James Sims

Tony Awards

  • Holding Court at the Tony Awards

    Holding Court at the Tony Awards

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    James Sims

    As Charles Newell ’81 walked across the 75th Tony Awards stage at Radio City Music Hall to accept the Regional Theatre Award, he was keenly aware that this accolade signified much more than industry recognition of his Chicago-based theater company. It represented the fortitude of regional theaters across the country that were still reeling from…

  • Adding Music to Movies by Way of the Stage: Sleepless in Seattle to Kinky Boots

    Adding Music to Movies by Way of the Stage: Sleepless in Seattle to Kinky Boots

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    James Sims

    Having recently made my way back to Los Angeles after spending the past five years in New York City, it’s apparent that this Hollywood diet isn’t exclusive to Broadway.

  • Mamet Tells Colbert Broadway is Dead, Misses Point

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    James Sims

    David Mamet, the often cantankerous playwright and director, has been playing the book circuit while promoting his new page turner, Theatre. He made an appearance on Stephen Colbert’s Comedy Central show last night, telling the comedian that theatre is dead. Dead because Broadway is basically producing nothing but revivals of plays that weren’t funny 40…

  • Tony Awards Reflect a Boring Broadway Season

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    James Sims

    With the Tony Awards only a few days away (June 13) and nearly every theatre-oriented website extolling predictions for the ceremony, I thought it appropriate to weigh in on the past Broadway season, and even toss out a few of my own picks for best in show. It is nearly impossible to dismiss the fact…

  • Banana Shpeel Talks Tony Nominations

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    James Sims

    I recently had the chance to produce/shoot a Tony Awards-related video for BroadwayWorld.com featuring the characters of Banana Shpeel, a new show written and directed by David Shiner currently playing at New York’s Beacon Theatre. What a hoot it was sitting down with “Marty Schmelky” and his assistant “Margaret” backstage at the Beacon to talk…

  • ‘Passing Strange’ Explodes On Screen

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    James Sims

    Passing Strange has seen various incarnations since its initial development at the Sundance Institute in 2004. From an out-of-town run in Berkeley to its Off-Broadway then Broadway premiere, the rock and soul stage musical has now made its way to the silver screen. For any New Yorker that caught Passing Strange on Broadway there should…