News about Denée Benton

With the network restoring The Gilded Age of Season 3, HBO is set to return to 1880s New York City. On December 17, the critically acclaimed series concluded its Season 2 finale, with the Thursday revival arriving just four days later. Marian (Louisa Jacobson), a young woman who moves in with her wealthy aunts in the Russell family, is the subject of the series.

In 1880s New York, season two of HBO's hit period drama, The Gilded Age, depicts a tug-of-war between old and new money. As the latter is refusing to attend the illustrious Academy of Music, the competition between Caroline Astor and Bertha Russell (a fictionalized version of Alva Vanderbilt) hits fever pitch. Vanderbilt leads the construction of a new opera house that surpasses the old Academy in importance and grandeur based on true events. The Metropolitan Opera opened in 1883 and is still a fixture of New York City today.

Benton, a Broadway actor and actress on HBO's The Gilded Age, made the remark when presenting a special award to a Florida teacher who has inspired his students by acting. The term has long been associated with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a 'grand wizard' who is the highest-ranking leader of the white supremacist body.

When on stage at the 2023 Tony Awards, Broadway actress Denée Benton did not hold back her ferocious opinions about Governor Ron DeSantis. During Sunday's telecast, the 31-year-old actress, who appears in the series The Gilded Age, had the opportunity to smear the politician as she discussed the award for theatre education. 'Grand Wizard' Judith Annette called the presidential candidate out of his name, referring to him as a "Grand Wizard."

During Sunday night's Tony Awards ceremony, actress Denée Benton mocked Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, calling him a "grand wizard" in a simulated slip-up as she delivered a speech onstage. Benton, a Florida high school teacher, was given an award for excellence in theater education for her work in The Gilded Age and on Broadway. The New York crowd erupted with laughter as she predicted that DeSantis would try to change the name of the teacher's town, Plantation, Florida.