Theater titans Jane Krakowski and Taye Diggs joined forces today to announce The American Theatre Wing's 61st annual Tony Awards' Nominations, thus ushering in the gayest time of the year.

What's so gay about it? Well, the Duncan Sheik scored, sexually-charged, morally-loose Spring Awakening raked in the most nominations. The musical walked away with eleven, including best musical male lead for Jonathan Groff and featured male lead for John Gallagher, Jr..

Mr. Sheik and lyricist Steven Slater were also nominated for best original score. Michael Korie and Scott Frankel, the music men behind gay favorite, Grey Gardens, were nominated in the same category. But, wait, it gets even more gay - if you can believe that...

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We thought we'd spice thigns up a bit and give you theater-fags a little somethin' somethin' witH "The Bitch of Living" from the newbie Broadway musical, Spring Awakening. Duncan Shiek's musically-minded adaptation of German playwright Frank Wedekind's 1891 salacious (pregnancy, masturbation and homosexualty!) play, it's garnered rave reviews. And for good reason. We caught a preview a few weeks back and we were thoroughly entertained - quite a compliment coming from our over-stimulated selves.

If you like what you see, check out the show's website. You should also revisit Ryan Doyle's interview with Chris Garneau in which Garneau talks about his role in Spring Awakening's revival.

A reader just sent us this article from the Dallas Observer on homo playwright Doug Wright. As you may or may not know, Wright first made a name for himself with I Am My Own Wife (for which he won both a Pulitzer and a Tony and went on to pen the surprisingly entertaining play-turned-movie "based on truth" account of Marquis de Sade, Quills.

The meat of the article concerns how Wright's experience growing up gay in the Park Cities area of Dallas helped fuel his creative process. Of particular interest to young Wright were the demented realities of the seemingly perfect neighborhood. Glenna Whitley reports:

"As a kid growing up there, I had playmates whose parents had drug problems or secret closeted sexual lives or were always on the brink of scandal. I remember the Cullen Davis trial. A couple of teachers lost their jobs because of sex scandals with students. That was fascinating to me as a kid."

He was also fascinated by The Twilight Zone, Roald Dahl's books and cartoons by Charles Addams, whatever was weird and creepy and off-kilter. That fascination would serve Wright well.

We can't wait to see what twist he'll put on the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid

Also, here's another snippet we find notable:

Before his first Halloween, Wright's mother asked her son who he wanted to be for trick-or-treating. Little Doug didn't hesitate.

"A fairy princess!" he said.

To her credit, his mother kept a straight face. But when she gave the boy a big box containing a costume, it didn't hold a pink dress, white wings and silver wand. Inside was a bright red devil outfit. "Better I be Satan than a run-of-the-mill fairy princess," Wright says dryly.

Not us, of course.

Had it been any other day, we would have kept this video for ourselves, adding to an increasingly pervie - yet well-rounded - collection. But it's Friday and we're feeling generous. This digital gem comes to us from someone over at the Broadway production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. They claim to love the site and all that, but that's most likely just sweet-talking bullshit from some marketing exec. Or, rather, their intern. Whatever, we fell for it.
In said video, character Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (played by Sarah Saltzberg) pays a visit to a falafel stand in NYC, talks about special sauce, and gets some words of wisdom from a passer-by. If you're wondering how this is gay: well, again, theater fags, and also Logainne's being raised by two dads. Cute, right?
Check it out. Where? After the jump, silly.

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• Out director Bryan Singer has signed a deal with ABC to develop three scripts, one of which is guaranteed to be developed under their terms. [Advocate]

• Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro – who we've had the honor of visiting with – temporarily signs over power to his brother and defense minister Raul Castro amid growing health problems. [NYT]

• In the season premiere of ER, Fraiser alum John Mahoney will play a drag queen fighting to control the medical care of his dying partner. [NYT]

• San Diego's police chief vows to find the three suspects involved in the beating of five people during of the city's gay pride parade. Previous reports named only three victims. Meanwhile, city officials promised to prosecute the case with attempted murder charges. [SD U-T]

• Metrics systems are already in place for television and radio, so why not Broadway? [NYT]

While we've missed the press opportunity to check out Haylie Duff in Broadway's Hairspray – and, having already seen the show, don't feel the necessity to plunk down cash to see the 7th Heaven actress in what's likely the final run of the show – there's news we might have another chance to catch a Duff amid the Midtown lights. The Insider's Marc Malkin today reports Hilary Duff might be headed to The Wedding Singer (which, despite what you may think, is a musical we're declaring as this year's Tommy). Meanwhile, Nick Lachey – currently only seen in dust-gathering promo posters and in Clix fragrance ads – is said being considered for the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. Actually, word has it he's already been offered the part. Twice. And turned it down both times.

Marc Malkin [The Insider]

For us, last night was dedicated to Entourage and Tourgasm. But we hear this was a little awards show last night, too. Something called the .. Tony's? Why yes, of course! You think we snatch up free theatre tickets from publicists and then stop caring about Broadway? Certainly not.

