“A Strange Loop,” Michael R. Jackson’s stark yet joyful look at race, gender, sexuality and the American musical led the Tony Awards nominations Monday morning with 11 nods, including Best Musical. 

“MJ,” the Michael Jackson musical, and “Paradise Square” each earned 10 nominations, followed by “Company” with nine. “The Lehman Trilogy” led all plays with eight nominations.

The nominations for “A Strange Loop” also included a leading actor nod for newcomer Jaquel Spivey.

Some familiar faces earned nominations for their work: Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster for their buzzy revival of “The Music Man,” Billy Crystal received a nomination for his turn in musical adaptation of “Mr. Saturday Night,” Mary-Louise Parker for the wrenching “How I Learned To Drive,” Ron Cephas Jones and Uzo Aduba for “Clyde’s,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams for “Take Me Out,” Rachel Dratch for “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” and Phylicia Rashad for “Skeleton Crew.”

Others did not: Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick were not nominated for their work in the revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite.”

It was also a season of notable firsts.

Camille A. Brown, the first Black woman in more than six decades to direct and choreograph a Broadway production earned nominations for both for her work in “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” while L Morgan Lee become the first openly transgender performer to earn a Tony nomination for her work in “A Strange Loop.”

The nominations set up interesting competition, with Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Adrian Lester of “The Lehman Trilogy” going head-to-head in the leading actor in a play category, while castmates Ferguson, Michael Oberholtzer and Jesse Williams are all up for featured actor in a play for “Take Me Out.” Dratch and Julie White were each nominated for featured actress in a play for “POTUS,” while Patti LuPone and Jennifer Simard both earned nominations for featured actress in a musical for “Company.”

Broadway entered the 2021-2022 season in a strange new world, returning to stages darkened for a year-and-a-half due to the pandemic, dealing with COVID testing, vaccine checks, mask mandates and attempting to lure back jittery audiences amid virus spikes that forced extended closures of many productions and led to the demise of more than a few.

It capped off the season, however, in familiar territory for most theater fans: Tony Awards nominations that brought a good deal of controversy playing out online.  

The season was composed of 34 productions, including revivals of beloved musicals, plays that made us think, productions that made us uncomfortable and others that were familiar and easy-to-digest. Issues of race, identity and gender were examined, many serving as a call to action.

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster star in the Broadway revival of "The Music Man."

It was a season filled with triumphs, setbacks and disappointments, frustrations and brilliant artistry in the face of incredible hurdles. It truly exemplified the meaning of community, and illustrated the power of theater.

The 75th annual Tony Award nominations were announced by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 9, on the Tony Awards YouTube channel.

Here’s a look at the nominees. 

Tony Award 2022 nominees

Best Play

“Clyde’s,” Lynn Nottage

“Hangmen,” Martin McDonagh

“The Lehman Trilogy,” Stefano Massini, Ben Power

“The Minutes,” Tracy Letts

“Skeleton Crew,” Dominique Morisseau

More:‘Skeleton Crew’ a gift and a challenge for Broadway’s Brandon J. Dirden

Best Musical

“Girl From the North Country”

“MJ”

“Mr. Saturday Night”

“Paradise Square”

“Six”

“A Strange Loop”

Best Revival of a Play

“American Buffalo”

“for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

“How I Learned to Drive,” Paula Vogel

“Take Me Out”

“Trouble in Mind”

Best Revival of a Musical

“Caroline, Or Change”

“Company” 

“The Music Man”

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

The Lehman Trilogy:A story of money and power

Simon Russell Beale, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Adam Godley, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Adrian Lester, “The Lehman Trilogy”

David Morse, “How I Learned to Drive”

Sam Rockwell, “American Buffalo”

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “Lackawanna Blues”

David Threlfall, “Hangmen”

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Gabby Beans, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

LaChanze, “Trouble in Mind”

Ruth Negga, “Macbeth”

Deirdre O’Connell, “Dana H.”

Mary-Louise Parker, “How I Learned to Drive”

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Jaquel Spivey (Usher) in "A Strange Loop."

