From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 261: "The 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, June 25th On CBS

By James V. Ruocco

Who will win?
Who's been nominated?
Who will walk the red carpet?
Who's hosting?

It's official.

"The Talk's" Sheryl Underwood will host the "48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards" Friday, June 25
from 8 to 11 p.m. on the CBS Television Network and Paramount Plus. This will be the fifth time Underwood has hosted the popular daytime event, but the first flying solo. 

"I'm very excited about doing the show by myself," she explained during a live broadcast of "The Talk." "I grew up watching Daytime TV. I love Daytime TV. I'm really excited for all the nominees. And, I can't wait for the big night."

As predicted, ABC's "General Hospital" received the most nominations with 21, followed by NBC's "Days of Our Lives" and CBS's "The Young and the Restless" with 11 nominations each. CBS's "The Bold and the Beautiful" nabbed nine nominations.

"Daytime television provides a source of comfort and continuity made possible by these nominees' dedicated efforts and sense of community," said Adam Sharp,  President & CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "Their commitment to excellence and demonstrated love for their audience never cease to brighten our days. And we are delighted to join with CBS in celebrating their talents."

The June 25 telecast marks the 15th time CBS has broadcast the Daytime Television Emmy Awards, more than any other network.

"As a leader in daytime, we are thrilled to welcome back the Daytime Emmy Awards," said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events for CBS. "Daytime television has been keeping viewers engaged and entertained for many years. So it is with great pride that we look forward to celebrating the best of the genre here on CBS."

The nominees for the "48th Daytime Emmy Awards" in the soap categories are:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

"The Bold and the Beautiful"

"Days of Our Lives"

"General Hospital"

"The Young and the Restless"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR

Maurice Bernard (Sonny Corinthos, "General Hospital")

Steve Burton (Jason Morgan, "General Hospital")

Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester, "The Bold and the Beautiful")

Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis, "Days of Our Lives")

Domenic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri, "General Hospital")

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Darin Brooks (Wyatt Spencer, "The Bold and the Beautiful")

Max Gail (Mike Corbin, "General Hospital")

Bryton James (Devon Hamilton, "The Young and the Restless")

Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault, "General Hospital")

James Patrick Stuart (Valentin Cassadine, "General Hospital")

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS

Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson, "The Young and the Restless")

Genie Francis (Laura Collins, "General Hospital")

Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, "General Hospital")

Finola Hughes (Anna Devane, "General Hospital")

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester, "The Bold and the Beautiful")

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Marla Adams (Dina Mergeron, "The Young and the Restless")

Tamara Braun (Ava Vitali, "Days of Our Lives")

Carolyn Hennesy (Diane Miller, "General Hospital")

Briana Henry (Jordan Ashford, "General Hospital")

Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra, "The Bold and the Beautiful")

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER PERFORMER

Tajh Bellow (TJ Ashford, "General Hospital")

Victoria Konefal (Ciara Brady, "Days of Our Lives")

Alyvia Alyn Lind (Faith Newman, "The Young and the Restless")

Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Tait, "General Hospital")

Sydney Mikayla (Trina Robinson, "General Hospital")

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMER

Kim Delaney (Jackie Templeton, "General Hospital")

George DelHoyo (Orpheus, "Days of Our Lives")

Briana Lane (Brook Lynn Ashton, "General Hospital)

Cady McClain (Jennifer Horton-Devereaux, "Days of Our Lives")

Victoria Platt (Dr. Amanda Raynor, "Days of Our Lives")

OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM

"The Bold and the Beautiful"

"General Hospital"

"The Young and the Restless"

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM

"The Bold and the Beautiful"

"Days of Our Lives"

"General Hospital"

"The Young and the Restless"

From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 260, Connecticut Theatre News: Goodspeed Musicals

By James V. Ruocco

When Goodspeed Musicals officially kicks off its 2021 season this fall, you won't be seeing the oft-postponed revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic 1949 Broadway musical "South Pacific" at the popular East Haddam venue. Not, to worry though.

