2008 Tony Award Nominations

[mrdreamjeans]

Nominations were announced for the 62nd annual Tony Awards about 9 hours ago. This year's surprises seem to be in the Best Musical category where high profile projects such as "Little Mermaid", "Young Frankenstein" and "A Catered Affair" did not receive nominations. My main interests lie in the Best Musical Revival category where I'm rooting for "South Pacific" to win and for Best Featured Actor in a Play where my friend Raul Esparza is nominated. This is Raul's first nomination for a play, after a nod (but no win) for Featured Actor in a Musical for "Taboo" and a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical (but no win) for "Company" last season. I think the last actor, known mostly for musicals to win for a straight play, was Audra MacDonald. There are lots of names here I'm not familiar with, first time nominees. It's good for theatre, but makes me a bit sad, like a parade has passed me by. I haven't seen any of the nominated works or performances. I'd love to hear from my friends who have seen any of the shows or from those who are theatre buffs and simply have an opinion! Whoopi Goldberg is host. Here's a partial list of nominations with my pick or wish in bold:

Play (and playwrights): "August: Osage County" (Tracy Letts), "Rock 'n' Roll" (Tom Stoppard), "The Seafarer" (Conor McPherson), "The 39 Steps" (Patrick Barlow).

Musical: "Cry-Baby," "In the Heights," "Passing Strange," "Xanadu."

Book-Musical: "Cry-Baby" (Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan), "In the Heights" (Quiara Alegria Hudes), "Passing Strange" (Stew), "Xanadu" (Douglas Carter Beane).

Original Score (music and/or lyrics): "Cry-Baby" (Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger), "In the Heights" (Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda), "The Little Mermaid" (Music: Alan Menken, Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater), "Passing Strange" (Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald, Lyrics: Stew).

Revival-Play: "Boeing-Boeing," "The Homecoming," "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," "Macbeth."

Revival-Musical: "Grease," "Gypsy," "South Pacific," "Sunday in the Park With George." (Tough pick here, because I adore "Gypsy"!)

Actor-Play: Ben Daniels, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"; Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"; Mark Rylance, "Boeing-Boeing"; Rufus Sewell, "Rock 'n' Roll"; Patrick Stewart, "Macbeth."

Actress-Play: Eve Best, "The Homecoming"; Deanna Dunagan, "August: Osage County"; Kate Fleetwood, "Macbeth"; S. Epatha Merkerson, "Come Back, Little Sheba"; Amy Morton, "August: Osage County."

Actor-Musical: Daniel Evans, "Sunday in the Park With George"; Lin-Manuel Miranda, "In the Heights"; Stew, "Passing Strange"; Paulo Szot, "South Pacific"; Tom Wopat, "A Catered Affair."

Actress-Musical: Kerry Butler, "Xanadu"; Patti LuPone, "Gypsy"; Kelli O'Hara, "South Pacific"; Faith Prince, "A Catered Affair"; Jenna Russell, "Sunday in the Park With George." (Really, I'm happy with any of these women except for Jenna Russell.)

Featured Actor-Play: Bobby Cannavale, "Mauritius"; Raul Esparza, "The Homecoming"; Conleth Hill, "The Seafarer"; Jim Norton, "The Seafarer"; David Pittu, "Is He Dead?"

Featured Actress-Play: Sinead Cusack, "Rock 'n' Roll"; Mary McCormack, "Boeing-Boeing"; Laurie Metcalf, "November"; Martha Plimpton, "Top Girls"; Rondi Reed, "August: Osage County."

Featured Actor-Musical: Daniel Breaker, "Passing Strange"; Danny Burstein, "South Pacific"; Robin De Jesus, "In the Heights"; Christopher Fitzgerald, "Young Frankenstein"; Boyd Gaines, "Gypsy." (Just because this could be "Young Frankenstein's only win.)

Featured Actress-Musical: Laura Benanti, "Gypsy"; de'Adre Aziza, "Passing Strange"; Andrea Martin, "Young Frankenstein"; Olga Merediz, "In the Heights"; Loretta Ables Sayre, "South Pacific."

Direction-Play: Maria Aitken, "The 39 Steps"; Conor McPherson, "The Seafarer"; Anna D. Shapiro, "August: Osage County"; Matthew Warchus, "Boeing-Boeing."

