ATTENTION ALL MAIRA KALMAN FANS

I was out at Court Bookstore tonight and nearly lept across the room when I saw a book cover that featured a Maira Kalman illustration. What??!!!! Yay!!!!!!

Run, don't walk, to go peruse this amazing catalogue of her work which ranges from children's book author and illustrator to seamstress to mural artist. It's called Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World).

I interviewed the genius Ms. K for Creative Times. Check out the interview HERE.

A SIMPLE ACTION YOU CAN TAKE TO KEEP BROOKLYN LIBRARIES OPEN

My friend Paul, who works at the local branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, just reminded me to go online to send a letter to local government to encourage them not to slash budgets in a way that would severly cut back on library services.

It is very easy to do this. Just go to this link, enter your name and address, and the site will provide a pre-written letter that will go to the right person with one click.

If you've gotten as much pleasure out of the library as I have, take this simple action now!!!

HOP ON OVER TO THIS SITE TO HELP KEEP LIBRARIES OPEN:

https://bpl.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/open/

WANT TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN CHILDREN? TRY DOING SPECIAL TIME!

Special time is the practice of regularly setting aside time to follow a child's lead in play. This article originally appeared on the new-launched blog of Park Slope Parents.

It’s no mystery that one of the biggest gifts you can give to your child is the gift of time and your undivided attention. It’s tough to give our complete attention these days, given that our adult plates are spilling over with projects, chores, errands, and concerns about what’s going on in the world. And with all of our portable electronic devices at hand, it’s getting harder to slow down the pace at which we live our lives.

There’s a great ritual you can add to your routine that will make it easier to protect the “undivided attention time” you give to your child, whether he is an infant or a teen. It’s called Special Time, and it has a huge and visible impact on the quality of your relationship with your child.

Here’s how Special Time works:

Tell your child in advance that you are setting aside a particular day and a certain length of time – somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour works well – to do exactly what he or she wants to do. By letting your child know ahead of time, you give your child a chance to start working on how to use the Special Time. Ideally, you can carve out this time on a regular basis – whether it’s weekly or a couple of times a month. Make it something your child can depend on and you’ll both reap the best rewards.

Follow up on your promise! Do not answer the phone, scan messages on your BlackBerry, chat with other adults, or wash the dishes during that allotted amount of time. It’s your job to fully respect your child’s mind and see where it takes the two of you. Pay close attention to your child’s verbal and non-verbal cues about what role s/he wants you to take on during Special Time. One child may want to you watch him in whatever he chooses to do; another might want you to play a more physically active role in her chosen pastime.

Believe me, it’s going to be tempting to guide or tweak the play in some way. Resist the pull to say “Hey, here’s an idea” or “Let’s do it this way.” Really see and follow where your child’s mind takes the two of you. If feelings of discomfort, boredom, or frustration arise for you during Special Time, just take mental note of them and keep going. Later, when you’re out of earshot of your child, you can vent to another adult about whatever came up for you. That way, you can keep coming back to Special Time with a fresh perspective.

Special Time, especially if done on a regular basis, has enormous benefits for your children and your relationship with each of them. By providing a safe space to try out ideas without reprimand or interference, you help build your children’s trust in you and the world around them. By following their minds completely, you help them gain confidence in their own thoughts and initiatives.

Special Time strengthens your connection to your child by letting you get to know your child in a different way. By paying close attention to facial expressions, gestures, words, and ideas, you learn more about skills your child wants to master, information he or she aims to make sense of, and tensions or fears to work though.

Over time – or maybe even right away! – your child may use something that happens during special time as a pretext to work through some big emotion that’s built up over time. Even if you don’t know where the upset is coming from, stay close during the tears or the anger, and let the feelings show until s/he is done and ready to go back into the play.

If you decide to give Special Time a try, let me know how it goes! I’d love to know about your successes and what you learn. I’ve been doing Special Time with young ones for 17 years, and I still discover something new about them, about me, and about the process each time.

