Tony Awards present a Woolf pack to Steppenwolf revival

The 67th annual Tony Awards,

presented Sunday night at Radio City Musical Hall, had prizes for everyone. But for Chicago audiences, it was Steppenwolf Theatre that brought home the goods. The company’s much-heralded 50th anniversary production of Edward Albee’s fearsome “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” was named best revival of a play for the season. Pam MacKinnon, an Albee protege, was named best director. And an exceptionally emotional Tracy Letts was awarded the prize for best leading actor in a play for his searing, often revelatory portrayal of George. It was his second Tony. (The first, in 2008, was as playwright, for “August: Osage County.”) Accepting the best revival award was Martha Lavey, artistic director of Steppenwolf, who made a point of saluting her colleagues in theaters across the country, with a special nod “to the Chicago community where Steppenwolf has had its home for 37 years ... a great, great theater town.” Letts, who made it clear he was not competing with the other formidable nominees in his category (including Tom Hanks and Nathan Lane), admitted to being overwhelmed. He thanked his parents “and all the actors in Chicago and storefronts everywhere ...who have a unique responsibility.” Steppenwolf ensemble members Amy Morton (“Virginia Woolf”) and Laurie Metcalf (“The Other Place”) were bested by 79-year-old Cicely Tyson, who came back to the stage after 30 years in ‘The Trip to Bountiful.” Carrie Coon, whose engagement to Letts was announced last week, also failed to win for best featured actress. For most audiences the big 2013 Tony Awards question was: Who will win the prize for best musical? It was “Kinky Boots,” the new show (which had its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago) inspired by the 2005 British film. The show marked the impressive debut of pop icon Cyndi Lauper as a Broadway composer and lyricist. Lauper won, as did leading actor Billy Porter, who plays Lola, the drag queen who helps transform an old British shoe factory into a manufacturer of “specialty boots.” Jerry Mitchell got the nod for choreography.
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