Musicals Fela! and La Cage aux Folles got some nice early morning love today, leading all Tony Award nominees with 11 nods each. Memphis followed close behind with eight nominations, including Best Musical. As for the plays, Fences lead the pack with 10 nominations, including Best Performance nods for stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. The 64th Annual Tony Awards will air on June 13, 2010. See the nominees below, and get our expert commentary on this year’s surprises and snubs.
Best Play
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play, Sarah Ruhl
Next Fall, Geoffrey Nauffts
Red, John Logan
Time Stands Still, Donald Margulies
Best Musical
American Idiot
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet
Best Book of a Musical
Everyday Rapture, Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
Fela!, Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones
Memphis, Joe DiPietro
Million Dollar Quartet, Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Addams Family, Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Enron, Music: Adam Cork, Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
Fences, Music: Branford Marsalis
Memphis, Music: David Bryan, Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan
Best Revival of a Play
Fences
Lend Me a Tenor
The Royal Family
A View from the Bridge
Best Revival of a Musical
Finian’s Rainbow
La Cage aux Folles
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law, Hamlet
Alfred Molina, Red
Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane
Denzel Washington, Fences
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences
Valerie Harper, Looped
Linda Lavin, Collected Stories
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer, La Cage aux Folles
Sean Hayes, Promises, Promises
Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles
Chad Kimball, Memphis
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, Finian’s Rainbow
Montego Glover, Memphis
Christiane Noll, Ragtime
Sherie Rene Scott, Everyday Rapture
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
David Alan Grier, Race
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken, Enron
Eddie Redmayne, Red
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family
Jessica Hecht, A View from the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson, A View from the Bridge
Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
Robin De Jesús, La Cage aux Folles
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian’s Rainbow
Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away
Lillias White, Fela!
Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family
Alexander Dodge, Present Laughter
Santo Loquasto, Fences
Christopher Oram, Red
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Christine Jones, American Idiot
Derek McLane, Ragtime
Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles
Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me a Tenor
Constanza Romero, Fences
David Zinn, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Santo Loquasto, Ragtime
Paul Tazewell, Memphis
Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, Hamlet
Neil Austin, Red
Mark Henderson, Enron
Brian MacDevitt, Fences
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, American Idiot
Donald Holder, Ragtime
Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Wierzel, Fela!
Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners, Fences
Adam Cork, Enron
Adam Cork, Red
Scott Lehrer, A View from the Bridge
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music
Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, Red
Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall
Kenny Leon, Fences
Gregory Mosher, A View from the Bridge
Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley, Memphis
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles
Aaron Johnson, Fela!
Jonathan Tunick, Promises, Promises
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis
No John Gallagher Jr. for lead actor in a musical???
That was exactly what i thought when i saw the nominations!!
Two PLAYS were nominated for best score — if that’s not a sign of a weak season on Broadway, I don’t know what is!
Word.
f’realz!
im sorry..but..Scarlett Johansson? that is terrible.
I heard she was great.
Did you even see the show? She was fantastic and absolutely deserves the nod.
I saw the show and found her very one-note (as always).
It seems like the best way to get a Tony is to go to Hollywood, become insanely famous, and then come back to get a Tony. Kudos, Tony Nominators for becoming just another Awards show rather than celebrating the theatre.
I co-sign on this.
That’s Tracy Jordan’s plan to get the T in his EGOT bling!
No, it seems like you didn’t see the performances. Some of them are completely worthy and “screen actor” does not always mean “second rate.” You’re an elitist idiot.
No dave, while I agree some are brilliant performances, and while some TV actors are originally Broadway actors, H.T. is right overall: this nomination list looks more like the Emmys than the Tonys. And with the pressure on producers to get a “name” in the cast, a fantastic Broadway actor who does NOT have mass media credentials has little to no hope of a lead anymore…
um Hugh Jackman & Daniel Craig starred in the biggest show of the year and they still didnt get nominated— so your theory is kinda wrong.
There are a bunch of TV and movie stars who did not get nominations: In addition to Jackman, Craig, Lane, and Neuwirth, the list includes Kristin Chenoweth, James Spader, Kerry Washington, Carrie Fisher, Sam Rockwell, Vanessa Williams, Alicia Silverstone, Tony Shalhoub, etc. In fact, many of those folks gave very good performances. But the Tony nominators chose a lot of unsung performers and shows, even rewarding Broadway vet Jan Maxwell with two noms for two different shows. You have to wonder if snubbed, star-driven shows that are still running (like Addams Family and Promises, Promises) will get a chance to perform during the Tony broadcast. Traditionally, the answer is no. But that has been relaxed in the last couple years.
um kristen chenoweth started on broadway and reviews have been lukearm for her part on promises promises
I think I speak for everyone when I say:
WHO CARES!!!
You don’t.
um… no, you speak for YOU.
Hey Moe, you don’t speak for everyone. You’re just still bummed that Curly is more popular than you.
Dear Moe-
Please stop speaking for everyone. I understand the Tony’s aren’t as exciting to some as, say…your favoriet awards show, the MTV movie awards, but some of us do care.
