Your chance to cheer on our Tony at the Tonys

Tony Sheldon is preparing for the event of a life time: This Monday (13th June 2011) he will be attending the 65th Annual Tony Awards in New York City as a nominee for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.


Pictured: Tony Sheldon preparing for Priscilla in NYC. Photo by Alison Wearn

Tony Sheldon
Tony Sheldon is preparing for the event of a life time: This Monday (13th June 2011) he will be attending the 65th Annual Tony Awards in New York City as a nominee for the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Supporters of theatre in Sydney will be out in force on Monday in honour of Broadway’s night-of-nights. Broadcast from New York City, The 65th Annual Tony Awards will be screened live (half a world away) at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel on Monday 13th June at 10am local time.

The Tony Awards are always an exciting event for Broadway fans, but with Sheldon’s nomination, this year holds a special significance for Australian devotees. The Priscilla Queen of the Desert star has been nominated for his portrayal of Bernadette in the smash hit Australian musical, directed by Simon Phillips. The show has been playing since February at New York’s Palace Theatre, and has already earned Sheldon a Drama Desk Award nomination and a Theatre World Award this year.

Sydney’s screening of the Tony Awards has been organised by two independent music theatre companies actively fostering a growing music theatre culture. Squabbalogic, who achieved critical acclaim and earned a return season for their recent production of [title of show]: an original broadway musical, and The Very Unique Company, a new boutique music theatre company aimed at providing a platform for recent graduates and young professionals are the two companies behind this fabulous event initiative.

“We want to take a proactive approach to generating a music theatre scene that exists somewhere between the community-based circuit and the big budget professional hits” said Rachel Moorhead, graduate of the WAAPA directing course and the brain behind The Very Unique Company.

“The Tony Awards screening will be a great chance for us to talk to other independent theatre makers or fans about what they want to see more of”.

Jay James-Moody, Director, Performer and Producer for Squabbalogic said “This is a rallying event for our industry that we should be celebrating together. And to have a home-grown hero of our trade like Tony Sheldon living the dream we aspire to, why not encourage like minds to gather, get on board and enjoy it en masse”.

Australian nominee Tony Sheldon sent a special message for his supporters at the gathering.

“How I wish I was with you all at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel to watch the TONY broadcast! I know you’ll be cheering mightily when you see the fabulous production numbers…not to mention Priscilla‘s little cameo appearance at the end of the evening. (I’ll be the one in drag. Oh, that’s right, we’re ALL in drag)
This has been such a strong season on Broadway and it is such a thrill to be a part of it all…the competition is FIERCE. Broadway audiences love Priscilla and that’s all that matters. I’m sending all my love to you all and HAVE A GREAT PARTY!!!!!!!”

The other nominees in Sheldon’s category are: Norbert Leo Butz – Catch Me If You Can; Josh Gad – The Book of Mormon; Joshua Henry – The Scottsboro Boys; and Andrew Rannells – The Book of Mormon.

So if you are in Sydney, stroll down the the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel on Monday 13 June – it is bound to be a fun-filled day! Cheer on Tony at the Tonys!!

96 Union St Pyrmont from 10am. Entry to the event is free, and the bistro will be open for breakfast and champagne, darling!

Click here for: Event Details

AussieTheatre.com will be providing updates on twitter and facebook as the ceremony progresses.

Other Articles about Tony Sheldon/Priscilla: 

Sheldon Wins Broadway Award

Tony’s Tony Nomination 
Priscilla Premieres on Broadway
Priscilla’s Success Rolls On Overseas 

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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