Tony Award Nominations

[mrdreamjeans]

The 2010 Tony Award nominations came out today. There are quite a few surprises, especially the virtual shut out of "The Addams Family", a new musical starring Nathan Lane and BeBe Neuwirth. Only Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester) and the score (Andrew Lippa) were nominated. Also, Kristin Chenowith, leading lady of the revival of "Promises, Promises", was left out of consideration. Still, there are several legends who have hit the Broadway stage this season and are nominated.

Personally, I'm rooting for the musical "Memphis", that spent a key part of its gestation at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, closing just after we began rehearsals for "Hello, Dolly" just over a year ago. Its leading actors (and music) deserve every accolade that can come their way! "Memphis" is the only show on this list that I've seen. Anyone want to give a shout out to production or performance that they thought was deserving?

The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 13, 2010. Here's a partial list of the nominees ... My picks are in bold. What are yours?

Best Play (I've not heard of any of these plays:)
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play Author: Sarah Ruhl
Next Fall Author: Geoffrey Nauffts
Red Author: John Logan
Time Stands Still Author: 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 The most competitive category for my tastes
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 Hard to pick just one here!
Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away
Lillias White, Fela!

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away

Comments

[njbearcub1.livejournal.com]

Pretty much total ownage of the Lead Actor/Actress in a Play by Hollywood imports, too.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

That's true, though these ladies have their roots in the theater (Harper excepted) and have performed often in NY and on other stages! Good point!

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

Best Musical: American Idiot (probably) or Fela! (maybe)
Best Book/Musical: Fela!
Best Original Score: Memphis
Best Revival/Play: Fences or Royal Family
Best Revival/Musical: A Little Night Music
Best Actor/Play: Jude Law
Best Actress/Play: Laura Linney or Viola Davis
Best Actor/Musical: Douglas Hodge
Best Actress/Musical: Kristin Chenoweth
Best Featured Actor/Play: Stephen McKinley Henderson
Best Featured Actress/Play:
Best Featured Actor/Musical: Kevin Chamberlin
Best Featured Actress/Musical: Angela Lansbury
Best Choreography: Fela!

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

I want memphis to win because it's original, but I genuinely like the music of American Idiot better.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard any of the music of "American Idiot". The music for "Memphis" was astonishing. I could listen it it over and over.

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Sadly, Chenowith isn't nominated ...

I'm not familiar with "Fela" at all! It's got quite the cast. I'll have to research it!

HUGS!

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I am so out of the loop. I haven't been able to follow the Tony's for years.

I had no idea that they did "The Addams Family" I am such a bad ghey. ;-)

I didn't even know Angela Landsbury was in a show. My God.

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

Hello? Mr. P?
This is the Central Committee for Ghey Affairs calling.
I'm afraid we are revoking your membership.
This really is the last straw.
You have become an embarrassment to your people.

ROFLOL

*runs away with your cold meds*

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

*tackles Reverend running down the street*

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

keep your snot to yourself

[mort-83.livejournal.com]

I have no control where it goes.

If you happen to get in the way......

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You can't revoke a ghey card when someone has a cold!! It is in the by-laws ... Chapter 3, sub point 2.5 ... LOL!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

They did! It debuted in Chicago and then moved to NYC. It's the most high profile musical of the year ... The fact that it hasn't been nominated for "Best Musical" or that Lane and Neuwirth, perennial Tony favorites haven't been recognized says a lot. Friends from here in Minneapolis saw it in Chicago and left at intermission. Some of my NY friends saw it and were entertained. "The revival of "Promises, Promises", with Sean Hayes and Chenoweth also has mixed word of mouth.

Angela is in "A Little Night Music" at the glorious age of 85! Barbara Cook is on Bway at the age of 80! Maybe, there's hope for me:)

HUGS!

[heypyro.livejournal.com]

I've met Kevin Chamberlin a few times. He is a nice guy. He is friends with a lot of the San Diego guys.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I've always heard positive things about Kevin. I am hoping that he wins!

Ironically, he's one of the main actors whose career I follow, because often the roles he does on stage are right for me:)

HUGS!

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

Who I WANT to win:

Best Play (I've not heard of any of these plays:)
Next Fall Author: Geoffrey Nauffts
[I saw it and it was brilliant.]

Best Musical
Memphis
American Idiot
[I'm torn: I don't want American Idiot to win because the music is not original, and I don't support that. I think they need to make a new category for original and unoriginal musicals. But I genuinely think the music in American Idiot is better than Memphis. Don't get me wrong Memphis is captivating, but overall the musics a bit meh [to me]. It probably helps that I Saw American Idiot [which was great]. I will see Memphis too, and that will probably bring the music to the next level for me.]


Best Book of a Musical
Memphis -Joe DiPietro

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)
Memphis
Music: David Bryan
Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan
[2 of these were PLAYS. What does that tell you?]

Best Revival of a Play
A View from the Bridge
[I LOVE fences, alot. But I think this deserves it more.]

Best Revival of a Musical
Ragtime
[I honestly don't like the music from any of the others too much]

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge
[though it would amuse me to see walken win a tony]

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Chad Kimball, Memphis


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Christiane Noll, Ragtime

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken, Enron
[either would be fine]

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Jessica Hecht, A View from the Bridge
[again]

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
[I love him.]

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Lillias White, Fela!


