Hold on to your hat!  The Tonys are shaking some things up this year.  The nominations for this year's Tony Awards have just been announced and while the event is typically yawn-worthy, this year is a bit different.  The usually predictable gang of nominators has given us a few surprises.

Shocker # 1:
Conventional wisdom on Broadway had A Catered Affair snagging a nomination for Best Musical this year, but Cry-Baby has robbed them of their spot.  Cry-Baby (adapted from the John Waters' film of the same name), which opened to mixed reviews and sluggish ticket sales, has captured one of the coveted four spots for Best Musical giving them a priceless feature on the Tony Awards telecast which will surely translate to $$$ at the box office.  Almost everyone on the rialto was predicting a Tony shut out for Cry-Baby and a quick shuttering.  I say, "not so fast, B'way insiders!"

Shocker #2:
The Mega-Musicals got SHUT OUT!  The Little Mermaid (the Disney spectacle on roller skates) and Young Frankenstein (the Mel Brooks monster manifestation) did not fare well with the critics when they opened this season and were considered long shots for Tony noms.  However, as show after show tanked with the reviewers, many had thought things were looking better for YF and Mermaid.  Turns out that "the little musical that could" Xanadu has charmed the Tony nominators and secured a spot for themselves on the list of shows for Best Musical.  YF and Mermaid picked up a few small nominations, but they didn't get any of the real BIG prizes.  Fortunately for both shows they don't really need a boost at the box office - they are doing quite well for themselves!

Big Winners:
There are several people partying on the Great White Way today; whooping the loudest may be the folks at In The Heights and Passing Strange.  In The Heights (the hot new show about life in Washington Heights, NYC) picked up more nominations than any other show (with 13) snagging Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, Best Lead Actor and many others.  Passing Strange (the edgy rock musical by Stew) had also been predicted to do well and it lived up to expectations and swept all the top categories; with multiple noms for star Stew (that sounds funny "star Stew").  

When it comes to plays; the clear winner is August: Osage County.  The critics loved it.  Audiences can't get enough.  It won a Pulitzer Prize.  I can't stop talking about it.  Now, the Tonys have heaped nominations on them.  The show picked up noms for Best Play, Best Direction and several acting nominations (I am excited about Amy Morton and Rondi Reed - yeah!).  The show is a very clear favorite in almost every category it landed it.  Don't expect any shockers on Tony night here.

Who To Send Condolences To:
There are always some folks who get left off the list (in order for there to be winners, there have to be losers - sorry).  A hug or two might be in order for some shows and performers that did NOT receive nominations.  Clearly Mel Brooks needs a bit of love.  While he managed to garner 3 nominations for Young Frankenstein, he must have been hoping for more (especially after he received 122 nominations for The Producers - ok - I am exaggerating).  I would say that director Francesca Zambello (of The Little Mermaid) is feeling down.  She pulled out all the stops with the roller skates and the "no water, no wires" thingy, but came up short today.

There were a few performers that I would have thought might get some attention today.  Kevin Kline from Cyrano,  Frances McDormand from The Country Girl and Marissa Tomei from Top Girls; all gave fine performances this year and deserved to be nominated.  I was also shocked (a bit ) to see the all African American production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Pygmalion with Claire Danes left entirely out of contention.  Not a good year for the big stars and the Tonys.

Let the Predicting Begin:
I will have tons more info and predictions in the coming days and hopefully a scandal or two (fingers crossed).  I am sure there will be lots to discuss as we await the awards show on June 15th, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg (number 1 topic: Patti vs. O'Hara).  Until then - I will leave you with the complete list of nominees (below) so you can sift through them with a fine tooth comb.  As always, feel free to let me know your opinions in the Comments Section.  I am dying to know what you think.

~ See You On The Aisle

Nominees for the 62nd Annual Tony Awards

Best Play

August: Osage County , Author: Tracy Letts

Rock 'n' Roll, Author: Tom Stoppard

The Seafarer, Author: Conor McPherson

The 39 Steps, Author: Patrick Barlow

Best Musical

Cry-Baby

In The Heights

Passing Strange

Xanadu

Best Book of a Musical

Cry-Baby, Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan

In The Heights, Quiara Alegría Hudes

Passing Strange, Stew

Xanadu, Douglas Carter Beane

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

Cry-Baby, Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger

In The Heights, Music & Lyrics:  Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Little Mermaid, Music:  Alan Menken, Lyrics:  Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

