2013 Tony Award Nominations - the Overlooked and the undeserved.

       Well folks, it's happened again (as it does every year). The nominations have been announced and some big omissions have been made. In addition to the omissions, there are some nominations that are real head scratchers. Let's take an in depth look at a few of the major categories. Scroll all the way down to the bottom to see the complete list of nominations.

Best Featured Actor in a play:
 Danny Burstein, Golden Boy
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

I'm not unhappy with this list. While The Big Knife was incredibly boring Richard Kind was a bright spot. I had a tough time choosing between Danny Burstein and Tony Shalhoub for Golden Boy. Obviously so did the Tony Nominating committee because in the end they just nominated both. Courtney B. Vance was the best part of Lucky Guy, though I think that Michael Shannon's turn in Grace was more worthy of a nomination.

Featured Actress in a play:
Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful

I'm the most happy with this list. The only trade I would have made is Elizabeth Marvel who gave an understated but still heart rending performance in Picnic. 

Featured Actor in a Musical. 
Charl Brown, Motown The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Terrence Mann, Pippin

This list doesn't drive me crazy, Motown had to get nominations in SOME category. There were a lot of featured performances that were great this year, and this is a good sampling.

Featured Actress in a musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Lauren Ward, Matilda The Musical

I'm the second most happy with this list, to a point. It was a very controversial performance, but I really do think that Jessie Mueller gave one of the best of the year in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Though I am happy to see Keala Settle get a well deserved nomination for Hands on a hard body.

Lead Actor in a play
Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tom Sturridge, Orphans

While I'm not surprised, I am disappointed in this list. To leave out Alan Cumming for his mesmerizing work doing the Macbeth by himself was a true crime. Less murderous though just as shameful was the omission of Douglas Hodge as Cyrano de Bergerac. I would have left Tom Hanks off of this list. He's Tom Hanks, and he's a great actor, and he's "America's favorite actor" so there was no way he wasn't going to get a nomination. He may actually even win, but he doesn't deserve either one - not for this play. 

Lead Actress in a play
Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Amy Morton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Holland Taylor, Ann
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

This list is fine. Though it is surprising to see Fiona Shaw left off for her riveting performance in The Testament of Mary. I also feel a little bad for Sigourney Weaver being the only title character not nominated in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. 

Lead Actor in a Musical
Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical
Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots

The only surprise in this category was that the committee chose to honor Santino Fontana in Cinderella over Anthony Warlow in Annie. In fact, Annie was egregiously over looked in the following category (even more so, IMO).

Leading Actress in a musical
Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical
Patina Miller, Pippin
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

It is truly shocking and a bit disappointing that Lilla Crawford did not get a nomination for playing Annie. Make no bones, the revival of Annie is not good - but her performance was pure theater magic and the stuff that stars are made of. 

Revival of a play
Golden Boy
Orphans
The Trip to Bountiful
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

This list is fine - though Orphans is terrible. 

Revival of a Musical
Annie
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Pippin
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Annie did not deserve a nomination - but neither did Jekyll and Hyde so, it is what it is. 

New Play

The Assembled Parties

Lucky Guy

The Testament of Mary

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 

 This category contains the most head scratchers, but then again - not really. Lucky Guy was not a great play - but it was written by a great writer who died before her work was produced. Not only was Nora Ephron a great writer, but she was beloved by all. What is strange about The Testament of Mary getting a nomination for best play is that it's a one woman show and it's lead and ONLY actress did not get a nomination. I would have much rather seen both The Other Place by Sharr White and Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance get nominated. 

New Musical

Bring It On: The Musical
A Christmas Story, The Musical
Kinky Boots
Matilda The Musical

This Category has the most delightful surprises. While I loved BOTH Bring it on and Hands on a hard body. It was difficult to choose between them, and it really came down to a matter of taste. Obviously the Tony Committee chose Bring it on. I personally would have gone the other way. I name those two shows because Amanda Green was involved with both and they both closes and they were both awesome. I'm also glad to see that A Christmas Story was not discriminated against for being a limited run holiday offering.

