Tony Lo Bianco, Cristyne Nicholas, David Hyde Pierce
by: Sandi Durell
On December 11th, The Broadway Association held their annual holiday luncheon at Sardi’s and hosted two outstanding theater personalities – David Hyde Pierce, actor-comedian-director, Tony Award Winner (Curtains), Tony Nominee (Vanya and Sonia …) multi Emmy Award Winner (Frasier) making his directorial debut with Broadway bound “It Shouda Been You” this Spring, and Tony Lo Bianco – star in Academy Award winning film The French Connection, Tony Nominee & Outer Critics Circle Winner (A View From the Bridge), touring with his one-man show as Fiorello LaGuardia (The Little Flower).
The Broadway Association’s holiday giveback made donations to each of the guests’ favorite charities – The Alzheimer’s Association (David Hyde Pierce) and to the NYPD Detective Endowment Assoc. (Tony Lo Bianco).
David Hyde Pierce, as always, brings loads of humor to whatever it is he’s saying and in this case, it focused on his new position in theater as director of the new musical “It Shoulda Been You” scheduled to open in April at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre . . . by happenstance, the theater in which David made his Broadway debut in Chris Durang’s “Beyond Therapy” in 1982. As a director, he feels the need to have lots of input and work with a team that he considers the best; not only the actors who, in this upcoming production, will star Harriet Harris, Tyne Daly, Sierra Boggess, Lisa Howard, David Burtka and Edward Hibbert, but the creative team as well.
Tony Lo Bianco is passionate in his quest to speak for change that reflects the values of Mayor LaGuardia who made multiple positive changes from the Tammany Hall days of government together with Robert Moses, even though they fought constantly. Tony has been portraying LaGuardia in his one-man touring show “The Little Flower” and spoke about the need for a Fusion party that would bring both major political parties together to focus on the real needs of the people rather than legislating based upon paybacks to politicians and donors. Is there another Fiorello LaGuardia out there? If so, please come forward! You’ll hear lots more watching the video.
Interviewing the guests was writer – journalist Patrick Pacheco. The afternoon was hosted by Cristyne Nicholas, Chairperson of the Broadway Association.
photos/video: Sandi Durell
