Image Credit: Uli Weber; Joan Marcus; Paul KolnikWho says the Tonys are a craven attempt to boost only the most popular performers and the most sold-out shows? This morning’s nominations are welcome sign of some independence. Fela! (whose producers include Jay-Z, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith) tied the acclaimed musical revival La Cage aux Folles with the most nominations, boasting 11 each. Director Kenny Leon’s much-loved revival of August Wilson’s Fences pulled in 10.
True, big stars scored a number of the nominations: Denzel Washington and Viola Davis as lead performers in the play revival Fences (both are front-runners in their categories, and pictured in the middle of the photo above); Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in the musical revival A Little Night Music (five-time winner Lansbury is poised to become the winningest performer in Tony history); Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson in A View From the Bridge; Jude Law for Hamlet, and Kelsey Grammer for La Cage aux Folles (pictured far left; his costar, Douglas Hodge, is the favorite for Best Actor in a Musical). Many were making their Broadway debuts.
But among the notable un-nominated are Broadway faves Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth, passed over for their star turns in the much-reviled musical The Addams Family (which was left out of the Best Musical race as well). Frequent Tony host Hugh Jackman (and his well-Bonded costar Daniel Craig) were also absent from the Best Actor in a Play list despite the fact that their limited-run play A Steady Rain was a sold-out hit last fall. I’m sure plenty of folks will be debating whether Lane and Jackman got robbed (particularly in the offices at CBS, which will broadcast the Tony Awards on June 13). Add your voice to the comments below.
There were some other surprises, too: The Green Day musical American Idiot (pictured far right above) didn’t get as much love as you might think. Sure, it earned a Best Musical nod — but nothing for anyone in the cast or for Michael Mayer’s direction or Tom Kitt’s brilliant orchestrations. (You try turning rock songs originally performed by a three-member band into choral ballads for a nine-piece ensemble and 20 singers.)
And there was considerable support for productions like the musicals Ragtime and Finian’s Rainbow that have long since closed. (Another eyebrow-raiser: Santo Loquasto, who designed the costumes for the original 1998 production of Ragtime, garnered a nomination for his very similar designs on the revival.) Another short-lived production, Sarah Ruhl’s historical dramedy In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play, picked up a Best Play nomination as well as a nod for featured actress Maria Dizzia.
One more disappointment, for me at least: Since the Tonys eliminated the Special Theatrical Event category this year, there was no way to recognize the terrific performance of Carrie Fisher in her one-woman show Wishful Drinking, which had a long and successful run at Roundabout’s Studio 54. (Yes, she was eligible for Best Play and Best Actress in a Play — but was that ever going to happen?) May the Force be with her…always.
What do you think, PopWatchers? What nominations please you most — and whose snub has you up in arms (or jazz hands, as the case may be)?
Alicia Silverstone got robbed, she was amazing in “Time Stands Still.”
Also, how “Ragtime,” and “Finnian’s Rainbow” were nominated that oftern are beyond me. When I saw the nominations for Best Direction of a Musical, I laughed out loud they were so bad. “Memphis” and “Fela!” are not good, they’re just not. And when can we stop nominating any show or actor in drag. “La Cage Aux Folles” is tired, been done, and not compelling.
Kelsey Grammar isn’t playing Albert until later in the season.
Kelsey is playing George now for 6 months and then will take over the role of Albin for the next 6 months
Ragtime was notminated for Best Musical/Revival…beyond the fact that the production was quite good, what production should have been nominated? Ragtime-even in the revivals stripped down mode-has a large cast and without star power was going to have a tough time making it…
John Gallagher Jr. definitely should have been nominated!
Agreed! But at least he’s already has a Tony.
I was hoping to see Tony Vincent pick up a nomination for what I’ve heard is a fantastic turn as St. Jimmy, he just oozes evil
Not such a surprise that The Addams Family didn’t get much love. I saw it in previews in Chicago, and even though it’s said that they did some major rework on it, it was pretty bad.
Too bad that Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman got over-looked. I thought that their play was pretty acclaimed, wasn’t it?
I saw A Steady Rain last October and I have to say, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig were both robbed by not getting Tony nominations. I’ll admit I am a fan of both men and went to see it based on their star power, not knowing what the play was even about. What I got in return was a moving, emotional jolt I wasn’t expecting. The drama was explosive and these two fine actors gave incredible performances. I was completely captivated by their characters and the story that I forgot I was watching Jackman and Craig. They were both absolutely fantastic. How they were not nominated is beyond me. Like I said, Jackman and Craig got robbed.
That’s a great story, and how star power can indeed turn on someone to the unique energy of LIVE THEATRE… thanks, and I hope you’ve seen some plays since!
Jackman and Craig were not nominated because there were at least 5 other actors more deserving of the nomination because their work was simply better. They weren’t robbed, they just weren’t as impressive as the 5 nominees.
