Stage Door: Tony Award Nominations

They're here. The 2012 Tony Award nominations. For your perusal and discussion the nominee list. Unfortunately this year I saw relatively few shows: Follies (genius), Porgy & Bess (strong), Bonnie & Clyde (errrr). The stage adaptation of the film musical Once (2007) led the nominations with 11. I still haven't seen it (sniffle) but I love the film. Porgy & Bess is close behind with 10 nominations including a possible record-tying fifth win from the one and only Audra McDonald.

Audra McDonald & Norm Lewis (sensational) in Porgy & Bess

Best Play

• Clybourne Park
• Other Desert Cities
• Peter and the Starcatcher
• Venus in Fur

 Best Musical

• Leap of Faith
• Newsies
• Nice Work If You Can Get It
• Once

Yes, three movie adaptations out of four. 75% which is about right given what gets produced these days.

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
• Master Class
• Wit

Best Revival of a Musical

•  Evita
• Follies
• The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
• Jesus Christ Superstar

 Bernadette Peters Loses Her Mind -- she's the only lead Follies player without a nomination

Three of the four have had movie adaptations made of them. Only Follies remains cinema-free... but it's such a genius work of theater, would it really transfer. You'd need some major retooling. But smart respectful of the source material and themes retooling. 

Best Book of a Musical

• Lysistrata Jones -Douglas Carter Beane
• Newsies -Harvey Fierstein
• Nice Work If You Can Get It -Joe DiPietro
• Once -Enda Walsh

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

• Bonnie & Clyde Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics: Don Black
• Newsies Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Jack Feldman
• One Man, Two Guvnors Music & Lyrics: Grant Olding
• Peter and the Starcatcher Music: Wayne Barker
  Lyrics: Rick Elice

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

James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man
Frank Langella, Man and Boy
John Lithgow, The Columnist

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

Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin, The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon, Wit

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

Danny Burstein, Follies
Jeremy Jordan, Newsies
Steve Kazee, Once
Norm Lewis, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines, Follies

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

Jan Maxwell, Follies
Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti, Once
Kelli O’Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde

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

Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park

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

Linda Emond, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher
Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad, Stick Fly

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

Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris, Evita
David Alan Grier, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar

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

Elizabeth A. Davis, Once
Jayne Houdyshell, Follies
Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Jessie Mueller, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost the Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, Other Desert Cities
Daniel Ostling, Clybourne Park
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
Donyale Werle, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Bob Crowley, Once
Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll, Ghost the Musical
Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel, Newsies
George Tsypin, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark

Isn't it surprising to remember that Spider-Man was actually this year (given its insane refusal to "open")

Best Costume Design of a Play

William Ivey Long, Don’t Dress for Dinner
Paul Tazewell, A Streetcar Named Desire
Mark Thompson, One Man, Two Guvnors
Paloma Young, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Follies
ESosa, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark
Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher
Peter Kaczorowski, The Road to Mecca
Brian MacDevitt, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Kenneth Posner, Other Desert Cities

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Christopher Akerlind, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Natasha Katz, Follies
Natasha Katz, Once
Hugh Vanstone, Ghost the Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play

Paul Arditti, One Man, Two Guvnors
Scott Lehrer, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Gareth Owen, End of the Rainbow
Darron L. West, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Clive Goodwin, Once
Kai Harada, Follies
Brian Ronan, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, Evita
Christopher Gattelli, Newsies
Steven Hoggett, Once
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It

Best Direction of a Play

Nicholas Hytner, One Man, Two Guvnors
Pam MacKinnon, Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun, Newsies
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Diane Paulus, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
John Tiffany, Once

Best Orchestrations

William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Bill Elliott, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Martin Lowe, Once
Danny Troob, Newsies

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Emanuel Azenberg

Regional Theatre Award

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Bernadette Peters

Special Tony Award

Actors’ Equity Association

Hugh Jackman

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

Freddie Gershon

Artie Siccardi

TDF Open Doors

Comments

[Alejandro]

Nina Arianda and Jan Maxwell For the Win, PLEASE. Otherwise I'm pretty meh about these.

[Robert G]

Leap of Faith must have had a great campaign about how well that show will tour across America to get nominated.

I'd like to point out that Julie Taymor is not nominated for costume design even though she personally made all the villains' masks for the production. I want Spider-Man to win costumes just so Eiko Ishioka can win a Tony award. Nice Work will probably win that category since it's running and filled with costumes, but Ishioka really did some beautiful work for a now-terribly mediocre musical. If only the flying and rotating Arachne spider costume didn't get pulled from the show. She'd be a lock to win for that alone.

