Tony Award
66th Tony Awards
200px Designed by Herman Rosse, 1949
Awarded for	Excellence in Broadway theatre
Presented by	American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League
Country	United States
First awarded	1947
Official website	www.tonyawards.com

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known informally as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League^[1] at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre. Several discretionary non-competitive awards are also given, including a Special Tony Award, the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, and the Isabelle Stevenson Award.^[2] The awards are named after Antoinette Perry, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing.

The rules for the Tony Awards are set forth in the official document "Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards", which applies for that season only.^[3] The Tony Awards are considered the highest U.S. theatre honor, the New York theatre industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards (Oscars) for motion pictures, the Grammy Awards for music and the Emmy Awards for television, and the Laurence Olivier Award for West End theatre in England.

Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has usually been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television. The 65th Tony Awards ceremony was held on June 12, 2011 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, and broadcast on CBS television. The Tony ceremony will return to the Beacon Theatre in 2012.^[4]

[edit] History

The award was founded in 1947 by a committee of the American Theatre Wing headed by Brock Pemberton.^[5] The award is named after Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who died in 1946.^[6]

The first awards ceremony was held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City.^[7] The first prizes were "a scroll, cigarette lighter and articles of jewelry such as 14-carat gold compacts and bracelets for the women, and money clips for the men."^[5] It was not until the third awards ceremony in 1949 that the first Tony medallion was given to award winners.^[5]

Since 1997, the Tony Awards ceremony has been held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television, except in 1999, when it was held at the Gershwin Theatre^[8] and 2011, when the ceremony was held at the Beacon Theatre.^[9]

Awarded by a panel of approximately 700 judges from various areas of the entertainment industry and press, the Tony Award is generally regarded as the theatre's equivalent to the Oscars, for excellence in film; the Grammys for the music industry, and the Emmys for excellence in television. In British theatre, the equivalent of the Tony Award is the Laurence Olivier Award. A number of the world's longest-running and most successful shows, as well as some actors, directors, choreographers and designers, have received both Tony Awards and Olivier Awards.

Since 1967, the award ceremony has been broadcast on U.S. national television and includes songs from the nominated musicals, and occasionally has included video clips of, or presentations about, nominated plays. The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League jointly present and administer the awards. Audience size for the telecast is generally well below that of the Academy Awards shows, but the program reaches an affluent audience, which is prized by advertisers. According to an article in The New York Times: "What the Tony broadcast does have, say CBS officials, is an all-important demographic: rich and smart. Jack Sussman, CBS's senior vice president in charge of specials, said the Tony show sold almost all its advertising slots shortly after CBS announced it would present the three hours. 'It draws upscale premium viewers who are attractive to upscale premium advertisers,' Mr. Sussman said..."^[10][11] The viewership has declined from the early years of its broadcast history (for example, the number of viewers in 1974 was 20,026,000, in 1999 9,155,000) but has settled into between six and eight million viewers for most of the decade of the 2000s.^[12] In contrast, the 2009 Oscar telecast had 36.3 million viewers.^[13]

The medallion

The Tony Award medallion was designed by Art Director Herman Rosse and is a mix of mostly brass and a little bronze, with a nickel plating on the outside; a black acrylic glass base, and the nickel-plated pewter swivel.^[14] The face of the medallion portrayed an adaptation of the comedy and tragedy masks and, as noted, the reverse side had a relief profile of Antoinette Perry.^[15]

A larger base was introduced in time for the 2010 award ceremony. The new base is slightly taller—5 inches (12.7 cm), up from 3¼ inches (8.3 cm) – and heavier—3½ pounds (1.6 kg), up from 1½ pounds (682 grams). This change was implemented to make the award "feel more substantial" and easier to handle at the moment the award is presented to the winners. According to Howard Sherman, the executive director of the American Theater Wing:

"We know the physical scale of the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys. While we’re not attempting to keep up with the Joneses, we felt this is a significant award, and it could feel and look a bit more significant.

"By adding height, now someone can grip the Tony, raise it over their head in triumph and not worry about keeping their grip. Believe me, you can tell the difference."^[16]

[edit] Details of the Tony Awards

Source: Tony Awards Official Site, Rules^[17]

[edit] Rules for a "new" play or musical

For the purposes of the award, a "new" play or musical is one that has not previously been produced on Broadway and is not "determined to be 'classic' or in the historical or popular repertoire", as determined by the Administration Committee, (per Section (2g)of the Rules and Regulations). This phrase has been the subject of some controversy, as some shows have been ruled ineligible for the "new" categories, meaning that their authors did not have a chance to win the marquee awards of Best Play or Best Musical (or Best Score or Best Book for musicals). On the other hand, some people^[who?] feel that allowing plays and musicals that have been frequently produced to be eligible as new gives them an unfair advantage, because they will have benefited from additional development time as well as additional familiarity with the Tony voters. Shows recently transferred from Off-Broadway or the West End are eligible as new, as are productions based closely on movies.

[edit] Committees and voters

The Administration Committee has 24 members: 10 designated by the American Wing, 10 by The Broadway League, and one each by the Dramatists Guild, Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. This committee, among other duties, determines eligibility for nominations in all awards categories.^[18]

The Nominating Committee makes the nominations for the various categories. This rotating group of up to 30 theatre professionals is selected by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Nominators serve three-year terms and are asked to see every new Broadway production.^[19]

There are approximately 700 eligible Tony Award voters, a number that changes slightly from year to year and was decreased in 2009 when the first-night critics were excluded as voters.^[20] These include the board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee of the American Theatre Wing; members of the governing boards of Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, United Scenic Artists, and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers; members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America; and voting members of The Broadway League.