You can reach me at ETraubman@aol.com

RE/Mixed Media Festival 2010 Right Here in Brooklyn on May 30

LOFI & Galapagos Art Space are Proud to Announce

RE/Mixed Media Festival 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010 • 2 PM – Midnight

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street DUMBO, Brooklyn NY 11201

http://www.remixedmedia.org/ • http://www.galapagosartspace.com/ • janlarsenart.com

GENERAL INFO: 530-330-LOFI (5634)

May 19, 2010 – LOFI (League of Independents), an arts organization dedicated to supporting independent media in New York City, has announced that Moby and Elizabeth Stark, 2 major players in the world of remix and free culture, are confirmed for the RE/Mixed Media Festival 2010. It will be held on Sunday, May 30th in partnership with Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn. The event will begin at 2 pm and will continue throughout the afternoon and evening. The festival will celebrate remix/mashup artists of multiple disciplines and will feature curated film & video remixes, a remixed fashion show, a silent art auction of remixed visual art presented by Jan Larsen Art, DJs and live sound art, live video remixing, an “Artists Only” panel discussion, sponsor tables, a “roots room” illustrating remix throughout the history of art, and live musical performances. The festival will culminate in the screening of the work of selected entrants from around the world who have submitted their video remixes to the festival. Highlights are the NY premiere of Perry Bard’s Man With a Movie Camera: The Global Remake, and a special performance by legendary sound remixer, Steinski. Please see the attached talent roster for a more detailed listing.

Over the past decade, digital technology has allowed artists and consumers access to media-creating tools previously only available to professionals. The result has been not only an explosion of user-generated media, but an explosion of creativity. Artists began remixing and mashing up existing media, creating new works of art using elements from other sources. The result has been a flurry of controversy over intellectual property and copyright. RE/Mixed Media Festival aims to continue this conversation by bringing a public awareness to the myriad disciplines of art that remix touches and its respected place in the history of art.

LOFI (http://www.lofinyc.com/) is an art/film/media collective established in 2009 devoted to preserving the tradition of independent creation in the arts and to supporting independent artists. Empowered by technology, more artists are creating media than ever before, but their works are often seen only on sites like YouTube and social networks. LOFI aims to create a real face-to-face community for these artists to screen their works, and to discuss and critique the works of their peers. We hope to have a permanent home by 2011.

Jan Larsen Art (http://www.janlarsenart.com/) is a Brooklyn-based gallery providing discerning clients with fine art, interior elements, development services, entertainment production, fashion, and logistics services of the highest caliber. With a total of 19 locations in New York, JLA is ready to expand to London and Los Angeles.

RE/Mixed Media Festival, May 30 2010: Highlights of Talent and Events:

Moby is an American DJ, singer-songwriter, and musician. He sings and plays keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and drums. Moby became a successful artist on the ambient electronica scene, and achieved eight top 40 singles in the UK during the 1990s. His MobyGratis.com website, which licenses film music for free for non-profit and independent films, funnels proceeds from films which do go on to produce revenue to The Humane Society. Moby will not be performing, but will participate in the Artists Only Panel Discussion at 3:45.

Elizabeth Stark is a leader in the global free culture movement. She is a Visiting Fellow at the Yale Information Society Project and a Lecturer in Computer Science at Yale University. Elizabeth is a co-founder of the Open Video Alliance, and producer of the Open Video Conference, whose inaugural event garnered nearly 9000 participants in person and across the web. Elizabeth will be doing a presentation on Content ID, Remix, and Downfall Memes with Kenyatta Chesse of knowyourmeme.com.

Perry Bard will be exhibiting the NY Premiere of Man With a Movie Camera: The Global Remake; http://dziga.perrybard.net/

Steinski: legendary remixer and sound-art pioneer; http://www.steinski.com/

Ricky Powell: fourth Beastie Boy and legendary hip-hop photog will present his “World Famous Ricky Powell Slideshow”; http://www.rickypowell.com/

“Artists Only” Panel Discussion: Artists debate the pros and cons of remix, appropriation, and copyright reform. Moderated by Deanna Zandt, author of Share This! http://www.deannazandt.com/

Roots of Remix: An exhibit continuing throughout the day, displaying remixed works throughout art history, including Bruce Conner, Joseph Cornell, Andy Warhol and others.

