66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

The 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Seth Meyers, took place Monday night.  NBC made the decision to switch to a Monday this year to avoid conflict with the MTV Video Music Awards (which Seth Meyers touched upon in his opening monologue).  The awards were presented during a live NBC telecast at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Seth Meyers made more industry targeted jokes as host, and given his comedic writing and hosting experience he was well equipped to take on the job.  Some of the best moments of the night included Billy Crystal paying tribute to his friend, the late Robin Williams, Sara Bareilles singing Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" during the In Memoriam segment, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston's "Seinfield Reunion".



Breaking Bad was the night's biggest winner taking home five trophies: Outstanding  Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bryan Cranston, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor in a Drama Series for Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul, and Best Writing for a Drama Series for "Ozymandias" to Moira Walley-Beckett who beat out show runner Vince Gilligan to win the category.

Modern Family was named Outstanding Comedy Series the fifth year in a row, tying Fraiser for most consecutive wins in the category.  The show also took home awards for Ty Burrell for Lead Actor and Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series for Gail Mancuso.

Sherlock: His Last Vow won three awards including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini Series for Benedict Cumberbatch.  Julianna Margulies winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series was a major upset, beating out Lizzy Caplan for Masters of Sex, Robin Wright for House of Cards, and Kerry Washington for Scandal.  Netflix Series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black were all but shut outs. Orange garnered 12 nominations and only took home three awards, all at the previously held Creative Arts ceremony.

Full Winners List

FASHION 

Lizzy Caplan looked gorgeous in a Donna Karan Atelier gown with a sheer organza panel paired with Brian Atwood heels.











Anna Gunn looked flawless in a one-shouldered gown with a white beaded bodice and a blue skirt by Jenny Packman.  Paired with an Edie Parker clutch.

Claire Danes looked ravishing in a red custom made Givenchy Haute Couture dress.











Orange is the New Black star Taylor Schilling dazzled in a Zuhair Murad gown with hand-embroidered beadwork and a draped back.  Jewelry by Forevermark.

Fellow OITNB star, Uzo Aduba graced the red carpet in a Christian Siriano strapless gown featuring a dramatic train.











Kate Walsh lit up the carpet in a yellow Stephanie Rollan peplum waisted gown and Stuart Weitzman heels.











Debra Messing looked stunning in a sleeveless gown by Angel Sanchez.  The dress featured sheer slivers throughout and was paired with a Judith Leiber clutch.










Images by Getty Images.

Theater People: Jerry Mitchell

Patrick brings us another amazing episode this week starring Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell! The man who choreographed Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, directed and choreographed Legally Blonde and Kinky Boots, and started Broadway Bares which has raised over $12 million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (BCEFA).  Is there anything he can't do? (The answer is no.)

Jerry Mitchell tells the fantastic story of how Kinky Boots came be exist in its current form.  Harvey Fierstein writing the book, Cyndi Lauper writing the music, the casting, and of course Jerry directing and choreographing.  What does he look for when casting? He looks, first and foremost, to look at the person who's right for the part.  He does also tend to draw in people who look at the glass as half full and theatre is all about collaboration so that's an important aspect of casting as well. He goes on to discuss the technical process of the show in both Chicago and Broadway, the biggest changes that the show underwent from Chicago to Broadway and his Tony win.

Taking it back to the beginning, Jerry discusses touring with A Chorus Line, being an ensemble member in Brigadoon, getting a part in Woman of the Year with Lauren Bacall, doing the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas movie, being in Barnum and On Your Toes, and the incredible and dynamic story of becoming the assistant to the choreographer for Jerome Robbins' Broadway.  He discusses in detail how he got into choreography and dance in general.

The mentor-ship of Micheal Bennett, Jerome Robbins, and Jack O'Brien is a great story, and particularly interesting throughout the story is how they shaped him as a director and choreographer.

