Entries Tagged 'World AIDS Day' ↓

Nominations for the 59th Annual Tony Awards�

Best Play

Democracy
Author: Michael Frayn
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Jean Doumanian, Stephanie P. McClelland, Arielle Tepper, Amy Nederlander, Eric Falkenstein, Roy Furman

Doubt
Author: John Patrick Shanley
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays, MTC Productions, Inc., Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Roger Berlind, Scott Rudin

Gem of the Ocean
Author: August Wilson
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jujamcyn Theaters

The Pillowman
Author: Martin McDonagh
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Robert Fox, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie P. McClelland, Debra Black, Dede Harris/Morton Swinsky, Roy Furman/Jon Avnet, Joyce Schweickert, The National Theatre of Great Britain

Best Musical

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Producers: Marty Bell, David Brown, Aldo Scrofani, Roy Furman, Dede Harris, Amanda Lipitz, Greg Smith, Ruth Hendel, Chase Mishkin, Barry and Susan Tatelman, Debra Black, Sharon Karmazin, Joyce Schweickert, Bernie Abrams/Michael Speyer, Barbara Whitman, Weissberger Theater Group/Jay Harris, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Jean Cheever, Clear Channel Entertainment, Harvey Weinstein, MGM on Stage/Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber

The Light in the Piazza
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, Andr� Bishop, Bernard Gersten

Monty Python’s Spamalot
Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V. McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Presenters Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Clear Channel Entertainment

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Producers: David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

Best Book of a Musical

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Book: Jeffrey Lane

The Light in the Piazza
Book: Craig Lucas

Monty Python’s Spamalot
Book: Eric Idle

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Book: Rachel Sheinkin

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

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek

The Light in the Piazza
Music & Lyrics: Adam Guettel

Monty Python’s Spamalot
Music: John Du Prez and Eric Idle; Lyrics: Eric Idle

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music & Lyrics: William Finn

Best Revival of a Play

Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Producers: Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Daryl Roth, Terry Allen Kramer, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, James L. Nederlander, Nick Simunek, Joey Parnes

Glengarry Glen Ross
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Boyett Ostar Productions, Ronald Frankel, Philip Lacerte, Stephanie P. McClelland/CJM Productions, Barry Weisbord, Zendog Productions, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy

On Golden Pond
Producers: Jeffrey Finn, Arlene Scanlan, Stuart Thompson

Twelve Angry Men
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy

Best Revival of a Musical

La Cage aux Folles
Producers: James L. Nederlander, Clear Channel Entertainment, Kenneth Greenblatt, Terry Allen Kramer, Martin Richards

Pacific Overtures
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy, Gorgeous Entertainment

Sweet Charity
Producers: Barry and Fran Weissler, Clear Channel Entertainment, Edwin W. Schloss

Best Special Theatrical Event

Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance!
Producers: Creative Battery, Harley Medcalf and Boxjellyfish LLC

Laugh Whore
Producer: Showtime Networks

700 Sundays
Producers: Janice Crystal, Larry Magid, Face Productions

Whoopi, the 20th Anniversary Show
Producers: Mike Nichols, Hal Luftig, Leonard Soloway, Steven M. Levy, Tom Leonardis, Eric Falkenstein, Amy Nederlander

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Philip Bosco, Twelve Angry Men
Billy Crudup, The Pillowman
Bill Irwin, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
James Earl Jones, On Golden Pond
Br�an F. O’Byrne, Doubt

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Cherry Jones, Doubt
Laura Linney, Sight Unseen
Mary-Louise Parker, Reckless
Phylicia Rashad, Gem of the Ocean
Kathleen Turner, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Hank Azaria, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Gary Beach, La Cage aux Folles
Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Tim Curry, Monty Python’s Spamalot
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Christina Applegate, Sweet Charity
Victoria Clark, The Light in the Piazza
Erin Dilly, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Sutton Foster, Little Women
Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Alan Alda, Glengarry Glen Ross
Gordon Clapp, Glengarry Glen Ross
David Harbour, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Liev Schreiber, Glengarry Glen Ross
Michael Stuhlbarg, The Pillowman

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Mireille Enos, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Heather Goldenhersh, Doubt
Dana Ivey, The Rivals
Adriane Lenox, Doubt
Amy Ryan, A Streetcar Named Desire

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Dan Fogler, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Marc Kudisch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Michael McGrath, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Matthew Morrison, The Light in the Piazza
Christopher Sieber, Monty Python’s Spamalot

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Joanna Gleason, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Jan Maxwell, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Kelli O’Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Sara Ramirez, Monty Python’s Spamalot

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, Doubt
David Gallo, Gem of the Ocean
Santo Loquasto, Glengarry Glen Ross
Scott Pask, The Pillowman

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Tim Hatley, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Rumi Matsui, Pacific Overtures
Anthony Ward, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Michael Yeargan, The Light in the Piazza

Best Costume Design of a Play

Jess Goldstein, The Rivals
Jane Greenwood, Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
William Ivey Long, A Streetcar Named Desire
Constanza Romero, Gem of the Ocean

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Tim Hatley, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Junko Koshino, Pacific Overtures
William Ivey Long, La Cage aux Folles
Catherine Zuber, The Light in the Piazza

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Pat Collins, Doubt
Donald Holder, Gem of the Ocean
Donald Holder, A Streetcar Named Desire
Brian MacDevitt, The Pillowman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Christopher Akerlind, The Light in the Piazza
Mark Henderson, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Kenneth Posner, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Hugh Vanstone, Monty Python’s Spamalot

