Page 189 – NYFA

Student Games Shine at the NYFA Student Showcase

NYFA’s Game Design Department had another great showcase for graduating MFA and BFA students this June. This year, highlights from the students’ academic careers were on display, and they did not disappoint.

Highlights of this year’s showcase include Blake Shao’s “Enlightenment,” an epic third-person fantasy adventure game that allowed players to embark on a grand quest through an Elven realm. Breathtaking art coupled with original play mechanics lead to a NYFA game experience that will be remembered for years to come.

The game is displayed proudly in the school and is a magnet for curious students and visitors alike. A gallery of images from games featured at the student showcase is viewable below.

Another highlight came from BFA student Scott Zhang, who took a widely different approach to his games; he included examples of his game art.

Scott’s concept art runs the gamut from dangerous industrial labyrinths to sci-fi rovers that are indistinguishable from the best art AAA games have to offer. It is no wonder he has already been picked up as an environment artist for 3BlackDot studios. For those interested (and everyone should be), his art is available here.

We wish all graduates continued success as they embark on new adventures.

Thomas Ian Nicholas & Brian Metcalf Screen “The Lost Tree” at NYFA LA

On Monday, March 12, New York Film Academy students at the Los Angeles campus were treated to a screening of “The Lost Tree” followed by a Q&A with writer and director Brian A. Metcalf and producer Thomas Ian Nicholas.

“The Lost Tree” follows a man who, after surviving a terrible accident, abandons his old life for a secluded cabin in the woods. Soon enough he learns that the area isn’t safe. The suspenseful thriller stars Michael Madsen (“Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill: Vol 1,” and “The Hateful 8”), Lacey Chabert (“Mean Girls,” “The Wild Thornberrys” and “Party of Five”), Scott Grimes (“American Dad,” “ER,” and “Party of 5”), and Thomas Ian Nicholas (“Rookie of the Year” and “American Pie”).

NYFA Instructor Tim Fallon moderated the Q&A. He started off the evening by asking Metcalf and Nicholas about how they started working together. Nicholas answered, “Initially, Brian called me and asked me if I wanted to start working on something.” When Nicholas asked what the movie would be about Metcalf didn’t have a clue: “We’ll figure it out as we go along.”

“It’s a funny thing,” Metcalf said. “This is not what this [script] was intended to be. We just wanted to work on something together.” Nicholas knew of an incredible cabin in the woods. They decided to make that the center focus of the script and the film blossomed from there.

“The cabin isn’t anything like we portray it in the film. Now, I’ll never be able to go back there again. So, thanks, Brian,” Nicholas joked. “This gave us the ability to work with what we had. You have to get creative when you work with a tight budget.”

https://youtu.be/pSxmdo2gejM

Metcalf chimed in, “We might have wished to have more actors for certain days or more time to shoot, but, at the end of the day, you have to use what you have.”

One student asked, “What is the best advice you have ever received?” Metcalf had a simple answer: “The first attempt you will fail. You have to get to work to get to the point where you’re consistently making good art. If you can’t take rejection than this industry isn’t for you.”

The New York Film Academy would like to thank Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Nicholas for taking the time to speak with our students. To learn more about their production company, Red Compass Media, click here.

NYFA Alumnus Alon Jawal Film “Visitors” Tours Festivals

New York Film Academy Alumni Alon Juwal has been on a veritable tour with his short film, “Visitors,” which has received nominations from the Newport Beach Film Festival, Phoenix ComicCon, USS Film Festival, New Hope Film Festival, and the New York City International Film Festival.

Juwal received the award for Best Director of a Sci-Fi Short at the New York City International Film Festival and an Honorable Mention at the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival. The film has earned numerous nominations including Best Sci-Fi Short at Phoenix ComicCon and Best Student Short at the Vail Film Festival.

“Visitors” follows characters George, Cole and Kayleigh, an estranged family who come together at a remote and isolated farm. Cole and Kayleigh find themselves facing a series of strange events and a group of uninvited visitors with mysterious and sinister intentions. An old, forgotten bond rekindles, and a once broken and divided family begins piecing itself together in order to survive, overcome and become whole again.