Patrick leads a comparison of Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can and specifically the process that went into choreographing them. And everyone wants a finale like "You Can't Stop the Beat" which can be paired with amazing choreography, but only if someone writes it.  Legally Blonde was a different journey and his directorial debut. It was his first time out as a director, but he was supported by the four lead producers who helped him prosper as a director and make his own directorial choices.  He also discusses the importance of the show in terms of what it teaches young girls.

He tells the story of how Broadway Bares, a great show for an even better cause, came to be. Creating the event also served as calling card for his career.  He encourages other choreographers who want to get involved in the community to do something from their heart because who knows how it could pay off for them.

For anyone who loves theater, this episode is a must listen!

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Jerry Mitchell: Twitter
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Sara Bareilles Gets Her Little Black Dress On In Raleigh

On July 22, Sara Bareilles brought her magnificent talent and tour to the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, NC.  Bareilles is a force to be reckoned with.  She brings a raw and natural talent to the stage that is rarely found in artists today.  She commanded the audience with every breath, every word.  The stage is her home. The air was electric as she sang familiar hits, intertwined with newer songs.

Her presence was magnetic, even as she briefly came out on stage before the show started to introduce the opening acts, Emily King and Lucius, and as she stood side stage to watch the bands perform.  This was our first time seeing the singer-songwriter, but it certainly won't be the last!

The opening acts, Emily King and Lucius were both excellent and brought a quality to the stage that was delightfully unexpected from the stand point of an audience who in large part wasn't planning to take notice of the openers.  Emily King is a singer-songwriter from New York City who brought such a soulful presence that the audience couldn't help but turn their attention to the stage.  It only makes sense that an artist with so much pure talent (Bareilles) would bring talented opening acts on the road with her and that is exactly what she did.  After King performed a set of soulful ballads, Lucius came out on stage and rocked.  They simply rocked. Their debut album is out now, and it is worth purchasing. The lead singers, Jess Wolfe and Holly Lessig are enormously talented and every song they played pumped a new life into the audience in preparation for Bareilles taking the stage.

Bareilles began her set with "Little Black Dress" and took the audience on a journey of love, loss, laughter and life before ending with an encore of "Satellite Call".  Words can barely describe the tremendous and transcendent experience of the concert.  She was better live than on CD, DVD or video .  She had background projections for most songs, of those I especially enjoyed the projections for "I Choose You".  Two of the most spectacular songs from the evening were her cover of Sia's "Chandelier" and a new song from the musical adaptation of Waitress that she is writing entitled "She Used to be Mine".

Sara Bareilles always brings a night full of fun, tears, cursing, and most of all joy! Everyone should see her live! Don't miss her when the Little Black Dress Tour stops in your city!

Theater People - Robin de Jesus

Patrick brings us another spectacular episode of Theater People.  This week's guest is Robin de Jesus, a movie and theater actor whom you may have seen in the 2003 movie Camp (which also starred Anna Kendrick) or remember from his amazing portrayal of Sonny in In the Heights.  

He started his Broadway career as an understudy/replacement in Rent, and went on to star as Sonny in the 2008 Broadway production of In the Heights and as Jacob in La Cage aux Folles receiving Tony nominations for both roles.  He can be seen in the New York Music Theater Festival's production of Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade.

I don't want to spoil why Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade is so special because no one can tell the story as well as he can, and it is an amazing story! The show is about Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, a turn of the century crusader working to end child labor.

His experience with Camp, the audition process, and what the movie meant for him is a great story and worth the listen! It is a great movie and worth the watch! I also love the way that Patrick brings in his own theatre camp experiences and takes the audience's connection with the story one step further.

Robin de Jesus and Joanna Chilcoat in Camp

After quitting his job at Bubba Gump's, and on a recommendation from his friend, he got a reading for In the Heights after the producers and creative team had seen Camp.  He was supposed to go to college a month later, but when his loans didn't go through and a few months later the same producers from In the Heights were doing Rent and cast him in the show. And while he was in Rent, they workshopped In the Heights.

Directors, especially those who had seen Camp, would only consider him for gay roles.  As an actor he wanted to play a larger multitude of roles and be seen as more than one dimensional/avoid typcasting, something that is hard for young actors to achieve.  As a result, he turned down a lot of roles, and has made a name for himself that is known for more versatile roles.  The take away from his experiences is that you can  be in control of your own career; which parts you choose and your work ethic are the only things you can control, so control them well because so many things are not in your power.