[edit] Eligibility date ("Season")

To be eligible for Tony Award consideration, a production must have officially opened by the "eligibility date" that the Management Committee establishes each year. For example, the cut-off date for eligibility the 2008–09 season was April 30, 2009. The "Season" for Tony Award eligibility is defined in the Rules and Regulations.

[edit] "Broadway" theatre

A Broadway theatre is defined as having 500 or more seats, among other requirements. While the Rules define a "Broadway" theatre in terms of its size, not its geographical location, the list of "Broadway" theatres is determined solely by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. As of the 2010–2011 season, the list consists solely of the 40 theaters located in the vicinity of Times Square in New York City and Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre.^[21][22]

[edit] Award categories

As of 2011^[update] there are 26 categories of awards, plus several special awards. Starting with 11 awards in 1947, the names and number of categories have changed over the years; a complete history of each award category was published in 2005.^[23]

A newly established non-competitive award, The Isabelle Stevenson Award, was given for the first time at the awards ceremony in 2009. The award is for an individual who has made a "substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations."^[24]

The category of Special Theatrical Event was "retired" as of the 2009–2010 season.^[25]

Retired awards

• Tony Award for Best Author
• Best Conductor and Musical Director
• Tony Award for Best Revival (replaced by separate musical and play awards)
• Tony Award for Best Stage Technician
• Best Special Theatrical Event
• Best Director (split into two categories: Best Direction of A Musical & Best Direction of A Play)

[edit] Criticism

While the theatre-going public may consider the Tony Awards to be the Oscars of live theatre, critics have suggested that the Tony Awards are primarily a promotional vehicle for a small number of large production companies and theatre owners in New York City.^[26] Only shows playing in one of 40 large "Broadway" theatres designated by the Tony Awards Management Committee are eligible for the Tony Awards. Only a portion of the Broadway theatres feature a "new" production in any given season, and there are 27 award categories, so most new shows receive one or more nominations.

Producers say that the Tony Award is the only award that sells tickets. "Winning best musical or best play, they say, means money in the bank."^[27]

[edit] Award milestones

Some notable records and facts about the Tony Awards include the following:^[28]

Productions

• 12 wins: The most Tony Awards ever received by a single production was the musical The Producers (2001 awards) with 12 awards, including best musical.
• 7 non-music wins: The most Tonys ever received by a non-musical was The Coast of Utopia (2007 awards) with 7 awards, including best play.
• 12 gaps: The production with the worst gap between nominations and Tonys received was the musical The Scottsboro Boys (2011 awards), which was nominated for 12 Tonys but did not win any. It also holds the record for most nominations for a closed show (having closed nearly 6 months before the Tony Awards).
• Big 6: Three productions, all musicals, have won all "big six" awards for their category: South Pacific (1950 awards), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 awards) and Hairspray (2003 awards) each swept the Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Performance by a Leading Actor, Best Performance by a Leading Actress and Best Direction awards.
• 4 Actors: Only one production, the musical South Pacific (1950 awards), has won all four of the acting awards in a single year.
• 1 Words and Music: Only four musicals have won the Tony Award for Best Musical when a person had (co-)written the Book (non-sung dialogue and storyline) and the Score (music and lyrics): 1958 winner The Music Man (Meredith Willson – award for Book and Score did not exist that year), 1986 winner The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rupert Holmes – who also won for Book and Score), 1996 winner Rent (Jonathan Larson – who also won for Book and Score), and 2011 winner The Book of Mormon (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone also won for Book and Score).
• 3 & 4 Designers: Seven shows have swept the design awards (original 3 of Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design – joined by Best Sound Design starting in 2008): Follies (1972), The Phantom of the Opera (1986), The Lion King (1998), The Producers (2001), The Light in the Piazza (2005), The Coast of Utopia (2007) and the 2008 revival of South Pacific (first to sweep the expanded 4 awards for Creative Arts).
• Threepeat Production: The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller made history in 1999 by becoming the first show in history to win as Best Production in 3 different years, Best play at the 1949 awards, Best Revival at the 1984 awards (before the Best Revival award was split into two categories for Play and Musical in 1994), and Best Revival of a Play at the 1999 awards. The musical La Cage aux Folles made history as the first musical to win as Best Production in 3 different years, Best Musical at the 1984 awards and Best Revival of a Musical at both the 2005 awards and the 2010 awards.

