One has to hand it to the Tony nominators: They didn’t follow conventional wisdom nor did they particularly pay heed to commercial considerations.
Indeed, some of the biggest noms went to shows that are either long gone (“Ragtime,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play,” “Time Stands Still”) or lagging at the boxoffice (“Fela!” “Memphis,” “Next Fall,” “Million Dollar Quartet”).
The biggest surprises Tuesday were the omissions.
“The Addams Family,” the most successful new musical of the season, was thoroughly dissed, failing to get noms for best musical, for its stars Nathan Lane or Bebe Neuwirth, or even for its production design. And though it did get one for original score, that’s not exactly a coup in a season in which only one other musical, “Memphis,” even had one. The category had to be embarrassingly filled out with the forgettable music from “Enron” and Branford Marsalis’ incidental music for “Fences.”
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Given similarly short shrift were such hit shows as Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra-themed dance musical “Come Fly Away” and “American Idiot,” based on the 2004 Green Day album. The former failed to snag a best musical nom, getting mentions for only the choreography and the featured performers. Although the latter did score in the top category, it was pretty much ignored everywhere else, with the direction, book and performances going unrecognized.
They can’t be too happy over at “Promises, Promises,” either. The show lost out on a best musical revival nom, with lead actress Kristin Chenoweth snubbed as well. The highly touted “Enron,” a major critical and commercial success in London, went missing in all the major categories.
On the other hand, plenty of shows did have reasons to cheer.
“La Cage aux Folles” and “Fela!” scored huge, with 11 noms apiece. “Memphis” was a surprise juggernaut, with eight noms, many in major categories, and “Million Dollar Quartet” received an upset best musical nom. And despite closing early this season at a tremendous financial loss, the revival of “Ragtime” received seven noms.
There was plenty of love for movie and TV stars coming to Broadway, with acting noms going to such notables as Denzel Washington (best performance by a leading actor in a play for “Fences”), Scarlett Johansson (featured actress in a play for “A View From the Bridge”), Jude Law (leading actor in a play for “Hamlet”), Christopher Walken (leading actor in a play for “A Behanding in Spokane”), Kelsey Grammer (leading actor in a musical for “La Cage”), Sean Hayes (leading actor in a musical for “Promises, Promises”) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (leading actress in a musical for “A Little Night Music”).
The competition was so fierce that neither Hugh Jackman nor Daniel Craig, widely lauded for their turns in the boxoffice behemoth “A Steady Rain,” received noms.
But none of those big names got quite as much attention as stage veteran Jan Maxwell, who received noms for best actress in a play (“The Royal Family”) and best featured actress (“Lend Me a Tenor”).
Some of the more interesting races include leading actor in a musical, with co-stars and onstage lovers Grammer and Douglas Hodge competing against each other for “La Cage”; featured actress in a musical, in which octogenarians Barbara Cook (“Sondheim on Sondheim”) and Angela Lansbury (“Night Music”) face off; and best play revival, featuring “Fences” and “A View From the Bridge,” two huge critical and commercial hits.
The Tonys will be presented on June 13 in a ceremony at Radio City Music Hall televised by CBS.
A complete of the 2010 Tony Award nominee follows:
Best Play
“In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play”
Author: Sarah Ruhl
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, Andre Bishop, Bernard Gersten
“Next Fall”
Author: Geoffrey Nauffts
Producers: Elton John and David Furnish, Barbara Manocherian, Richard Willis, Tom Smedes, Carole L. Haber/Chase Mishkin, Ostar, Anthony Barrile, Michael Palitz, Bob Boyett, James Spry/Catherine Schreiber, Probo Productions, Roy Furman, Naked Angels
“Red”
Author: John Logan
Producers: Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie P. McClelland, Matthew Byam Shaw, Neal Street, Fox Theatricals, Ruth Hendel/Barbara Whitman, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, The Donmar Warehouse
“Time Stands Still”
Author: Donald Margulies
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Nelle Nugent/Wendy Federman
Best Musical
“American Idiot”
Producers: Tom Hulce & Ira Pittelman, Ruth and Steven Hendel, Vivek J. Tiwary and Gary Kaplan, Aged in Wood and Burnt Umber, Scott Delman, Latitude Link, HOP Theatricals and Jeffrey Finn, Larry Welk, Bensinger Filerman and Moellenberg Taylor, Allan S. Gordon/Elan V. McAllister, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Awaken Entertainment, John Pinckard and John Domo
“Fela!”