He shares an in-depth look at his experience with In the Heights which began in 2005.  It begins with the experience of building a show and the changes the script goes through to Karen Olivo almost punching a guy out to defend Robin at a restaurant. It is a must listen (and you won't want to miss the laughing attack that it sends Patrick into).

Robin goes on to discuss the Tony nomination that sent him to therapy, and  The Secret and vision boards that helped get the show to Broadway.  He finally had everything he wanted, but it was overwhelming and there was a lot of pressure  that he put on himself.  He needed to figure out why he was unhappy and work on it in therapy to find his happiness which he was able to do.

He also gives a detailed account of his experience with La Cage aux Folles.  He had quit In the Heights without having another job.  It is a wonderful story about being cast, being at a place in his life where he could turn down a Broadway show, working with Kelsey Grammar, being nominated for a Tony award.

The show ends with him talking about how Caroline, or Change impacted his life. He saw the show in previews and it hit home and you must listen to him discuss how Tonya Pinkins' role in the show changed his life and led him to understand what kind of theater he wanted to do!

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Robin de Jesus: Twitter

2014 Emmy Nominations

Mindy Kaling and Carson Daly announced the nominations for the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards live via webcast and chat from.  Game of Thrones and FX miniseries Fargo scored the most nominations with 19 and 18 respectively.  Netflix came out strong this year scoring lead and supporting actor nominations for Ricky Gervais in Derek, Taylor Schilling and Kate Mulgrew for Orange is the New Black, and Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright for House of Cards. With its nominations this year, Modern Family could win for a fifth year in a row, tying Fraiser for most Emmy wins, while Tatiana Maslany was snubbed once again for her role in Orphan Black. The drama categories are particularly competitive categories this year with True Detecitve choosing to submit as a drama rather than as a miniseries.

Full List of Nominees can be found here.

Outstanding Comedy Series 
The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Veep

Outstanding Miniseries
American Horror Story: Coven
Bonnie & Clyde
Fargo
Luther
Treme
The White Queen

Outstanding TV Movie
Killing Kennedy
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
The Normal Heart
Sherlock: His Last Vow
The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Lizzie Caplan, Masters of Sex

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge
Idris Elba, Luther
Martin Freeman, Fargo
Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
Minnie Driver, Return to Zero
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Coven
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
Kristen Wiig, The Spoils of Babylon

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy 
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Ricky Gervais, Derek
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
William H Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy 
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory

Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy 

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Fred Armisen, Portlandia
Tony Hale, Veep

Outstanding Reality Competition
The Amazing Race
Dancing With the Stars
So You Think You Can Dance
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice

Outstanding Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

THR's Emmys breakdown by the numbers here.

The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards are set for August 25th and will air live on NBC.

Theater People: Lesli Margherita

Patrick and Vonia never disappoint, and this week's episode goes above and beyond any preconceived notions of what the show will be! This week's guest is the fabulous, hilarious, amazingly talented actress, the Queen, Lesli Margherita! She is currently Mrs.Wormwood in Matilda, and she won an Olivier award for her work in the West End's Zorro.

  

Raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California, she was a total tomboy.  After seeing Annie at the age of  8, she attended an open call for a production of the show in the Bay area, and she got the part. From then on she would do shows, took voice lessons and continued dance.  She came to New York City for the first time to do a camp at Hofstede Universtiy for teens and in high school she began working at various theme parks, Great America, Disney, etc. She attended UCLA for Dance so that she could work/perform outside of school (as a theater major one could not work outside of the program), she still however did musical theater and worked with an amazing professor John Hall.  She gives great advice about college and finding your path as an actor especially as a young person trying to make it as an actor.  One of her greatest nuggets of wisdom was to make acting something that you do, but have a life outside of it as well.