Individuals

• 21 wins: Harold Prince has won 21 Tony Awards, more than anyone else, including eight for directing, eight for producing, two as producer of a year's Best Musical, and three special Tony Awards.
• 8 wins: Stephen Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer, with eight. Bob Fosse has won the most Tonys for choreography, also eight. Oliver Smith has won a record eight scenic design Tony Awards. Jules Fisher has won the most lighting design awards, also eight
• 5 wins: Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury tie for the most performance Tony Awards with five each.
• 10 nominations: Along with her record of 5 performance wins, Julie Harris also has been nominated more often than any other performer, a total of ten times.
• 2 for 1 Performers: Four performers (all actresses) have been nominated in two acting categories in the same year: Amanda Plummer, Dana Ivey, Kate Burton, and Jan Maxwell. Plummer in 1982 was nominated for Best Actress in a Play for A Taste of Honey and Best Featured Actress in a Play for Agnes of God, for which she won. Ivey in 1984 was nominated as Best Featured Actress in Musical for Sunday in the Park with George and Best Featured Actress in a Play for Heartbreak House. In 2002, Burton was nominated for Best Actress in Play for Hedda Gabler and Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Elephant Man. Maxwell was nominated in 2010 for Best Actress in a Play for The Royal Family and Best Featured Actress in a Play for Lend Me a Tenor.
• 4 for 4 Performers: Three performers have been nominated for all four performance awards for which a performer is eligible. Boyd Gaines was the first performer to be nominated for each of Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1989 for The Heidi Chronicles, Best Actor in a Musical in 1994 for She Loves Me, Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2000 for Contact (and again in 2008 for Gypsy) and Best Actor in a Play in 2007 for Journey's End. Gaines won in three of the categories (and four of the five nominations), missing only for the performance in Journey's End. Raúl Esparza was the second performer to be nominated in all four categories (no wins), achieving this over a mere six seasons: Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2004 for Taboo, Best Actor in a Musical in 2007 for Company, Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2008 for The Homecoming, and Best Actor in a Play in 2009 for Speed-the-Plow. Angela Lansbury was the third performer to be nominated for all four performance awards. She won Best Actress in a Musical for Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Gypsy (1975), and Sweeney Todd (1979). She was nominated for Best Actress in a Play for Deuce in 2007. She won Best Featured Actress in a Play for Blithe Spirit in 2009. She was nominated for Featured Actress in a Musical for A Little Night Music in 2010.
• Opposite Sex: While several performers have won Tonys for roles that have involved cross dressing, only two have won for playing a character of the opposite sex: Mary Martin in the title role of Peter Pan (1955) and Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray (2003). In 2000, Australian actor Barry Humphries won the Special Tony Award for a live theatrical event at the 55th Annual Tony Awards for Dame Edna: The Royal Tour, Dame Edna being his "Melbourne Housewife" alter-ego who was recently on Broadway in the show All About Me.
• Threepeat Performance: All three of the young actors who shared the duties of performing the lead character in Billy Elliot the Musical (2009 awards) — David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish — also shared a single nomination, then shared the win, for best performance by a leading actor in a musical.

Famous Firsts

• First Female to win Best Direction of a Musical: Julie Taymor for The Lion King in 1998.
• First Female to win Best Direction of a Play: Garry Hynes for The Beauty Queen of Leenane in 1998.
• First African-American to win Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Phylicia Rashad for A Raisin in the Sun in 2004.
• First African-American to win Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play – James Earl Jones for The Great White Hope in 1969.

[edit] See also

• Drama Desk Awards
• Laurence Olivier Awards
• Obie Awards
• New York Drama Critics' Circle
• Theatre World Award
• Broadway theatre
• The Society of London Theatre
• List of persons who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards
• List of African-American Tony nominees and winners

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Tony Award Official website
• American Theatre Wing Official website
• The Broadway League Official website

This disambiguation page is currently linked from a large number of articles. Please help direct these ambiguous links to articles dealing with the specific meaning intended. (February 2012)

Jeremy Jordan may refer to:

• Jeremy Jordan (Broadway/film performer)
• Jeremy Jordan (singer)
• Jeremy Jordan (pornographic actor)

This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin in the Casa Rosada, September 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Enrique Martín Morales
Born	(1971-12-24) December 24, 1971 (age 40) San Juan, Puerto Rico
Genres	Pop, Latin pop, dance-pop, world, reggae, urban pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, actor
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Columbia, Sony Music Latin, Sony Music Mexico
Associated acts	Menudo
Website	rickymartinmusic.com

Enrique Martín "Ricky" Morales (born December 24, 1971), better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish^[1] pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991. Throughout his career, he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.^[2] He is the founder of the Ricky Martin Foundation (in Spanish Fundación Ricky Martin), a non-profit charity organization aimed at human trafficking.

Martin got his start at age twelve with the all-boy pop group Menudo; after five years with the group, he released his Spanish-language solo album, Ricky Martin, in 1991. He also acted on stage and on TV in Mexico, becoming a modest star in the country. In 1994 he starred on the American TV soap opera General Hospital, playing a Puerto Rican singer. In 1999, after several albums in Spanish, he released his first English-language album (also titled Ricky Martin), which included "Livin' la Vida Loca". The album sold 22 million copies and brought Martin international fame.^[3] His other studio albums include: Me Amarás (1993), A Medio Vivir (1995), Vuelve (1998), Sound Loaded (2000), Almas del Silencio (2003), Life (2005), and Música + Alma + Sexo (2011).

On the edge of the new millennium, Martin—almost by himself—gave Latino music an international face. An acclaimed performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards launched Martin into worldwide super-stardom. As Entertainment Weekly's Andrew Essex reported, "his leather-pants, electro-pelvis version of 'La Copa de la Vida' single-handedly goosed a very dull [Grammy] telecast, earning him a standing ovation." In 2010, Martin announced that he was a "fortunate homosexual man", ending years of fan speculation on the topic. His twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, were born via a surrogate mother in 2008. Martin also co-owns a Miami restaurant, Casa Salsa, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

[edit] Early life

Martin was born on December 23, 1974, in San Juan, Puerto Rico,^[4] the son of Nereida Morales, an accountant, and Enrique Martín Negroni, a psychologist. His parents divorced when he was two; his father remarried. Martin has two maternal half-brothers, Fernando and Ángel Fernández, and two paternal half-brothers, Eric and Daniel Martín, and a paternal half-sister Vanessa Martín.^[5] Martin grew up in a Roman Catholic home and was an altar boy until he joined Menudo.^[6] Martin has Spanish ancestry through his grandmother who was born in Spain^[7] and some Corsican ancestry as his paternal fourth great-grandfathers were born in Rogliano, Cap Corse, Corsica, and Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalonia (Spain).^[8][9]

Ricky Martin was a member of Puerto Rican boy band Menudo between 1984 and 1989. After completing high school, Martin left San Juan and moved to New York City. Later, Martin moved to Mexico City where he attended the national school of space. He played lead role in a 1989 musical-theatre release named Mis Tennis Rojos (My Red Tennis Shoes) next to Angélica Vale and then followed another theater production Mama Ama el Rock (Mom Loves Rock).

