Tony Awards
Bring one home, David!
By Robert Faires, Fri., June 5, 2009
The Critics Table just handed out its awards to local theatre artists, but there's one Austin actor who's still in the running for a stage honor, and it's one of the biggest: a Tony. Since November, David Bologna, the 13-year-old song-and-dance wunderkind whose family relocated to Central Texas from New Orleans following Katrina, has been wowing Broadway audiences as Michael, cross-dressing best bud to the titular hero in Billy Elliot, The Musical, and now he's nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. As he's up against adult performers from Hair, 9 to 5: The Musical, Shrek The Musical, and Billy Elliot, he could use all the awards mojo you've got. Cross your fingers, light those candles, and say a little prayer to Thespis on behalf of David, and you might throw a little in the direction of Michael McDonald, the New York-based designer who costumed Zach Theatre's productions of Dirty Blonde, Omnimum Gatherum, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Crowns, and Take Me Out; he's nominated for Best Costume Design of a Musical for the revival of Hair. The Tonys will be broadcast Sunday, June 7, 7pm, on KEYE, Channel 42. KidsActing, where David studied, will host a Tony-watching party at its new facility, Center Stage, 2826 Real. Friends and classmates can walk their own red carpet, see a video message from Bologna to his kidsActing pals, and cheer him on. Tickets are $30 adults, $15 students, with proceeds to benefit Center Stage. For more information, call 836-5437, or visit www.kidsactingstudio.com.