One of the biggest surprises was the fact that Motown did not get nominated for Best Musical. Not because it's good, mind you, but because it's making a lot of people a lot of money, it's going to play for years, and it's going to tour. The Tony Awards committee seems to have finally taken a stand against this type of shoddy production and said "nope, not this time". 

Shows that received not a single nomination are: Harvey, An Enemy of the People, Grace, Dead Accounts, The Anarchist, Glengarry Glen Ross, Picnic, Cat on a hot tin roof, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Jekyll and Hyde, Macbeth, and I'll Eat you Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers. 

Well there it is kids. Now all we can do is sit back and wait for the awards to be dolled out on Sunday June 9th LIVE on CBS! I will post my opinions about who I think SHOULD WIN and who I think WILL WIN the day before the ceremony - so don't forget to check back!

Here is the full list of nominations. 

Best Play

The Assembled Parties

Author:  Richard Greenberg

Producers:  Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove

Lucky Guy

Author:  Nora Ephron

Producers:  Colin Callender, Roy Furman, Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger & William Berlind, Stacey Mindich, Robert Cole & Frederick Zollo, David Mirvish, Daryl Roth, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer, Scott & Brian Zeilinger, Sonia Friedman Productions, The Shubert Organization

The Testament of Mary

Author:  Colm Toíbín

Producers:  Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Jon B. Platt, Roger Berlind, Broadway Across America, Scott M. Delman, Jean Doumanian, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Sonia Friedman Productions/Tulchin Bartner Productions, The Araca Group, Heni Koenigsberg, Daryl Roth, Eli Bush

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Author:  Christopher Durang

Producers:  Joey Parnes, Larry Hirschhorn, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino, Martin Platt & David Elliott, Pat Flicker Addiss, Catherine Adler, John O’Boyle, Joshua Goodman, Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Cricket Hooper Jiranek/Michael Palitz, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, Radio Mouse Entertainment, ShadowCatcher Entertainment, Mary Cossette/Barbara Manocherian, Megan Savage/Meredith Lynsey Schade, Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Ron Simons, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson, MacCarter Theatre Center, Lincoln Center Theater

Best Musical

Bring It On: The Musical

Producers:  Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross, Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein & Charlie Lyons, Kristin Caskey & Mike Isaacson

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Producers:  Gerald Goehring, Roy Miller, Michael F. Mitri, Pat Flicker Addiss, Peter Billingsley, Timothy Laczynski, Mariano Tolentino, Jr., Louise H. Beard, Michael Filerman, Scott Hart, Alison Eckert, Bob Bartner, Michael Jenkins, Angela Milonas, Bradford W. Smith

Kinky Boots

Producers:  Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergère, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy & Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein & Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom & Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp, Jujamcyn Theaters

Matilda The Musical

Producers:  The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers

Best Revival of a Play

Golden Boy

Producers:  Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten

Orphans

Producers:  Frederick Zollo, Robert Cole, The Shubert Organization, Orin Wolf, Lucky VIII, Scott M. Delman, James P. MacGilvray, StylesFour Productions

The Trip to Bountiful

Producers:  Nelle Nugent, Kevin Liles, Paula Marie Black, David R. Weinreb, Stephen C. Byrd, Alia M. Jones, Kenneth Teaton, Carole L. Haber/Philip Geier, Wendy Federman/Carl Moellenberg/Ricardo Hornos, Fifty Church Street Productions/Hallie Foote/Tyson and Kimberly Chandler, Joseph Sirola, Howard and Janet Kagan/Charles Salameno, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Raymond Gaspard/Andréa M. Price, Willette Murphy Klausner/Reginald M. Browne

