On May 1, Tony Award-winner Kristen Chenoweth and Emmy Award-winner Jim Parsons revealed this year’s Tony Award nominees while actors and theatre-lovers waited with baited breath.
Earning its spot as frontrunner for this year’s Tony Awards with a total of 11 nominations is Broadway’s “Once.” The show has not only received the most nominations this year for a variety of categories, but has also increased its box office ticket sales by almost $100,000 since the nominations were announced, according to the Los Angeles Times. The show, based on the 2006 indie film, is seeing an increase of faithful fans wanting to experience all the shows before the results come out.
The production was not only nominated for best musical, but also for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Choreography, highlighting its two stars, Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti. “Not too shabby for a show with unknown actors and a dime-sized budget,” said Brittany Jones-Cooper of the Daily Beast. Producers have also announced a plan for a 2013 national tour after experiencing nothing but success since it opened for previews on March 18. According to Broadway World, “Once” has also been nominated for seven Outer Critic Circle Awards, three Drama League Awards, and five Drama Desk Awards. It will be hard to beat out this show.
Trailing close behind with a hefty 10 nominations each are “Porgy and Bess” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” both musicals, while “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a straight play, received nine. “Peter and the Starcatcher” narrowly beat out Arthur Miller’s “ Death of a Salesman,” which, according to The Huffington Post, is this year’s “closest thing to a favorite.”
“Starcatcher” was not as lucky, however, with its revenue. From David Ng of the Los Angeles Times, “Starcatcher’s” increased attendance, by a mere 4.5 percent, did not stop the overall box office revenue from dropping.
Other shows receiving multiple nominations this year include “Newsies,” “Follies,” “Ghost the Musical,” and “Death of a Salesman.” “Newsies” is up for a plethora of awards: Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Direction, Book, Score, Choreography, and more. “Follies” follows with many of the same, plus best actor and actress, and best revival of a musical. “Salesman” is in the running for Best Revival, Best Actor, Actress, Direction, Lighting and Sound Design.
Running neck and neck with “Once,” according to the New York Daily News, is “Newsies.” “Best Musical, often referred to as the only award that matters (except by anyone nominated in other categories), is a two-show nail biter between ‘Once,’ a small-scale contemporary love story, and ‘Newsies,’ a big-scale family crowd-pleaser about a late 19th century newsboy strike. ” Which will it be?
A full list of nominees can be found on the official Tony Awards website. To see which shows make the cut tune in to the 2012 Tony Awards, hosted for the third year in a row by Neil Patrick Harris, live from the Beacon Theater on June 10 at 8 p.m.
