The West Side Story actor acknowledged her co-star, Oscar winner Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original 1961 film.

West Side Story‘s Ariana DeBose won her first BAFTA Award at the 75th British Academy Film Awards ceremony, held in London March 13.

Winning Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, DeBose said in her acceptance speech, “This means so much to me. I am someone who sings, dances, acts. I speak dance better than I speak English. So, I am truly honored by this recognition. It’s not everyday that you get to bring to life a character using all of these disciplines.”

DeBose was also nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. Co-star Mike Faist was nominated for Best Supporting Actor; Brian Chumney, Tod Maitland, Andy Nelson, and Gary Rydstrom were nominated for Sound; Adam Stockhausen and Rena Deangelo were nominated for Production Design; and Cindy Tolan was nominated for Casting.

DeBose also won Best Supporting Actress at the Critics Choice Awards, which were held simultaneously in Los Angeles’ Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel and in London’s Savoy Hotel March 13. 

At the Critics Choice Awards, DeBose recognized Oscar-winning co-star Rita Moreno, who originated the role of Anita in the original 1961 West Side Story film. “You made space for me to thrive beside you. I am not in front of you, I am not behind you, I am beside you. And, that’s the greatest gift you could have ever given me,” DeBose said in her acceptance. 

DeBose added, “To all young people, doesn’t matter how you identify or who you are, you are unique, you are talented, you are seen, you are valued, you are loved. And you matter. Please don’t ever forget that.”

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The theatrical experience at The Gym at Judson connects audiences with the mass gravesite in New York City.

Experiential theatre company Mason Holdings’ Hart Island opens March 13 at The Gym at Judson. The theatrical multimedia experience began performances March 8 Off-Broadway at The Gym at Judson. The limited run is scheduled through April 9.

Hart Island uses fictional documentary narration and historical research to bring together six voices connected with the U.S.’s largest mass graveyard. Featuring the voices of friends and family of the deceased, Rikers Island inmates, and gravediggers, the piece was written by Mason Holdings founder and artistic director Tracy Weller. Hart Island‘s cast includes Julie Asriyan, Nora Cole, Jimmy Crowell II, James Foster Jr., Daniel Kublick, David Samuel, and Tracy Weller.

The gravesite is the final resting place of over one million people, including homeless individuals, victims of disease, and those unclaimed by family. In 2002, the remains of Off-Broadway playwright Leonard Melfi were found by his family on Hart Island after attempts to locate his kin had reportedly been unsuccessful.

“The forgotten little islands of New York City, like Hart Island, offer profound enlightenment,” says Weller in a statement. “The word ‘island’ is born of the same root as ‘isolation.’ Every island, like every human, however, is the offspring of something greater.”

The piece was developed with longtime collaborators director Kristjan Thor and set designers Christopher and Justin Swader. The creative team is rounded out by costume designer Natalie Loveland, lighting designer Christina Tang, sound designer Philip Carluzzo, video and projection designer Yana Biryukova, producer Reed Ridgley, and associate producer Rashad Bailey.

For tickets and more information, visit MasonHoldings.org.

Gray received a Tony nomination for her performance as Persephone.

Well, that was not six months! Tony nominated original cast member Amber Gray made an unexpected return to the role of Perseophone in Hadestown on Broadway March 11, exactly 20 days following her departure from the role. It is unclear if Gray will continue in the role for any additional performances.

The return follows a number of recent understudy-to-the-rescue moments at the Tony-winning Best Musical, including the debut of dance captain T. Oliver Reid’s “Auntie Fate” on March 9. Reid has since shifted to the role of Hermes, and vacation swing Tomás Matos will make their debut as “Regina Fate” this weekend.

Gray has been involved with the Tony-winning musical since early development readings, starring as the Queen of the Underworld in New York Theatre Workshop’s premiere production in 2016, as well as pre-Broadway runs at Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada, in 2017 and London’s National Theatre in 2018. She received the Sterling and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance, along with Tony and Drama League nominations.

Hadestown features a book, music, and lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell. The Rachel Chavkin-directed production opened on Broadway April 17, 2019, going on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.

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