“‘Visitors’ was basically my way of fusing all of the sci-fi films I grew up watching as a child adding a bit of a personal twist and eventually creating something that is truly unique and original,” Juwal said in an interview via email. “I wanted to make something that felt truly authentic, and in order to do that, I had to find the strength to expose my deepest feelings. Even a thriller needs a bit of a personal touch to fully connect with a viewer, so my personal touch to the story was the complex relationship I have with my father, and how his separation from my mother affected our family.”

That relationship became the guiding light for the film. Grounding this film in a core that would touch viewers was Juwal’s main goal. “‘Visitors’ is a sci-fi thriller on the outside, but on the inside, it speaks of values such as family, loyalty and most importantly, forgiveness,” Juwal said. “When people leave the cinema, I don’t want them to think about aliens or tractor beams. Instead, I hope they will be thinking about their families.”

His impressive festival run was influenced by a gambler’s spirit: “You can’t win the lottery without buying a ticket.” He narrowed his focus to festivals that had the science fiction genre at the forefront of their thinking. “I carefully chose festivals that I believed showcased emerging talent (and) had the power of pushing our film forward.”

Through all the screenings, conventions, and conferences, a lot of hands are shaken. Each handshake usually comes with a note about the film. All that criticism has worn down many great filmmakers but Juwal takes it all in stride. “When you make a film you are sometimes blind to many of its shortcomings. I can definitely say that I have learned a lot from every single screening. It’s always great to hear a positive comment, but the negative ones are the ones you end up learning from the most, and they are also the ones that make you grow as an artist.”

Lessons learned and classmates met at the New York Film Academy were instrumental in the completion of the project. Juwal reflected, “My time at NYFA taught me many things, but most importantly, it taught me the power of collaboration. I have many shortcomings as a director, and I fill those shortcomings with talented people who complete me. In the case of ‘Visitors,’ many of these people were my classmates.”

Juwal’s next film, “A Golden Heart,” will tell the story of an 11-year-old boy who, after learning of his mother’s illness, sets off on a journey to find a rare flower that is rumored to have magical healing powers. Look for “Visitors” on Amazon Video Direct once the film has completed its festival circuit. To follow the film’s progress, follow “Visitors” on Facebook.

NYFA 3D Animation Students Go on an Art Space Odyssey

The #14th Factory has erected a huge art experience just down the street from the New York Film Academy Los Angeles’ Burbank campus, and NYFA 3D animation and visual effects (VFX) had the opportunity to explore it in the context of their recent studies. The #14th Factory show included the work of 20 artist collaborating on acres of indoor and outdoor space.

Most exciting for NYFA students was a very precise replica of the famed “2001: A Space Odyssey” bedroom set from the epic conclusion of the film. With the NYFA animation and VFX students recently viewing Stanley Kubric’s masterpiece in instructor Matthew Sheehan’s matte painting class, this exhibit was impossible to miss.

Last week, the animation class got immersive art experience, with artists Simon Birch, Paul Kember, and many others dropping the class in the lead role with endless paths ways and surprises around every corner. The experience, modeled around the Joseph Campbell’s narrative arc of a hero’s journey, was playful at times and scary at others, all the while pushing the imaginations of the group that much closer to the next level.

The New York Film Academy 3D animation and VFX students and faculty are very thankful to the artists and the team members who hosted us and for an invigorating four hours.

NYFA INSTRUCTOR BILL DUKE’S “CREATED EQUAL” TO PREMIERE AT AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

New York Film Academy Los Angeles Instructor Bill Duke’s film “Created Equal” will have its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival at the Miami Beach Cinematheque (1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL).

Six years ago, the famed actor/director Bill Duke stunned audiences with his shocking documentary “Dark Girls.” Now, his newest independently produced legal thriller “Created Equal” delivers the same impact and controversy.

In a world where gender equality remains a critical issue, this controversial film doesn’t set out to challenge the Catholic Church doctrine, but asks a very modern question: Should women be allowed into seminaries to study for the priesthood?

“‘Created Equal’ is a film that gives you a voyeur experience into the stained glass ceiling that exists in the Catholic Church and asks the question about women being allowed into seminaries without actually taking sides,” said Bill Duke. “We are so excited that the American Black Film Festival has officially selected our film as a world premiere, and look forward to the conversation that is created around this highly debated topic.”

