Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

The 68th Tony Awards are in the books! Hosted by Hugh Jackman , who will return to Broadway this fall in the Jez Butterworth play, The River , the broadcast was...um...decent. I don't know why Jackman needed to bounce/hop throughout his opening number, but it was fun enough. We'll get to winners in a minute but first, a rant: Why, oh why, were there performances from shows that had absolutely nothing to do with this season? Each Tony Awards broadcast is supposed to celebrate the excellence that's been on Broadway in that season. Yes, I know Sting is a ratings draw, but let him be a draw next year when The Last Ship will have bowed on Broadway. Yes, I know Jennifer Hudson is a ratings draw, but she's not even in Finding Neverland , which does not even have an official slot on the 2014-2015 Broadway calendar. Yes, I know people like Wicked , but it's doing fine at the box office and doesn't need the extra exposure. (I am also perplexed as to why Cabaret , R...

Herein, some playful suggestions of what you might serve at a Tony Awards party. (I've book-ended the list with my two favorites!) For some treats, I've linked to recipes I can vouch for; for others, the recipes haven't been tested by me just yet. Some of the recipes included are my own. Enjoy! Will You Still Love Me Tamale (shout out to Beautiful ); from Marcela Valladolid, corn tamales Of Rice and Minestrone Soup (shout out to Of Mice and Men ); from Mario Batali, minestrone with rice and beans Oatmeal Raisin in the Sun Cookies (shout out to A Raisin in the Sun ); scroll down for the recipe I've been using for years Lady Fingers at Emerson's Bar and Grill (shout out to Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill ); from Emeril Lagasse, homemade lady fingers After Midnight Snacks (shout out to After Midnight ); any leftovers will do, or whatever your favorite nosh is! Cous Cous Valentina (shout out to Casa Valentina ); my "recipe": cook ...