Angels in America

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is a play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. It has been made into a television miniseries and an opera. The play is written for eight actors to perform, with all of them playing two or more roles.

HBO miniseries

In 2003, HBO Films created a miniseries version of the play. Tony Kushner adapted his original text for the screen, and Mike Nichols directed. HBO broadcast the film in various formats: three-hour chunks that correspond to "Millennium Approaches" and "Perestroika," as well as one-hour "chapters" that roughly correspond to an act or two of each of these plays. The first three chapters were initially broadcast on December 7, to international acclaim, with the final three chapters following. "Angels in America" was the most watched made-for-cable movie in 2003 and won both the Golden Globe and Emmy for Best Miniseries.

Related Topics:
2003 - HBO - Tony Kushner - Mike Nichols - December 7 - Golden Globe - Emmy

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Kushner made certain edits or changes to his play (especially Part II, "Perestroika") in order for it to work onscreen, but the HBO version is generally a remarkably faithful representation of Kushner's original work. Kushner has been quoted as saying that he knew Mike Nichols was the right person to direct the movie when, at their first meeting, Nichols immediately said that he wanted actors to play multiple roles, as had been done onstage.

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The lead cast were:

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• Al Pacino as Roy Cohn
• Meryl Streep as Hannah Pitt, Ethel Rosenberg and the Rabbi
• Mary-Louise Parker as Harper Pitt
• Patrick Wilson as Joe Pitt
• Jeffrey Wright as Belize & Mr. Lies
• Ben Shenkman as Louis Ironson
• Justin Kirk as Prior Walter
• James Cromwell as Henry
• and Emma Thompson as Nurse Emily, Homeless Woman & The Angel of America

Pacino, Parker, Wright and Streep were all honored with awards at the Golden Globes while Wilson and Shenkman also picked up nominations. The miniseries received numerous other awards and nominations, including 21 Emmy nominations which included wins for writing, directing, and for stars Wright, Parker, Pacino and Streep. Shenkman, Kirk, Thompson and Wilson were among the nominated.

Related Topics:
Golden Globes - Emmy

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Thomas Newman wrote the music on the soundtrack.

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