Billy Crystal, “Mr. Saturday Night”

Myles Frost, “MJ”

Hugh Jackman, “The Music Man”

Rob McClure, “Mrs. Doubtfire”

Jaquel Spivey, “A Strange Loop”

Just ‘Beat It’:‘MJ The Musical’ on Broadway is full of hits

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Sharon D Clarke, “Caroline, or Change”

Carmen Cusack, “Flying Over Sunset”

Sutton Foster, “The Music Man”

Joaquina Kalukango, “Paradise Square”

Mare Winningham, “Girl From The North Country”

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Alfie Allen, “Hangmen”

Chuck Cooper, “Trouble in Mind”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Take Me Out”

Ron Cephas Jones, “Clyde’s”

Michael Oberholtzer, “Take Me Out”

Jesse Williams, “Take Me Out”

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Uzo Aduba, “Clyde’s”

Rachel Dratch, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”

Kenita R. Miller, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Phylicia Rashad, “Skeleton Crew”

Julie White, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”

Kara Young, “Clyde’s”

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Matt Doyle, “Company”

Sidney DuPont, “Paradise Square”

Jared Grimes, “Funny Girl”

John-Andrew Morrison, “A Strange Loop”

A.J. Shively, “Paradise Square”

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Jeannette Bayardelle, “Girl From The North Country”

Shoshana Bean, “Mr. Saturday Night”

Jayne Houdyshell, “The Music Man”

L Morgan Lee, “A Strange Loop”

Patti LuPone, “Company”

Jennifer Simard, “Company”

Best Book of a Musical

“Girl From The North Country” –  Conor McPherson

“MJ” –  Lynn Nottage

“Mr. Saturday Night” –  Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel

“Paradise Square” –  Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan

“A Strange Loop” – Michael R. Jackson

Best Original Score

“Flying Over Sunset” –  Music: Tom Kitt; Lyrics: Michael Korie

“Mr. Saturday Night” –  Music: Jason Robert Brown; Lyrics: Amanda Green

“Paradise Square” –  Music: Jason Howland; Lyrics: Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare

“SIX: The Musical” –  Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss

“A Strange Loop” –  Music and Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson

Best Choreography

Camille A. Brown, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Warren Carlyle, “The Music Man”

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, “SIX: The Musical”

Bill T. Jones, “Paradise Square”

Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive”

Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, “Skeleton Crew”

Es Devlin, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Anna Fleischle, “Hangmen”

Scott Pask, “American Buffalo”

Adam Rigg, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, “Flying Over Sunset”

Bunny Christie, “Company”

Arnulfo Maldonado, “A Strange Loop”

Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, “MJ”

Allen Moyer, “Paradise Square”

Best Costume Design of a Play

Montana Levi Blanco, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Sarafina Bush, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Emilio Sosa, “Trouble in Mind”

Jane Greenwood, “Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite”

Jennifer Moeller, “Clyde’s”

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Fly Davis, “Caroline, or Change”

Toni-Leslie James, “Paradise Square”

William Ivey Long, “Diana, The Musical”

Santo Loquasto, “The Music Man”

Gabriella Slade, “SIX: The Musical”

Paul Tazewell, “MJ”

COVID updates:Broadway mask mandate extended; latest on vaccine checks

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Joshua Carr, “Hangmen”

Jiyoun Chang, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Jon Clark, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Jane Cox, Macbeth Yi Zhao, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Neil Austin, “Company”

Tim Deiling, “SIX: The Musical”

Donald Holder, “Paradise Square”

Natasha Katz, “MJ”

Bradley King, “Flying Over Sunset”

Jen Schriever, “A Strange Loop”

Best Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Mikhail Fiksel, “Dana H.”

Palmer Hefferan, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Mikaal Sulaiman, “Macbeth”

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Simon Baker, “Girl From The North Country”

Paul Gatehouse, “SIX: The Musical”

Ian Dickinson for Autograph, “Company”

Drew Levy, “A Strange Loop”

Gareth Owen, “MJ”

Best Director of a Play

Lileana Blain-Cruz, “The Skin of Our Teeth”

Camille A. Brown, “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”

Sam Mendes, “The Lehman Trilogy”

Neil Pepe, “American Buffalo”

Les Waters, “Dana H.”