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Producers:  Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Susan Quint Gallin, Mary Lu Roffe, Kit Seidel, Amy Danis & Mark Johannes, Patty Baker, Mark S. Golub & David S. Golub, Richard Gross, Jam Theatricals, Cheryl Lachowicz, Michael Palitz, Dramatic Forces/Angelina Fiordellisi, Luigi & Rose Caiola, Ken Greiner, Kathleen K. Johnson, Kirmser Ponturo Fund, Will Trice, GFour Productions, Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Best Revival of a Musical

Annie

Producers:  Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger Horchow, Sally Horchow, Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, Debbie Bisno, Stacey Mindich, James M. Nederlander, Jane Bergère/Daryl Roth, Eva Price/Christina Papagjika

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Producers:  Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy

Pippin

Producers:  Barry and Fran Weissler, Howard and Janet Kagan, Lisa Matlin, Kyodo Tokyo, A&A Gordon/Brunish Trinchero, Tom Smedes/Peter Stern, Broadway Across America, Independent Presenters Network, Norton Herrick, Allen Spivak, Rebecca Gold, Joshua Goodman, Stephen E. McManus, David Robbins/Bryan S. Weingarten, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, Jim Kierstead/Carlos Arana/Myla Lerner, Hugh Hayes/Jamie Cesa/Jonathan Reinis, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Ben Feldman, Square 1 Theatrics, Wendy Federman/Carl Moellenberg, Bruce Robert Harris/Jack W. Batman, Infinity Theatre Company/Michael Rubenstein, Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway/Ken Mahoney, American Repertory Theater

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Producers:  Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Luigi Caiola & Rose Caiola, Roy Furman, Walt Grossman, Peter May/Sanford Robertson, Glass Slipper Productions LLC/Eric Schmidt, Ted Liebowitz/James Spry, Blanket Fort Productions, Center Theatre Group

Best Book of a Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Joseph Robinette

Kinky Boots

Harvey Fierstein

Matilda The Musical

Dennis Kelly

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Douglas Carter Beane

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

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Music and Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Hands on a Hardbody

Music: Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green
Lyrics: Amanda Green

Kinky Boots

Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper

Matilda The Musical

Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tom Sturridge, Orphans

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Amy Morton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Holland Taylor, Ann
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical
Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical
Patina Miller, Pippin
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Danny Burstein, Golden Boy
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Charl Brown, Motown The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Terrence Mann, Pippin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Lauren Ward, Matilda The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
David Rockwell, Lucky Guy
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Scott Pask, Pippin
David Rockwell, Kinky Boots

Best Costume Design of a Play

Soutra Gilmour, Cyrano de Bergerac
Ann Roth, The Nance
Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Catherine Zuber, Golden Boy

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots
Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Donald Holder, Golden Boy
Jennifer Tipton, The Testament of Mary
Japhy Weideman, The Nance

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kenneth Posner, Kinky Boots
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Kenneth Posner, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Hugh Vanstone, Matilda The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play

John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance
Peter John Still and Marc Salzberg, Golden Boy

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Jonathan Deans & Garth Helm, Pippin
Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
John Shivers, Kinky Boots
Nevin Steinberg, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Direction of a Play

Pam MacKinnon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Bartlett Sher, Golden Boy
George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy

Best Direction of a Musical

Scott Ellis, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda The Musical
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Chet Walker, Pippin

Best Orchestrations

Chris Nightingale, Matilda The Musical
Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots
Ethan Popp & Bryan Crook, Motown The Musical

Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

* * *

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Bernard Gersten

Paul Libin

Ming Cho Lee

Regional Theatre Award

Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, MA

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Larry Kramer

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

Career Transition For Dancers

William Craver

Peter Lawrence

The Lost Colony

The four  actresses who created the title role of Matilda The Musical on Broadway - Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro

* * *

Tony Nominations by Production

Kinky Boots - 13

Matilda The Musical - 12

Pippin - 10

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella - 9

Golden Boy - 8

Lucky Guy - 6

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - 6

The Mystery of Edwin Drood - 5

The Nance - 5

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - 5

Motown The Musical - 4

The Trip to Bountiful - 4

The Assembled Parties - 3

A Christmas Story, The Musical - 3

Hands on a Hardbody - 3

The Testament of Mary - 3

Bring It On: The Musical - 2

The Heiress - 2

Orphans - 2

Ann - 1

Annie - 1

The Big Knife - 1

Chaplin - 1

Cyrano de Bergerac - 1

The Other Place - 1

Scandalous - 1

2013 Tony Award Nomination predictions.

    Well theater fans, it's that time of year again. The 2012-2013 Theater season is winding down. All the shows have officially opened. The reviews are in. Now it's time to wait for the Superbowl of Theater - The Tony Awards! The official nominations will be announced live on Tuesday April 30th, but to tide you over until then here are my picks for the major award categories!


Featured Actor in a play: 1) Michael Shannon Grace
                                       2) Tony Shaloub Golden Boy
                                       3) Daniel Stern The Other Place
                                       4) Jeremy Shamos The Assembled Parties
                                       5) Johnny Orsini The Nance
Honorable Mention: Courtney B. Vance Lucky Guy Danny Burstein Golden Boy

Featured Actress in a play: 1) Judith Light The Assembled Parties
                                          2) Judith Ivey The Heiress
                                          3) Jane HoudeyShell Dead Accounts
                                          4) Elizabeth Marvel Picnic
                                          5) Condola Rashad The Trip to Bountiful
                                  Honorable Mention: Cady Hoffman The Nance,

Featured Actor in a musical: 1) Terrence Mann Pippin
                                           2) Hunter Foster Hands on a Hard body
                                           3) Will Chase The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                                           4) Jim Norton The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                                           5) Johnny Rabe A Christmas Story: The Musical
                               Honorable Mention: Gregory Haney, Bring it on, Andy Karl, Drood

Featured Actress in a Musical: 1) Andrea Martin Pippin
                                               2) Annaleigh Ashford Kinky Boots
                                               3) Ryann Redmond Bring it on
                                               4) Jessie Mueller The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                                               5) Victoria Clarke Cinderella
                                          Honorable Mention: Rachel Bay Jones Pippin, Chita Rivera Drood

Lead Actor in a play: 1) Alan Cumming Macbeth
                                 2) Douglas Hodge Cyrano
                                 3) Nathan Lane The Nance
                                 4) Seth Numrich Golden Boy
                                 5) Tracy Letts Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
                     Honorable Mention: Boyd Gains An Enemy of the People, Jim Parsons, Harvey

Lead Actress in a play: 1) Holland Taylor Ann
                                   2) Bette Midler I'll Eat You Last
                                   3) Fiona Shaw The Testament of Mary
                                   4) Laurie Metcalf The Other Place
                                   5) Amy Morton Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 
 Honorable Mention: Scarlet Johannson Cat on a hot tin roof, Christine Neilson and Sigourney Weaver Vanya, and Sonja, and Masha, and Spike

Lead Actor in a Musical: 1) Bertie Carvel Matilda
                                      2) Billy Porter Kinky Boots
                                      3) Rob McClure Chaplin
                                      4) Anthony Warlow Annie
                                      5) Stark Sands Kinky Boots
                        Honorable Mention: Matthew James Thomas Pippin, Santina Fontana Cinderella

Lead Actress in a musical: 1) Patina Miller Pippin
                                        2) Laura Osnes Cinderella
                                        3) Stephanie J. Block The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                                        4) Lilla Crawford Annie
                                        5) Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
                             Honorable Mention: Adrienne Warren Bring it on, Erin Dilly A Christmas Story

Choreography: 1) Chet Walker and Gypsy Snyder Pippin
                        2) Warren Carlyle The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                        3) Patricia Wilcox Motown: The Musical
                        4) Peter Darling Matilda
                        5) Jerry Mitchel Kinky Boots
Honorable Mention: Sergio Trujillo Hands on a hard body, Warren Carlyle Chaplin, Andy Blankenbueler Bring it on

