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So maybe the Oscars aren’t actually watched by a “billion” people each year. The audience is still ginormous compared to the Tonys. Even so, the Tonys are as big as it gets for American theater, and this morning the mostly predictable nominations were handed out at the Times Square Marriott Marquis. For play, you’ve got Democracy, Doubt, The Pillowman, and Gem of the Ocean. Musical: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Light in the Piazza, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Spamalot, in the first of its 14 nods. The same musicals are all nominated for best book and best music; best play revival and best musical revival have no surprises either, though Gothamist’s eyebrows were raised a bit at the inclusion of Sweet Charity, which barely opened May 4, which was the cutoff date for Tony nominations. Considering how touchy theater publicists are about having their shows watched and reviewed before official openings (though it did play in, um, Minneapolis before), this honor seems a little hasty, but maybe the Tony organizers just want to make sure Christina Applegate attends and brings some friends who might get a bigger TV audience.
More Hollywood names are on display in the acting categories: both Bill Irwin and Kathleen Turner for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Laura Linney (Sight Unseen), John Lithgow (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Mary-Louise Parker (Reckless), Tim Curry and Hank Azaria (Spamalot), James Earl Jones (On Golden Pond), Billy Crudup (The Pillowman), and, yes, Christina Applegate. The Times had a story recently about the recent glut of Hollywood actors on Broadway and how that would mean some would not get nominations (we see that Denzel Washington’s getting nothing for his role in Julius Caesar, and Jeff Goldblum isn’t up for The Pillowman), but the even tougher issue (in Gothamist’s eyes, at least) is that of dedicated theater actors who aren’t getting work, much less Tony noms, because of these guys. In any case, the big winners are Spamalot (whose 14 chances are one short of The Producers’ record 15), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (11), and The Light in the Piazza (11). It should never be a surprise that mostly the same plays are up in each category, but it’s always something of a disappointment, even when those plays are pretty worthy, as some of these are.
Early summer is where it’s at for theater awards. Just yesterday, the NY Outer Critics Circle awards (where journalists for non-NY publications have their say) were given to many of the same shows as the Tony nominees, with Doubt and Spamalot dominating. This group at least acknowledges off-Broadway work, and Altar Boyz got best musical, while Fat Pig and Going to St. Ives tied for best play.
The nominations for the Drama Desk awards were also announced recently; these awards also recognize off-Broadway productions, but pit small shows against large without distinguishing, which seems a little unfair but also makes for (a little) more heterogeneity. For example for Outstanding Actor, Bill Thompson of God Hates the Irish: The Ballad of Armless Johnny is vying with Hank Azaria and David Hyde Pierce from Spamalot. Gothamist was also glad to see Pentecost, an intriguing and well-executed show from the Barrow Group, make it into the Best Play list.
All in all, for what are supposed to be the most exciting ceremonies in theater, there isn’t much here to get excited about, but then Broadway hasn’t been a very daring place for some time. Stay tuned for the Village Voice Obies, which will also be announced soon and may shine light on some deserving lower-profile shows. Or ignore these silly awards altogether, as most people do, but go to the theater nonetheless: it’s what any of these nominees would (or should) want more than anything anyway.
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I think Sweet Charity and Christine Applegate got nominated because theater people are glad the production did go on, versus a bunch of unemployed theater workers - it's the show must go on spirit. Also, if Billy Crudup and Mary Louise Parker both go to the Tonys, that'll be crazy!
The 25th Annual... is like this year's Avenue Q - the little musical that could... I expect Spamalot to win... and I'm thinking for play, it's between Doubt and The Pillowman. Revival-wise, I have no clue for musical, but Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf has a very good shot at reivival of a play, as it's been the best reviewed - I think Kathleen Turner will get lucky too.
I am very surprised by these comments. I guess you could call me Naive and Innocent, being as I am from MINNEAPOLIS, but I think Christina Applegate got a Tony nomination because,um, she was good. No she wasn't the best I have ever seen, although I do only get to see the brunt of the acting talent in Minnesota, but I am going to AMDA next year in NYC, and I like to think that maybe for some reason, people nominate people because they deserve it, and not as a publicity stunt. People said the same think about Hugh Jackman in his nomination for the Boy from Oz. However, he won, as well as he should of. I can't really argue to much, being as I am from Minnesota and don't get to see the majority of the shows. I do not think it is right to pose a statement towards a Minnesota City the way you did. Talent comes from all over the place, and even from here, ecspecially from here, considering this is where Perpich Arts Conservatory is at, the top ranked performing arts program in the mid-west and 6th in the country. I say we have it better then other states. No we are not NYC, or L.A. No we are not the greatest starting point for a show. However, shows do start here.....The Lion King, which is currently on tour, did start here, and some of its original touring cast was from here. So, if we are going to comment about who doesn't deserve a Tony because of the State they started in, I can't help but feel that this writer is shallow, and perhaps even jealous. I could be wrong about the Tony's nominating fairly, who knows. I might be completely corrupted by the life I will have in NYC, but no matter what, lets not comment on Minnesota's ability to put on good shows or further more, talent.
I haven't seen the show but I'm still entitled to wonder about that Applegate nomination after all the reviews I read.
Just another comment about Minnesota and these "pointless" theatre awards. Twice in the past three years the Regional theatre Tony award has gone to theatres in Minneapolis. Maybe, just maybe we know a little something about theatre...