[edit] Career

[edit] Early solo work: 1991–1994

In 1991, Ricky Martin participated in a telenovela titled Alcanzar una estrella II next to Sasha Sokol. Out of this soap opera a musical group was formed named Muñecos de Papel in which he was one of the six members; they toured several cities in Mexico and recorded two albums. His main single was "Juego de Ajedrez". A film based on the TV series was also produced in which Martin played Pablo, earning a Heraldo Award in 1993.

While acting in Mexico, Martin was signed to Sony Discos, the Sony Music Entertainment's Latin imprint, in 1990. He released his first solo album, the Spanish-language Ricky Martin, in November 1991, which included the hit singles: "Fuego Contra Fuego" and "El Amor de Mi Vida". Later, Ricky Martin performed a string of sold-out concert dates across South America.

In May 1993, Martin released his second solo album, Me Amarás, which featured a Spanish-language cover of the Laura Branigan song "Self Control", titled "Que Dia Es Hoy".

Martin moved to Los Angeles, California in 1994 and landed a role as bartender and singer Miguel Morez in the American soap opera General Hospital.

[edit] Breakthrough: 1995–1998

In 1995, Martin refocused on his music career, and his third album, A Medio Vivir, became an international breakthrough. With this album, Martin made a shift from formulaic hit ballads to a more risky fusion of music centered around traditional Latin sounds, epitomized by the hit "Maria". The song broke Martin into Europe via Spain.^[10] "Maria" went to number one in France, Belgium Wallonia and Australia, and reached the top ten in most European countries; it even charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number eighty-eight.^[11] With the ballad "Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo", Martin furthered his expansion from Latin American and Spanish-speaking audiences to the European and Asian markets.^[12] The album has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

After the conclusion of a worldwide tour, Martin returned to New York to appear in a Broadway theatre production for the first time, joining the cast of the hit musical Les Misérables to play the romantic lead, Marius Pontmercy.

While on Broadway, Martin returned to the studio and recorded his fourth album, Vuelve (1998). The title track and the ballad "Perdido Sin Tí" both hit number one on the Hot Latin Songs. The album's pinnacle, however, was "La Copa de la Vida", which Martin made a major hit in an English version when he was chosen to sing the anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. "La Copa de la Vida" reached number one on the charts around the world and went gold and platinum in various countries. It was awarded Pop Song of the Year at the 1999 Lo Nuestro Awards.^[13] Further singles included: "La Bomba", "Por Arriba, Por Abajo" and "Corazonado". Vuelve spent twenty-six weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. It became Martin's first top forty album on the Billboard 200 in the United States, where it was certified platinum by the RIAA. The album also went to number one in Spain and Norway, and sold over eight million copies worldwide.^[14]

Martin was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for Vuelve, and was booked to sing on the 41st Grammy Awards live TV broadcast. The now-legendary performance of "The Cup of Life" stopped the show, earning Martin an unexpected standing ovation and introducing the star to the mainstream American audience.^[15][16] Martin capped off the evening by winning the Grammy Award.

[edit] Crossover to English: 1999–2002

After several years as a major star in Spanish-speaking countries, Martin prepared his first English album in 1999. The self-titled album contained material by writers and producers such as Desmond Child, Diane Warren, William Orbit, George Noriega and his longtime childhood friend Draco Rosa. The album also featured special guests: Madonna on the Spanish-English duet "Be Careful (Cuidado con mi Corazón)" and Meja on "Private Emotion".

The first and most prominent single was "Livin' la Vida Loca", which reached number one in many countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. It was followed by "She's All I Ever Had" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Both tracks peaked at number one on the Hot Latin Songs. "Livin' la Vida Loca" is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition of other Latin artists (first Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias, then later Shakira) into the English-speaking market easier. Ricky Martin became one of the top-selling albums of 1999, and was certified 7× platinum in the United States, selling over 22 million copies worldwide. In October 1999, Martin embarked on a very successful year-long Livin' la Vida Loca Tour.

After this success, a new English-language album, Sound Loaded, was released in November 2000. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified 2× platinum by the RIAA. "She Bangs" and "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" (duet with Christina Aguilera) peaked at number twelve and thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Both singles reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs. Sound Loaded has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

In February 2001, Martin released a Spanish greatest hits album entitled La Historia, which went to number one for five weeks on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and debuted at number eighty-three on the Billboard 200. It also topped the chart in Sweden for three weeks. The album contained reworkings of two of his early songs "Fuego Contra Fuego" and "El Amor de Mi Vida". In November 2001, an English-language greatest hits album, The Best of Ricky Martin was released outside North America. It contained two new remixes of "Amor".

[edit] Almas del Silencio and Life: 2003–2006

Ricky Martin in 2005.

