Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells announced the impressive nominees for this year’s Tony Awards on May 3. As expected, Lin-Manuel Miranda and his Broadway sensation “Hamilton” dominated the musical categories, becoming the most nominated show in Broadway history by earning 16 nominations, beating the record of 15 held by “The Producers” and “Billy Elliot.”
“Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed” and “She Loves Me” also fared well, with 10 and eight nominations, respectively. “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” led the play categories with seven nominations, followed by “Eclipsed” and “The Humans,” which both received six. Among the nominees were Backstage cover stars Leslie Odom Jr. for “Hamilton,” Jane Krakowski for “She Loves Me,” and Danai Gurira, author of best new play nominee “Eclipsed.” Miranda, who is nominated for leading actor, best book, best score, and best musical, will make history if he becomes the first person to win in four such categories for the same show.
As was announced May 2, this year’s Regional Tony Award will go to New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse in recognition of its work producing stellar theater since 1938. In a joint statement, Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin and American Theatre Wing President Heather Hitchens said, “Throughout its rich history, Paper Mill Playhouse has established itself as a foundational pre-Broadway venue for new productions and a welcoming home for world-class theatrical revivals. We are ecstatic to recognize their dynamic role in the tri-state area theatre community and unwavering commitment to fostering future Broadway audiences.”
Special Tony Awards will also be presented to two stage legends: two-time Tony winner and prolific lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and multiple Tony-nominated director Marshall W. Mason. Both will be honored as the 2016 recipients of the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
The Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, given to someone in the Broadway community “who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations,” will be presented to Brian Stokes Mitchell, who currently stars in “Shuffle Along.” Theater executive Miles Wilkin and the National Endowment for the Arts will also receive Special Tony Awards; receiving Honors for Excellence in the Theatre are Seth Gelblum, Joan Lader, and Sally Ann Parsons.
To be hosted by James Corden June 12 at NYC’s Beacon Theatre, the 70th Annual Tony Awards will be presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. For more information on the ceremony and this year’s nominees visit tonyawards.com.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabriel Byrne, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night
”
Jeff Daniels, “Blackbird
”
Frank Langella, “The Father
”
Tim Pigott-Smith, “King Charles III
”
Mark Strong, Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Lange, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night
”
Laurie Metcalf, “Misery
”
Lupita Nyong’o, “Eclipsed
”
Sophie Okonedo, “Arthur Miller’s The Crucible”
Michelle Williams, “Blackbird”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Alex Brightman, “School of Rock—The Musical
”
Danny Burstein, “Fiddler on the Roof
”
Zachary Levi, “She Loves Me
”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton
”
Leslie Odom, Jr., “Hamilton”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti, “She Loves Me
”
Carmen Cusack, “Bright Star
”
Cynthia Erivo, “The Color Purple”
Jessie Mueller, “Waitress”
Phillipa Soo, “Hamilton”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Reed Birney, “The Humans
”
Bill Camp, “Arthur Miller’s The Crucible”
David Furr, “Noises Off
”
Richard Goulding, “King Charles III
”
Michael Shannon, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Pascale Armand, “Eclipsed
”
Megan Hilty, “Noises Off
”
Jayne Houdyshell, “The Humans
”
Andrea Martin, “Noises Off
”
Saycon Sengbloh, “Eclipsed”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton”
Brandon Victor Dixon, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
”
Christopher Fitzgerald, “Waitress”
Jonathan Groff, “Hamilton
”
Christopher Jackson, “Hamilton”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple”
Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton
”
Jane Krakowski, “She Loves Me”
Jennifer Simard, “Disaster!
”
Adrienne Warren, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”
Best Play
“Eclipsed”
“The Father”
“The Humans”
“King Charles III”
Best Musical
“Bright Star”
“Hamilton”
“School of Rock—The Musical”
“Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”
“Waitress”
Best Revival of a Play
“Arthur Miller’s The Crucible”
“Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge”
“Blackbird”
“Long Day’s Journey Into Night”
“Noises Off”
Best Revival of a Musical
“The Color Purple”
“Fiddler on the Roof”
“She Loves Me”
“Spring Awakening”
Best Book of a Musical
“Bright Star”
“Hamilton”
“School of Rock—The Musical”
“Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)
“Bright Star”
“Hamilton”
“School of Rock—The Musical”
“Waitress”
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, “Thérèse Raquin
”
Christopher Oram, “Hughie”
Jan Versweyveld, “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge
”
David Zinn, “The Humans”
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Es Devlin and Finn Ross, “American Psycho”
David Korins, “Hamilton
”
Santo Loquasto, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
”
David Rockwell, “She Loves Me”
Best Costume Design of a Play
Jane Greenwood, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night
”
Michael Krass, “Noises Off
”
Clint Ramos, “Eclipsed
”
Tom Scutt, “King Charles III”
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, “Tuck Everlasting
”
Jeff Mahshie, “She Loves Me”
Ann Roth, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
”
Paul Tazewell, “Hamilton”
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Katz, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night
”
Justin Townsend, “The Humans
”
Jan Versweyveld, “Arthur Miller’s The Crucible”
Jan Versweyveld, “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge”
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Howell Binkley, “Hamilton
”
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
”
Ben Stanton, “Spring Awakening”
Justin Townsend, “American Psycho”
Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold, “King Charles III
”
Jonathan Kent, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night
”
Joe Mantello, “The Humans”
Liesl Tommy, “Eclipsed”
Ivo Van Hove, “Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge”
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, “Spring Awakening”
John Doyle, “The Color Purple
”
Scott Ellis, “She Loves Me”
Thomas Kail, “Hamilton
”
George C. Wolfe, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”
Best Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, “Hamilton
”
Savion Glover, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed
”
Hofesh Shechter, “Fiddler on the Roof
”
Randy Skinner, “Dames at Sea
”
Sergio Trujillo, “On Your Feet!”
Best Orchestrations
August Eriksmoen, “Bright Star
”
Larry Hochman, “She Loves Me”
Alex Lacamoire, “Hamilton”
Daryl Waters, “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Sheldon Harnick
Marshall W. Mason
Special Tony Award
National Endowment for the Arts
Miles Wilkin
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Paper Mill Playhouse
Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Seth Gelblum
Joan Lader
Sally Ann Parsons
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