“We felt we were right on target with our projections and this Cannes proved to be better than expected” said Film Planet President, Pamela Vlastas.

Among the finished titles that Film Planet acquired for 2010 include, “Sordid Things,” “Rise and Fall of the American Dream”, “Crime on Terror” and a coming-of-age film, “The Wheeler Boys” starring Bill Campbell. “The Wheeler Boys” will premier at the Los Angeles Film Festival this June after having won the 2009 Netflix Find Your Voice competition.

The company is also developing several films in association with L.A. based  Filmstreet Productions.  The projects include a true story set in France called, “The Princess of Cats,” and edgy indie film called “Rock and Roll Confessions,” written and to be directed by Peter Foldy, and a sci-fi thriller, “The Tainted” by Mark Elias.  No start dates or cast have yet been announced.

Throughout my seven months since September 26, 2009, the date of my arrest at Zurich Airport, where I had landed with a view to receiving a lifetime award for my work from the representative of the Swiss Minister of Culture, I have refrained from making any public statements and have requested my lawyers to confine their comments to a bare minimum. I wanted the legal authorities of Switzerland and the United States, as well as my lawyers, to do their work without any polemics on my part.

I have decided to break my silence in order to address myself directly to you without any intermediaries and in my own words.

I have had my share of dramas and joys, as we all have, and I am not going to try to ask you to pity my lot in life. I ask only to be treated fairly like anyone else.

It is true: 33 years ago I pleaded guilty, and I served time at the prison for common law crimes at Chino, not in a VIP prison. That period was to have covered the totality of my sentence. By the time I left prison, the judge had changed his mind and claimed that the time served at Chino did not fulfill the entire sentence, and it is this reversal that justified my leaving the United States.

This affair was roused from its slumbers of over three decades by a documentary film-maker who gathered evidence from persons involved at the time. I took no part in that project, either directly or indirectly. The resulting documentary not only highlighted the fact that I left the United States because I had been treated unjustly; it also drew the ire of the Los Angeles authorities, who felt that they had been attacked and decided to request my extradition from Switzerland, a country I have been visiting regularly for over 30 years without let or hindrance.

I can now remain silent no longer!

I can remain silent no longer because the American authorities have just decided, in defiance of all the arguments and depositions submitted by third parties, not to agree to sentence me in absentia even though the same Court of Appeal recommended the contrary.

I can remain silent no longer because the California court has dismissed the victim’s numerous requests that proceedings against me be dropped, once and for all, to spare her from further harassment every time this affair is raised once more.

I can remain silent no longer because there has just been a new development of immense significance. On February 26 last, Roger Gunson, the deputy district attorney in charge of the case in 1977, now retired, testified under oath before Judge Mary Lou Villar in the presence of David Walgren, the present deputy district attorney in charge of the case, who was at liberty to contradict and question him, that on September 16, 1977, Judge Rittenband stated to all the parties concerned that my term of imprisonment in Chino constituted the totality of the sentence I would have to serve.

I can remain silent no longer because the request for my extradition addressed to the Swiss authorities is founded on a lie. In the same statement, retired deputy district attorney Roger Gunson added that it was false to claim, as the present district attorney’s office does in their request for my extradition, that the time I spent in Chino was for the purpose of a diagnostic study.

The said request asserts that I fled in order to escape sentencing by the U.S. judicial authorities, but under the plea-bargaining process I had acknowledged the facts and returned to the United States in order to serve my sentence. All that remained was for the court to confirm this agreement, but the judge decided to repudiate it in order to gain himself some publicity at my expense.

I can remain silent no longer because for over 30 years my lawyers have never ceased to insist that I was betrayed by the judge, that the judge perjured himself, and that I served my sentence. Today it is the deputy district attorney who handled the case in the 1970s, a man of irreproachable reputation, who has confirmed all my statements under oath, and this has shed a whole new light on the matter.

I can remain silent no longer because the same causes are now producing the same effects. The new District Attorney, who is handling this case and has requested my extradition, is himself campaigning for election and needs media publicity!

