Once Upon a Tony

Kristin Chenoweth and Jim Parsons announced the Tony nominations this morning and Once, the musical based on the independent Irish film of the same name, took the most nominations with 11.  It was nominated for Best Musical, Book, Leading Actor and Actress, and Featured Actress, among others.  Significantly, it was not nominated for Score.  The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Nice Work If You Can Get It both got 10 nominations each including Best Revival of a Musical for Porgy and Bess and Best Musical for Nice Work, and Leading Actress for both shows.   The Leading Actress category will pit 4-time Tony winner Audra McDonald against 3-time nominee Kelli O'Hara as well as Jan Maxwell for Follies, Laura Osnes for the already closed Bonnie and Clyde, and Cristin Milioti for Once. 

I was thrilled to see Tracie Bennett nominated for her bravura performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow.  She is competing with heavy-hitters Nina Arianda for Venus in Fur, Stockard Channing for Other Desert Cities, Linda Lavin for The Lyons, and Cynthia Nixon for Wit. 

I was also pleased to see scene-stealer Judy Kaye nominated for her hilarious performance in Nice Work If You Can Get It.  I'd say she's overdue for another Tony. 

There was speculation that Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark might nab some major nominations, but its only nods were for Scenic Design and Costume Design.

I was disappointed to see that the Regional Theater Award didn't go to the Dallas Theater Center, as had been widely anticipated.  After all, Lysistrata Jones originated on the DTC stage before going to Broadway.  Instead, the award went to Washington, DC's Shakespeare Theater Company. 

You can read all the nominations here.