WHEN?: 12/6

WHERE: Beacon Theatre, New York

James Corden hosts the 70th annual Tony Awards, where Broadway recognises its finest, in New York 12/6.

• Read on for that Dustin Hoffman story at the closing night of King Charles III in London

The night is expected to belong to Hamilton, the musical about one of America’s founding fathers, by the team behind In The Heights which has 16 nominations.

British recognition includes five nominations for King Charles III written by Doctor Foster author Mike Bartlett which originated at north London’s Almeida Theatre.

View From The Bridge, which originated at the Young Vic and we saw at the Wyndhams, is also up for five awards including Mark Strong for leading actor who is up against Tim Pigott-Smith (pictured above) for King Charles III. Picture below featuring Phoebe Fox, Strong and Nicola Walker by Jan Verseyveld.

Looking star Jonathan Groff is one of Hamilton‘s nominees for his role as King George III. Downton Abbey author Julian Fellowes is shortlisted for penning School Of Rock.

Also nominated for King Charles III is its director Rupert Goold, who directed his wife Kate Fleetwood in a modern-day Medea at the Almeida last year and returns there to helm Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave in Richard III in June.

It is to the Almeida and the closing night of King Charles III where we return for our Dustin Hoffman tale. As we were waiting to be seated at the end of a row at the end of the interval, we spotted the double Oscar winner with his wife waiting to sit down immediately behind us.

What would a reserved Englishman do? We kissed him on both cheeks, show business style, and told him Tootsie was our favourite film. He was delighted. Or at least we like to think he was.

Afterwards we told the cast, including Oliver Chris, about their superstar audience member at the aftershow party in the Almeida bar. We weren’t huge fans of King Charles III but for that happy theatrical encounter alone we wish it all the best for the Tonys on 12/6.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy Almeida. Official Tonys site here.
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