[James]

Hmm what are your thoughts on Laura Osnes? She's always seemed so bland when I've watched clips of her in shows. It probably doesn't help her case that she got the single most boring character in Anything Goes. Is this a deserving nomination or one of those "you've been at it for awhile now we should welcome you in?"

Also, it is sometimes a relief to see the category confusion runs across all the mediums. Josh Young as Judas certainly should qualify as lead (co-lead?) of Jesus Christ Superstar. He gets one of the most iconic songs and the story focuses so much on him.

[John T]

I'm a little stunned that Peters got left out in favor of Osnes, particularly considering one is a stage legend and the other got started on a reality television show and B&C was hardly what one could consider a "strong" musical.

I'm feeling pretty good this morning though-I saw six of the nominated revivals (including all four musicals), and 16 of the 40 nominated performances (I did best in Featured Actor in a Musical, oddly enough, seeing everyone but McGrath), and at least one in each category.

As far as predictions for the win (haven't decided 100% on the should), my guesses would be:

Play: Other Desert Cities
Musical: Newsies (though Once's strong nod count may push it to a win)
Rev of a Play: Death of a Salesman (Scott Rudin gets yet another Tony, his ninth, to go with the pile of other hardware the EGOT-ter has)
Rev of a Musical: Follies
Actor (Musical): I think Jordan takes it, but Lewis is very strong and well-liked in the industry, and the Follies men will probably split.
Actress (Musical): If Follies were still on Broadway, the 4-time loser Jan Maxwell would have a shot, but I think 4-time winner McDonald probably has this thing wrapped up.
Actor (Play): Hoffman in an easy case of "at least one movie star needs to win" and it's not like he doesn't have stage credentials.
Actress (Play): Channing hasn't won a trophy in 27 years, and I think it's a race between she and Bennett to see if that streak continues.
F. Actor (Musical): Boykin's getting raves, but I wonder if Cerveris manages to win for being generally considered the best thing about Evita.
F. Actress (Musical): One of the Follies stars has to win, and Houdyshell brought the house down with her number.
F. Actor (Play): I'm tempted to go with Garfield in a ScarJo sort of situation, but I think that that left a bad taste in Broadway's mouth and it'll be Borle.
F. Actress (Play): Light vs. Emond, in my opinion-too close to call, imo-this'll be one of the best races of the night.

[Nick Davis]

Well, Bernadette is getting the Isabelle Stevenson. I think that still counts as a good night.

Exciting that Best Actress (Play) is so competitive. And really glad Clybourne Park didn't sweep.

[Peter]

'Peter and the Starcatcher', 'Newsies', 'Death of Salesman' and 'Follies' FTW!

Best closest race to me is the top prize Musical and Play prizes and lead actor in a Musical. Both Jordan and Kazee were fantastic in very different works.

[3rtful]

Garfield Tony winner while a never-was Oscar nominee...just like ScarJo

[DJDeeJay]

I imagine Best Actress-Play will be a close one. I've only seen Arianda (who was - and I don't use this word lightly here - amazing), but Channing and Bennett are apparently also giving iconic performances as well. I'm bummed Hugh Dancy wasn't also recognized, but it's understandable as he a) had to compete with Arianda's star turn and b) Best Actor-Play is already full with heavyweight performances/performers.

And Streetcar is practically shut out! Ouch.

[DJDeeJay]

Oh, and between this and "Smash," Christian Borle is having a pretty great year, huh?

[Troy H.]

When I saw "Porgy and Bess" in December, I called nominations for McDonald, Lewis, and Grier, but I was taken by surprise by Boykin. Considering McDonald has never won for a leading performance, I wouldn't be shocked if this year continued that trend despite the unanimous praise for her work.

As for Peters's exclusion, I heard from quite a few people that "Follies" was far from her best. The fact that the American Theatre Wing chose this year to honor her with a special award clearly did her no favors in the competitive categories.

[Dave in Alamitos Beach]

I've seen Spider-Man and I think two nominations is generous. ;-) At least they were the correct two nominations if Scenic Design is akin to Best Visual Effects. Ishioka for the win!

I have to think that Audra will win her award since that voice is one in a million.

How old is Jeremy Jordan? Is he a kid or can he really win?

I think Ricky Martin is sad this morning.

[Peggy Sue]

I would love to see Stockard Chaning in "Other Desert Cities". I'm glad for Judith Light and Linda Emond too, but overall this looks like a weaker season compared to last year.