Her first major television gig was Fame L.A. directed by Kenny Ortega.  She had gotten Rent in LA as the Maureen cover, but at the same time she had gotten a manager who was sending her out on TV auditions. She got a series part in Fame L.A. so she didn't do Rent and she stayed in LA to do theater, but not for trying.  She flew back and forth to NY for auditions a lot, and was next in line so many times.  LA has a great theater scene which led her to do Zorro on the West End.  Her friend called and said he was doing a workshop for Zorro and they were coming to LA to do auditions and she should try out.

She did the reading and kept workshopping the show over the course of two years.  The show was finally going to tour England and then hoping to head to the West End.  They got her paperwork straight with equity, and she was the only American they brought in.  She did the tour but was getting married on the last day of the tour so she stopped early and went home to get married.  The day before her wedding, she got a call that the show was going to the West End.

She discusses her experience at the Olivier Awards.  Only a few Americans have won Olivier awards, the supporting character category is both male and female in one category, and her show's table was in the very back of the theater were a few reasons that she didn't expect to win and her experience of winning the award is one of the most fantastic stories (and I don't mean in this podcast, I mean ever)!



She owes her part in Matilda to Eden Espinosa.  Eden had an appointment for Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda and called Lesli to tell her that she had the call for this part that wasn't right for her but screamed Lesli which is the most amazing thing any actress could do (if you didn't already love Eden more than life)! She only knew about the appointments because of Eden , and was able to get an appointment. Through the auditions she got the part and made her Broadway debut!

Her experiences in Matilda are awesome stories! The way the kids are so amazing, but still real, true kids, her opening night experience, and many more.   She also discusses her show All Hail the Queen! and not sitting around and waiting for someone else to write your perfect role which is a phenomenal sentiment and goes back to her earlier advice about having a life outside of your work.

Her twitter questions touch on differences across the pond, across the country, her Star Wars wedding, and how one can become queen-like.

Lesli Margherita is a fantastic person! She's grateful, talented, hilarious, and who among us doesn't want to have a drink with her? Do yourself a favor and go see her in Matilda at Shubert Theatre!

Lesli Margherita: Website | Twitter
Theater People: Website | iTunes | Twitter

Movie Review: Begin Again

John Carney, director of Indie sensation Once, tries to duplicate the magic of music in his latest film Begin Again.  The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival a year ago under the title Can a Song Save Your Life?.  The film shares many similarities to the film Once including: a man and woman make music together, the music is a powerful force, and their love and connection to the city.

Begin Again tells the story of a songstress, Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her writing partner and boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) as they move to New York City after Dave has been signed by a major record label. Dave climbs to success on Gretta's songs, cheats on her, subsequently dumps her, and becomes an overnight musical sensation.  Gretta leaves their aparment with her bike and a suitcase to find her street musician friend Steve (James Corden) so that she may stay at his apartment until she can get out of the city and home to London.

Of course, Steve can't let Gretta leave the city without accompanying him to a performance at a bar that same night.  She goes with him to the show where he makes her get onstage and play a song.  A recently fired, and drunk, record executive, Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo), sees her perform and is in awe of her raw talent.  He approaches her after the show, convinces her she is amazingly talented and for the remainder of the movie they make a CD in various locations around the city to convince his old record label that she deserves a record deal.

Throughout the process they highlight various things around the city, convince talented musicians to play for free, enlist the help of CeeLo Green (who is playing a hip hop/pop star in the movie), outrun the cops, and eventually make a full CD that the record label finds worthy of a deal.  While the movie is mostly filled with cliché and often unbelievable plot points, the movie goes for a sincere approach to music and relationships. 

Mark Ruffalo played his character with an obvious passion which would have been nice to see in all of the characters.  There were also many funny moments specifically from James Corden and Mark Ruffalo's characters.  The sincere approach to life and music of the film made it's cliched story more realistic and enjoyable in the way that jokes were able to land and the story didn't center on the main characters falling in love and living happily ever after.  

The film is very watchable and you'll find yourself laughing out loud more than once in the theater, but it probably won't make you believe that music is a magical force that will one day change your life forever.