This is always an exciting time of the year for theater-lovers enthralled with the legend of Broadway. The announcement of the American Theater Wing’s Tony nominations was made this morning. It’s a wonderful mix of well-known stars and stars perhaps only known to inveterate theater-goers.

New plays and new musicals, mixed with revivals of productions from times long gone bye, have received the nod from the American Theater Wing this year. Although the Tonys don’t receive quite the same kind of buzz that the Oscars do you can bet you’ll see may of those nominees as guests on the early morning and late night shows.

It’s also interesting to take note of those nominees that are no longer running on The Great White Way. I love the fact that we can honor good work and pay tribute to the craft without concern for the end result. That’s not to say that financial success should be disregarded. In my opinion financial success should be the inevitable result of the passion that wends its way into the fabric of the production. Sometimes however, the slightest ill wind can push a production helplessly off course with no land in sight. It can be as slight as a rumor passed along the internet or a misspoken word by a critic. A downturn in tourism, a harsh winter, threats of terrorism, all can adversely affect ticket sales. Producing is enormously expensive today and many productions can not stay afloat to weather those ill winds when a negative campaign hits them. So thank you American Theater Wing for acknowledging those performers and productions as well.

Speaking of productions, there is no doubt that the Tony Awards take center stage when it comes to producing the best Awards show. Since most of us can’t be in the live audience when the presentations are made let’s make a pact to share it together “live” on television on Sunday June 13th. In the meantime we can begin to form our own opinions of who will be handed that Tony when the presenter says, “And the Tony goes to…”