Best Choreography
Bill T. Jones, Fela!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I know nothing abotu "Fela", though I am a fan of Lillias White. I think her category is the most difficult. You have two legends, Cook and Lansbury, in their 80's. Hard to pick.

Montego Glover, in "Memphis" gives the most astonishing vocal performance I've ever seen in a musical and that says a lot. I'm a fan of Noll, too. Since "Ragtime" is my all time favorite musical, I'd like to see she and the show to get some recognition.

I wouldn't be surprised if "Finian's Rainbow" takes the revival slot; nor would I be surprised if one of the leading actors of "La Cage" grabs Best Actor. Evidently, they are both quite good; the guy from England won every award in sight for his portrayal. Rumor has it in 6 months Grammer switches roles and tackles the drag role!

HUGS!

[dendren.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough about the Tony's to understand this but didn't Addams Family *just* open? how could it be part of the noms already?

[toddpage.livejournal.com]

Anything that opened before the nominations date is up for grabs

That's why there's always a ton of openings in april

[dendren.livejournal.com]

huh... learn somethin new every day. I assumed it was like other awards for the stuff that happened last year.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I believe the cut off is the end of April, so the awards go from April of last year to April of this year. The awards ceremony is in June. The nominations don't follow a calendar year, but a Broadway season.

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this list. I missed the entire announcement event

Other than the revivals...I dont recognize any of the shows or actors

HUGS

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Looking at the list of actors and actresses nominated for musicals ... You might recognize ...

Sean Hayes ... who played "Jack" on "Will and Grace" and Kelsey Grammer, who played "Frasier" on "Frasier" and "Cheers" ... Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury ...

In the acting categories for plays ... Jude Law, Alfred Molina, Liev Schreiber, Christopher Walken and Denzel Washington, Valerie Harper (Rhoda and Mary Tyler Moore), Linda Lavin (Alice) and Laura Linney ... All are television or film actors ... It's kind of interesting that they're all appearing on Broadway at the same time.

The only show I've seen on this list is "Memphis", though I saw the original productions of "Ragtime" and "La Cage au Folles" on Broadway.

Keeping Pete and you close in my thoughts ...

HUGS!

[guiser1.livejournal.com]

I hate to admit I've not seen many of the new things on Broadway this past year--this stuff is expensive!! But here's my take on a few:

Best Play:
Time Stands Still Author: Donald Margulies

Best Musical
Million Dollar Quartet--My friend Eric Schaeffer directed this.

Best Book of a Musical
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--Andrew is a good guy (met him this year) and I hope he wins, though I think he won't.

Best Revival of a Play
Lend Me a Tenor

Best Revival of a Musical:
La Cage aux Folles


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Christiane Noll, Ragtime--saw her and loved this performance.


Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Eddie Redmayne, Red--everyone says he's amazing, but I've not seen it

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Scarlett Johansson, A View from the Bridge

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family--Kevin's a friend so he's got my vote!

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim--didn't like her, but I bet she wins

Best Choreography
Bill T. Jones, Fela!--it's Bill's year.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm rooting for "Memphis". It's the one show I've seen, but would anyway based on the astonishing performances by Chad Kimball and Montego Glover. Glover is a force of nature. I've heard a lot of fine women singers, but never anything like what she can deliver.

Million Dollar Quartet started at The Village Theater in Issaquah, WA (where Next to Normal developed too. Seattle is really kicking butt for the beginnings of special projects!

I think Angela Lansbury will win for ALNM ... She's 85; Barbara's 82 ... so, the elder will win:)

I'm rooting for Kevin, too!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Tony nomination list ... I haven't had time to keep up lately - and I've barely kept up with what's been on Broadway this season. My info has come mostly from NY Sunday Times, The New Yorker, and technical trade publications.

Best Play - Sarah Ruhl has become a major star in American playwrighting the past few years.
Marguiles has been around longer. Nauffts is up and coming, and might win over Ruhl.

Best Musical - Memphis

Best Book of a Musical - Everyday Rapture has a good shot ... unless Memphis does a landslide number in the awards.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre - Memphis

Best Revival of a Play - the Royal Family ...though it could be Fences

Best Revival of a Musical The most competitive category for my tastes - Ragtime ... though La Cage could be a darkhorse

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play - Denzel Washington ... unless it's Liev Schreiber

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play - Valerie Harlper doing Tallulah in looped ... though it could be Viola Davis for Fences

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical-
Sahr Ngaujah .... or Sean Hayes

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical -
...either Montego Glover or Sherie Renee Scott

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play -
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play -
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical -
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Hard to pick just one here!....tough indeed ... if they pick either Cook or Lansbury, it leaves out the other - and they're both national treasures.
...good compromise might be
Lillias White, Fela!

Best Choreography - tough choice: could be Twyla ... but the dancing in Fela! made quite an impression I hear.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

In your choices, you make a point to be acknowledged ... You have a strong second or alternate choice ... We both know that if a show begins a run of awards, all bets are off the table. The momentum knocks out everyone else. I know nothing about "Fela!" ... but, I do know Lillias White. I still vote for Lansbury (though she did win last year). I heard a lot of wonderful thing about Jude Law.

I have to laugh at myself ... I am such a product of musical theater ... I honestly don't care about any of the acting awards in plays ... just the singing actors in the musicals:)

HUGS!