I can no longer remain silent because the United States continues to demand my extradition more to serve me on a platter to the media of the world than to pronounce a judgment concerning which an agreement was reached 33 years ago.

I can remain silent no longer because I have been placed under house arrest in Gstaad and bailed in very large sum of money which I have managed to raise only by mortgaging the apartment that has been my home for over 30 years, and because I am far from my family and unable to work.

Such are the facts I wished to put before you in the hope that Switzerland will recognize that there are no grounds for extradition, and that I shall be able to find peace, be reunited with my family, and live in freedom in my native land.

Roman Polanski

Friends of The Fairfax Theater, threw an 80th birthday party on Saturday, March 27th to draw attention to the recent closing of the Art Deco landmark on Beverly Boulevard. Built in 1929, the theater now faces a threat to its existence by developers who are proposing that the Fairfax and some adjacent shops be turned into a 71-unit condominium complex over retail space and subterranean parking.

The announcement and forced closing has ignited community condemnation and protest.

“Being one of the few remaining neighborhood movie houses left in L.A., let alone the country,  the Fairfax has to be saved,” said one protester Saturday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation agree.  They will be at City Hall on April 1st at 10:00 a.m. to try and get the building officially declared a Los Angeles Landmark.  The Foundation was out in force on Saturday to inform celebrants and the neighborhood of the positive economic impact that thousands of movie goers can draw to the neighborhood each week.  “We have just begun to fight” they declared.

“We can’t let this beautiful venue be turned into another ugly apartment building” said a member of the Foundation.

Passing traffic seemed to agree.  The honking of horns in support of the protest continued almost non stop for over an hour.

For more information join Friends of The Fairfax Theater on Facebook, or, contact:

Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation.  Phone: 213 999-5067

Email: info@lahtf.org

The mega hit Avatar received nine nominations, matching that of The Hurt Locker. Perhaps for the first time in the Oscar’s history, ex husband and wife James Cameron and Catherine Bigelow are going head to head in the best director competition.

The Cohen Brothers disturbing sixties family drama, A Serious Man received a best picture nomination despite performing somewhat poorly at the box office. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the nominations of fan favorite, The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock who was also nominated as Best Actress. Invictus was snubbed for best picture and best director but received recognition for it’s two star, Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, who each got acting nominations.

The unwatchable musical Nine was saved from complete humiliation with the nomination of Penélope Cruz as Best Supporting Actress.

Missing from the list all together is the movie The Hangover that many said would be the first raunchy comedy to get a nod. Seems the Academy’s aging voters didn’t see it that way. Also absent from the best film list is the beautifully shot and well acted film, A Single Man, that saw it’s star Colin Firth receive recognition as a Best Actor nominee.

500 Days of Summer was also ignored, with the somewhat over-rated Up in the Air carrying the ball in the romantic dramedy catagory.

Another surprise was the nomination of the little seen The Messenger as Best Film and and  it’s star, Woody Harrelson nominated as Best Supporting Actor. Most will agree that Christoph Waltz has a lock in that catagory for his brilliant turn as a a memorable Nazi villain in Quentin Tarantino’s compelling war thriller, Inglourious Basterds. Waltz, an veteran Austrian actor hardly known outside Europe until last year, won the Golden Globes and SAG best actor awards last month.

The 2010 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood Los Angeles.

Complete List of Oscar Nominations 2010:

Best Picture

“Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

“The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined

“District 9″ Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers

“An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers

“The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined

“Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers

“A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers

“Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer

“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Directing

“Avatar” James Cameron

“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow

“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels

“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”

George Clooney in “Up in the Air”

Colin Firth in “A Single Man”

Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”

Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”

Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”

Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”

Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”

Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”

Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”

Carey Mulligan in “An Education”

Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penélope Cruz in “Nine”

Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”

Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”

Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”

Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Animated Feature Film

“Coraline” Henry Selick

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson

“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements

“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore

“Up” Pete Docter

Art Direction

“Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith

“Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim

“Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

“The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

“Avatar” Mauro Fiore

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel

“The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd

“Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson

“The White Ribbon” Christian Berger

Costume Design

“Bright Star” Janet Patterson

“Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme

“Nine” Colleen Atwood

“The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell

Documentary (Feature)

“Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller

“The Cove” Nominees to be determined

“Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith

“Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher

“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

“Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

“Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

“Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

“District 9″ Julian Clarke

“The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

“Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

“Ajami” Israel

“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina

“The Milk of Sorrow” Peru

“Un Prophète” France

“The White Ribbon” Germany

Makeup

“Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow

“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

“Avatar” James Horner

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat

“The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

“Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer

“Up” Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36″ Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas

“Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston

“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Short Film (Animated)

“French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert

“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell

“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia

“Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin

“A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

“The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn

“Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström

“Kavi” Gregg Helvey

“Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey

“The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson

“Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman

“Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin

“Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

“Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson

“The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

“Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano

“Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

“Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones

“District 9″ Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken

“Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“District 9″ Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby

“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal

“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino

“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman

“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

This year, Will Ferrell tops the list with flops like Land of the Lost and Step Brothers. Coming in second is Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor.

Other names on the most overpaid list are Eddie Murphy who ranks fourth.  For every dollar Murphy was paid, his films earned only an average $4.43. Coming in at number 6 is Tom Cruise who shows a return on investment of only $7.18.

Compare that to the actor who tops Forbes list of Best Actor for the Buck, Shia LeBeouf. His films earn an average of $160 for every dollar the young actor is paid.

To read the entire story visit the Forbes site:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/17/hollywoods-most-overpaid-stars-business-entertainment-overpaid-stars.html?partner=relatedstoriesbox

Another thing missing from the American Film Market is the security guards outside the hotel who last year searched bag, purses and suitcases before allowing people to enter.

Has the AFM lowered it’s terror threat for 2009?  Are we safer this year than last, or is it the bad economy that prevents the AFM from conducting what most feel was an unnecessary search in the first place?

When we asked for a reason we were referred to the AFM Security Office who sent us to AFM Management–who offered no comment.

Of the acquisition companies new to the AFM, 13 are from South Korea; 10 from the U.S; seven from Russia; five from China; and four from Canada. Additionally, there will be multiple buying companies joining from Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary India, Mexico, Spain and the Czech Republic.

The number of exhibitors however has dropped  by 43, from 412 last year to 369, representing a 10% decrease but on par with numbers earlier this decade.

The AFM will screen 486 motion pictures in 28 languages, including 75 world premieres and 328 market premieres to buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries.

Meanwhile, contrary to popular opinion, it is not all doom and gloom at this year’s AFM. Rising admissions figures around the globe and the breakout success of micro-budget films such as Paramount’s Paranormal Activity confirm the wisdom of creative financing combined with calculated, artistic risk-taking.

While sales agents once came to Santa Monica confident of locking in perhaps 60% of the budget through pre-sales, in 2009 expectations are more modest as the slump in TV advertising and the flattening DVD sector means even the biggest sellers on the circuit are turning to other financing sources to make up the numbers.

Gone are the reckless investors who created a glut of $40m-$50m product in the market — now the focus is on quality at both ends of the budget range.

Screen Daily quotes IM Global’s Stuart Ford as claiming “the slowdown in production seems to be causing increased competition for the stronger new packages,” says . “The key buyers aren’t in the ‘wait and see’ frame of mind they were in a year ago.”

FilmNation chief Glen Basner adds: “It’s not accurate to say you cannot pre-sell. There has been a significant shift in terms of valuation and what people are willing to pre-buy, but if you hit that target you can do it.”

Japan used to be about as big a target as any sales agent could aim for, but these days it has become one of the toughest sells. Young audiences no longer regard US product as a must-see, be it studio or independent, and it is female audiences that drive viewing decisions.

“We’re looking for projects with strong stories and emotional content that will appeal to Japanese audiences - something that is new and not necessarily star-driven,” says Avex Entertainment head of acquisitions Ken Umehara in Screen Daily.

“In difficult times entertainment has a chance of growing, so we believe in the future of the theatrical business and home video,” says PlayArte Pictures vice-president Otelo Bettin Coltro. “We are aggressively acquiring more rights for Brazil and Latin America and we are optimistic there will be product.”

