‘Spring Awakening’ Tops Tony Nominations

NEW YORK (May 15, 2007) — “Spring Awakening,” the Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater rock musical about the sexual longing of 19th century German teenagers, received a leading 11 Tony nominations on Tuesday.

“The Coast of Utopia,” Tom Stoppard’s epic trilogy about 19th-century Russian intellectuals, and “Grey Gardens,” a musical look at two of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ more eccentric relatives, each garnered 10 nominations.

“Curtains,” a backstage whodunit set during a theatrical tryout in Boston, got eight.

Besides “The Coast of Utopia,” the nominees for best play were: “Radio Golf,” the final chapter in August Wilson’s decade-by-decade look at the black experience in 20th century America; “Frost/Nixon,” Peter Morgan’s docudrama about the celebrated interviews between British journalist David Frost and Richard M. Nixon; and “The Little Dog Laughed,” Douglas Carter Beane’s social comedy about Hollywood hypocrisy.

“Mary Poppins,” a lavish adaptation of P.L. Travers novels and the classic Disney movie, picked up seven nominations during the morning announcement at Lincoln Center. Besides “Poppins,” best-musical nominations went to “Spring Awakening,” “Grey Gardens” and “Curtains.”

“Legally Blonde,” a frothy, fast-paced stage adaptation of the Reese Witherspoon movie, failed to pick up a coveted best-musical nod — important because nominees get a number on the nationally televised awards show — but the show did get seven other nominations, including ones for book and score of a musical, as well as for its leading lady, Laura Bell Bundy.

Bundy’s competition includes Christine Ebersole, “Grey Gardens”; Audra McDonald, “110 in the Shade”; Debra Monk, “Curtains,” and Donna Murphy, “LoveMusik.”

Angela Lansbury, a four-time Tony winner, has a chance for a fifth prize. She was nominated for her performance as a tennis legend in Terrence McNally’s “Deuce.”

“What a surprise — I never thought it could happen again,” Lansbury said after the nominations were announced. “I am overwhelmed. I am proud for the play and proud for the extraordinary lady I am out there playing every night.”

In the actress-play category, Lansbury faces Eve Best, “A Moon for the Misbegotten”; Swoosie Kurtz, “Heartbreak House”; Vanessa Redgrave, “The Year of Magical Thinking,” and Julie White, “The Little Dog Laughed.”

In the actor-play category, the nominees were Boyd Gaines, “Journey’s End”; Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”; Brian F. O’Byrne, “The coast of Utopia”; Christopher Plummer, “Inherit the Wind,” and Liev Schreiber, “Talk Radio.”

Jonathan Groff, the young rebel in “Spring Awakening,” heads the actor-musical nominations. The other nominees include Michael Cerveris, “LoveMusik,” Raul Esparza, “Company”; Gavin Lee, “Mary Poppins,” and David Hyde Pierce, “Curtains.”

The regional theater Tony Award will go to the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.

The Tonys will be broadcast June 10 (8-11 p.m. EDT) on CBS from Radio City Music Hall.

===============================Nominations for the 2007 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®Presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing

Best Play

The Coast of UtopiaAuthor: Tom StoppardProducers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten, Bob Boyett

Frost/NixonAuthor: Peter MorganProducers: Arielle Tepper Madover, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert Fox, Act Productions, David Binder, Debra Black, Annette Niemtzow/Harlene Freezer, The Weinstein Company, The Donmar WarehouseThe Little Dog LaughedAuthor: Douglas Carter BeaneProducers: Roy Gabay, Susan Dietz, Morris Berchard, Steve Bozeman, Ted Snowdon, Jerry Frankel/Doug Nevin, Jennifer Manocherian/Ina Meibach, Second Stage Theatre, Carole Rothman, Ellen Richard

Radio GolfAuthor: August WilsonProducers: Jujamcyn Theaters, Margo Lion, Jeffrey Richards/Jerry Frankel, Tamara Tunie/Wendell Pierce, Fran Kirmser, Bunting Management Group, George Frontiere and Open Pictures, Lauren Doll/Steven Greil & The August Wilson Group, Jack Viertel, Gordon Davidson

Best Musical

CurtainsProducers: Roger Berlind, Roger Horchow, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergère, Ted Hartley, Center Theatre Group

Grey GardensProducers: East of Doheny, Staunch Entertainment, Randall Wreghitt/Mort Swinsky, Michael Alden, Edwin W. Schloss, Playwrights Horizons

Mary PoppinsProducers: Disney, Cameron Mackintosh

Spring AwakeningProducers: Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Atlantic Theater Company, Jeffrey Sine, Freddy DeMann, Max Cooper, Mort Swinsky/Cindy and Jay Gutterman/Joe McGinnis/Judith Ann Abrams, ZenDog Productions/CarJac Productions, Aron Bergson Productions/Jennifer Manocherian/Ted Snowdon, Harold Thau/Terry Schnuck/Cold Spring Productions, Amanda Dubois/Elizabeth Eynon Wetherell, Jennifer Maloney/Tamara Tunie/Joe Cilibrasi/StyleFour ProductionsBest Book of a Musical

CurtainsRupert Holmes & Peter Stone

Grey GardensDoug Wright

Legally Blonde The MusicalHeather Hach

Spring AwakeningSteven Sater

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

CurtainsMusic:John KanderLyrics: Fred Ebb, John Kander & Rupert Holmes

Grey GardensMusic:Scott FrankelLyrics:Michael Korie

Legally Blonde The MusicalMusic & Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin

Spring AwakeningMusic: Duncan SheikLyrics:Steven Sater

Best Revival of a Play

Inherit the WindProducers: Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Lawrence Horowitz, Jon Avnet/Ralph Guild, Roy Furman, Debra Black/Daryl Roth, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick, Stephanie P. McClelland

Journey’s EndProducers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Stephanie P. McClelland, Bill Rollnick, James D’Orta, Philip Geier

Talk RadioProducers: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Francis Finlay, Ronald Frankel, James Fuld, Jr., Steve Green, Judith Hansen, Patty Ann Lacerte, James Riley, Mary Lu Roffe/Mort Swinsky, Sheldon Stein, Terri & Timothy Childs/Stylefour Productions, Irving Welzer/Herb Blodgett

TranslationsProducers: Manhattan Theatre Club, McCarter Theatre Center, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Emily Mann, Jeffrey Woodward

Best Revival of a Musical

The Apple TreeProducers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy

A Chorus LineProducer: Vienna Waits Productions

CompanyProducers: Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Ambassador Theatre Group, Tulchin/Bartner Productions, Darren Bagert, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

110 in the ShadeProducers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy

Best Special Theatrical Event

Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!Producers: Roger Alan Gindi, Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley, Dan Whitten, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, Ken Grossman, Bob & Rhonda Silver, Michael A. Jenkins/Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc., Wetrock Entertainment

Kiki & Herb Alive on BroadwayProducers: David J. Foster, Jared Geller, Ruth Hendel, Jonathan Reinis, Inc., Billy Zavelson, Jamie Cesa, Anne Strickland Squadron, Jennifer Manocherian, Gary Allen, Melvin Honowitz

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Boyd Gaines, Journey’s EndFrank Langella, Frost/NixonBrían F. O’Byrne, The Coast of UtopiaChristopher Plummer, Inherit the WindLiev Schreiber, Talk Radio

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Eve Best, A Moon for the MisbegottenSwoosie Kurtz, Heartbreak HouseAngela Lansbury, DeuceVanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical ThinkingJulie White, The Little Dog Laughed

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, LoveMusikRaúl Esparza, CompanyJonathan Groff, Spring AwakeningGavin Lee, Mary PoppinsDavid Hyde Pierce, Curtains

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde The MusicalChristine Ebersole, Grey GardensAudra McDonald, 110 in the ShadeDebra Monk, CurtainsDonna Murphy, LoveMusik

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Anthony Chisholm, Radio GolfBilly Crudup, The Coast of UtopiaEthan Hawke, The Coast of UtopiaJohn Earl Jelks, Radio GolfStark Sands, Journey’s End

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of UtopiaXanthe Elbrick, Coram BoyDana Ivey, ButleyJan Maxwell, Coram BoyMartha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Brooks Ashmanskas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes MeChristian Borle, Legally Blonde The MusicalJohn Cullum, 110 in the ShadeJohn Gallagher, Jr., Spring AwakeningDavid Pittu, LoveMusik

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Charlotte d’Amboise, A Chorus LineRebecca Luker, Mary PoppinsOrfeh, Legally Blonde The MusicalMary Louise Wilson, Grey GardensKaren Ziemba, Curtains

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Bob Crowley & Scott Pask, The Coast of UtopiaJonathan Fensom, Journey’s EndDavid Gallo, Radio GolfTi Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Bob Crowley, Mary PoppinsChristine Jones, Spring AwakeningAnna Louizos, High FidelityAllen Moyer, Grey Gardens

Best Costume Design of a Play

Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram BoyJane Greenwood, Heartbreak HouseSanto Loquasto, Inherit the WindCatherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Legally Blonde The MusicalBob Crowley, Mary PoppinsSusan Hilferty, Spring AwakeningWilliam Ivey Long, Grey Gardens

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Paule Constable, Coram BoyBrian MacDevitt, Inherit the WindBrian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner and Natasha Katz, The Coast of UtopiaJason Taylor, Journey’s End

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kevin Adams, Spring AwakeningChristopher Akerlind, 110 in the ShadeHoward Harrison, Mary PoppinsPeter Kaczorowski, Grey Gardens

Best Direction of a Play

Michael Grandage, Frost/NixonDavid Grindley, Journey’s EndJack O’Brien, The Coast of UtopiaMelly Still, Coram Boy

Best Direction of a Musical

John Doyle, CompanyScott Ellis, CurtainsMichael Greif, Grey GardensMichael Mayer, Spring Awakening

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, CurtainsMatthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary PoppinsBill T. Jones, Spring AwakeningJerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde The Musical

Best Orchestrations

Bruce Coughlin, Grey GardensDuncan Sheik, Spring AwakeningJonathan Tunick, LoveMusikJonathan Tunick, 110 in the Shade

* * *

Regional Theatre Tony AwardAlliance TheatreAtlanta, GA

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Total Nominations by Production

Spring Awakening – 11The Coast of Utopia – 10Grey Gardens – 10Curtains – 8Legally Blonde The Musical – 7Mary Poppins – 7Coram Boy – 6Journey’s End – 6110 in the Shade – 5Inherit the Wind – 4LoveMusik – 4Radio Golf – 4Company – 3Frost/Nixon – 3A Chorus Line – 2Heartbreak House – 2The Little Dog Laughed – 2Talk Radio – 2The Apple Tree – 1Butley – 1Deuce – 1High Fidelity – 1Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! – 1Kiki and Herb Alive on Broadway – 1Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me – 1A Moon for the Misbegotten – 1Translations – 1The Year of Magical Thinking – 1