Starring in the film are Broadway actor and singer Aaron Tveit (“Grease Live!”), Latina actress Edy Ganem (“Devious Maids”), Yohance Myles (“Shots Fired”), and veteran actors Lou Diamond Phillips (“Longmire”) and Greg Alan Williams (“Greenleaf”).

Desperate to become a priest in the Catholic Church, Alejandra “Allie” Batista (Edy Ganem) turns to Thomas Reilly (Aaron Tveit), a successful lawyer who files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for sex discrimination without justifiable cause. As Allie’s case starts to make national headlines, both she and Tommy face serious backlash from the people in their lives. The trial unfolds and an extremist concocts a plot to stop the heresy against the church by attacking Alejandra and attempting to kill her if she doesn’t back off.

The script was written by Ned Bowman, Michael Ricigliano Jr., and Joyce Renee Lewis. The film was produced by Thada Catalon of T-Cat Films.

“‘Created Equal’ became a huge priority for me when I saw that the United States of America was nearly on the brink of having Hillary Clinton as its first female president,” shares the producer, Thada Catalon. “I was inspired when she said in her concession speech, ‘Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think.’ It was important for me to use this platform to be a part of a progressive movement that seeks equal rights for all — not just in religion, but on the world stage.”

Double Emmy Award-winning actor Greg Alan Williams adds, “It’s always a joy and an honor to be a part of meaningful work. This film, ‘Created Equal,’ is of major importance to us all.”

For more information on “Created Equal,” visit www.CreatedEqualMovie.com.

NYFA Grad’s Doc “ED Vs IT” Now Available on Amazon Prime

In an age where information is readily available through everyday technology, former New York Film Academy student Atif Ali Khan’s documentary “ED Vs IT: SOS” explores the role of education in an information driven age — how we have to dissect and deploy the online IT tools to create a giant technological leap forward to educate our next generation. The documentary investigates how, if we don’t make the amends, our lives will be controlled by robots.

Khan’s thought-provoking documentary, which is now available on Amazon Prime, has peaked our curiosity, leading us to an interview with the director to find out more about him and his film.

Congrats on your recent documentary, “ED Vs IT”! Let’s begin by telling us where you’re from, and what brought you to NYFA?

Originally from Pakistan, NYFA was my ticket to Hollywood. It is where you get firsthand exposure with industry professionals, who have not only “been there and done that,” but are also actively involved in various projects too. They also recommend you, if you have outstanding skills.

In fact, for me it became a mode of networking with the top notch professionals in Hollywood. NYFA surpassed my expectations of what I had envisioned. The faculty not only gives you the hands-on skills, but they teach you the creative process of storytelling. A giant leap in confidence. Shooting at Universal Studios backlot was a dream. From the Golden Age of Cinema to the Silversceen VOD age of today, I saw it all from the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are held, to the actual locations where top-grossing movies are made. We embraced it all during our thesis film project.

They were shooting “Modern Family” and Sofia Vergara was right behind our shooting location on the European set. I recovered all the money I had invested at NYFA within two months of my graduation with a bunch of projects. It is that good. It is like an interneship at Paramount. The NYFA jacket is an easy pass to enter anywhere — be it press coverage or a movie set.

New York is the TV hub of the world and doing it at the LA Campus I got exposed to film fraternity of the highest cadre in the world. Needless to say, I received a host of discounts against my NYFA student ID from B&H to Amazon and from Best Buy to Apple. I got many projects just by “name-dropping” NYFA. It is the most respected name be it Tokyo, China, Italy, Abu Dhabi and from the East to the West Coast. Ten years from now, every film project in the world will have a NYFA alumni in one form or another.

Additionally, I became friends with Craig Fox, in New York, who is a leading stand up comedian and whom I later found is a teacher of Acting for Film at NYFA in New York. He introduced me to a range of actors, who are either studying at NYFA or are graduates. All are very active on Broadway (theater) and the improv scene in New York.

How did this documentary “ED Vs IT” come about? What drew you to this subject?