Game Culture Panel and Demo: Moderated by Josephine Dorado (funksoup.com), this panel will explore the world of machinima and video game modding. Panelists include game guru Jesper Juul (http://www.jesperjuul.net/)

Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung: Politically charged video remixes and visual art; http://www.tinkin.com/

Sweatshoppe performing live 3-D visuals that will blow your mind! http://www.sweatshoppe.org/

Elisa Kreisinger Extraordinary pop culture remixes; http://www.popculturepirate.com/

Jon McIntosh Often hilarious, sometimes scary, political remixed video; http://www.politicalremixvideo.com/

DJ C-Tor & Dan Winckler will perform brilliant live music and visual mixing and make you dance!. http://www.danwinckler.com/

Seth Carnes: Incredible video sampling and mixing. Seth’s work has been seen at MoMA and at galleries around the world. http://www.sic.ph/

Mad Happy: electro hip-hop with influences from Hasidic folk melodies to Public Enemy; http://www.madhappy.com/

Remixed Fashion Show: Elizabeth Pulos & Rachel Hospodar present remixed fashion from another galaxy; http://www.mediumreality.com/

Hobo Tech depression era techno - contemporary music that nods to a forgotten America...Hobos Arise! http://www.hobo-tech.com/

Kat Fitzgerald local girl with a keen vision and mad skillz; http://www.spygirlpix.com/-- http://www.lofinyc.org/http://www.blythe-artists.com/
.

FIVE MINUTES TO HAPPINESS (FROM DAILY OM)

From Daily Om

Devoting time each day for happiness will change your day and change your brain chemistry.It can be so easy to get caught up in the rigors of modern life that we tend to forget that happiness need not come with stipulations. Happiness becomes something we must schedule and strive for—a hard-won emotion—and then only when we have no worries to occupy our thoughts.

In reality, overwhelming joy is not the exclusive province of those with unlimited time and no troubles to speak of. Many of the happiest people on earth are also those coping with the most serious challenges. They have learned to make time for those simple yet superb pleasures that can be enjoyed quickly and easily. Cultivating a happy heart takes no more than five minutes. The resultant delight will be neither complex nor complicated, but it will be profound and will serve as a reminder that there is always a reason to smile.

So much that is ecstasy-inducing can be accomplished in five minutes. Alone, we can enjoy an aromatic cup of our favorite tea, take a stroll through the garden we have created, write about the day's events in a journal, doodle while daydreaming, or breathe deeply while we listen to the silence around us. In the company of a good friend or treasured relative, we can share a few silly jokes, enjoy a waltz around the room, play a fast-paced hand of cards, or reconnect through lighthearted conversation.

The key is to first identify what makes us dizzyingly happy. If we do only what we believe should bring us contentment, our five minutes will not be particularly satisfying. When we allow ourselves the freedom to do whatever brings us pleasure, five minutes out of 14 wakeful hours can brighten our lives immeasurably. It is often when we have the least free time or energy to devote to joy that we need to unwind and enjoy ourselves the most.

Making happiness a priority will help you find five minutes every day to indulge in the things that inspire elation within you. Eventually, your happiness breaks will become an established part of your routine. If you start by pursuing activities you already enjoy and then gradually think up new and different ways to fill your daily five minutes of happiness, you will never be without something to smile about.

ENTER THE NYPL DREAM RAFFLE: YA NEVER KNOW (I WON A FEW YEARS AGO!)

I confess to having been a former sweepstakes junkie. But it was a long time ago, when I was in middle school. I entered enough sweepstakes that I eventually started to receive more mail than my parents did! The only sweepstakes I enter now is that of the New York Public library, since they are a place that I love, cherish, and support.

Four years ago, I entered their annual Dream Raffle and won a $50 gift certificate to a New York restaurant! You have the option of enclosing a donation to the library with your entry, but it is not mandatory. If you would like to receive an entry form, go to THIS SITE and send away for it.

NYPL Dream Raffle..........ya never know!

MOMASPHERE TO HOST LUNAFEST: SHORT FILMS BY, FOR & ABOUT WOMEN AT BROOKLYN ARTS EXCHANGE ON SUNDAY MAY 23

LUNAFEST™- http://www.lunafest.org/ , the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, will be presented by Momasphere Events at Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Park Slope (BAX), Brooklyn on May 23rd, 2010. This will be the ONLY Lunafest film festival in New York City this year!

The award-winning films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, sexuality, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers: http://www.lunafest.org/the-films.cfm

All proceeds from Momasphere’s LUNAFEST will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and the BAX Artist in Residence program. To date, LUNAFEST, which is created and funded by LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®, has raised over $470,000 for local women’s community nonprofit organizations and over $285,000 for the national Breast Cancer Fund.