Director of a play: 1) Jack O'Brien, The Nance
                            2) Nicholas Martin Vanya, and Sonja, and Masha, and Spike
                            3) Barlett Sher Golden Boy
                            4) Joe Mantello, The Other Place
                            5) Pam McKinnon, Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Honorable Mention: George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy, Jamie Lloyd Cyrano

Director of a musical: 1) Diane Paulus Pippin
                                 2) Matthew Warchus Matilda
                                 3) Jerry Mitchel Kinky Boots
                                 4) Neil Pepe Hands on a hard body
                                 5) Scott Ellis The Mystery of Edwin Drood
             Honorable Mention: Mark Brokaw Cinderella, John Rando A Christmas Story

Book of a Musical: 1) Dennis Kelly Matilda
                              2) Harvey Fierstein Kinky Boots
                              3) Doug Wright Hands on a hard body
                              4) Douglas Carter Beane Cinderella
                              5) Joseph Robinette A Christmas Story: The Musical
                              Honorable Mention: Jeff Whitty, Bring it on

Original Score: 1) Tim Minchin Matilda
                       2) Cyndi Lauper Kinky Boots
                       3) Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio Hands on a hard body
                       4) Benj Pasek and Justin Paul A Christmas Story: The Musical
                       5) Tom Kitt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Amanda Green Bring it on
                       Honorable Mention: Christopher Curtis Chaplin

Revival of a play: 1) The Trip to Bountiful
                           2) Macbeth
                           3) Golden Boy
                          4) Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
                       Honorable Mention: Harvey, Cyrano

Revival of a Musical: 1) Pippin
                                2) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
                                3) Cinderella
                                Honorable Mention: None - the other two shows don't deserve to be nominated.

New Play: 1) The Other Place, by Sharr White
                 2) The Nance, by Douglas Carter Beane
                 3) Vanya and Sonja and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang
                 4) The Assembled Parties, by Richard Greenberg
                 Honorable Mention: Dead Accounts by Theresa Rebeck, Ann by Holland Taylor

New Musical: 1) Matilda
                      2) Kinky Boots
                      3) Hands on a hard body
                      4) A Christmas Story: The Musical
                      Honorable Mention: Bring it on 


There you have it folks!  These are the performances and shows that I would nominate if it were all up to me (which clearly it is not!) Do you disagree? Which performances would you swap? Tune in tomorrow for my reactions to the actual award noms!

Sutton Foster and Jessie Tyler Ferguson will be announcing the nominations live from Lincoln Center tomorrow morning!

Breakfast at Tiffanys

       When you think Breakfast at Tiffany's, you either think of eating pancakes at a jewelry store - or you think of Audrey Hepburn sweeping across the screen majestically in a gorgeous Givenchy gown, to the sounds of buck toothed and slant eyed Mickey Rooney in novelty Hirohito glasses screaming "Ms Gorightry, I muss plotest!". I'm paraphrasing Douglas Carter Beane, but you get the drift.

      Breakfast at Tiffany's  though based on a novella by Truman Capote - is forever linked in the American Psyche to the one and only Audrey Hepburn. This is one of the key reasons that the show has never worked anywhere else. The other thing you think of is the academy award winning song MOON RIVER.

        The first time Breakfast at Tiffany's was attempted for the stage it was done as a musical and lyrics by Bob Merrill (Funny girl) and book by Edward Albee (Tons of great shit), who replaced the original book by Abe Burrows (tons of other really good shit). The show was a huge flop and closed after only four preview performances, and never officially opened. Mary Tyler Moore played the title role of Breakfast.

       There was a London production (non musical) with a script by Samuel Adamson in the fall of 2009. This production was directed by Sean Mathius and closed after four months. Mathius obviously still believed in the project, because he called in Tony award winning playwright Richard Greenberg to re adapt Truman Capote's original novella for a Broadway bow.

