As a famous Siamese king once said: "It’s a puzzlement." Usually, I have very few quibbles with the Tony nominations. Yet today, around 8:37 a.m. at NYC’s Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, when Tony winners — and former Spamalot costars — David Hyde Pierce (left) and Sara Ramirez (a.k.a. Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Torres, right) revealed the contenders in 26 categories, I saw more than a few oversights.
First, I’ll give you the big news. The show with the most nominations? In the Heights, which netted astaggering 13 nominations, including two for star/writer Lin-ManuelMiranda.The four Best Play nominees: Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County (the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner, just named New York Drama Critics Circle’s Best Play), Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, Conor McPherson’s The Seafarer, Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps. Best Musical: Cry-Baby, In the Heights, Passing Strange (NYDCC’s Best Musical), Xanadu. (A full list of nominees is available at the Tonys’ website.)
So who was crying in their corn flakes? Well, surely Mel Brooks. In 2001 his Producers received 15 nominations — and won a record-setting 12, including Best Musical. This year, his Young Frankenstein received just 3 (for featured performers Andrea Martin and Christopher Fitzgerald, plus best scenic design)… and no one’s forecasting any wins. The Catered Affair company no doubt had their fingers crossed for a Best Musical slot, but the chamber piece was passed over for the flashier Cry-Baby.
And now let me register a few complaints: Manhattan Theater Club’s very fine revival of Caryl Churchill’s crackling drama Top Girls — blessed with a top-drawer female ensemble that includes Elizabeth Marvel, Marisa Tomei, and Martha Plimpton — received only one nod (for the deserving Plimpton). Yet a Best Revival of a Play spot was given instead to the flaccid Les Liaisons Dangereuses? Mon dieu!
And speaking of Liaisons, lead actor Ben Daniels was rewardedover one of the most captivating performances of the season — IanMcShane’s perverted patriarch in The Homecoming. In a yearwhere the play was indeed the thing, there were so many lead actors whowere simply more deserving than Daniels: Nathan Lane (November), Norbert Leo Butz (Is He Dead?), Brian Cox (Rock ‘n’ Roll), Jimmi Simpson (The Farnsworth Invention). Also overlooked: James Earl Jones’ blustery Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof— a turn I was sure would earn him the Best Featured Actor trophy nextmonth. And poor Cheyenne Jackson. I am not a card-carrying,leg-warmer-wearing, member of the Xanadu fan club. But this immensely appealing lead actor is one major reason Xanaduworks, and if wearing a headband and roller-skating around in shortshorts while singing your heart out doesn’t get you a nod, I’m not surewhat does.
Still, it wouldn’t be awards season without a little grumbling andgrousing, now would it? (And I suspect I’m not the only one whosefavorites were snubbed!) There’s sure to be more drama when the winnersare revealed at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 15.
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I couldnt agree more with this whole article but you forgot to mention Kevin Kline in Cyrano
I was looking forward to watching parts of Little Mermaid, Young Frankenstein, and Cry Baby with my daughter. I guess we’ll be doing something else June 15th while I Tivo the ceremony and fast forward to Cry Baby. Most. Unimpressive. Lineup. Ever.
RE: Heather
Actually everything nominated for Best Musical is way better than The Little Mermaid or Young Frankenstein, so you and your daughter will actually get to see something good instead of mediocre. Also, the revivals will probably give great Tony performances. I just saw Gypsy and to see any of that again, even on TV, would be awesome.
Heather, it would be a shame then if you pass missing clips of In the heights, passing strange or xanadu since they were far superior to Young Frankenstein or Little Mermaid.
In fact it’s great they didn’t award shows that were just big, but actually good this year, despite being more unknown, which is the best reason to watch the Tony’s. To find that gem.
Yeah, poor Cheyenne Jackson! He was the main draw for me in going to see the show and he deserved a nod. At least his leading lady got nominated as did the show. Jackie Hoffman was also a standout in XANADU.
I think the biggest shocker is the lack of noms for Catered Affair. And Cheyenne Jackson..at least we’ll get to see him perform.
At least we will hear some decent singing when the Tony’s air. Seriously, has anyone heard the snippet of Meryl Streeps version of ” ABBA’s The Winner Takes it all”?! I heard better vocals from a Coyote! It’s a bad arrangement and she shouts the song.
Awesome news for In the Heights!!
Awesome news for In the Heights!!
im shocked that cry-baby was nominated for best musical- it got worse reviews than young frankenstein.
Passing Strange is great. So happy that it’s getting recognized. Such a unique musical.
Go Stew!!!!
I left IN the HEIGHTS, like i’ve left no piece of Theatre on Broadway in recent years… fracking elated, with a huge smile on my face that lasted DAYS. Well Deserved nominations!!! Vamos a Celebrar!