I saw online platforms emerging at a dynamic pace, from entertainment to mobile and from Amazon to banks.

The production design tips, given by my teacher Jack Daniels at NYFA, really came in handy. I did all of the production from shoot to special FX and editing. Finally, the film was made on a shoe string budget with no production compromises at all. You really don’t need a studio to back your project — if you learn the NYFA guerrilla filmmaking.

What do you hope to achieve with this documentary? What is your overall message?

It is a wake up call. Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence is steering forward at an alarming pace. Automation is taking over human capital way faster than ever anticipated. We need to overhaul the outdated education modules with a sense of urgency. We can’t stay complacent as self-driving cars and automated businesses are quickly replacing human resources. If we don’t take active measures there will be a resource apocalypse, which might lead to a ‘Terminator sort of situation’ where robots will be used as bodyguards and there will be no checks and measures in place for their legal litigation. People will fight amongst themselves, with machines to win their livelihood.

Do you think NYFA’s training was useful in terms of being able to create this documentary?

Absolutely, it is like assisting a movie with Stanley Kubrick. If you follow how they instruct and “walk you through” various technical nuances, you will develop a huge conceptual framework overnight. It is like a firsthand experience because they run you through all the litmus tests of past, present and future of filmmaking. I learned from NYFA how to stage a scene, how to convert my vision into telling my story with words and visuals. Like I said earlier, NYFA is a lifestyle; it is a fraternity where recommendations are made, where your teachers and former students all interact and integrate to create a future for you in media industry. With future of video so bright with Netflix, Amazon Video, YouTube and MSM (Mainstream Media), I think I did myself the best favor of my life to enroll at NYFA. Every penny that I invested has given my 1000% returns and I am just in the second year of since graduating.

My teacher Brendan Davis at the LA campus taught me that ‘film is a collaborative art’ and it really helped me to liaise with people whom I interviewed for the documentary. I was cultured about the artist protocols in terms of getting work done on time and drawing the best talent out of voice-over talents who narrated my project. Without NYFA I wouldn’t have been able to bring it all together.

I also now provide stock footage to famous Video Blocks that outsource for more than 15 leading TV channels including Discovery, MTV and History.

How did your relationship with Amazon Prime come about?

Documentary is the next big thing. After winning several Oscars, Oliver Stone recently made a documentary about Putin for Showtime. Every evening I see at least one documentary on Amazon or Netflix. While Netflix distribution is rather lengthy, I sent my demo to Amazon Studios and got an instant approval. Amazon Studios is an amazing platform where you can DIY everything from script to approval and release.

Studying at NYFA I got the membership for Without a Box. Not only did I learn how the film industry in VOD age works, but I also learned how to submit my film to festivals across the globe in a tapeless format. My student film (that I wrote, directed & produced at NYFA) went on and got selected in the pro categories across the globe and got top spots in London Intl. Film Festival and various others. Building on that experience and response, I have now submitted this documentary in many Oscar qualifying film festivals. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next level.

Are you currently working on any other projects?

Yes, I am working on a psychological horror feature film, based in NY. I am using improv actors and special FX like Neon Demon to create a new wave feature project. The project named “Disowned” is starring Michael S. Benjamin and Heather Cole as the lead.

I am also covering IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards on July 16, 2017 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. IIFA is the equivalent to Oscar for Bollywood film industry. I also provided press coverage to their conference at Sheraton Times Square on June 1, 2017 — live streaming from Mumbai.

Lastly, as a follow up to the script I wrote for the documentary, I have been offered a writing deal to the book covering the same theme but a step forward in terms of its criticality. “Automation vs. Autocracy.”

NYFA’s Bill Duke Directs Legal Drama “Created Equal”

Bill Duke

New York Film Academy instructor Bill Duke, who has an extensive background in acting and filmmaking, returned to the directing chair in his upcoming legal drama, “Created Equal.” Duke is coming off of directing the documentary “Dark Girls,” which premiered on OWN in June 2013 and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

The script was written by Ned Bowman, Michael Ricigliano Jr., and Joyce Renee Lewis. The film was produced by Thada Catalon of T-Cat Films. The film will star Aaron Tveit as the lawyer opposite Edy Ganem (“Devious Maids”) as the female lead, along with Lou Diamond Phillips (“Longmire”) and Greg Alan Williams (“Greenleaf”).