I've heard nothing but praises about "One Man, Two Guvnors". The two actors may win.

[Marcos]

As an Argentinian I would have like to see Elena Roger nominated for Evita. But I understand her reviews were not unanimously favorable. Additionally, the Best Actress in a Musical category is crowded with some impressive talent... not to mention the fact that Peters was left out!

[Alejandro]

I thought Peters was the weak link in Follies--despite what I thought was a bold acting choice with Sally. She just could not sing the score. It was quite painful to hear her crack through many of the songs that sat in a very awkward part of her voice. Not to mention the rubato on "In Buddy's Eyes" made the song last an eternity. The only other vocal misfires in that show was Elaine Paige and her insane backphrasing of "I'm Still Here" and Mary Beth Piel unable to hit the high notes in "Ah, Paris!" Otherwise everyone else did right by the score.

[Alejandro]

There's a grammatical error in my last post. I should have proofread.

[Jack]

All three actors from Death of a Salesman have a chance of winning and I think each would be deserved (especially, to me, Andrew Garfield whose end breakdown shook the entire audience I was with to their core).

[Pam]

How can John Lithgow be nominated for The Columnist if the play just opened last week?. Do previews count? I guess I don't understand the Tony nomination timeline. Or perhaps the play is produced by the Weinstein Company???

And, seriously, Newsies? Didn't see the show in NYC, but I remember the movie. And Christian Bale wants to claim Newsies like Tina Louise wants to claim Gilligan's Island. Ouch. Dreadful movie and music!

[Joe K]

Given that I don't live in New York, I haven't seen any of these. That being said, I'm rooting for Andrew Garfield, if only because I'm still hurt and confused by his 2010 Oscar snub.

[Robert G]

Dave, Jeremy Jordan is 27. He won't win because he's a male lead in a Disney show. If they nominated him for Bonnie & Clyde, he would have had a chance.

Laura Osnes is like the ingenue version of Sherie Rene Scott. What she does onstage does not translate to video. She commands your attention as soon as she walks onstage and can convey so much emotion without physically doing much onstage. She was a terrible Sandy in Grease because she couldn't really sing that style of music. But since then, she's done more traditional theater stuff and killed it. She's going to be a magnificent Cinderella in the Broadway debut of the Rodgers & Hammerstein production next winter.

[Gabriel Oak]

Nate, If you loved Once the film as I did, you will probably love the show, too, which does total justice to the beautiful songs. I saw the show three times off Broadway because I was able to get a special discount. And once on Broadway, also on a discount. Try to sit as close as possible. This is an intimate show. And don't miss Steve Kazee as the Guy.

[Gabriel Oak]

I think Steve Kazee may be the surprise win for best musical actor though a lot of people think Danny Burstein is going to win.

[Jesse]

NO nomination for BERNADETTE PETERS?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All other comments I could possibly make have been blown away by this startling fact. I am gobsmacked into silence.

Isabelle Stevenson Award aside, not nominating her for Follies is total crap.

What WERE they thinking???

[Evan]

Haven't seen all the nominees, but I'd be happy with wins by Jeremy Jordan (bonafide star), Other Desert Cities, Judith Light, and Jayne Houdyshell. Like John T says, Houdyshell's performance was a standout.

Looking forward to seeing Once and Evita-- have tickets next week!-- and hopefully The Best Man and Peter and the Starcatcher sometime soon.

[Evan]

Pam, Newsies is actually really, really fun. It has some lulls (mostly related to the adult characters), but the dancing and Jordan are spectacular.

As for Andrew Garfield, I agree with the person above that his big scene towards the end was a sight to behold. But he was overacting a bit for the first half of the show (or so I thought) and I couldn't help but feeling that he was miscast. He and Finn Wittrock should have switched parts.

[denny]

Bernadette Peters getting snubbed, presumably in favor of Laura Osnes in that utterly shite Bonnie & Clyde musical, is a travesty. What that woman was able to with Losing My Mind was nothing short of spectacular. I was a puddle by the end. I am disappointed that only one of the many fabulous ensemble ladies made it into the "Featured Actress" category, but Houdyshell was the right one to break through, I guess.

GOD, I loved Follies. Jan Maxwell should win the Tony, but as Audra has never won a Lead Tony, she'll make the record books with her win.

I'm pulling for ONCE for the big sweep, though. That show is magical.

Also sad that Tyne Daly didn't make it into Leading Actress in a Play for Master Class, especially since it got in for Best Revival. If you didn't see it, that play basically IS the lady in that part. And Tyne completely transformed, giving three long, searing monologues and nailing the comedy like only a showbiz legend can. A true bravura performance.