Producers: Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glaser, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment, Alicia Keys
“Memphis”
Producers: Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, Richard Winkler, Lauren Doll, Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group, ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee
“Million Dollar Quartet”
Producers: Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, James L. Nederlander
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”
Producers: Carole Shorenstein Hays and Scott Rudin
“Lend Me a Tenor”
Producers: The Araca Group, Stuart Thompson, Carl Moellenberg, Rodney Rigby, Olympus Theatricals, Broadway Across America, The Shubert Organization, Wendy Federman/Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Lisa Cartwright, Spring Sirkin, Scott and Brian Zeilinger
“The Royal Family”
Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove
“A View from the Bridge”
Producers: Stuart Thompson, The Araca Group, Jeffrey Finn, Broadway Across America, Olympus Theatricals, Marisa Sechrest, The Weinstein Company, Jon B. Platt, Sonia Friedman Productions/Robert G. Bartner, Mort Swinsky/Joseph Deitch, Adam Zotovich/Ruth Hendel/Orin Wolf, Shelter Island Enterprises, The Shubert Organization
Best Revival of a Musical
“Finian’s Rainbow”
Producers: David Richenthal, Jack Viertel, Alan D. Marks, Michael Speyer, Bernard Abrams, David M. Milch, Stephen Moore, Debbie Bisno/Myla Lerner, Jujamcyn Theaters, Melly Garcia, Jamie deRoy, Jon Bierman, Richard Driehaus, Kevin Spirtas, Jay Binder, StageVentures 2009 Limited Partnership
“La Cage aux Folles”
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Barry and Fran Weissler and Edwin W. Schloss, Bob Bartner/Norman Tulchin, Broadway Across America, Matthew Mitchell, Raise The Roof 4 Richard Winkler/Bensinger Taylor/Laudenslager Bergrere, Arelene Scanlan/John O’Boyle, Independent Presenters Network, Olympus Theatricals, Allen Spivak, Jerry Frankel/Bat-Barry Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Inc/Harvey Weinstein, Menier Chocolate Factory
“A Little Night Music”
Producers: Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, The Menier Chocolate Factory, Roger Berlind, David Babani, Sonia Friedman Productions, Andrew Fell, Daryl Roth/Jane Bergere, Harvey Weinstein/Raise the Roof 3, Beverly Bartner/Dancap Productions, Inc., Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Eric Falkenstein/Anna Czekaj, Jerry Frankel/Ronald Frankel, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer
“Ragtime”
Producers: Kevin McCollum, Roy Furman, Scott Delman, Roger Berlind, Max Cooper, Tom Kirdahy/Devin Elliott, Jeffrey A. Sine, Stephanie P. McClelland, Roy Miller, Lams Productions, Jana Robbins, Sharon Karmazin, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, RialtoGals Productions, Independent Presenters Network, Held-Haffner Productions, HRH Foundation, Emanuel Azenberg, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Michael Kaiser, Max Woodward
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 Jesus, “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
Barbara Cook, “Sondheim on Sondheim”
Katie Finneran, “Promises, Promises”
Angela Lansbury, “A Little Night Music”
Karine Plantadit, “Come Fly Away”
Lillia White, “Fela!”
Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, “The Royal Family”
Alexander Dodge, “Present Laughter”
Santo Loquasto, “Fences”
Christopher Oram, “Red”
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, “Fela!”
Christine Jones, “American Idiot”
Derek McLane, “Ragtime”
Tim Shortall, “La Cage aux Folles”
Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz, “Lend Me a Tenor”
Constanza Romero, “Fences”
David Zinn, “In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play”
Catherine Zuber, “The Royal Family”
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, “Fela!”
Santo Loquasto, “Ragtime”
Paul Tazewell, “Memphis”
Matthew Wright, “La Cage aux Folles”
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, “Hamlet”
Neil Austin, “Red”
Mark Henderson, “Enron”
Brian MacDevitt, “Fences”
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, “American Idiot”
Donald Holder, “Ragtime”
Nick Richings, “La Cage aux Folles”
Robert Wierzel, “Fela!”
Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners, “Fences”
Adam Cork, “Enron”
Adam Cork, “Red”
Scott Lehrer, “A View from the Bridge”
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, “La Cage aux Folles”
Robert Kaplowitz, “Fela!”
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, “A Little Night Music”
Dan Moses Schreier, “Sondheim on Sondheim”
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, “Red”
Sheryl Kaller, “Next Fall”
Kenny Leon, “Fences”
Gregory Mosher, “A View from the Bridge”
Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley, “Memphis”
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, “Ragtime”
Terry Johnson, “La Cage aux Folles”
Bill T. Jones, “Fela!”
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, “Promises, Promises”
Bill T. Jones, “Fela!”
Lynne Page, “La Cage aux Folles”
Twyla Tharp, “Come Fly Away”
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, “La Cage aux Folles”
Aaron Johnson, “Fela!”
Jonathan Tunick, “Promises, Promises”
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, “Memphis”
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Alan Ayckbourn
Marian Seldes
Regional Theatre Tony Award
The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut
Isabelle Stevenson Award
David Hyde Pierce
Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre
Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
B.H. Barry
Tom Viola