“Created Equal” is based on a novel written by Roger A. Brown —who is also serving as executive producer on the film. Duke’s film sheds light on a delicate issue, women becoming priests — Alejandra Batista (Edy Ganem) is a devoted Catholic who feels the calling to become a priest. Because the Catholic Church law forbids women from entering the seminary, Allie files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for sex discrimination without justifiable cause with the help of a young and successful attorney, Tommy Reilly (Aaron Tveit). As Allie’s case starts to make headlines both she and Tommy face serious backlash from the people in their lives. As the trial unfolds an extremist concocts a plot to stop the heresy against the church by attacking Alejandra and threatening to kill her if she doesn’t back off.

The film will premiere at the American Black Film Festival.

Musical Theatre Grad “Ione” Performing as Alternate Lead in West End’s “Thriller Live”

Growing up in Manchester, UK, Mica “Ione” Townsend began developing her singing chops at three-years old in her church choir. From there, she progressed through classical vocal training and performances to sharing her gift with renowned professionals around the world.

At just 14, Ione became a session singer and backing vocalist, displaying an outstanding vocal talent that earned her the opportunity of performing with the likes of Gorrilaz, Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) and Heather Small.

In 2007, Ione moved to London to further her career and was soon invited to join a European and American Tour as backing vocalist to singer Adam Green. The success of the tour proved a catalyst for her career and Ione moved to the U.S. to fulfill her dream of studying at the Musical Theatre School at the New York Film Academy.

“I think to train at NYFA, in New York, where musical theatre was born, has been extremely useful,” said Ione. “The focus was always on the acting and the story, and singing and dancing were an extension of that. I was also taught, at NYFA, not to limit myself; it was always inspiring that the teachers were on Broadway, taught, then would do other projects. I don’t have to choose between all the things I love.”

After finishing NYFA and moving back to the UK, Ione toured as a soloist in the ”Hacienda Classics,” an experience which involved re-working dance classics with a 70 piece orchestra. She is now a lead in the West End musical ”Thriller Live,” which celebrates the music of Michael Jackson. The highly successful stage production has become the 15th longest running musical in the West End.

As an artist who certainly doesn’t want to limit herself, Ione has continued to write her own songs, which gave her the impetus to showcase them as a singer in her own right.

“The music industry is great,” says Ione. “Anybody can ‘release’ music, but in the same breath that means so many more people have music out there, so I would say the promotion of music as an artist, the staying on top of it, is most difficult for me.”

In 2013, Ione released her debut EP “Fighting Fear,” which gave a nod to her musical theatre background in the haunting ballad “My Love.”

Her first single “Back in the Day,” released in 2014, is an eclectic mix of soul and pop music with electronic sounds and is a blend of everything she loves in music. The song was heavily supported by BBC INTRODUCING and was aired by Tom Robinson Mixtape on BBC Radio 6. It was also chosen by songwriter Mark Hadfield, who has written for NEYO and Iggy Azalea, to be played on Huw Stephens’ show on BBC Radio 1.

“Growing up around powerful and knowledgeable women gave me the landscape to share these life experiences in my work,” says Ione.

Ione is also curently recording new material which is set to be released Spring 2017.

Highlights From the 71st Annual Tony Awards

The New York Film Academy was especially excited to watch the Tony Awards this year, as our Musical Theatre Program has welcomed many members of the Broadway community as instructors, guest speakers, and featured artists in our original movie musicals, from our Artistic Director Kristy Cates to visiting Master Class lecturer Jonathan Groff. For industry insiders and theatre lovers everywhere, the 71st Annual Tony Awards on Sunday was the theatre event of the season. The New York Film Academy provided live social media coverage on Twitter, while the live CBS broadcast of the Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall gave nearly 6 million home viewers a glimpse into an evening full of Broadway royalty, moving speeches, and much-anticipated performances.