In May 2003, Martin released a new Spanish album Almas del Silencio. The first single, "Tal Vez", debuted at number one on the Hot Latin Songs and stayed there for eleven weeks. Martin said of the new album: "I really needed to go back to focus, to my center, to the beginning. I had the need to search within, and really dig deep, and find those emotions that, because of the adrenaline and the euphoria that I lived for a couple of years, were probably sabotaged."^[17] Almas del Silencio debuted at number twelve on the Billboard 200 and reached number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums where it stayed for six weeks. The album sold more than one million copies worldwide.^[18] The next singles, "Jaleo" and "Y Todo Queda en Nada", reached number one on the Hot Latin Songs. "Jaleo" also topped the chart in Spain for four weeks.

In October 2005, Martin released his first English-language album since 2000's Sound Loaded and the tenth album of his career. Most of the songs on the album, called Life, were co-written by Martin. He commented on the album: "I was really in touch with my emotions. I think this album is very multi-layered, just like life is. It's about feeling anger. It's about feeling joy. It's about feeling uncertainty. It's about feeling. And all my emotions are part of this production."^[19] The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200. The first single from the album, "I Don't Care", featured guest appearances by Fat Joe and Amerie. It peaked at number three on the Hot Dance Club Songs and number sixty-five on the Billboard Hot 100. Another song from the album, "It's Alright" was re-recorded as a duet with French singer M. Pokora. It was successful in French-speaking countries, reaching number four in France.

Soon after, Martin announced his One Night Only with Ricky Martin tour. Starting in Mexico City, the tour premiered on November 15, 2005. After finishing the first leg which included Latin America and the United States, Martin performed at the 2006 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Turin. A few days later, he announced the second leg of his world tour, which included Europe and Africa. The second leg started on April 21, 2006 in Manchester, UK, and ended on June 3, 2006 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

[edit] MTV Unplugged and a world tour: 2006–2007

On August 17, 2006, Ricky Martin taped his MTV Unplugged concert in Miami. It premiered on MTV Latin America, MTV Tr3s and MTV Puerto Rico in October 2006 and was released on CD and DVD in November 2006. The album was a critical and commercial success. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and number thirty-eight on the Billboard 200. At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2008, MTV Unplugged received Latin Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Album and for Best Long Form Music Video. The first single, "Tu Recuerdo" which featured La Mari of Chambao, reached number one for three weeks on the Hot Latin Songs. The next single, "Pégate" peaked at number six on the Hot Dance Club Songs.

On February 19, 2007, Martin began his worldwide Black and White Tour^[20] which started with a performance at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in Puerto Rico and concluded with a presentation at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 14, 2007.^[20] He also recorded a duet with Eros Ramazzotti, "Non siamo soli" which topped the Italian chart for eleven consecutive weeks.

[edit] Career break: 2007–2010

After finishing his worldwide tour, Martin took a break from the music industry and focused on his private life. In November 2007, Sony BMG Norte released Ricky Martin Live: Black and White Tour on CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc. One year later, a Spanish-language greatest hits album was released, entitled 17. It was a summary of seventeen years of Martin's musical career, which included mostly Spanish-language songs.

[edit] Autobiography and a new album: 2010–present

Martin performing in Chicago on April 19, 2011.

Ricky Martin's autobiography, Me, was published on November 2, 2010. The book became The New York Times Best Seller list,^[21] debuting at number five on the Hardcover Nonfiction list. A Spanish-language edition entitled Yo was published simultaneously.

Martin's single, "The Best Thing About Me Is You" featuring Joss Stone also premiered on November 2, 2010 and peaked at number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100. The Spanish version, "Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" topped the Hot Latin Songs for two weeks. It was followed by a new studio album, Música + Alma + Sexo released on January 31, 2011.^[22] It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and became the highest charting, primarily-Spanish language album in the United States, since Dreaming of You by Selena.^[23] Música + Alma + Sexo also represents the highest ever chart debut on the Billboard 200 for a Sony Music Latin release.^[24] It spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums. On March 25, 2011, Martin started his Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour, which ended on November 12, 2011. The second single from the album, "Más" was released on April 5, 2011 and peaked at number seven on the Hot Dance Club Songs. "Frío" featuring Wisin & Yandel was chosen as the third single.

17: Greatest Hits was released on July 11, 2011 exclusively in the United Kingdom. Ricky Martin will be playing Ché in the Broadway revival of the show Evita, scheduled to begin previews on Broadway in March 2012, ahead of an opening in April 2012.^[25] Some reviews were quite positive.^[26]

Ricky Martin guest-starred as a Spanish teacher on the FOX TV show Glee episode "The Spanish Teacher" on February 7, 2012.^[27] Martin premiered his "Ricky's Lip Conditionioner" lip balm in April 2012 as part of the M.A.C Cosmetics "Ricky and Nicki for Viva Glam" campaign. The advertisements for the range paired him with singer Nicki Minaj. Martin's signature is featured on the lip balm packaging.^[28]

[edit] Personal life

Ricky Martin at a Puerto Rican Day annual parade in New York City

In the past Martin stated he was in love with Mexican TV host Rebecca de Alba, with whom he had an on-again off-again relationship for over 14 years. They even talked of starting a family together,^[29][30][31] and at one point Martin planned on proposing.^[32] However with the release of Life in 2005, Martin confirmed he and De Alba had parted ways.^[33][34]

In August 2008, Martin became the father of twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. The babies were birthed by a surrogate mother.^[35]