       This time we are given Emilia Clarke (HBO's Game of Thrones) in the role of Holly Golightly, Broadway newcomer Corey Michael Smith as Fred, and Broadway and TV Veteran George Wendt (Norm!) as Joe Bell. Sean Mathius is again at the helm.

       Friends and readers, I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that this was the worst play that I have ever seen in my entire life of going to the theater. Let me just think about a minute to be sure...... nope, the worst. It starts off with a strange framing device that makes no sense, and then goes into the (boring and long winded) story of how they got to that point.

       The script by Richard Greenberg would probably be better on the page than it was on the stage. There are some admittedly nice moments in the script, but they are bogged down by Sean Mathius's addled direction and lack of fluidity. The performers are doing their best (mostly), but Ms. Clarke has been miscast.

       Emilia Clarke is a lovely girl. She is also not a bad actress. In the hands of a more competent director she probably would have fared much better. Unfortunately, there is no way to NOT compare her to Audrey Hepburn. And Audrey Hepburn she ain't. Even judging the performance on it's own merits she is speaking with a strange accent, and her mannerisms are manic to the point of exasperation.

       Corey Michael Smith does a better job of selling shit as shine-ola but even he is weighted down by his numerous breaking of the fourth wall monologues and strange film noir type scene connectors. The rest of the cast has basically just given up and is waiting for the show to be over. Some characters are so unnecessary and confusing you spend a good minute trying to figure out what the hell just happened. And don't even get me started on the bath tub scene in act II.

       Derek McLane's set and Colleen Atwoods costumes do their jobs and nothing more. Each piece is functional, if nothing more. The lighting designs by Peter Kaczorowski are a true bright spot, and this shows only real chance of a Tony nomination. The best actor in the show was the cat who played Cat.

   Breakfast at Tiffany's closed on Broadway at The Cort Theater on Sunday April 21st, 2013 after 17 previews and 38 regular performances.

Cat on a hot tin roof

        This seemed to be the year of reviving Pulitzer prize winning plays. Not only that, but the year for reviving Pulitzer prize winning plays that have already been revived within the past decade. We had revivals of Picnic, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof all of which have had major revivals in the past 10-15 years. In the case of Cat this was the third revival in 10 years.

       Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a Tennessee Williams classic. It is a wonderful play that concerns the rocky marriage of Maggie, the aforementioned Cat and Brick, a former athlete who is drinking himself to death of the death of a beloved friend. For those who are unfamiliar, it is a brilliant southern family melodrama filled with beautifully written scenes and speeches.

       Scarlet Johansson  returns triumphantly to Broadway following her Tony Award winning turn in the Arthur Miller classic A View From the Bridge. I am pleased to report that that performance was not a fluke, and that Ms. Johansson has true stage craft and is giving a bravura performance. Her performance is certainly worthy of another Tony nomination, and were this not a very crowded year for leading female performances she would be a shoe-in.

       Making his Broadway play debut in the role of Brick is Benjamin Walker, who previously graced the great white way in the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Walker and Johansson have a chemistry that builds to boiling point from the very first time they share the stage together. Walker fills brick with an ambivalence that is layered over a deep pain and yearning.

      Ciaran Hinds and Debra Monk are perfectly cast as Big Daddy and Big Mama, respectfully. They both display a tenacity and vibrancy that proves there is more to there nick names than their physical size. Hinds especially packs a powerful emotional punch as the near death patriarch of this large southern family. Michael Park and Emily Bergl due their duty as Bricks more successful and ambitious brother Gooper, and his sickeningly sweet wife Mae.

       Rob Ashford isn't a great director, and unfortunately it shows here. While the pace is good, and each the actors are doing their best to elevate the direction, Ashford has muddled the scenes and the landscape. As though to exacerbate the theme that Maggie and Bricks marital problems are sexual, the bed is center stage for the entire production. Christopher Oram's birdcage like set design, complete with draping curtains and wooden arches is pretty to look at but doesn't do much to support the action.