In case you missed it, here are some highlights from the 71st Annual Tony Awards:

Best Musical

After much anticipation, audience favorite “Dear Evan Hansen” swept the Tony’s this season, taking home awards in not one, not two, but six categories — including the coveted spot for Best New Musical. The groundbreaking musical is a true original, featuring a small cast and orchestra and offering some innovative tie-ins to social media.

Best Actor in a Musical

“Dear Evan Hansen” also gave us one of the evening’s brightest new stars, when leading actor Ben Platt snagged the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical. Platt received a rousing standing ovation from the live audience and the orchestra at the Tony’s, and used his moment in the spotlight to spread some inspiration.

As quoted in the New York Times, Ben offered encouragement to fellow theatre kids: “To all young people watching at home, don’t waste any time trying to be like anybody but yourself, because the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”

Best Actress in a Musical

“Dear Evan Hansen” was not the only star of the evening. The Radio City Music Hall audience also swept to its feet to recognize and celebrate beloved industry icon Bette Midler, as she won the the Best Actress in a Musical award for her portrayal of Dolly Levi in the revival of “Hello, Dolly!”

Best Play

While musicals and musical performances punctuated the evening, the Tony’s also celebrate legitimate Broadway performers and plays. This year, the category for Best Play (non-musical) was especially competitive, but in the end the award went to “Oslo,” which dramatizes the 1993 Middle East peace accords.

Best Actress in a Play

Laurie Metcalf had been nominated for a Tony Award four times before her emotionally-charged win on Sunday, when she took home the category for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Nora in “A Doll’s House, Part 2.”

Most-buzzed Acceptance Speech

Cynthia Nixon took the stage to accept an award for Best Featured Actress in a play for “The Little Foxes,” the Lillian Helman classic which was also nominated in the Best Revival of a Play category. During her acceptance speech, Nixon caused major internet buzz for quoting the playwright to make a political statement: ““Sixty years ago, [Hellman] wrote, ‘There are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it and other people who just stand around and watch them do it.’ My love, gratitude and undying respect go out to all the people in 2017 who are refusing to just stand and watch them do it.”

Surprise Stars

Former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, rocked Radio City during Jill’s moment on stage. Mrs. Biden made a brief appearance during the ceremony to promote Got Your Six, a campaign benefitting military veterans. And Variety reports that the crowd’s enthusiasm for the political superstars cased selfie-seekers to create traffic jams at the after-party as they clamored for a pic with the Bidens.

Lifetime Achievement Award

James Earl Jones received recognition for a full and incredible career on the stage, taking home the 2017 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theater. The superstar, who has portrayed roles from Darth Vader in “Star Wars” to Othello on Broadway, graciously thanked the New York City Police Department during his moment on stage for their work keeping the Broadway community safe.

Here is the full list of this year’s Tony Award winners, as reported by The Tony Awards website:

BEST PLAY

“Oslo”

BEST MUSICAL

“Dear Evan Hansen”

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

August Wilson’s “Jitney”

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

“Hello, Dolly!”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Kevin Kline for “Present Laughter”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Laurie Metcalf for “A Doll’s House, Part 2”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Ben Platt for “Dear Evan Hansen”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Bette Midler for “Hello, Dolly!”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Michael Aronov for “Oslo”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Cynthia Nixon for Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Gavin Creel for “Hello, Dolly!”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Rachel Bay Jones for “Dear Evan Hansen”

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

Steven Levenson for “Dear Evan Hansen”

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE

“Dear Evan Hansen” Music & Lyrics: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

Nigel Hook for “The Play That Goes Wrong”

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Mimi Lien for “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

Jane Greenwood for Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Santo Loquasto for “Hello, Dolly!”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

Christopher Akerlind for “Indecent”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Bradley King for “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Rebecca Taichman for “Indecent”

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Christopher Ashley for “Come From Away”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Andy Blankenbuehler for “Bandstand”

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Alex Lacamoire for “Dear Evan Hansen”

SPECIAL TONY AWARD® FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE

James Earl Jones

REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD

Dallas Theater Center

ISABELLE STEVENSON TONY AWARD

Baayork Lee

SPECIAL TONY AWARD

Gareth Fry and Pete Malkin

TONY HONORS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE THEATRE

Nina Lannan and Alan Wasser