After the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca", Martin's personal life became a subject of interest due to his large gay following, and he was questioned about his sexual orientation. In a December 2000 interview with The Mirror, Martin was asked to comment on the rumors surrounding his sexuality. He replied that "I don't think I should have to tell anyone if I am gay or not, or who I've slept with or not."^[36][37] On March 29, 2010, Martin publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official website stating, "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."^[38][39] Martin said that "these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed."^[40] In 2010, prior to Martin coming out, Barbara Walters expressed some regret for pushing Martin in a 2000 interview to admit if he was gay. The Toronto Star quoted her as saying, "When I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question."^[41][42]

Martin announced on The Oprah Winfrey Show that he was in a relationship.^[43] In 2011, during his acceptance speech of the Vito Russo Award at the 22nd GLAAD Media Awards, Martin publicly thanked his boyfriend, Carlos González Abella, an economist.^[44][45] Martin has also expressed support for same-sex marriage in an interview on Larry King Live, and commented on his experience of being closeted and coming out. "Everything about saying that I am gay feels right...", Martin stated, adding "if I’d known how good it was going to feel, I would have done it ten years ago."^[46]

Martin was raised Catholic, but says he is open to all sorts of religious beliefs, especially the Buddhist philosophy, although he does not identify as a Buddhist.^[47]

On November 4, 2011, he acquired Spanish nationality in recognition of his artistic talents and for having roots in the country-Martin's grandmother is Spanish, and he owns a residence in Madrid. As a Spanish citizen he can now marry his boyfriend in Spain. Although he could also marry in some states of the United States, Martin wishes to marry in Spain to recognize the efforts of Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in defense of LGBT rights.^{[48] [49]} On September 9, 2011 he sold his home in Miami for $6.3 million that he had bought in 2007 for $16.5 million.^[50] He announced plans to wed his partner in a New York ceremony, which happened on January 28, 2012.^[51][52]

[edit] Humanitarian work

Martin is the founder of Fundación Ricky Martin (English: Ricky Martin Foundation), a non-profit organization. Among the events promoted by the foundation was a summer camp, which included Martin's personal participation.^[53]

Martin has been honored with many accolades for his humanitarian efforts including: Leadership in the Arts Award, Billboard's Spirit of Hope Award, ALMA Award, Vanguard Award, International Humanitarian Award by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, Hispanic Heritage Award for his humanitarian work through the Sabera Foundation in rescuing three orphan girls from the streets of Kolkata (September 2002).

Martin has also collaborated with the International Organization for Migration on the Llama y Vive (Call and Live), a campaign which is aimed to facilitate prevention of human trafficking, protection of the youngest victims of child trafficking, and prosecution of the traffickers. For his work against human trafficking, the United States Department of State named Martin one of its Heroes in Ending Modern-Day Slavery in 2005.

[edit] Politics

Ricky Martin in Congress, with Luis Fortuño (far left), Tom Lantos (left) and Chris Smith (right).

Martin was a headliner in the 2001 inauguration ball for President George W. Bush; he even invited the newly elected president to join him on stage to dance. This image was captured by photographers and broadcast in various media throughout the world. Martin referred to it in a later song, "Asignatura Pendiente".

Martin has since changed his position on the former President. In a concert in Puerto Rico during the song Asignatura Pendiente Martin thrust his middle finger disapprovingly in the air while singing the line "photo with Bush". The gesture met with audience approval but caused a minor controversy with the media. Martin said in an e-mail statement sent to the Associated Press via a spokesman: "My convictions of peace and life go beyond any government and political agenda and as long as I have a voice onstage and offstage, I will always condemn war and those who promulgate it".^[54]

[edit] Discography

• Ricky Martin (1991)
• Me Amarás (1993)
• A Medio Vivir (1995)
• Vuelve (1998)
• Ricky Martin (1999)
• Sound Loaded (2000)
• Almas del Silencio (2003)
• Life (2005)
• Música + Alma + Sexo (2011)

[edit] Filmography

• 1987 : Por siempre amigos (TV series) as Ricky
• 1990 : Alcanzar una estrella (TV series) as Pablo Loredo
• 1991 : Alcanzar una estrella II (TV series) as Pablo Loredo
• 1992 : Más que alcanzar una estrella as Enrique
• 1993 : Getting By (TV series) as Martin
• 1994 : General Hospital (TV series) as Miguel Morez (1994–95)
• 1996 : Barefoot in Paradise (TV series) as Sandoval
• 1997 : Hercules (Spanish Language, Voice Only) as Hercules
• 2002 : Les Diables as Brian Rodriguez
• 2012 : Glee (TV series) as David Martinez

[edit] Theatre

• Les Misérables (1996), Broadway – Marius
• Evita, (2012), Broadway – Ché

[edit] Tours

• Ricky Martin Tour (1992)
• Me Amaras Tour (1993–1994)
• A Medio Vivir Tour (1995–1997)
• Vuelve World Tour (1998)
• Livin' la Vida Loca Tour (1999–2000)
• One Night Only with Ricky Martin (2005–2006)
• Black and White Tour (2007)
• Música + Alma + Sexo World Tour^[55] (2011)

[edit] Records and achievements

• Martin was chosen along with Félix Trinidad in 1999, to lead Puerto Rico's worldwide tourism campaign, both exemplifying Puerto Rico's youthfulness, enthusiasm and indefatigable character.
• In February 2004, Martin received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lo Nuestro Awards in Miami.
• Martin was honored as the 2006 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year by the Latin Recording Academy on November 1, 2006. He was chosen for his accomplishments as a world renowned entertainer, consummate performer and passionate humanitarian. A portion of the proceeds from the evening's tribute dinner was used for benefitting Ricky Martin's charitable efforts.
• On October 16, 2007, Martin received the 2351st Hollywood Walk of Fame star,^[56] shortly after receiving the key to the city of Miami Beach, Florida on October 11. The star is located beside the Hollywood and Highland complex. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Rita Moreno were invited to the unveiling ceremony.^[20]
• In 2008, Puerto Rico declared August 31st to be International Ricky Martin Day.
• In 2011, Martin was awarded Spanish citizenship to honor his contributions to the arts.^[1]

• In addition to the numerous awards received throughout his musical career, Martin has also been honored with many accolades for his humanitarian efforts.

