I’ve met seem like a fun bunch. And none of them ever thought about the job until someone offered it to them. But me? It crossed my mind to be a teacher or a coach, but not law enforcement.”

Emmy chances: After being criminally overlooked for its first season, justice may be served for a follow-up year that was even better.

MTV Movie Awards: Winners list

So after all the silliness, randy humor and musical performances, who actually walked away with trophies at the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night? Here's the list of winners:

Movie: “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Male performance: Robert Pattinson, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Female performance: Kristen Stewart, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Comedic Performance: Emma Stone, “Easy A.”

Breakout Star: Chloe Grace Moretz, “Kick-Ass.”

Biggest Badass Star: Chloe Grace Moretz, “Kick-Ass.”

Best Villain: Tom Felton, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”

Best Kiss: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Best Fight: Robert Pattinson vs. Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Best Jaw-Dropping Moment: Justin Bieber, “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.”

Best Line from a Movie: “I want to get chocolate-wasted,” Alexys Nycole Sanchez, “Grown Ups.”

Best Scared ... Performance: Ellen Page, “Inception.”

Generation Award: Reese Witherspoon.

-- Staff and wire reports

Photo: Multiple-award winners, including for best kiss, Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward in "Twilight Saga: Eclipse." Credit: Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment

American Cinematheque to honor Robert Downey Jr.

 
Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. is this year's recipient of the 25th American Cinematheque Award. The announcement was made Thursday morning.

The star of the "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes" franchises  will receive the award at the Cinematheque's annual benefit gala on Oct. 14 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel's International Ballroom in Beverly Hills.

"The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Robert Downey Jr. as the 25th recipient of the American Cinematheque award at our celebration this year, " said Cinematheque board chairman Rick Nicita in a statement Thursday. "The pleasure that we receive from his charismatic and nuanced performances is matched only by the respect that he has earned for his personal and professional journey."

Previous Cinematheque award winners include Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

For more information, go to http://www.americancinematheque.com.

— Susan King

Photo: Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man." Credit: Francois Duhamel/Marvel Entertainment.

Al Pacino to receive a special award at this year's Venice Film Festival

Just a day after his Tony nomination for lead actor in a play for "The Merchant of Venice," Al Pacino was named this year's recipient of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker 2011 Award at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, which takes place Aug. 31-Sept. 10.

The prize is given to a filmmaker who has left "an original mark" on contemporary cinema. Previous winners include Takeshi Kitano, Agnes Varda and Abbas Kiarostami.

Over the past four decades, Pacino, 71, has starred in such classics as "The Godfather" trilogy, 1973's  "Serpico" and  1975's "Dog Day Afternoon." He won a lead actor Oscar for 1992's "Scent of a Woman," Emmy awards for 2003's "Angels in America" and  2010's "You Don't Know Jack" and is a two-time Tony Award winner.

Pacino is also a filmmaker, earning a Directors Guild of America Award for his 1996 feature documentary, "Looking for Richard."  His latest directorial effort, the feature documentary "Wilde Salome," will premiere at the festival.

Pacino will receive his honor at the awards ceremony on Sept. 4.

-- Susan King

Photo: Al Pacino. Credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

'Harry Potter,' 'Inception' and 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' earn multiple nominations for MTV Movie Awards

The nominations for the 2011 MTV Movie Awards were announced Tuesday morning, with "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" snagging the most with eight, followed by "Inception" with seven, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1" with six and "The Social Network" garnering five.

The unconventional award show will air June 5 from the Gibson Amphitheatre with "Saturday Night Live" regular Jason Sudeikis as host.

Among the nominations announced Tuesday morning are:

Best movie

"Black Swan," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1," "Inception," "The Social Network" and "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Best female performance

Emma Stone, "Easy A"; Emma Watson, "Harry Potter";  Jennifer Aniston, "Just Go With It";  Kristen Stewart, "Eclipse"; and Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

Best male performance

Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter"; Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"; Robert Pattinson, "Eclipse"; Taylor Lautner, "Eclipse"; and Zac Efron, "Charlie St. Cloud"

Best breakout star

Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network"; Chloe Grace Moretz, "Kick-Ass"; Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"; Jay Chou, "The Green Hornet"; Olivia Wilde, "Tron: Legacy"; and Xavier Samuel, "Eclipse"

Best comedic performance

Adam Sandler, "Just Go With It"; Ashton Kutcher, "No Strings Attached"; Emma Stona, "Easy A"; Russell Brand, "Get HIm to the Greek"; and Zach Galifianakis, "Due Date"

Best villain

Christoph Waltz, "The Green Hornet"; Leighton Meester, "The Roommate"; Mickey Rourke, "Iron Man 2"; Ned Beatty, "Toy Story 3"; and Tom Felton, "Harry Potter"

Best kiss

Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Inception"; Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter"; Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, "Eclipse"; and Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"

Voting in these and other categories begins today at http://www.MovieAwards.MTV.com and closes on June 4. However, voting for the best picture winner will continue throughout the ceremony.

RELATED:

Photos: 2011 MTV Movie Awards top nominees

MTV Movie Awards scorecard: A complete list of this year's nominees

— Susan King

Photos, from top: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twlight Saga: Eclipse"; Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 1." Credits: Kimberly French / Summit Entertainment; Warner Bros. Pictures