Best Direction of a Play

John Crowley, The Pillowman
Scott Ellis, Twelve Angry Men
Doug Hughes, Doubt
Joe Mantello, Glengarry Glen Ross

Best Direction of a Musical

James Lapine, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Mike Nichols, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Jack O’Brien, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Bartlett Sher, The Light in the Piazza

Best Choreography

Wayne Cilento, Sweet Charity
Jerry Mitchell, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Jerry Mitchell, La Cage aux Folles
Casey Nicholaw, Monty Python’s Spamalot

Best Orchestrations

Larry Hochman, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Ted Sperling, Adam Guettel and Bruce Coughlin, The Light in the Piazza
Jonathan Tunick, Pacific Overtures
Harold Wheeler, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association, the Theatre de la Jeune Lune of Minneapolis, MN will be the recipient of the 2005 Regional Theatre Tony Award, accompanied by a grant of $25,000 sponsored by Visa USA. This award is given to a regional theatre company that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally.

A Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be given to Edward Albee.

The 59th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Hugh Jackman, will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall, Sunday, June 5 from 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

I didn�t write any deeply personal observations on World AIDS Day. I didn�t feel as though I had any to make, but I wanted to observe the occasion and be informative so I did use this space wisely. I hope readers got something out of it. Reading other blogs however has managed to stir some thinking about matters I�ve long tried to suppress.

I left the following comment on Christopher�s site, �I once heard it said that staying HIV negative is a full-time job. I had to agree. The temptation to react without thinking, to respond to basic urges and physical needs without a thought to the consequences, is ever present. Sometimes I feel there is more support after people test positive than there is to deal with the daily temptations.�

Previously I have alluded to how socially unproductive my life has been lately. The combination of being isolated from an identifiable peer group, lonely, horny, and in my mid-40�s in a world that thinks 30 is old, can be a lethal cocktail.

Were I only interested in sexual encounters, this is the Sin City to live in. No matter who or what you�re looking for, you can find someone to do it with without too much effort. But when it is deeper, meaningful relationships you are after, you can die of thirst in this dessert.

And that I suppose is the greatest challenge to staying HIV negative. We all have needs. Hell, I have needs. But they aren�t really being met in any satisfactory way. When you get just a whiff of attention�always in the form of a sexual flirtation�do you ignore it, or act on the impulse? If you act, do you think of the long-term ramifications or just react? If you react, will you suffer consequences you�ll regret later?

People who test positive for HIV can find any number of resources available in most communities to deal with the initial trauma, health management regimens and re-socialization through support groups and therapy. But those of us supposedly healthy need support too in order to stay that way, and I�m not sure if or where it exists.

11.30.04
by Richard Ingham
Agence France Presse

The �ABC� campaign � which advocates abstinence, being faithful to one partner, or using condoms � has come under fire from leading AIDS activists ahead of World AIDS Day. Critics of the strategy � a central component of President Bush�s $15 billion, five-year commitment to fight global HIV/AIDS � say it is frequently ineffectual, sometimes hypocritical and a potential threat to life.

The abstinence message is unworkable in African countries where HIV and sexual activity are rampant, said Mary Crewe, director of the Center for the Study of AIDS at the University of Pretoria. �In countries where there are very high levels of sexual activity around, with social dislocation, family breakdowns, sugar daddies, with young people bored and with nothing to do, to suddenly come in and say you should stop having sex is absolutely ludicrous,� said Crewe. �ABC is a middle-class, middle-aged response to an epidemic, all overlaid with a kind of morality that doesn�t hold anymore.�

ABC can place lives at risk, said Crewe, citing women who face coercive sex from an infected husband or young girls pressured into marriage or coercive sex with an older, infected man. The problem, said Crewe, is not abstinence, fidelity or even condoms, but rights, legal protection, female empowerment, poverty and education. World AIDS Day�s theme this year stresses the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV.

�Our experience, in sub-Saharan African countries especially, is that abstinence-based prevention strategies have a great deal of difficulty in taking hold,� said Sean Healy, spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders.

In an effort to heal the divisive rift, a group of leading figures last week appealed for ABC to be allowed �an important role� along with other anti-AIDS initiatives. South African archbishop and Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni were among those supporting the appeal.

Thousands of Americans living with HIV/AIDS have access to treatment and benefits thanks to a federal act named for an Indiana teenager. The Ryan White CARE Act is one of the single most important laws written in response to the epidemic, but few people know much about it.

This article from The Body not only takes a comprehensive look it but explains why it still may not be enough to help all of those in need.

December 1, 2004 is World AIDS Day, and for the first time since this global day of recognition began in 1988, the impact of the virus on the lives of women is the focus. Judging by the statistics, it is easy to see why.

According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, close to half of the 37.2 million adults living with HIV are women. As infection rates climb and spread to even more regions of the world, women continue to bear a heavy burden. The number of HIV-positive women in East Asia jumped by 56% in the past year alone, and in Africa nearly 60% of all HIV infections are among women. In sub-Saharan Africa, three out of every four HIV-positive youths are women.

For both biological and sociological reasons, women are at risk. As a disease spread quite easily through sexual contact and the exchange of bodily fluids, a woman is simply more susceptible to HIV than a man. But because women do not have the same rights and privileges, nor access to employment, property and education as men, they are also more likely to face sexual violence, which can accelerate the spread of HIV.

Effectively addressing the world AIDS crisis requires that we deal not only with the health aspects, but also economic and political inequities. Unless all of us begin to value, support and empower women everywhere to protect themselves from infection and realize their lives to the fullest potential, the pandemic will increasingly exact a disproportionate toll.

Here are links to information on the state of Women and HIV, both domestically and internationally.