Last night's top winner, much to our surprise, was The History Boys, a British import that we had the pleasure of seeing during previews. The History Boys picked up six awards, including best actor, which went to Richard Griffiths (and was presented by Broadway dud Julia Roberts). Across the stage, Jersey Boys and The Drowsy Chaperone also led the pack with four and five awards each, respectively.

Meanwhile, Oprah's The Color Purple, up for 11 nominations, snagged only one: LaChanze for best actress-musical. Harry Connick Jr.'s The Pajama Game didn't go home empty handed, and neither did Rabbit Hole star Cynthia Nixon, who picked up the best actress-play Tony. Now all she needs is an Oscar.

Tomorrow is a DVD double-header, with both Brokeback Mountain and 9 to 5 being released for our homosexual viewing pleasure. Gender equality in the workplace has made some progress since the Jane Fonda/Lily Tomlin/Dolly Parton classic came out in 1980, but its release on DVD gives the stars an opportunity to weigh in on sexism and their own personal relationships, including how they all (except for Tomlin) enjoy being whistled at on the street by construction workers. We're right there with you, girls.

Also in the works is a Broadway musical version of 9 to 5 starring Dolly Parton, who will also be writing some brand new songs for the production. It is due to open in Fall 2007, and we will of course keep you posted as news develops.

After Hours with the '9 to 5' Gang [USA Today via Beaverhausen]

It's only been playing since last Friday, but the new man-meat-fest/Broadway musical Tarzan is already a big hit with teenage girls and their high school principals. The dad of a teenage audience member commented, "My [sixteen-year-old] daughter kept commenting on how cute Josh is. He did do a great job [of getting the audience hot and bothered]." And a 52-year-old principal was practically sweating, ""He's very hot. He only puts on clothes, a suit, just once. He's always in his loincloth. He was hot."

The music and lyrics for Tarzan were all written by Phil Collins, but we are willing to look past that since leading man/former Star Search contestant Josh Strickland is said to prance about in a loincloth through most of the show, only donning clothes "once." We suspect there is some skin-colored spandex beneath the loincloth to keep his boys in check, but having not seen the show yet ourselves, we can always dream.

For now, take a look at these photos we grabbed from Josh's Friendster profile after the jump. Some of them show a bit of skin, and others are highly questionable. You know what we mean.

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It’s no secret Queerty harbors a deep love for the Maysles Brothers brilliant documentary Grey Gardens. The film, which if you ignorant queens don't know, centers on Jackie O’s eccentric (to say the least) cousins has had a gay cult following for years (it even spawned a Rufus Wainright song - again for you ignorant bitches). Well, now you can see Big Edie and Little Edie’s names in lights.

"

Grey Gardens" also developed a following among people, gay men especially, who responded both to the implicit campiness of the film — two faded old biddies, preening and bickering and singing Cole Porter tunes in la-di-dah accents — and to the women's eccentricity, originality and uncompromising independence. The two Edies, a cross between the Collyer brothers and Miss Havisham and Estella, are a bizarre version of the American family but ultimately an affectionate and mutually sustaining one. Their admirers include numbers of men who love to watch the film while dressed in drag and reciting the dialogue from memory.

The Cat Ladies Sing [NY Times]

• While Elton and David honeymoon in Venice, World of Wonder has some great photos of the wedding guests. Yes, dear, everyday is Halloween. And who is that drag queen? And, no, we’re not talking about Kelly. [WOW Report]

• Cyndi Lauper is headed for Broadway and set to star in The Threepenny Opera, the play about thieves and prostitutes. It’s our kind of show. [Yahoo News]

• Josh Rubin has hand selected Cool Hunting’s top posts of the year, which we imagine was a very hard thing to do. [Cool Hunting]

• Proof that Leandro Becker is our favorite DJ. Who cares that we’ve never heard him spin. [Made In Brazil]

• Michael Musto’s Felix Awards are the only 2005 round up you need to read. Forget the others and go now. [Village Voice]

• Butch supermodel Jenny Shimizu has issued a warning to Brad Pitt about her relationship with Angelina Jolie. “There has never been an ending to her and I. I think there never will be,” she says. [The Sun]

• Pop Bytes calls Bradford “so damn witty and in my humble opinion incredibly cute!” Awww shucks! Flattery will get you everywhere with us. [Pop Bytes]

• Today is your last chance to help choose the Hottest Brazilian of the Year. Like we could just pick one. [Made In Brazil]

• You can also still vote for The Urbs. And yes, Joe.My.God is still spanking us, Toby, Andy, and Shades of Gray. Wait, that sounded hot. [Gridskipper]

• Adrienne Barbeau, the star of classics The Fog and Escape From New York, will star as Judy Garland in an upcoming play. The cult goddess is playing a camp goddess. Sounds like magic in the making. [ABC News]