    On the whole this was a completely unnecessary revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. While the performances were adequate (for the most part) the entire production seemed to lack any life of it's own. This production of Cat closed on Broadway at The Richard Rogers Theater on March 30th, 2013 after 34 previews and 84 regular performances.

The Book of Mormon - National Tour

        This might seem hard to believe, but there was a time when it wasn't all that difficult to get a ticket to The Book of Mormon. During the it's month long preview process, it was actually on TKTS a number of times. It wasn't until the show officially opened to glowing reviews that tickets became impossible to come by.
     Since I try not to see shows until they open, this left me not seeing The Book of Mormon for a very long time. I have still not seen the show on Broadway. As a Christmas present my father bought my husband and I tickets to see the national tour when it stopped at The Boston Opera House.
       The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries on their two year long quest to convert others in a small town in Uganda to the Mormon faith. I'm not going to go into greater detail about what happens, because if you've seen the show than you know, and if you haven't seen the show I'm not going to be the one to spoil the jokes for you.
       I found a lot of the jokes funnier the day after I saw the show rather than while I was watching it. Now that I know what to expect, I'd like to see it again. I think I may enjoy it a bit more upon a second viewing. The cast of the national tour is very talented.
      As Elder Price, Mark Evens is wonderful. He is charming, and arrogant at the same time. He gives Elder Price a likability that fights against his natural selfishness. Samantha Marie Ware as Nabalungi has a beautiful voice that belts to the rafters. She is able to play innocence and worldliness at the same time. Grey Henson steals quite a few scenes as Elder McKinley, and his tap dancing skills are fabulous! Christopher John O'Neill is doing his best as Elder Cunnigham, however it's difficult not to feel at times as though he is doing his best Josh Gad impression. Some of his characterization feels forced and unnatural.
     Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw have done an impeccable job as co-directors. Every scene is brilliantly staged and the Choreography is some of the best Casey Nicholaw has ever done. Scott Pask's set design is functional as well as tongue in cheek. Ann Roth and Brian MacDevitt have both designed spectacular costume and lighting plots, respectfully.
      If you have not seen The Book of Mormon, I do not recommend seeing the show with your parents, unless you have a very special and open relationship. I also would not recommend bringing anyone under the age of 16 unless you really don't care what your kids see or hear.
     The Book of Mormon is currently running on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill theater. It is also out on tour and playing an extended sit down engagement in Chicago. The London production just opened to ecstatic reviews and smashed box office records.

Annie

        I have to admit something right from the start. I don't hate Annie. I know, I know, it's over done, and there is always some untalented 10 year old girl somewhere in the world belting out Tomorrow to the rafters. Not only do I not hate Annie I secretly actually enjoy it. There I said - I like Annie!

        What isn't to like, really? The Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin score is infectious. The book by Tom Meehan is delightful. The characters are three dimensional (well, maybe two and a half), and the story is well crafted (for the most part, the ending has always bothered me). So, the question has to be asked, why is   Annie so hard to get right?

       The revival currently on offer over The Palace Theater has gotten a lot of things right. First of all, Lila Crawford, who plays the title character, is fantastic and giving a star making performance. She is incredibly endearing in the role, and brings a hard edge and softness at the same time which is a joy to watch. She has chemistry with everyone she interacts with onstage, and exudes charm as if it were the air she were breathing out.

       Equally as wonderful is Anthony Warlow in the role of Oliver "daddy" Warbucks. He has a the necessary tough outer shell, and is a fierce presence. That outer shell is quickly melted by that lovable read headed orphan and the process unfolds neatly before our eyes and Warlow makes it easy every step of the way.

      The orphans have been carefully selected to represents a cross section of the melting pot of America. They all sing and dance their little mom and dad wanting hearts out to great effect. It seems as though some of the dialogue, and some of their little idiosyncrasies have been cut (Tessie never utters a single "Oh my goodness!")