In addition to fabulous raffle prizes, attendees will receive goodie bags chock-full of great products courtesy of awesome sponsors: LUNA bars, Rahua Haircare Products, Sambazon Acai Berry Mineral Drink, Babeland, Brooklyn Flavors Natural Skin Care, Nine Cakes Cupcakes, Q'Bel Bars, Bust Magazine. Tote-bags courtesy of: Park Slope Eye. Our generous Lunafest media sponsors: Bust Magazine, YELP, and Brooklyn Based.

WHEN: Sun, May 23rd, 2010

PLACE: Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Avenue (Between 7th & 8th St.) Park Slope, Brooklyn 11215

PRICE: Tickets are $20 online at http://www.momasphere.com/upcoming-events/may-23rd-2010-lunafest-womens-film-festival.html or $30 cash at the door (one free raffle ticket is included in ticket purchase- additional raffle tickets available for $5 eacH

AGENDA:

4:00 pm - Enjoy wine and snacks, browse tables and samples from great local businesses.

4:30 - 6:00 pm - Film Screening

6:00 - 6:30 pm - Discussion with Ela Their, award winning writer & director of Lunafest Film A Summer Rain

6:30 - 7:30 pm - Reception

Momasphere Events, founded by Ellen Bari and Melissa Lopata, serves to empower, enrich and enlighten moms at all ages and stages. Momasphere offers creative consulting, niche marketing and event planning services to businesses that want added exposure to the dynamic mom market, as well as customized, targeted in-house programming for their mom employees. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit http://www.momasphere.com/

Host Contact: Melissa Lopata or Ellen Bari Email: Info@momasphere.com

FROM BROOKLYN TO THE UPPER EAST SIDE: A DAY OF ARTS AND CULTURE

Photo Credit: Librado Romero / The New York Times

What could be better on a bright, breezy, sunny day than to experience arts and culture across my two favorite places, Brooklyn and Manhattan?

Met with Louise Crawford, Executive Producer of the Brooklyn Blogfest. (Which takes place this year on June 8 at the Brooklyn Lyceum.) Heard the low-down on the program for this year. God bless Louise for founding and continuing this great tradition,

Met with artist and art teacher Cecilia Andre in her Upper East Side art studio. This is a place where young people and adults come for art classes. They are more like art workshops, because young people get to decide what art experiments they want to engage in. They tell Cecilia "This is not like school at all."

Strolled over in the early evening breeze to an old Upper East Side fav, Pintailles Pizza, for a slice. Watched UES goings on from the window.

Now over to the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is covered with a huge bamboo sculpture and throngs of people. Giant cocktail party!!! I want to go back when I can climb on the structure, which you can only do you if you are part of a tour.

And over to St. Ambroeus for gelato.

On the way back to the subway, I spot one of the Olsen twins tossing her cigarette onto the sidewalk before going into a Richard Prince opening.

Final stop - Zitomer's - a candy shop for people who love cosmetics and sparkly hair bands. Alas, I am there for the unglamorous item of earplugs. A girl's gotta sleep.

And back home to Brooklyn.

It was one of those perfect days.

2010 TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Why should The Oscars get all the play? Be a friend of theatre and watch the 2010 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 13th, on CBS!

For more info, go to: http://www.tonyawards.com/

Nominations for the 2010 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards®

Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing

Best Play

In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Author: Sarah Ruhl Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten

Next Fall
Author: Geoffrey Nauffts Producers: Elton John and David Furnish, Barbara Manocherian, Richard Willis, Tom Smedes, Carole L. Haber/Chase Mishkin, Ostar, Anthony Barrile, Michael Palitz, Bob Boyett, James Spry/Catherine Schreiber, Probo Productions, Roy Furman, Naked Angels

Red
Author: John Logan Producers: Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie P. McClelland, Matthew Byam Shaw, Neal Street, Fox Theatricals, Ruth Hendel/Barbara Whitman, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, The Donmar Warehouse

Time Stands Still
Author: Donald Margulies Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Nelle Nugent/Wendy Federman

