VOA标准英语2011--'The Book of Mormon' Dominates Tony Awar

'The Book of Mormon' Dominates Tony Awards

The American Theater Wing gave out its annual Tony awards on Sunday, honoring plays and musicals staged on Broadway in New York - considered the highest level of the U.S. theater industry.
Broadway is an industry known for glitz and dazzle, and the Tony Awards, stage acting's premier¹ event of celebration and congratulations was true to character right from the start.
The Book of Mormon, an irreverent show about Mormon missionaries² in Africa, had 14 award nominations³ and became the top winner with nine wins, among them Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. It was the first foray into live musical theater for two of its writers, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who are better known for creating the long-running, boundary-pushing animated⁴ TV series South Park.
Nikki M. James won the Tony for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her role in The Book of Mormon.
"This is... I can't ... I didn't expect to be standing⁵ here tonight," an emotional James said. "And I tried to write a speech but I felt silly. So I just have to say that I would love to thank Tray and Matt and Bobby for running the most beautiful show, the most beautiful heartfelt musical that is changing the face of American musical theater."
High marks were given for Norbert Leo Butz, who showed a touching⁶ humility⁷ after beating out four other Tony nominees⁸ for "Best Performance for an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical." His work as an FBI agent in Catch Me If You Can impressed critics and audiences alike.
"This award doesn't mean I am the best at anything," joked Butz. "But it does mean that I might be the most grateful man in this room tonight."
But it was the five Tonys awarded for a revival⁹ of The Normal Heart, a powerful 1985 play about New York's gay community in the early days of the AIDS crisis that seemed to move the night's audiences the most viscerally. Playwright¹⁰ and AIDS activist¹¹ Larry Kramer seemed to speak for many.
"I could not have written it had not so many of us so needlessly died," Kramer said after accepting the Tony. "Learn from it, and carry on the fight. Let them know that we are a very special people, an exceptional people. And that our day will come."
War Horse garnered¹² its fifth Tony of the evening for Best Play. They praised the artful way the drama used life-size horse puppets and human actors to tell a dramatic story of love, loss and redemption before and during WWI. And audience members seemed visibly delighted when Anything Goes, Cole Porter's 1934 musical, clinched¹³ the Tony for "Best Revival of a Musical."
The Tony Awards, named for actress and director Antoinette Perry, have been given out annually¹⁴ since 1947. The ceremony is broadcast nationally and features appearances by stars of both stage and screen.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 missionaries   

n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some missionaries came from England in the Qing Dynasty. 清朝时，从英国来了一些传教士。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The missionaries rebuked the natives for worshipping images. 传教士指责当地人崇拜偶像。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

4 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

7 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

8 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

9 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

10 playwright   

n.剧作家，编写剧本的人

参考例句：

• Gwyn Thomas was a famous playwright.格温·托马斯是著名的剧作家。
• The playwright was slaughtered by the press.这位剧作家受到新闻界的无情批判。

11 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

12 garnered   

v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith gradually garnered a national reputation as a financial expert. 史密斯先生逐渐赢得全国金融专家的声誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals. 他的提议得到了广泛的支持。 来自辞典例句

13 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

14 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。