Were they the first, or not? When I interviewed producer Adam Blanshay, the recently appointed CEO of Just for Laughs Theatricals, for a story published in today’s Gazette on the Tony Awards, he suggested that he and Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon might have just become the first Quebecers to win this prestigious theatre award on Sunday night. (Just for Laughs Theatricals was one of the co-producers of Kinky Boots, the musical which scooped up six awards, which made it the biggest winner of the night.)
I countered with a mention of Christopher Plummer, an actor who was raised here (from infancy) after being born in Toronto and warned Blanshay not to be too hasty to jump to conclusions. The history of the Tony Awards dates back to 1947.
Plummer won twice. In 1974 (for the musical, Cyrano) and 1997 (for his solo show, Barrymore.
Today, Montreal playwright Colleen Curran sent me an email reminding me that Tony Award-winning Canadian/American actress Colleen Dewhurst was born in Montreal, although she left with her parents for the USA when she was about four years old. Dewhurst won in 1947 for her starring role in Eugene O’Neill’s Moon for the Misbegotten opposite Jason Robards.
Time for a troubling question. Were Plummer and Dewhurst “real” Quebecers? And, if so, which one moreso than the other? And will the Westmount-raised Blanshay lose his “real” status now that he’s based in New York?
I have a suspicion that given the wealth of artistic talent in this province there may have been more Tony-winning Quebecers since 1947. Possibly in other categories. If you know of someone please let us know by leaving a comment on this blog or send me an email at pdonnell@montrealgazette.com
All the same it was a remarkable win on Sunday night. Blanshay and Rozon did Quebec proud. Congratulations to both of them.