Best Musical

American Idiot
Producers: Tom Hulce & Ira Pittelman, Ruth and Steven Hendel, Vivek J. Tiwary and Gary Kaplan, Aged in Wood and Burnt Umber, Scott Delman, Latitude Link, HOP Theatricals and Jeffrey Finn, Larry Welk, Bensinger Filerman and Moellenberg Taylor, Allan S. Gordon/Elan V. McAllister, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Awaken Entertainment, John Pinckard and John Domo

Fela!
Producers: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glaser, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment, Alicia Keys

Memphis
Producers: Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, Richard Winkler, Lauren Doll, Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group, ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee

Million Dollar Quartet
Producers: Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, James L. Nederlander

Best Book of a Musical

Everyday Rapture
Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott

Fela!
Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones

Memphis
Joe DiPietro

Million Dollar Quartet
Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

The Addams Family
Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa

Enron
Music: Adam Cork Lyrics: Lucy Prebble

Fences
Music: Branford Marsalis

Memphis
Music: David Bryan Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan

Best Revival of a Play

Fences
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays and Scott Rudin

Lend Me a Tenor
Producers: The Araca Group, Stuart Thompson, Carl Moellenberg, Rodney Rigby, Olympus Theatricals, Broadway Across America, The Shubert Organization, Wendy Federman/Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Lisa Cartwright, Spring Sirkin, Scott and Brian Zeilinger

The Royal Family
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove

A View from the Bridge
Producers: Stuart Thompson, The Araca Group, Jeffrey Finn, Broadway Across America, Olympus Theatricals, Marisa Sechrest, The Weinstein Company, Jon B. Platt, Sonia Friedman Productions/Robert G. Bartner, Mort Swinsky/Joseph Deitch, Adam Zotovich/Ruth Hendel/Orin Wolf, Shelter Island Enterprises, The Shubert Organization

Best Revival of a Musical

Finian's Rainbow
Producers: David Richenthal, Jack Viertel, Alan D. Marks, Michael Speyer, Bernard Abrams, David M. Milch, Stephen Moore, Debbie Bisno/Myla Lerner, Jujamcyn Theaters, Melly Garcia, Jamie deRoy, Jon Bierman, Richard Driehaus, Kevin Spirtas, Jay Binder, StageVentures 2009 Limited Partnership

La Cage aux Folles
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Barry and Fran Weissler and Edwin W. Schloss, Bob Bartner/Norman Tulchin, Broadway Across America, Matthew Mitchell, Raise The Roof 4 Richard Winkler/Bensinger Taylor/Laudenslager Bergrère, Arelene Scanlan/John O'Boyle, Independent Presenters Network, Olympus Theatricals, Allen Spivak, Jerry Frankel/Bat-Barry Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Inc/Harvey Weinstein, Menier Chocolate Factory

A Little Night Music
Producers: Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, The Menier Chocolate Factory, Roger Berlind, David Babani, Sonia Friedman Productions, Andrew Fell, Daryl Roth/Jane Bergere, Harvey Weinstein/Raise the Roof 3, Beverly Bartner/Dancap Productions, Inc., Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Eric Falkenstein/Anna Czekaj, Jerry Frankel/Ronald Frankel, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer

Ragtime
Producers: Kevin McCollum, Roy Furman, Scott Delman, Roger Berlind, Max Cooper, Tom Kirdahy/Devin Elliott, Jeffrey A. Sine, Stephanie P. McClelland, Roy Miller, Lams Productions, Jana Robbins, Sharon Karmazin, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, RialtoGals Productions, Independent Presenters Network, Held-Haffner Productions, HRH Foundation, Emanuel Azenberg, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Michael Kaiser, Max Woodward

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Jude Law, Hamlet

Alfred Molina, Red

Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge

Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane

Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Viola Davis, Fences

Valerie Harper, Looped

Linda Lavin, Collected Stories

Laura Linney, Time Stands Still

Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Kelsey Grammer, La Cage aux Folles

Sean Hayes, Promises, Promises

Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles

Chad Kimball, Memphis

Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Kate Baldwin, Finian's Rainbow

Montego Glover, Memphis

Christiane Noll, Ragtime

Sherie Rene Scott, Everyday Rapture

Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

David Alan Grier, Race

Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences

Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts

Stephen Kunken, Enron

Eddie Redmayne, Red

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Maria Dizzia, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play

Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family

Jessica Hecht, A View from the Bridge

Scarlett Johansson, A View from the Bridge

Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family

Robin De Jesús, La Cage aux Folles

Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow

Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet

Bobby Steggert, Ragtime

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim

Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises

Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music

Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away

Lillias White, Fela!

