July 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, July 31st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2012
Zero Mostel's 1963 Tony Award for his performance as Best Actor in a Musical in Stephen Sondheim's ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'' Mostel's comic portrayal of a Roman slave won him rave reviews in addition to this award, his second Tony. The show, which also won a Tony for Best Musical, was a popular and financial success, and the basis of the 1966 movie where Mostel reprised his role. The 3'' medallion, made of brass and bronze with a nickel plating, features the masks of comedy and tragedy with the words, ''Antoinette Perry Award'' on one side, and a profile of Perry, an early ''American Theatre Wing'' leader on the other. The ''Wing'' established the awards in 1947. Below Perry's profile, the medallion reads, ''The American Theatre Wing presents to Zero Mostel / For Distinguished Achievement in Theatre / 'A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum' / 1963''. After the ceremony, each award is engraved with the winner's name, though this is dependent upon the awardee, and not all of Mostel's Tony awards are engraved. A copy of a letter from his son accompanying this award explains his father's feelings about awards. ''...My father, Zero Mostel, claimed he had no use for awards...He was more interested in a good chopped liver sandwich...He refused to wear black tie, or any tie; he found most shoes uncomfortable. When he got his Tony for 'Rhinoceros' he never bothered to get it engraved. When he got the Tony for 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,' Kate, my mother, put up a tremendous fuss and insisted that he get the award engraved. With much grumbling he complied with her wishes...'' This award was presented in 1963 so it does not have the black pedestal used with the medallion since 1967, but rather a 4.75'' square satin-lined presentation case. Moderate soiling to surface of case. Light wear to edge of 4.75'' ounce medallion, else near fine condition.
Zero Mostel's 1963 Tony Award for ''A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum''
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