Direction-Musical: Sam Buntrock, "Sunday in the Park With George"; Thomas Kail, "In the Heights"; Arthur Laurents, "Gypsy"; Bartlett Sher, "South Pacific".

Choreography: Rob Ashford, "Cry-Baby"; Andy Blankenbuehler, "In the Heights"; Christopher Gattelli, "South Pacific"; Dan Knechtges, "Xanadu".

Also announced:

Regional Theater Tony Award: Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Special Tony Award: Robert Russell Bennett;
Lifetime Achievement Award: Stephen Sondheim

Comments

[snapperboy.livejournal.com]

Having seen nearly none of the productions (we live so close but it's all so friggin' expensive), I was a bit surprised by a few omissions though I have nearly nothing to substantiate them.

I was happily surprised that Disney's Mermaid was out. I did hear from friends that it was not a good experience for them.

I was curiously surprised that Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein was largely absent.

I was unhappily surprised that A Catered Fair was ousted by lighter weight fare like Xanadu (which I hear is very good but holds no interest for me). I admit I am tired of movie turned musicals (and vice versa) and fake themed shows using one band's music. Enough of that already.

And I admit I was horrified that the current version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was nowhere on the list. I'd crawl butt naked over broken glass to see Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones on the same stage.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Well, I may have to arrange that for you! :)

I agree with everything you've said. I've heard from friends that saw "A Catered Affair" in San Diego that it wasn't very good, except for really strong performances in the leads. I've also been told that "Little Mermaid" just didn't work onstage (again despite some strong performances).

"Young Frankenstein" was not a hit in Seattle. My friends there said the book was weak and it just didn't play as well as the other Mel Brooks pieces. It's got an amzaing cast, but the producers been hiding their box office receipts ever since they hit NYC. I'm not surprised.

As to nominated musicals ... I have a friend Cheyenne Jackson who is the male lead in "Xanadu". They cleverly staged what was a really bad movie and so I would vote for the book writer who made the camp work on the stage. If I went to NYC now, I'd see "Gypsy" and "South Pacific", would probably skip "Sunday in the Park", though in 1984 it was the cloest I would make it to being cast in a Broadway show. I've heard selections from the current revivial and I just don't like the leads.

Regardless, I'll watch. I always watch the Tonys:)

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Since I've not seen any of this season's shows, all my information is coming from buzz - comments in the press and magazines, and from friends and colleagues.
But putting it all together I'd say your picks are very sound and in most cases either ought to or will win. Some may be toss-ups, though.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses might win something - I hear it's a beautiful production. Pinter (one long, extended downer in my book), on the other hand, has never done anything for me...if it wins, it must really be an extraordinary production.
I adore South Pacific, and from all accounts the revival is brilliant. I saw Danny Burstein last year in The Drowsy Chaperone - wonderful in the Cesar Romero-spoof role. But then, I just got The Young Frankenstein cast album and it has charm (in the manner of parody/homage to the musicals and operetta of yore) - so I hope it gets something.
Featured Actress-Musical sounds like it might be a toss-up between Benanti and Martin.
I bet Osage County will definitely win something - I know it's a hot ticket...though Boeing-Boeing could pull a surprise.
And I certainly hope Raul gets the nod this time (regardless of how I feel about Pinter).

Thanks for putting all this out there - so easily digestible, and much more fun than the usual press prognostication. A former colleague used to throw a "sock party" on Tony Night...we'd gather 'round his TV: he had prepared baskets of socks, each sock rolled into a ball. If we didn't like who won, we not only got to hiss & boo, we also got to show our contempt by throwing socks at the TV screen. A lovely time was had by all :0)

[snapperboy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we'll be watching too. We also have nearly every Tony episode on tape or DVD. It's great fun watching them again and again.

We hope to see "Gypsy" and "Sunday in the Park" (I don't like the lead performances either but I want to see the reinterpretation). Still want to see "Spring Awakening". We also want to go to DC to see Chita Rivera in "The Visit". Hubs wants to see "Top Girls" but wouldn't die if we missed it.

I also have a short list of straight plays but musicals nearly always top our list.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Imagine ... You and I liking musicals most:)

Btw, didn't "Passing Strange", nominated for Best Musical, last like 1 show?

Take care!