You'll still get your Rodgers & Hammerstein's "fix" or "kick" when the curtain rises on "A Grand Night For Singing," a musical celebration of the music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II featuring songs from "The Sound of Music," "South Pacific," "Allegro," "The King and I" and other R & H musicals.
First performed on Broadway in 1993 at the now-defunct Criterion Center Stage Right, the two-act musical, directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Pamela Sousa, was nominated for two Tony Awards - Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. It starred Martin Vidnovic, Victoria Clark, Alyson Reed, Jason Graae and Lynne Wintersteller.

(A Long Awaited Welcome)

After 21 months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Donna Lynn Hilton (Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals) is thrilled to be back in business after a very long absence. "We've experienced a rollercoaster of fear, disappointment and gratitude since March of 2020," she recalled. "First and foremost, we are grateful to the first responders, the front-line workers and the medical personnel whose work has brought us to this moment.

"We are thankful to finally share the good news that Goodspeed Musicals will reopen fully on September 24. We cannot wait to welcome audiences to once again enjoy one-of-a-kind theatre in our iconic home."

Per Hilton, the decision to drop "South Pacific" from the 2021 season and replace it with "A Grand Night For Singing" was fully justified for a number of reasons. "We must restart thoughtfully and ramp up slowly to ensure that Goodspeed remains secure for the long-term," she explained. " ' South Pacific' is one of the largest musicals that a theatre can undertake and it had become overwhelmingly clear that is was simply too big of a show for us to produce at this particular moment."

"Goodspeed is thrilled to welcome audiences back to the theater to enjoy 'A Grand Night for Singing' " added David B. Byrd (Managing Director for Goodspeed Musicals). "It's the perfect choice for Goodspeed at this moment. "It's a stylish, thoughtful reimagining of tunes from all of the Rodgers & Hammerstein shows we know by heart.

"Plus it's more modest size will enable us to continue to practice generally-accepted safety protocols developed with our union partners and outside experts."

(In the Director's Chair)

The two-act musical will be staged by audience and critic's favorite Rob Ruggiero (Artistic Director for TheaterWorks/Hartford) whose directorial credits include "Oliver!" "Next to Normal," "Showboat," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Rags," "American Son," "Evita," "Christmas on the Rocks" and "The Most Happy Fella."

It contains 35 songs from the Rodgers & Hammerstein songbook.

Act 1:
"Carousel Waltz" ("Carousel")
"So Far" ("Allegro")
"It's a Grand Night for Singing" ("State Fair")
"The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" ("Oklahoma!")
"Stepsisters' Lament" ("Cinderella")
"We Kiss in a Shadow" ("The King and I")
"Hello, Young Lovers" ("The King and I")
"A Wonderful Guy" ("South Pacific")
"I Cain't Say No" ("Oklahoma!")
"Maria" ("The Sound of Music")

"Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" ("Cinderella")
"Honey Bun" ("South Pacific")
"The Gentleman Is a Dope" ("Allegro")
"Don't Marry Me" ("Flower Drum Song")
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" ("South Pacific")
"If I Loved You" ("Carousel")
"Shall We Dance?" ("The King and I")
"That's the Way It Happens" ("Me and Juliet")
"All At Once You Love Her" ("Pipe Dream")
"Some Enchanted Evening" ("South Pacific")

Act 2:
"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' " ("Oklahoma!")
"Wish Them Well" ("Allegro")
"The Man I Used to Be" ("Pipe Dream")
"It Might as Well Be Spring" ("State Fair")
"When the Children Are Asleep" ("Carousel")
"I Know It Can Happen" ("Allegro")
"My Little Girl" (Carousel")
"It's Me" ("Me and Juliet")

"Love, Look Away" ("Flower Drum Song")
"When You're Driving Through the Moonlight" ("Cinderella")
"A Lovely Night" ("Cinderella")
"Something Wonderful" ("The King and I")
"This Nearly Was Mine" ("South Pacific")
"Impossible" ("Cinderella")
"I Have Dreamed" ("The King and I")

"A Grand Night For Singing" will be staged at Goodspeed Musicals ( 6 Main St., East Haddam, CT) beginning September 24. Ticket prices start at $29 and will go on sale to the general public beginning June 24. For more information, call the Goodspeed box office at (860) 873-8668. The box office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.