[edit] See also

	Puerto Rico portal
	Biography portal
	Latin American music portal

• List of best-selling music artists
• List of Puerto Ricans
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• White Latin American

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ricky Martin

• Official website
• Ricky Martin at the Internet Movie Database
• Ricky Martin on Twitter

Danny Burstein
Burstein (left) and Rebecca Luker at a 2008 gala
Born	(1964-06-16) June 16, 1964 (age 47) New York

Danny Burstein (born June 16, 1964) is a versatile American actor who is known for his work in theater, film and television. He won the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and was nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk Award and 2008 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his work in South Pacific. He was also nominated for a 2006 Ovation Award and a 2006 Tony Award for his performance in The Drowsy Chaperone.

[edit] Biography

Burstein was born in Mt. Kisco, New York. He attended the High School of the Performing Arts and Queens College in New York City. He received an MFA in Acting from the University of California, San Diego in 1990. Burstein is married to actress Rebecca Luker and has two sons, Alexander (a cinematographer) and Zachary (a musician).

Burstein's first acting job was in the chorus of The Music Man at the The Muny in St. Louis during college.^[1]

On Broadway, Burstein's twelve appearances have included A Little Hotel on the Side (1992), Yakov in The Seagull (1992–93), in Saint Joan and Three Men on a Horse (both in 1993), Paul in Company (1995), 1st Officer William Murdoch in Titanic (1997–99), Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006–07), Luther Billis in South Pacific (2008–10), and Taxi Driver in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010–11).

He played the role of Buddy Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies, which ran from May 7, 2011 through June 19, 2011 at the Eisenhower Theater, co-starring opposite Bernadette Peters.^[2] He reprised that role in the Broadway engagement of Follies at the Marquis Theatre from August 7, 2011 (in previews) through January 22, 2012. He will play this role when the production transfers to the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California from May 3, 2012 through June 9, 2012.^[3] For this role, he received Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Tony Award nominations for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

Burstein's Off-Broadway credits include the world premieres of A. R. Gurney's Mrs. Farnsworth, opposite Sigourney Weaver and John Lithgow, at the Flea Theatre (Gordon) and Psych at Playwrights Horizons. He also starred in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Westside; as Ru in Merrily We Roll Along at the York; All in the Timing at the Houseman; as Daniel in Alan Menken and David Spencer's Weird Romance at the WPA; as Solomon in The Rothschilds and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, both at Circle in the Square; The United Way at Ensemble Studio Theater; A Class Act at Manhattan Theater Club; the Ira Gershwin centennial and as Steward in Sail Away, both at Carnegie Hall; DuBarry Was a Lady, as Romeo Skragg in Li'l Abner and as Tailor-Merchant in The Boys from Syracuse, all with the Encores! Series at New York City Center.^[4][5]

Burstein can be heard on the cast recording of many of these musicals. Among his many recordings is the musical, "Sweet Little Devil" in which he introduced three George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva songs. The score originally went unrecorded in 1924 and was finally recorded by PS Classics, with Burstein playing the role of Sam in 2012.^[6]

Burstein appeared in the films, "Nor'easter", "Construction", "Duane Incarnate", "Transamerica" and "Deception", and his many television credits include the BBC's "Absolutely Fabulous", the FX series "Louie" and for HBO, he has the recurring role of Lolly Steinman in "Boardwalk Empire". Burstein has lent his voice to a number of video games, including "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and "Grand Theft Auto: IV".

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Panarello, Joseph F. "Behind the Stage Door with Danny Burstein", July 6, 2006 (Broadway World.com)
• Danny Burstein at the IBDB database
• Danny Burstein at the Internet Movie Database
• Burstein's official website

Matthew Broderick
Broderick at the 2009 premiere of Wonderful World
Born	(1962-03-21) March 21, 1962 (age 50) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, Director
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Sarah Jessica Parker (1997–present)
Children	James Broderick Marion Broderick Tabitha Broderick

Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, voiced the adult Simba in Disney's The Lion King, and portrayed Leo Bloom in the Hollywood and Broadway productions of The Producers.

He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his featured role in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs and one in 1995 for his leading role in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He was also nominated for the Tony Award, Best Actor in a Musical, for The Producers but lost to his co-star Nathan Lane. To date, Broderick is the youngest winner of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

[edit] Early life

Broderick was born in New York City, the son of Patricia (née Biow), a playwright, actress, and painter, and James Joseph Broderick, an actor.^[1][2] His mother was Jewish, a descendant of immigrants from Germany and Poland;^[3] his father was a Catholic of Irish and English descent.^[4][5][6][7] Broderick attended grade school at the City & Country School (a progressive K–8 school in Manhattan) and high school at Walden School (a defunct private school in Manhattan with a strong drama program). After the death of his mother, her paintings were exhibited at the Tibor de Nagy Gallery in New York.

