Film Version of Lackawanna Blues Earns 7 Emmy Noms

The HBO film adaptation of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Lackawanna Blues received seven Emmy Award nominations, including nods for Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for S. Epatha Merkerson who is starring in off-Broadway's Birdie Blue through July 17 and stage helmer George C. Wolfe for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special.

Lackawanna Blues also earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special John Papsidera, C.S.A., Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Charles Gregory, Dept. Head of Hair/Key Hairstylist; Fay Kelly, Hairstylist, Outstanding Non-Prosthetic Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Edna M. Sheen, Makeup Designer; Denise Pugh-Ruiz, Makeup Artist; Karen Westerfield, Makeup Artist and Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries o Movie Susumu Tokunow, Production Mixer; Rich Ash, Re-Recording Mixer; Adam Jenkins, Re-Recording Mixer.

Lackawanna Blues takes place in 1956 in Lackawanna, New York. The semi-autobiographical tale is about a boarding house ruled by an extremely kind but strict landlady.

The stage version of Lackawanna Blues had an acclaimed run in 2001 at the Public Theater and has been seen at various locations throughout the country. While in the stage production, Santiago-Hudson played all of the roles; the HBO film adaptation featured numerous actors. In addition to Merkenson and Santiago-Hudson, the cast included Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Kathleen Chalfant, Louis Gossett Jr., Macy Gray, Ernie Hudson, Delroy Lindo, Mos Def, Charlayne Woodard and Jeffrey Wright.

The Emmy Awards will be held at the Shrine Exhibition Hall on September 11 when many of the behind-the-scenes awards will be distributed and September 18. CBS Television will televise the larger ceremony on September 18.