Also in attendance were musician and author, Paul Tennant whose Beatle related book. All You Need is Luck will released early in 2010, Lady Victoria Herve and designer Julia Clancey.

Others enjoying wine and Cecconis delicious pizza were actress, Tessa Shaw, producers, Louisa Spring, William J. McDonald, Peter Crane, Michelle Alexandria and Julia Verdin, directors Paul Lynch, Armand Mastroianni, Riley Wood and Peter Foldy, as well as EJ Casting president, James Norris.

The Directors Guild of Great Britain was aiming to raise awareness for their various causes and charities, as well as to invite both American and UK industry professionals to join the organization.

EJ Casting President James Norris, musician Paul Tennant and actress Joanne Whalley

The DGGB focuses on promoting British directors, training and cultural events. They have given Lifetime Achievement Awards to film and theater directors such as Fred Zinneman, Joan Littlewood, Stanley Kubrick and John Schlesinger CBE.

Entitled “Isolation” the film is an edgy Gen-X thriller, written and to be directed by Peter Foldy. Currently no cast is attached. The company has also optioned an original screenplay by first time writer, Mark Elias entitled “Purge.” “We are looking to package “Purge” for production in 2010″ said Hughes, “and we are very excited about having acquired this excellent screenplay.”

Filmstreet’s other feature projects, “All You Need is Luck” and “The Juggler” are also moving toward a start date.  “All You Need..” is due to start filming in Northern Ireland next spring while “The Juggler” should see camera’s roll in November.

Filmstreet is currently closing distribution for all it’s projects though no firm details have been announced.

Filmstreet has been active since the early nineties starting with the action/thriller, “Midnight Witness” starring Jan-Michael Vincent and Maxwell Caulfield. The company has seen four other feature projects to fruition and was also active in the production of a short film called, “Head, Heart and Balls… or Why I Gave Up Smoking Pot” starring radio and TV personality Adam Carolla.

Other musicals getting Tony recognition were “Next to Normal,” “Shrek” and “Rock of Ages”.

The rock musical, “Hair” was also recognized with a nod as “Best Revival.”

Missing from the lineup are “9 to 5,” which led with the most drama desk nominations (15), and [title of show], which was a huge critical hit when it transferred from off-Broadway to the Lyceum Theatre last July before closing in October. The inclusion of “Rock of Ages” was a big surprise to most Tonys pundits, who had predicted that either “9 to 5″ or “[title of show]” would take the fourth slot.

The bid for “Rock of Ages” is great news for the L.A. theater scene since the jukebox musical about 1980s rocks bands on the Sunset Street originated at the King King Club in Hollywood before moving to Broadway.

Also snubbed by the Tonys were Daniel Radcliffe for his nude turn in “Equus”, Kristin Scott Thomas (”The Seagull”) and “Waiting for Godot” stars Bill Irwin and Nathan Lane.

Here is a complete list of nominees:

BEST PLAY
“Dividing the Estate”
“God of Carnage”
“Reasons to Be Pretty”
“33 Variations”

BEST MUSICAL
“Billy Elliot, The Musical”
“Next to Normal”
“Rock of Ages”
“Shrek the Musical”

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
“Billy Elliot, the Musical,” Lee Hall
“Next to Normal,” Brian Yorkey
“Shrek the Musical,” David Lindsay-Abaire
“[title of show],” Hunter Bell

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS)
“Billy Elliot, the Musical” — music: Elton John, lyrics: Lee Hall
“Next to Normal” — music: Tom Kitt, lyrics: Brian Yorkey
“9 to 5: The Musical” — music & lyrics: Dolly Parton
“Shrek The Musical” — music: Jeanine Tesori, lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
“Mary Stuart”
“The Norman Conquests”
“Waiting for Godot”

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
“Guys and Dolls”
“Hair”
“Pal Joey”
“West Side Story”