[snapperboy.livejournal.com]

"Passing Strange" is still playing. You may be thinking of "Glory Days" that closed on opening night last week, I think?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I think the female performance categories are very strong .. play or musical. I'd love to see Faith Prince win because she's just magical on stage ... and ... yes, because I got to know her a bit way back in the early 80s through a mutual friend Bill Nolte. She was the female lead in one of my favorite shows not to make it to Broadway .. Ahrens and Flaherty's "A Man of No Importance". I'm sure Patti rocks as Mama Rose, but doesn't just about everyone who assays that role, win an award for it? :)

The sock party sounds like a lot of fun! We ought to institute that some year when all of us are together. As to "Young Frankenstein" ... I think that folks would have been kinder to it, but were offput by the steep ticket prices .. in the hundreds of dollars for the best seats. I think it's a backlash.

I'll be taking my folks and sister to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" National Tour a week from Saturday. I am very much looking forward to it! Btw, did you know that Laura Benanti is Marty Vidnivic's daughter. When I first moved to NYC, he was starring in "Baby" on Broadway. She's a wonderful talent, as is her father. I've picked her to win, but love Andrea Martin and would be happy with her winning; I'm sure the woman who plays Bloody Mary in South Pacific will also have a strong chance to win.

Big HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

AH, yes .. That's it. I was thinking it was the show that macduff131 was working. My mistake.

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

I would love for Mary McCormack to pick up a paperweight. I think she is terribly undersold as a performer, and deserves a better agent.

[cincy-dave.livejournal.com]

I went to high school with Andy Blenkenbuehler who is the choreographer for "In the Heights". He played the oldest son in The Sound of Music when I played Rolf. Trust me, it would be the last time I would ever have top billing over him. He is an amazing talent, even then.


I'm very surprised by the lack of Mermaid and Catered Affair.

And what about Laura Linney for Liaisons?

Another Gypsy?

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

It is an amazing score and I am sure Patti is ideal as a belting Mama..... but hasn't this score been getting regular runs lately?

I didn't know Tyne Daly was such a trend setter! (smiling)

Thanks for keeping me up - I didn't even know they were gonna be announced. Maybe I am not gay after all!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Isn't she the actress who plays the president on "Battlestar Gallactica" or something like that? She even brings gravitas to that role (if I've got the right person).

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Congrats to your friend! Trite though it may be ... It is an honor just to be nominated for your work. I don't know anything about "In the Heights", but I've only heard wonderful things. I've read that the problem with "A Catered Affair" is in the intimacy of the project against the blockbusters .. but the blockbusters didn't get nominated either. I've heard that the other "problem" with the piece is Harvey Fierstein's injection of a "Gay Uncle" into the story line, but don't know if those comments have merit. placeintheheart and bearfuz have a connection to the project. Perhaps, they'll enlighten us.

Laury Linney is a major oversight!

Re: Another Gypsy?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Oh, Honey! Much of what I've learned about musical theatre in the past two years I've learned from you! :) All have to do is the swivel the chair I'm sitting in now and look at a framed photo of Ros Russell from "Auntie Mame" that a certain friend in Virginia gave to me as a gift, to know you're Gay. Say it with me ..." It's okay to be Gay! It makes my day in every way!" LOL!

As to "Gypsy" ... Bernadette Peters rode the role of Mama Rose to victory just a couple of years ago ... Betty Buckley's done some major productions. Patti most likely will win, but my money's still on Faith Prince.

HUGS!

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

You are thinking of Mary McDonnell, whom I also think is great. Mary McCormack is younger and blond. She has done a number of not-so-prominent movie roles and short stints on TV series. She played the assistant National Security Adviser on a couple of seasons of The West Wing.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I thought I was mistaken. Then, I wondered if you meant the blonde from The Brady Bunch! Hehehe

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't realize that Ms. Benanti was Marty Vidnovic's daughter ... if she's as cute and talented as her dad, she'd deserves to win and I wish her all the best.
I'm chagrinned to say I've never seen Faith Prince in live performance, though I'll take your word that she is indeed special... by now she's earned her Broadway Diva stripes.

So glad you're taking your family to see Drowsy Chaperone. I'm dying to hear your opinion of the show and the touring production (I hope the performances - and the set- are as effervescent as the Broadway version was)... a full report, please!
Big Hugs!

Sundays in the park...