This is so not true. Jackman and Craig WERE better than Walken, Schreiber, Law and Molina — none of whom did anything we haven’t seen them do before. And even better than Craig and Jackman were Norbert Leo Butz in Enron and Brian D’Arcy James in Time Stands Still — two musical actors who DID do something different. Michael McKean in Superior Donuts and Justin Bartha in Lend Me a Tenor also were more deserving than the 4 who got nominated (I’m cool with the Denzel nod…also a stretch for him).
Oh puh-lease Carlita, give it a rest again. All you ever do is bitch about the nominations…year after year. The fact of the matter is that Jackman and Craig were good…but not GREAT…as Tony nominators already know. I saw all these shows…and the nominations were correct. Schreiber will win.
Also Carlita I somehow doubt you have seen every single one of these shows that you sound like such an authority on…
I was extremely happy the Valerie Harper was nominated for Looped. She was terrific in that show and truly embodied Tallulah Bankhead. The show was only open for a month which shows how wonderful her performance truly was.
How does that show how remarkable she was?? I’m not saying she wasn’t, I’m just saying that doesn’t make any sense..
I think Ari meant that the fact that the show was only open for a month, but the actress still got recognition shows how good she was.
John Gallagher did deserve a nomination, and I thought Promises Promises would get a little bit more recognition. I can’t believe a little nights music got more than acting noms. They are all good times on broadway still
I’m stunned at the Best Musical nominations and lack of noms for Newarth and Lane, Gallagher and Krysta Rodriguez who was excellent in Addams Family. Didn’t see FELA, but heard it was terrible… Memphis was OK, but nothing special (although Chad Kimball was great.) I’m not exactly looking forward to this year’s awards…
From where did you hear FELA was terrible? i’ve heard nothing but things for that musical from PROESSIONAL critics. I think you should check your sources.
I’m glad Fela got more nominations that American Idiot. We never see african music on broadway-it was a revolutionary show about a revolutionary artist! American Idiot looks OK but I’m kinda getting tired of all the “rock musicals”. I dont see anything Groundbreaking about American Idiot…
but I would’ve liked to see John Gallagher get nominated!
i meant “nothing but GOOD things…”
Professional critics are not always right. Your argument lost credibility when you wrote that.
FELA is the best show of the year hands down. It was phenomenal.
Fela! was definitley the best musical i saw all year. Incridble leads, outstanding staging, best choreography in years, and amazing energy.
John Gallagher, Tony Vincent, Michael Mayer and Tom Kitt wuz all robbed! Idiot deserved more noms than the over-rated Memphis.
The fact that Tony Vincent (along with John Gallagher Jr. or Rebecca Naomi Jones) didn’t get nominated is RIDICULOUS. The American Idiot cast got robbed in a big way.
I agree, the cast of American Idiot was robbed! What a spectacular show that I want to see over and over again!
American Idiot and the cast WERE robbed. Such a unique and talanted story/ensemble/sound. Michael Mayer should have been nominated.
I’m disappointed Norbert Leo Butz didn’t get nominated for “Enron”. Granted, I haven’t seen the show yet, (I will on my next visit to NYC in June), but he is always consistantly terrific in everything he does.
Amen! Saw him in Rent and he was incredible.
second that. I saw him in wicked and dirty, rotten scoundrels. he is a true broadway star.
sorry, you won’t be able to see Enron, according to playbill.com the show hasn’t been doing enough box office to stay open and it will be closing on the 9th of this month
Addams Family’s set design was one of the best I’ve seen (i wasn’t in love with the play). I can’t believe it didn’t get nominated. I can’t imagine many people excited over this years Tonys. Last years was amazing!
I really wish John Gallagher was nominated!
Also, I’ve been listening to the American Idiot Soundtrack all week long. The orchestrations really are brilliant. Green Day’s music seemed like it was meant to be sung by 20 people, and I’m sure that wasn’t easy!
Where was the love for Victor Garber in Present Laughter??
I know! I feel like Victor is one of the most underrated actors in theater.
I think that should be underrated actors…period.
Saw Garber in very funny “Lend me a Tenor” years ago. Always enjoy him in TV (Alias) and film (Titanic). By the way you can see him dance on the roof of one of the World Trade Center towers in the film version of Godspell – that’s historic.
I thought for sure that they would recognize Carrie Fisher, at least use her wonderful performance as example that doing away with the special award would open up the possibilities. She was awesome!
Million Dollar Quarter was amazing. It should have gotten more recognition.
Yes. And congratulations to Levi Kreis on being nominated. He deserves to win. Great performance!
Glad 2 c Denzel Washington and Viola Davis on the list – can’t wait 2 c Fences in a couple of weeks – Congratulations 2 u both!!
The word “to” only has two letters; is it really that difficult to spell out?
My thoughts exactly!
Leave Prince alone!