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT
“Liza’s at the Palace”
“Slava’s Snowshow”
“Soul of Shaolin”
“You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Jeff Daniels, “God of Carnage”
Raúl Esparza, “Speed-the-Plow”
James Gandolfini, “God of Carnage”
Geoffrey Rush, “Exit the King”
Thomas Sadoski, “Reasons to Be Pretty”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Hope Davis, “God of Carnage”
Jane Fonda, “33 Variations”
Marcia Gay Harden, “God of Carnage”
Janet McTeer, “Mary Stuart”
Harriet Walter, “Mary Stuart”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish‚ “Billy Elliot”
Gavin Creel, “Hair”
Brian d’Arcy James, “Shrek”
Constantine Maroulis, “Rock of Ages”
J. Robert Spencer, “Next to Normal”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Stockard Channing, “Pal Joey”
Sutton Foster, “Shrek”
Allison Janney, “9 to 5: The Musical”
Alice Ripley, “Next to Normal”
Josefina Scaglione, “West Side Story”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
John Glover, “Waiting for Godot”
Zach Grenier, “33 Variations”
Stephen Mangan, “The Norman Conquests”
Paul Ritter, “The Norman Conquests”
Roger Robinson, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Hallie Foote, “Dividing the Estate”
Jessica Hynes, “The Norman Conquests”
Marin Ireland, “Reasons to Be Pretty”
Angela Lansbury, “Blithe Spirit”
Amanda Root, “The Norman Conquests”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
David Bologna, “Billy Elliot”
Gregory Jbara, “Billy Elliot”
Marc Kudisch, “9 to 5″
Christopher Sieber, “Shrek”
Will Swenson, “Hair”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Jennifer Damiano, “Next to Normal”
Haydn Gwynne, “Billy Elliot”
Karen Olivo, “West Side Story”
Martha Plimpton, “Pal Joey”
Carole Shelley, “Billy Elliot”

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Dale Ferguson, “Exit the King”
Rob Howell, “The Norman Conquests”
Derek McLane, “33 Variations”
Michael Yeargan, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Robert Brill, “Guys and Dolls”
Ian MacNeil, “Billy Elliot”
Scott Pask, “Pal Joey”
Mark Wendland, “Next to Normal”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
Dale Ferguson, “Exit the King”
Jane Greenwood, “Waiting for Godot”
Martin Pakledinaz, “Blithe Spirit”
Anthony Ward, “Mary Stuart”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Gregory Gale, “Rock of Ages”
Nicky Gillibrand, “Billy Elliot”
Tim Hatley, “Shrek”
Michael McDonald, “Hair”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
David Hersey, “Equus”
David Lander, “33 Variations”
Brian MacDevitt, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Hugh Vanstone, “Mary Stuart”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Kevin Adams, “Hair”
Kevin Adams, “Next to Normal”
Howell Binkley, “West Side Story”
Rick Fisher, “Billy Elliot”

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Paul Arditti, “Mary Stuart”
Gregory Clarke, “Equus”
Russell Goldsmith, “Exit the King”
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Acme Sound Partners, “Hair”
Paul Arditti, “Billy Elliot”
Peter Hylenski, “Rock of Ages”
Brian Ronan, “Next to Normal”

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Phyllida Lloyd, “Mary Stuart”
Bartlett Sher, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Matthew Warchus, “God of Carnage”
Matthew Warchus, “The Norman Conquests”

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Stephen Daldry, “Billy Elliot”
Michael Greif, “Next to Normal”
Kristin Hanggi, “Rock of Ages”
Diane Paulus, “Hair”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Karole Armitage, “Hair”
Andy Blankenbuehler, “9 to 5: The Musical”
Peter Darling, “Billy Elliot”
Randy Skinner, “White Christmas”

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Larry Blank, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”
Martin Koch, “Billy Elliot”
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, “Next to Normal”
Danny Troob and John Clancy, “Shrek”

* * *

Special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theater
Jerry Herman

Regional Theater Tony Award
Signature Theatre, Arlington, Va.

Isabelle Stevenson Award
Phyllis Newman

Tony honor for excellence in the theater
Shirley Herz