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

I know this'll sound like heresy, but I've never really cared for Sundays in the Park With George - though, admittedly several of the song numbers are brilliant. I saw the original production and was thrilled with the performances (and when Bernadette suddenly stepped out of her bodice and the dress remained standing in place - major tech oooh-ah!). The problem is Act II, in which a new art form of the future had to be predicted - and plausibly presented ... not a success, I think. Though the look backward between grandmother and granddaughter was touching.
But that's just my opinion... I wouldn't mind seeing the latest production, with all the projections.

Re: Sundays in the park...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Interesting ... because I have exactly the same feelings about the piece. Act 1 works; Act 2 is a stretch. My friend Cheryl was in a production iat Seattle Rep a few years, that managed to minimize this problem. But .. if we look back at the reviews of the original in 1984, it was the primary criticism.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The Drowsy Chaperone is probably the only show touring that I would make the effort to see. It will be difficult to coordinate getting my folks and my sister who lives an hour away to the theatre (80 miles away). I have read that the national touring company is very strong, so fingers crossed. I think my whole family will love it! I do, though my knowledge is from having seen clips and listening repeatedly to the music.

My only time to see Faith live ... and to meet her .. was when she took over the lead in "Little Shop of Horrors" from Ellen Greene in 1983. She went to the movies and television for quite awhile. She's turned into a fine leading/character actor!

You'll get that full report on DC!

HUGS!

[twillhead.livejournal.com]

I am so out of touch with contemporary theatre it isn't funny. But from everything I have heard, I think Passing Strange may sweep in most of the categories in which it is nominated. It is not exactly my cup of tea, but people are going ga-ga over it. And, like you, I am rooting for Raul Esparza -- I think he's wonderful and adorable, and I'm SOOO jealous that you know him! {{{Big Hugs}}}

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit leery of anything written by someone named "Stew"! :) I'm certain it is not my cup of tea, but I'm for anything that makes theatre fresh and relevant whether I'm an old fat tradionalist or not.

As to Raul ... He's a great guy ... very intense and emotional ... but he was a good friend to me on tour and I had his back.

HUGS!

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

as far as i'm concerned, every award for a straight play this year should go to August: Osage County...absolutely brilliant! i'm sad that Amy Morton and Deanna Dunagan are in the same category...i'd have trouble picking one over the other. of course, that does mean i would be able to vote for Rondi Reed.

all somewhat unfair of me to say, since i haven't seen any of the other straight plays this year. lol

Patti Lupone absolutely blew me away in Gypsy. as did Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines. and Daniel Evans was quite moving in Sunday in the Park with George...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the insight. I'd love to see some of these works before they disappear from the Bway stage! Is there a recording of this "Gypsy" planned? I'd love to put it up against the Merman, Lasbury, Tyne Daly and Bernadette Peters offerings.

Glad you've resurfaced after a tough week for yourself!

Big HUGS!

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure they've recorded it. i know they've recorded South Pacific, and i'm very excited to get it!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

YAY to both!

HUGS!

Re: Another Gypsy?

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

I'd like you even if you weren't gay ... but it helps *grin*

BTW, did you get to see Tyne do the role on Broadway? I got to see the production with my friend Bonnie. Afterwards we sat with a little group assembled at the foot of the stage. Tyne came out, clad in her dressing robe (green velvet with a white lace collar)and sat down on the edge of the stage to answer questions from her eager little audience. Someone asked how she dealt with the arc of the show, expressing such a dynamic character. She said that at her first entrance ( coming down the aisle) she had to live only in that moment - and not know that two hours later she would be reduced to this pathetic bundle of frustration that wasn't even allowed to draw her daughter a bath. She was excellent in the role (previously I had seen Lansbury do it - and she was great too, though different)and it was a delight to get some direct insight from a star actor. She was totally gracious to her clutch of admirers, a special treat I'd never before experienced after a Broadway performance.

Re: Another Gypsy?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful opportunity! I saw Tyne Daly in the role, but during the national tour that preceded her Bway run. I thought she was brilliant, but not in the league vocally of her predessors. (I say that, but that isn't a knock, just an observation.) Somewhere I have the review I wrote for the now defunct Houston Voice:)

I have a true, funny story about seeing "Gypsy" and an interaction with one of Houston's major theatres crtiics (I was small potatoes). It's better that I tell it, rather than write it. Till we speak again ....

HUGS!