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family

Alexander Dodge, Present Laughter

Santo Loquasto, Fences

Christopher Oram, Red

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Marina Draghici, Fela!

Christine Jones, American Idiot

Derek McLane, Ragtime

Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles

Best Costume Design of a Play

Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me a Tenor

Constanza Romero, Fences

David Zinn, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play

Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Marina Draghici, Fela!

Santo Loquasto, Ragtime

Paul Tazewell, Memphis

Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Neil Austin, Hamlet

Neil Austin, Red

Mark Henderson, Enron

Brian MacDevitt, Fences

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kevin Adams, American Idiot

Donald Holder, Ragtime

Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles

Robert Wierzel, Fela!

Best Sound Design of a Play

Acme Sound Partners, Fences

Adam Cork, Enron

Adam Cork, Red

Scott Lehrer, A View from the Bridge

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Jonathan Deans, La Cage aux Folles

Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!

Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music

Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim

Best Direction of a Play

Michael Grandage, Red

Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall

Kenny Leon, Fences

Gregory Mosher, A View from the Bridge

Best Direction of a Musical

Christopher Ashley, Memphis

Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime

Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles

Bill T. Jones, Fela!

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises

Bill T. Jones, Fela!

Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles

Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away

Best Orchestrations

Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles

Aaron Johnson, Fela!

Jonathan Tunick, Promises, Promises
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis

* * *

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Alan Ayckbourn
Marian Seldes

Regional Theatre Tony Award
The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut

Isabelle Stevenson Award
David Hyde Pierce

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
B.H. Barry
Tom Viola

Tony Nominations by Production

Fela! - 11
La Cage aux Folles - 11
Fences - 10
Memphis - 8
Ragtime - 7
Red - 7
A View from the Bridge - 6
The Royal Family - 5
Enron – 4
A Little Night Music - 4
Promises, Promises - 4
American Idiot - 3
Finian's Rainbow - 3
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play - 3
Lend Me a Tenor - 3
Million Dollar Quartet - 3
The Addams Family - 2
Come Fly Away - 2
Everyday Rapture - 2
Hamlet - 2
Next Fall - 2
Sondheim on Sondheim - 2
Time Stands Still - 2
A Behanding in Spokane - 1
Collected Stories - 1
Looped - 1
Present Laughter - 1
Race - 1
Superior Donuts - 1

http://www.tonyawards.com/

THE POWER OF INTENTION (FROM DAILY OM)

This message from Daily Om.

Everything we do benefits from intention, which has the power to transform mundane tasks into profound experiences.We tend to associate the energy of intent with complicated or profoundly meaningful actions that require our full attention and effort in order to succeed. For example, walking a tightrope, taking a test, and taking a vow are all tasks that call us to be fully present and single-minded. However, intent can also be applied to everyday events, like eating breakfast or going to work. In fact, everything we do benefits from the presence of intent, which has the power to transform seemingly mundane tasks into profound experiences. You only have to try it to find out.

Intent is one of the cornerstones of the Zen tradition of Buddhism in which monks work for years to develop the stillness and sharpness of mind to do only one thing at a time. Most of the time we are doing one thing and thinking of something else, or even doing three things at the same time, such as talking on the phone, doing dishes, and boiling water for tea. There is nothing inherently wrong with multitasking, which seems necessary at times, especially in the midst of family life. However, balancing this with a healthy dose of intentional activity can provide valuable insight into the benefits of doing one thing at a time, being fully present with whatever the task at hand happens to be.

From the moment we wake up, we can apply intent to our situation by simply saying to ourselves, “I am aware that I am now awake.” We can use this simple tool throughout our day, saying, “I am aware that I am driving to work.” “I am aware that I am making dinner.” Or even, “I am aware that I am breathing.” As we acknowledge what we are doing in these moments, we come alive to our bodies and to the world, owning our actions instead of habitually performing them. We may realize how often we act without intention and how this disengages us from reality. Applying the energy of intent to even one task a day has the power to transform our lives. Just imagine what would happen if we were able to apply that power to our entire day.