Handspring Puppet Company Wins Tony

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Handspring Puppet Company Wins Tony

Tony Award nominations were announced today (May 3). In addition to the usual nominations, a Special Tony award was announced for Handspring Puppet Company.

Handspring is the Cape Town, South Africa, puppet company that created the incredible horse puppets for the play "War Horse."

The puppets are made of plywood and cane, are operated by 3 puppeteers, move with ashtonishing realism, and are ridden by the actors during the course of the play

The horses are incredibly durable; some from the London run of the play lasted over 1000 performances.

"War Horse" opened on Broadway last month. One reviewer called the play "astonishing" (the play itself is also nominated for a Best Play Tony).

William Kentridge, who had worked with Handspring in the past, also praised the company's work, saying, "you can't stop yourself believing the reality of those horses.

"It's kind of magical."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Tony Awards

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Tony Awards

The 64th Tony Awards were given Sunday night. The ceremony included musical numbers from the nominees for musical and musical revivals.

Among the winners in the actress categories were Catherine Zeta-Jones for leading actress in a musical for her role in the revival of "A Little Night Music."

Scarlett Johansson took home the prize for featured actress in a play for her stage debut in "A View from the Bridge."

Viola Davis won the leading actress in a play prize for her role in the revival of "Fences," while Katie Finneran received the featured actress in a musical award for "Promises, Promises."

"Memphis" won best musical, while "La Cage Aux Folles" won best revival of a musical. "Red" won best play, and "Fences" took home best revival of a play.

Congratulations to all of tonight's winners!

Gina Wilhelm Actress