Billy Elliot, The Musical received a record-tying 15 nominations for the 2009 Tony Awards Tuesday morning. It’s joined in the Best Musical category by Next to Normal, Rock of Ages, and Shrek The Musical. Former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis received a nod for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Rock of Ages, while Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush was recognized in the Best Special Theatrical Event category. ("When I heard, I plotzed," Ferrell said in a statement. "Then I double-plotzed.") The Tony Awards air June 7 on CBS. Click here for EW senior editor Thom Geier’s reaction to the nominations. The complete list of nominees:
Best Play
Dividing the Estate, Author: Horton Foote
God of Carnage, Author: Yasmina Reza
Reasons to Be Pretty, Author: Neil LaBute
33 Variations, Author: Moisés Kaufman
Best Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical, Lee Hall
Next to Normal, Brian Yorkey
Shrek The Musical, David Lindsay-Abaire
[title of show], Hunter Bell
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Lee Hall
Next to Normal
Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
9 to 5: The Musical
Music & Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Shrek The Musical
Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot
Best Revival of a Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story
Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza’s at The Palace
Slava’s Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage
Raúl Esparza, Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini, God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski, Reasons to Be Pretty
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Hope Davis, God of Carnage
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d’Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
John Glover, Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier, 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan, The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter, The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Hallie Foote, Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes, The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland, Reasons to Be Pretty
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root, The Norman Conquests
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Best Direction of a Play
Phyllida Lloyd, Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests
Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair
Best Choreography
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Best Orchestrations
Larry Blank, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy, Shrek The Musical
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Rob Howell, The Norman Conquests
Derek McLane, 33 Variations
Michael Yeargan, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Robert Brill, Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask, Pal Joey
Mark Wendland, Next to Normal
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Jane Greenwood, Waiting for Godot
Martin Pakledinaz, Blithe Spirit
Anthony Ward, Mary Stuart
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregory Gale, Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald, Hair
Best Lighting Design of a Play
David Hersey, Equus
David Lander, 33 Variations
Brian MacDevitt, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Hugh Vanstone, Mary Stuart
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Hair
Kevin Adams, Next to Normal
Howell Binkley, West Side Story
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Mary Stuart
Gregory Clarke, Equus
Russell Goldsmith, Exit the King
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, Hair
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski, Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan, Next to Normal
Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Jerry Herman
Regional Theatre Tony Award®
Signature Theatre, Arlington, Va.
Isabelle Stevenson Award
Phyllis Newman
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Shirley Herz
nothing for 13? jason robert brown gets shafted again!
Any word on a host for the Tonys?
I’m in SHOCK! Equus did not recieve any nominations. What gives? Daniel Radcliffe should have been nominated at least. Like I siad, SHOCKED!
[title of sbow] was one of the best reviewed musicals of the season and per these nominations has one of the best books, yet it does not get a nod for best musical. No disrespect to those who did get nominated, but, what a joke! I’ll take the rice krispy teats any day!
I agree with LouBeOH!! [title of show] really was one of the best ORIGINAL musicals ever. The fact that this seemed to escape the nominating committee just brings my mind to a halt! How can you not reward something so fresh and original that wasn’t based on a book, film, non-musical pay or poem?!! What a crock!
See all you AMERICAN IDOL fans, there is a
career after AI. Way to go Constance!!! He was a contestant on Season #4 of the show, the year I gave up watching AI because Constance was eliminated way tooooo sooooon!
How sweet that he’s nominated for a Tony. He has a great voice! Good luck to you, Constance. If you win, you’re in good company w/Jennifer Hudson who won a Golden Globe & an Oscar for her performance in the movie version of “Dream Girls.” I love you
both and hope your many successes have been your dreams!!!!
What was I thinking. I previously posted, but
I called the talented Constantine Maroulis “Constance.” A thousand pardons, Constantine.
A good luck at The Tony Awards. I’ll be rooting for you!
I’m so happy that Next to Normal got so many nominations. It deserves them all! I’m really sad that Aaron Tveit didn’t get nominated, that is very disappointing! And I’m seeing the show tonight, so I’m hoping for another marvelous performance!
Wow–nothing for Equus? Or Bill Irwin for Waiting for Godot?
Bobby Spencer (Next to Normal) rocks!! A million congrats!
I have been watching The Tony Awards,
since June of 1980-EVITA won.
I was a teenager.
1988 saw my FIRST Tony Awards Party.
And since 2003, I’ve been dressing up in costume. I was Tracy Turnblad.
Last year-I was Mama Rose Hovic-GYPSY.
This year? I’ll be one of my three costume choices:
1.Mrs. Wilkingson-BILLY ELLIOT.
2.Anita-WEST SIDE STORY.
3.Violet-NINE TO FIVE.
they should reward the boys from [title of show] by making THEM the hosts! i cannot believe they were overlooked for best score and best musical. *pout*
Constantine getting a nomination is shocking! Pauka Abdul must be happy for him after she broke down when he was eliminated. I wish Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty from “9 to 5″ got nominations, but they had tough competition. They would’ve guranteed themselves nomination for Best Featured Actress, but the Tomy Committee considered their roles lead ones.
No nods for the Equus actors??!!!!
Wow.
SHREK?!! Was it really THAT great of a musical to have so many Tony nominations? Is Broadway in a downward slump or something? Correct me if I’m wrong, but generally kid movies (i.e Tarzan, Lion King) aren’t exactly the best musicals. Visually stunning, maybe, but far from the best.