[edit] Career

Broderick in Sweden during his promotion of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, December 1986.

Broderick's first major acting role came in an HB Studio workshop production of playwright Horton Foote's On Valentine's Day, playing opposite his father, who was a friend of Foote's. This was followed by a supporting role as Harvey Fierstein's adopted son in the Off-Broadway production of Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy; then, a good review by New York Times theater critic Mel Gussow brought him to the attention of Broadway. Broderick commented on the effects of that review in a 2004 60 Minutes II interview:

Before I knew it, I was like this guy in a hot play. And suddenly, all these doors opened. And it’s only because Mel Gussow happened to come by right before it closed and happened to like it. It’s just amazing. All these things have to line up that are out of your control.

He followed that with the role of Eugene Morris Jerome in the Neil Simon Eugene Trilogy including the plays, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues. His first film role was also written by Neil Simon. Broderick debuted in Max Dugan Returns (1983). His first big hit film was WarGames, a summer hit in 1983 he played the main role of David Lightman, a Seattle teen hacker. This was followed by the role of Philippe Gaston in Ladyhawke, in 1985.

Broderick then got the role as the charming, clever slacker in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. At age 23, Broderick played a high-school student who, with his girlfriend and best friend, plays hooky and explores Chicago. The film remains a 1980s comedy favorite today and is one of Broderick's best-known roles (particularly with teenage audiences). Also in 1987, he played an air force troop pilot Jimmy Garrett in Project X. In 1988 Broderick played Harvey Fierstein's gay lover, Alan, in the screen adaptation of Torch Song Trilogy. In the 1989 film Glory, he received good reviews for his portrayal of the American Civil War officer Robert Gould Shaw.

In the 1990s, Broderick voiced the adult lion, Simba, in the successful animated film The Lion King, and also voiced Tack the Cobbler in Miramax's controversial version of The Thief and the Cobbler, which had originally been intended as a silent role. He won recognition for two dark-comedy roles. The first was that of a bachelor in The Cable Guy with Jim Carrey. The second was that of a high-school teacher in Alexander Payne's Election with Reese Witherspoon.

Broderick returned to Broadway as a musical star in the 1990s, most notably with his Tony Award–winning performance in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and his Tony Award–nominated performance in the Mel Brooks' stage version of The Producers in 2001. He continued to make feature films, including the 2005 adaptation of The Producers. Broderick played the role of Leopold “Leo” Bloom, an accountant who co-produces a musical designed to fail, but which turns out to be successful.

Broderick with Sanaa Lathan at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Wonderful World.

Broderick reunited with his co-star from The Lion King and The Producers, Nathan Lane, in The Odd Couple, which opened on Broadway in October 2005. He appeared on Broadway as a college professor in The Philanthropist, running April 10 through June 28, 2009.^[8]

In October 2010, Broderick was featured in the US version of the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are?.

He will return to the Broadway stage in Spring 2012 to star in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.^[9]

[edit] Awards

He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his featured role in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs and one in 1995 for his leading role in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He was also nominated for the Tony Award, Best Actor in a Musical, for The Producers but lost to Lane. To date, Matthew Broderick is the youngest winner of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

[edit] Personal life

[edit] Relationships and family

Broderick and his wife Sarah Jessica Parker in 2009.

Broderick met actress Jennifer Grey on the set of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and in 1986 was briefly engaged to her.

Broderick met actress Sarah Jessica Parker through her brother and the couple married on May 19, 1997 in a civil ceremony in a historic deconsecrated synagogue on the Lower East Side. Although Broderick considers himself culturally Jewish,^[10][11] the ceremony was performed by his sister, Janet Broderick Kraft, an Episcopal priest.^[12]

Parker and Broderick have a son, James Wilkie Broderick, born on October 28, 2002. On April 28, 2009, it was confirmed that Broderick and Parker were expecting twin girls through surrogacy.^[13] Broderick and Parker's surrogate delivered their twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge, on June 22, 2009.^[14][15]

Although they live in New York City, they spend a considerable amount of time at their holiday home near Kilcar, a village in County Donegal, Ireland, where Broderick spent his summers as a child. They also have a house in The Hamptons.^[16]

[edit] Car accident

On August 5, 1987, Broderick was in Northern Ireland, vacationing with Jennifer Grey, when he veered their rented BMW into the wrong lane on a country road in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and smashed head-on into a car driven by Anna Gallagher, 28. She and her mother, Margaret Doherty, 63, were killed. Broderick suffered a broken leg,^[17] while Grey received minor injuries.^[18]

Broderick told authorities he had no recollection of the crash and did not know why he was in the wrong lane. "I don't remember the day. I don't remember even getting up in the morning. I don't remember making my bed. What I first remember is waking up in the hospital, with a very strange feeling going on in my leg," he said at the time.^[19] Broderick was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and faced a prison term of up to five years. He was later convicted of the lesser charge of careless driving and fined $175. The victims' family called the case "a travesty of justice."^[19]

Broderick agreed to meet with the family of the two women in the spring of 2003 so that the family could gain some sense of closure about the accident.^[19]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Matthew Broderick

• Matthew Broderick at the Internet Broadway Database
• Matthew Broderick at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Matthew Broderick at the Internet Movie Database
• Matthew Broderick at AllRovi
• 2004 Story from 60 Minutes II
• Matthew Broderick – Downstage Center 2004 interview at American Theatre Wing.org
• TonyAwards.com Interview with Matthew Broderick