The Tony nominations were announced this morning, with Billy Elliot: The Musical scoring fifteen (tying The Producers for the most ever for a single show), and Next to Normal earning eleven. Naturally, then, there had to be some hurt feelings. So, who got shafted?
• Carla Gugino, Desire Under the Elms: Now that Gugino’s lusty, show-stealing performance as a murderous adulteress has been overlooked, 33 Variations’ Jane Fonda should have an easier path to victory in the Lead Actress in a Musical Play category.
• Kristin Scott Thomas, The Seagull: Today, Thomas got a Tony snub to go with the Oscar nomination she was egregiously denied in January. Will somebody give this poor, deserving woman an award, already? And while we’re at it …
• The Seagull: The show was completely shut out, meaning deserving performances from Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mackenzie Crook were ignored, too. Did the Tonys just forget that this whole thing ever happened?
• Daniel Radcliffe, Equus: The American Theatre Wing was inexplicably unimpressed by Harry Potter’s magic doodle.
• Megan Hilty, 9 to 5: Sure, co-star Allison Janney deserved her nod for Lead Actress in a Musical (New York’s Stephanie Zacharek thought she was 9 to 5’s best asset) — but she’s not the one risking her lower back out there every night. Also, an unexpectedly strong showing from Rock of Ages kept 9 to 5 out of the Best Musical category (which was mostly fine by us).
• Megan Hilty, 9 to 5: Sure, co-star Allison Janney deserved her nod for Lead Actress in a Musical (New York’s Stephanie Zacharek thought she was 9 to 5’s best asset) — but she’s not the one risking her lower back out there every night. Also, an unexpectedly strong showing from Rock of Ages kept 9 to 5 out of the Best Musical category (which was mostly fine by us).
• Jeremy Piven, Speed-the-Plow: Piven’s abbreviated, sushi-addled stint as Bobby Gould nearly cost him his life. So what did the Tonys do? Nominate his co-star. (Congrats, Raúl Esparza — we certainly hope you’re proud of yourself.)
Who’d we miss?
Related: Tony Nominations Announced!
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