[NATHANIEL R]

denny -- yeah the Osnes nomination is mystifying. Bonnie & Clyde just didn't work and though I think Osnes was the best thing in it, that still isn't saying a lot. That said, Follies is actually my least favorite Bernadette performance (other than her completely awesome Losing My Mind)

[Philip]

Damn, all of Whoopi's big roles really have been awards magnets on the stage hahha.

[Steve]

Steve Kazee gives an utterly daring, soul-baring performance in ONCE. It's the kind of revelation we hope to see every time we come to the theater, but leave so frequently missing its evanescence we forget by the time we exit its doors. Truly stirring original, unselfconscious acting. If it were in the straight play category, he'd even win. His performance of the musical numbers, his ferocity on the guitar and the freeness of his voice, screams with the passion and heartache that his otherwise very interior work so surely establishes.

Simply put, Mr. Kazee (and this entire show) is the kind of game-changer that theater writers, actors, directors, designers, and producers should feel challenged by. Forget "rock musicals" that fail to take off from the nether-regions of "Rent" -- like "Book of Mormon" was to the musical comedy last year, so is "ONCE" the Holy Grail for musical drama.

I unfortunately missed Cristin Millioti the performance I attended, but I hope to get back soon to do so. Elizabeth A. Davis's nomination in the featured category should speak on behalf of the entire ensemble -- greatest work achieved by a full-sized cast since AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY and without a doubt an unparalleled achievement in ensemble performing in musical theater.

[Peggy Sue]

I don't know about you, but my first introduction to "Losing my Mind" was Liza's rendition in "Results". It's such a great song!

[John T]

Philip-I thought the same thing-La Chanze, Patina Miller, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph have been nominated for it-what's the next Whoopi role they should transfer to Broadway?

[Johnny H.]

No mention of Elaine Paige in Follies? Hell I can't believe she's never been nominated and the douchebags at the Tonys just overlooked her.

[Alex]

Whenever I see stuff for that Bonnie & Clyde musical, I can't help but flashback to Greg Kinnear and Meryl Streep performing that number at the end of "Stuck On You"

[Rich]

The biggest snub is Hugh Dancy from Venus in Fur not being nominated for best lead actor in a play. Give me a break. Nina Arianda is nominated , as she should be and it is up for best play. But it is a two person play and she has to be acting against someone. He was amazing and equally deserving of a nomination , if not a win , certainly over John Lithgow in the columnist. And what about the director?

And none of the Women from Clybourn Park could be nominated for best supporting actress in a play over Linda Emond. I love Linda but not in death of a Salesman. And why is Salesman closing in early June before the Tonys. Someone making a movie or something. It is such a great revival, why not recast the role of who ever is leaving.

There are some really tough catagories so it will be interesteing to see. Too bad much of it often seems to be political or based on the business of Broadway rather than who is deserving.

[Evan]

John T-- how about her role in Rat Race? ;-)

[denny]

Nathaniel,

Osnes really was the best thing about Bonnie & Clyde. I just can't imagine why they would want to honor that show at all. If you want to honor someone for killing a lead performance in a flop musical, give it to Patti Murin or Liz Mikael from Lysistrata Jones.

And really? Sally is your least favorite Bernadette performance? I hate you for making me say this out loud on the internet, but Mama Rose is my least favorite performance of hers. She was completely miscast in that role.

[Marcos]

Johnny H. Follies is only Elaine Paige's second appearance in a Broadway play. She was the last Norma Desmond for the original production of Sunset Blvd. As she was a replacement, she was not eligible.

[Nathaniel R]

denny -- well with Bernadette i'm grading on a curve. Because i always love her. But in Follies I loved her least. I think the timing was off or something. I saw it twice and both times I felt she weighted the scenes down too much, "not going left. not going right" would be an apt description since everything felt so hesitant and molasses-like. It may have been a character choice but i didn't think it worked for the show. But, that said, LOSING MY MIND was perfection both times.

[denny]

Nathaniel, it's been my experience with Follies that the character of Sally tends to do that. I actually found Bernadette more fleet with the role than other performances I've seen, even though she didn't completely escape the trap ("In Buddy's Eyes" was a low point of this production for me, which is odd because she sounded much better when I heard her sing that in concert). And I too, always love her. I also probably caught her on a high: the last performance. Everyone's energy was so ridiculously high, and the audience and performers fed off each other in the most amazing way.