       The choreography is effective if not exuberant. It's certainly not Andy Blankenbuehler's best work, but it does the job that it's intended to do. Jame's Lapine's direction is some what bland. In most places the humor is so broad that you almost feel as though you are seeing the live action version of a cartoon (technically, we ARE seeing the live action version of a cartoon, but it seems as though the characters don't realize that they are no longer, in fact, animated).

      Kate Finneran is a fine actress. She is hysterical and I adore her. That being said - she is stinking up the place royally in the role of Miss Hannigan. Her portrayal is too over the top. You don't believe a word she says, she being miss Finneran and not Miss Hannigan. Also, her face is so sweet and her personality so winning that she seems to be too nice to be doing any of this.

       Even more confusing is the casting of the role of Lily St. Regis. The role is being played by the very talented and funny J. Elaine Marcos. She is an Asian actress, and I applaud the producers for going non traditional and color blind for some of the roles. Unfortunately, because Lily masks as Annie's mother the whole thing falls apart in act II. The reason it falls apart is NOT because she is Asian, but because she is using an Asian (nondescript) accent in Act I and then dropping it in act II. It's funny in Act I, but then becomes confusing in Act II. It would have been better for the actress to use her normal speaking voice through the whole play.

   Overall the production is lukewarm at best. The performances from Lila Crawford and Anthony Warlow are definitely worth seeing. The set and costumes are a bit disappointing. The opulence of the Warbucks estate seems to be recession era. The costumes look too much like costumes.

    There is a 40 lottery for front row seats. I did this, and the night that I went (a Friday) there were more tickets than people so we all got seats. I don't recommend doing this unless you have no other option. You will spend the entire show craning your neck, and you wont see most people below the waist. Some of the shorter orphans you wont see below the neck.

     In may Jane Lynch will be taking over the role of Miss Hannigan and I intend to return to see her Broadway debut. You can expect an updated blog entry when that happens.

  Annie opened on Broadway at The Palace Theater on November 8 2012 and is still running as of the date of this blog entry.

Picnic

      The Roundabout Theater company has revived William Inge's Pulitzer prize winning play Picnic on Broadway for the second time in as many decades. This production marks the fourth time the play has been done on Broadway (so far). We have been given a traditional production with not much new going on except for the casting.

     Each making their Broadway debut's, Maggie Grace (Lost, and the Taken franchise) and Sebastian Stan (most recently of Once upon a Time) are giving a great effort as Madge and Hal, respectively, with not much result. The center of the play hinges in our believing that these two young people have fallen madly in love with each other in a short period of time. Both of these individuals are not bad on screen (Stan is markedly better both on screen and on stage). They have absolutely no chemistry toward each other, and it ruins the dynamic of the play from beginning to end.

     Not only do these two important characters have any relation to each other, it doesn't seem as though the supporting cast are all acting in the same production of the play. Each actor is giving a fine performance, but there doesn't seem to be any cohesion, and the characters seem to be living in different worlds, orbiting around each other without belonging to the same galaxy.

    Elizabeth Marvel is giving an exquisite performance as Rosemary Sydney, an older teacher renting a room from Madge's mother. Her conviction and her comedy coupled with her economy of movement is breath taking. Equally fantastic in their roles are Ellen Burstyn (who reminded me very much of my Nana), and Mare Winnigham.

     This was not a bad revival of a great play. This was a mediocre revival of good play. There is some fantastic writing in Picnic and then there is some stuff that doesn't quite stand the test of time. The younger members of the cast as a whole were unable to believably sell the dated speech in a way that made you want to buy it.

     Picnic closed on Broadway at The American Airlines Theater on February 24th, 2013. The production played 36 previews and 49 regular performances. Picnic was directed by Sam Gold. Set design was by Andrew Lieberman, and costumes were designed by David Zinn. The lighting design for Picnic was done by Jane Cox.