Interlochen alumni honored at 74th Tony Awards
Arts Camp alumna Kristin Caskey and ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ received a special Tony Award. Fellow alumni Tom Kitt and Diane Paulus earned nominations for ‘Jagged Little Pill.’
Three Interlochen alumni were recognized during the 74th Tony Awards ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 26.
David Byrne’s American Utopia, which was produced by Interlochen Arts Camp alumna Kristin Caskey (IAC/NMC 85-86), was one of three recipients of special Tony Awards. Special Tony Awards are presented to outstanding productions, performers, artists, or organizations that do not fall into one of the other Tony Award categories.
Led by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, American Utopia unites 11 diverse musicians for a concert-theatre performance featuring 20 songs from Byrne’s Talking Heads and solo albums. The show has also been adapted into an Emmy Award-nominated HBO film directed by Spike Lee.
“I feel really honored to have been a part of American Utopia and to support David and the band,” Caskey said in a recent interview. “It’s fantastic that the Tony Awards decided to award the show special Tony. It’s quite an honor.”
Fellow alumni Tom Kitt (IAC 90) and Diane Paulus (IAC/NMC 75-78) earned nominations for their work on Jagged Little Pill, with Kitt nominated for Best Orchestrations and Paulus recognized for Best Direction of a Musical. Jagged Little Pill led all productions with 15 nominations, including Best Musical.
Founded in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing, the Tony Awards celebrate excellence in theatre. To date, 18 Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy alumni have won a combined total of 30 Tony Awards.
