If you felt an inexplicable shiver of Baltimore pride yesterday morning, I can tell you why: The Tony Awards nominations were announced, and one of the most-lauded plays — Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, starring Sigourney Weaver and David Hyde Pierce — was produced by a Garrison Forest alum (Cricket Hooper Jiranek) and stars a Baltimore School for the Arts grad.
VaSaMaS (how’s that for an acronym?) came away with six nominations in all, including Best Play and Best Director. Leading role actors Pierce and Kristine Nielsen were nominated, along with featured performers Billy Magnussen and Shalita Grant (the BSA grad).
The play centers on Weaver, who plays an arrogant, aging actress, her middle-aged siblings — and her 20-something boyfriend. Mo Rocca called VaSaMas his favorite play on CNN, and the New York Times considers it “the all-around strongest nominee” for its best play nomination. The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 9 — get ready to cheer on Baltimore!
Fantastic — couldn’t happen to a nicer gal — congratulations Cricket!!!
What a play !!! Brilliantly funny —- Masterfully acted —- What a treat to experience Opening Night with my family…Cricket’s mother