I’m so excited for Fela! It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen on B’way. Just amazing.
I noticed that Jan Maxwell was nominated in the leading and the featuring categories. Does anyone know when the last time that happened for an actress was?
Definitely a weak year for broadway.
IT’S A CRIME THAT TWO PALYS GET NOMINATIONS FOR BEST MUSICAL SCORE. I know that FELA, AMERICAN IDIOT and COME FLY WITH ME were all disqualitfied in this category because the music wasn’t written originally for Broadway…so that leaves the lame ADAAMS FAMILY and the bloated MEMPHIS in the running…watch best musical score will go to a dramatic play…that’ll be a first in Tony history.
Question: Is “Enron” a play or musical? I heard it was a musical and it was nominated for Best Score, but its other nominations have it listed as a play.
Enron is a play, with some musical elements. The London production was sometimes billed as “Enron, the Musical” but it is officially considered a play.
So does Angela Lansbury have her EGOT yet, or what?
Alas, Ms. Lansbury has no Oscars, Emmys, or Grammy awards.
but she did win several Golden Globes – maybe that could count for the G ??
Barbara Cook vs. Angela Lansbury! Now that is old school!
“No dave, while I agree some are brilliant performances, and while some TV actors are originally Broadway actors, H.T. is right overall: this nomination list looks more like the Emmys than the Tonys. And with the pressure on producers to get a “name” in the cast, a fantastic Broadway actor who does NOT have mass media credentials has little to no hope of a lead anymore…”
I’m sure that some of the tv/movie actors are talented and deserve their nomination but I have such a hard time that the best stage actors consists largely of actors mostly known for movies and tv.
“um Hugh Jackman & Daniel Craig starred in the biggest show of the year and they still didnt get nominated— so your theory is kinda wrong.”
Well there are only five possible nominations.
I have to admit I’m surprised that John Gallagher Jr. was snubbed. I was very impressed with American Idiot.
I am also THRILLED that Ragtime got nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. That was a fantastic production that closed before its time.
Liz (1204 PM) is exactly right. We saw it at the Kennedy Center before the Broadway run began, and it was marvelous and emotional without the ponderous sets of the original Broadway run…
All the plays, whether they be musicals, dramas or comedies, were strange this year with THE VIBRATOR PLAY, A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, RED, FELA the exceptions. I really wish The Tony Committee would eliminate its Best Revival Category. And Broadway would not produce anymore revivals…it’s like watching remade movies. Been there, done that. Why is “the well so dry” when it comes to original dramas, comedies, musicals? Where are the original playwrights of long ago? Those who try to write something original, direct something original, act in something original struggle to get on Broadway? And if they succeed, they have a limited run on Broadway. I love theatre and long for the days of SONDHIEM, WEBBER/RICE, ALBEE, MILLER, BENNETT, SIMON…and their originality. Sad to say but Broadway is not like it used to be. It is nice, however, to see a few women get Tony nods in categories that have been predominantly occupied by men.
I posted my predictions before the nominations came out, but I’ll post them again:
My Tony Predictions for the Win: Musicals
Best Musical: American Idiot
Best Revival: La Cage aux Folles
Best Lead Actor: Douglas Hodge – La Cage aux Folles
Best Leading Actress: Sherie Rene Scott – Everyday Rapture
Best Featured Actor: Levi Kreis – Million Dollar Quartet
Best Featured Actress: Katie Finneran – Promises, Promises
All in all, this has been a pretty ho-hum season. I thought last year was weak (Billy Elliot and Next to Normal being the only exceptions) but this season has been worse. I thought AI was going to be the Spring Awakening cum Jersey Boys of its year– but it looks like the Tony’s aren’t as enthralled with it as I thought they would be.
My runner up for Best Musical and Best Actor would be Fela! and Ngaujah, respectively. Its director has a shot at taking home the Tony too, but I have a feeling that “La Cage” will win that award— the Tony’s have had a long love affair with La Cage.
The Lead Actress category is déjà vu from last year, with Scott in Alice Ripley’s shoes. Sherie Rene Scott’s performance is the most lauded and heavily praised performance of the bunch; and like Ripley, she’s against several other ladies who just come up short. Zeta-Jones is fine, but I don’t think she understands Desiree. Baldwin and Noll have the disadvantage being nominated for shows that closed months ago, and Glover does the best she can with the mediocre material handed to her. There just isn’t much buzz for the last three ladies.
If Lansbury hadn’t taken home her 5th Tony just last year, I’d put her as the front runner. As it stands, I’ll leave Finneran as the front runner and let Barbara Cook and Angela Lansbury to duke it out as to who is the sentimental favorite among Tony voters.
Overall, if I had to grade this season, I’d give it a C-. There were some pretty good new shows (American Idiot, Fela) but mostly bad (Memphis, Addams Family, that horrendous Bye Bye Birdie revival) a few good revivals that closed too soon (Ragtime, Finian’s Rainbow) and a few productions that are just middle of the road (A Little Night Music, Million Dollar Quartet, Promises, Promises, Come Fly Away).