Thank God that Young Frankestein and Little Mermaid didn’t get a nomination. I saw both of them, and they were a huge letdown… Young Frankestein was about the worst show i’ve ever seen in my life, and the tickets for it where… well, overpriced is the understatement of the year, and Little Mermaid, while slightly better had no charm in it whatsoever. For my Money, the race is between IN THE HEIGHTS and PASSING STRANGE, two of the best Musicals I have ever seen on BROADWAY… I give IN THE HEIGHTS the edge for its ability to get you on your feet several times in one night. It has by far the best music and lyrics on Broadway, while i give Stew the edge for winning best book of a Musical. I have no clue what Cry Baby and Xanadu are doing in there… but someone has the third and fourth nominee.
in a year that gave us revelatory musical performances from Lyn-Manuel Miranda and Stew, you really are carping on Cheyene not getting a nomination for a performance that’s nothing more than pretty boy on skates… seriously? seriously?
Oh, I sooooo wished I lived in New York so I could take in all this great theatre and music. Ah well, will have to settle once again for the best awards show of the year.
Thank you all for your responses, however from what I’ve seen of the other musicals that will be featured, they will not be age appropriate for my 6 year old. It’s too bad I will not be able to pass on my love of the theater to my daughter with this set of nominees. Perhaps next year we will be luckier.
Anyone else think Fantasia deserved a nod for her turn as Celie in The Color Purple? She totally made me forget that her roots were in American Idol; I believed every word she sang. As great as La Chanze was originally (and won the Tony), Fantasia at least deserved to be nominated.
Only one person can truly decide the fate of a Tony nominee, Cubby Bernstein
the Catered Affair snub is very blatant, sadly. as is the lack of love for The Homecoming … which i thought was a shoe-in.
at least the tribute to Sondheim will be worth watching the telecast.
Regarding Fantasia, I’m pretty sure replacements aren’t eligible for nomination.
I’m not all surprised with how poorly “The Little Mermaid” did with Tony nominations. Even though Sierra Boggess and Sherie Rene Scott are very talented, the show has really bad costumes and the book just stinks. I think closing “Beauty and the Beast” to make room for “Mermaid” was a big mistake.
Despite snubbing Norbert Leo Butz and Nathan Lane, I am pleased as punch that the nominations went to legitimately GOOD musicals over the gaudy messes that were Young Frankenstein and Little Mermaid. Sure, I would have preferred A Catered Affair in place of either Xanadu or Cry-Baby, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Are you really suggesting nominees should be based on their appropriateness for a 6-year-old? That seems a little unfair to any serious artist working in musical theatre.
Also Heather: You can still introduce her to the world of musicals. Take her productions in your community, rent some classics or even newer ones to watch at home. Let her listen to recordings. I somehow don’t think that Young Frankenstein and the Little Mermaid’s absence from the Tonys will keep your daughter from ever appreciating musicals.
Melissa, the only thing I disagree with you on was your hope for a James Earl Jones nom. All he did in “Cat” was yell at everyone for 3 hours. Yikes. I respect the man and appreciate his contributions to the stage, but Cat most disappointing show I’ve seen all—EVER! Although, I was hoping Anika Noni Rose would get nominated in one of the actress categories, but this was such a strong year for plays.
Cry Baby being nominated is probably the worst thing on that nomination list. Utter piece of crap. Glad that the choreography got a nomination, though, since THAT was fantastic. That 4th slot really should have gone to A Catered Affair. And while Cheyenne Jackson DID deserve a nomination, there isn’t anyone who is already nominated that I would have taken off to make room for him. Overall, VERY pleased with the nominations (with the exception of Cry Baby) Plus The Little Mermaid’s Best Score nomination?????-you take away the original songs from the movie and you have utter crap. They rhyme “See me” with “Sashimi”. SERIOUSLY?!
Very Glad about Passing Strange getting nominated. I had my fingers crossed for that one. I also don’t see why Crybaby should be nominated instead of Young Frankentein. The critics hated both shows, but at least audiences love Young Frankenstein. Little mermaid deserves the score nomination, but nothing else really. Although Sierra Boggess was amazing and I have to say that I would have loved to see her nominated. Plus I’m super bummed that Cheyenne Jackson didn’t get a nom. What a slap in the face. Yikes, trust me…… when he leaves the show, they will lose a large chunk of their audience. I think anika noni rose should have bee nominated too. Other than that, I am very glad with the nominations. I think the tony is Andrea Martin’s to lose.
)
Have to disagree. The Tony is Laura Benanti’s to lose. If not her, then Loretta from South Pacific will win. The Best Actor Tony is really the one that’s up in the air (keeping my fingers crossed for the sublime Paulo Szot).
Go Stew!!!