Best Director of a Musical

Stephen Brackett, “A Strange Loop”

Marianne Elliott, “Company”

Conor McPherson, “Girl From The North Country”

Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, “SIX: The Musical”

Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ”

Best Orchestrations

David Cullen, “Company”

Tom Curran, “SIX: The Musical”

Simon Hale, “Girl From The North Country”

Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, “MJ”

Charlie Rosen, “A Strange Loop”

Special Tony Awards

2022 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre will be presented to the Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC); Broadway For All; music copyist Emily Grishman; Feinstein’s/54 Below and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE. 

Brass on Broadway:Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster lead cast in wonderful Music Man revival

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded to institutions, individuals and organizations that have “demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theater” but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories. 

“All five of this year’s honorees have made outstanding contributions to our Broadway community,” Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of the American Theatre Wing, said in a news release.

“Their dedication, commitment and support to the arts is now more important than ever, and we are thrilled to shine a light on these organizations at this year’s Tony Honors.”

The 2022 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award will be awarded to Robert E. Wankel, the chair and chief executive officer of the Shubert Organization, for is work with multiple organizations including The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS,  American Academy of the Dramatic Arts and many others.

“Bob’s outstanding contributions and dedication to the theatre is remarkable,” St. Martin and Hitchens said. “His generosity and service to the welfare of our Broadway community, over the past four decades; and especially in the face of a global crisis, is immeasurable.”

How to watch the 2022 Tony Awards

Ariana DeBose accepts the Oscar for best actress in a supporting role for her performance in "West Side Story."

The 75th Annual Tony Awards will be hosted by Ariana DeBose and take place from 8 to 11 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, June 12, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. They will air live across the country for the first time on CBS, and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The celebration will kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern on Paramount+ with exclusive content ahead of the awards ceremony.

More:‘The Little Prince’ adds emotion to motion as show savors its time on Broadway

2021-2022 Broadway season

The shows that comprised the 2021-2022 Broadway season are:

Musicals:

  • “Caroline, Or Change”*
  • “Company”*
  • “Diana”
  • “Flying Over Sunset”
  • “Funny Girl”*
  • “Girl From The North Country”
  • “MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical”
  • “Mr. Saturday Night”
  • “Mrs. Doubtfire”
  • “The Music Man”*
  • “Paradise Square”
  • “Six”
  • “A Strange Loop”

Plays:

  • “American Buffalo”*
  • “Birthday Candles”
  • “Chicken & Biscuits”
  • “Clyde’s”
  • “Dana H.”
  • “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”*
  • “Hangmen”
  • “How I Learned to Drive”*
  • “Is This A Room”
  • “Lackawanna Blues”*
  • “The Lehman Trilogy”
  • “Macbeth”*
  • “The Minutes”
  • “Pass Over”
  • “Plaza Suite”*
  • “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” 
  • “Skeleton Crew”
  • “The Skin of Our Teeth”*
  • “Take Me Out”*
  • “Thoughts of a Colored Man”
  • “Trouble in Mind”*

*Denotes revival

Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights arts advocacy and education, theater fundraisers and more through her column, “Sightlines.” Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; [email protected]

Source: Asbury Park

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Asian residents of San Francisco send a warning to Democrats – HotAir

You may remember last week there was a story about some CNN…
From Punjab Police to WWE Hall of Fame: The Great Khali's Story

From Punjab Police to WWE Hall of Fame: The Great Khali’s Story

  Who is The Great Khali? Indian-American retired professional wrestler Dalip…
Kavan Smith1

Kavan Smith Bio, Family, Career, Wife, Net Worth, Measurements

Kavan Smith is a Canadian actor who has appeared in many television…

7 Best Weapon Upgrades For Ellie In TLOU2

When you play as Ellie in The Last Of Us Part II,…