Passing Strange, Music:  Stew and Heidi Rodewald, Lyrics:  Stew

Best Revival of a Play

Boeing-Boeing

The Homecoming

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Macbeth

Best Revival of a Musical

Grease

Gypsy

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Sunday in the Park with George

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Ben Daniels, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood

Mark Rylance, Boeing-Boeing

Rufus Sewell, Rock 'n' Roll

Patrick Stewart, Macbeth

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Eve Best, The Homecoming

Deanna Dunagan, August:  Osage County

Kate Fleetwood, Macbeth

S. Epatha Merkerson, Come Back, Little Sheba

Amy Morton, August:  Osage County

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Daniel Evans, Sunday in the Park with George

Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights

Stew, Passing Strange

Paulo Szot, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Tom Wopat, A Catered Affair

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Kerry Butler, Xanadu

Patti LuPone, Gypsy

Kelli O'Hara, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Faith Prince, A Catered Affair

Jenna Russell, Sunday in the Park with George

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

Bobby Cannavale, Mauritius

Raúl Esparza, The Homecoming

Conleth Hill, The Seafarer

Jim Norton, The Seafarer

David Pittu, Is He Dead?

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Sinead Cusack, Rock 'n' Roll

Mary McCormack, Boeing-Boeing

Laurie Metcalf, November

Martha Plimpton, Top Girls

Rondi Reed, August: Osage County

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Daniel Breaker, Passing Strange

Danny Burstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Robin De Jesús, In The Heights

Christopher Fitzgerald, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein

Boyd Gaines, Gypsy

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

de'Adre Aziza, Passing Strange

Laura Benanti, Gypsy

Andrea Martin, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein

Olga Merediz, In The Heights

Loretta Ables Sayre, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps

Scott Pask, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Todd Rosenthal, August: Osage County

Anthony Ward, Macbeth

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

David Farley and Timothy Bird & The Knifedge Creative Network, Sunday in the Park with George

Anna Louizos, In The Heights

Robin Wagner, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein

Michael Yeargan, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Costume Design of a Play

Gregory Gale, Cyrano de Bergerac

Rob Howell, Boeing-Boeing

Katrina Lindsay, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps

Best Costume Design of a Musical

David Farley, Sunday in the Park with George

Martin Pakledinaz, Gypsy

Paul Tazewell, In The Heights

Catherine Zuber, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Kevin Adams, The 39 Steps

Howard Harrison, Macbeth

Donald Holder, Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Ann G. Wrightson, August: Osage County

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park with George

Howell Binkley, In The Heights

Donald Holder, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Natasha Katz, The Little Mermaid

Best Sound Design of a Play

Simon Baker, Boeing-Boeing

Adam Cork, Macbeth

Ian Dickson, Rock 'n' Roll

Mic Pool, The 39 Steps

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Acme Sound Partners, In The Heights

Sebastian Frost, Sunday in the Park with George

Scott Lehrer, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Dan Moses Schreier, Gypsy

Best Direction of a Play

Maria Aitken, The 39 Steps

Conor McPherson, The Seafarer

Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County

Matthew Warchus, Boeing-Boeing

Best Direction of a Musical

Sam Buntrock, Sunday in the Park with George

Thomas Kail, In The Heights

Arthur Laurents, Gypsy

Bartlett Sher, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, Cry-Baby

Andy Blankenbuehler, In The Heights

Christopher Gattelli, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Dan Knechtges, Xanadu

Best Orchestrations

Jason Carr, Sunday in the Park with George

Alex Lacamoire & Bill Sherman, In The Heights

Stew & Heidi Rodewald, Passing Strange

Jonathan Tunick, A Catered Affair

*       *       *

Regional Theatre Tony Award

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Special Tony Award

Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981), in recognition of his historic contribution to American musical theatre in the field of orchestrations, as represented on Broadway this season by Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific.

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Stephen Sondheim

*       *      *

Tony Nominations by Production

In The Heights - 13

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific - 11

Sunday in the Park with George - 9

August: Osage County - 7

Gypsy - 7

Passing Strange - 7

Boeing-Boeing - 6

Macbeth - 6

The 39 Steps - 6

Les Liaisons Dangereuses - 5

Cry-Baby - 4

Rock 'n' Roll - 4

The Seafarer - 4

Xanadu - 4

A Catered Affair - 3

The Homecoming - 3

The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein - 3

The Little Mermaid - 2

Come Back, Little Sheba - 1

Cyrano de Bergerac - 1

Grease - 1

Is He Dead? - 1

Mauritius - 1

November - 1

Thurgood - 1

Top Girls - 1