Mark J Franklin
“Some Like It Hot,” a slick re-imagining of the comedy classic about runaway musicians, dominated the nominations for the 2023 Tony Awards, announced Tuesday, with 13 nods.
It was closely followed by the films ‘& Juliet’, ‘Shucked’ and ‘New York, New York’ which scored nine nominations each. All of these productions will compete for top music awards, facing off against one of the most popular shows of the year, “Kimberly Akimbo,” the story of a teen with a medical condition that causes her to age quickly. “Kimberly Akimbo” won eight awards, including for performers Bonnie Milligan and Justin Cooley, as well as Victoria Clarke in the title role.
Jessica Chastain’s stripped-down “A Doll’s House,” Tom Stoppard’s sprawling “Leopoldstadt,” and political satire “Ain’t No Mo” were the top-nominated plays, each receiving six nods. It’s a significant moment of recognition for “Ain’t No Mo,” which was embraced by critics but struggled to find its audience, closing last winter after only 28 performances.
But “Ain’t No Mo” isn’t the only production that has faced fierce trade headwinds. The annual awards show, which honors the best of Broadway, unfolds as the theater industry is still reeling after more than a year of COVID-related shutdowns and the chilling effect tourism has had on New York City, the lifeblood of the business. A Tony Award win could add to the box office power of a show like “Some Like It Hot” or “Shucked.”
Despite the challenges, there were successes, such as reshoots of “Parade” with Ben Platt (earning six nominations) and “Sweeney Todd” with Josh Groban as the demonic barber in Fleet Street (eight nominations). And don’t forget “Funny Girl” with Lea Michele starring original star Beanie Feldstein (it doesn’t qualify because it opened last season). Michelle may not be getting a Tony Award, but she announced her nominations on Tuesday with “MJ” star Miles Frost.
Among other major categories, the best musical revival will be in the running between “Parade,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Into the Woods”—which moved from New York City Center to Broadway to become a late-summer hit—and, surprisingly, the Lincoln Center revival. Camelot,” who mocked him vehemently.
“Ain’t No Mo” and “Leopoldstadt” are up for Best Play along with “Between Riverside and Crazy,” “Cost of Living” and “Fat Ham,” which won last year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Best Revival of a Play nominees include “A Doll’s House,” “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” “Suzan Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog,” and “August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson.”
Many of Hollywood’s leading actors have been honored for their theatrical work this season, including Chastain and Jodie Comer for “Prima Facie” and Samuel L.
But there were some notable omissions, too. Laura Linney was overlooked even as “Summer of 1976” star Jessica Hecht was snubbed, LaTanya Richardson Jackson was snubbed for directing “The Piano Lesson,” and Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan were turned down for “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” List of honorees.
See the full list of Tonys nominations below:
best play
not la mo
Between Riverside and Crazy
cost of living
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt
The best music
and juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
peeled
Some like it hot
Best revival of a play
Augustus Wilson’s Piano Lesson
doll house
The banner in Sidney Brustein’s window
Susan Laurie Parks Topdog/Underdog
Best Revival Music
Into the forest
Camelot Lerner and Loew
procession
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best music book
and juliet
David West read
kimberly steps
David Lindsay Abair
New York, New York
David Thompson and Sharon Washington
peeled
Robert Horn
Some like it hot
Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin
Best Original Score (music and/or lyrics) written for theatre
always famous
Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Cameron Crowe, Tom Kitt
Kimberly Akimbo
Music: Janine Tesori, Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
kpop
Music and lyrics: Helen Park and Max Vernon
peeled
Music and vocals: Brandi Clark and Shane McNally
Some like it hot
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyrics: Scott Whitman and Marc Shaiman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Susan Laurie Parks Topdog/Underdog
Corey Hawkins Susan Laurie Parks Topdog/Underdog
Sean Hayes, Good night, Oscar
Stephen McKinley HendersonBetween Riverside and Crazy
wendell pierce, Death of traveling salesman Arthur Miller
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, doll house
Jodi Comer, first face
Jessica Hecht Summer 1976
Audra McDonald Homicides in Ohio
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borl Some like it hot
G Harrison GSome like it hot
Josh GrobanSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Brian Darcy James, Into the forest
Ben Platt, procession
Colton Ryan New York, New York
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sarah BareillesInto the forest
Victoria Clark Kimberly Akimbo
Lorna Courtney and juliet
Michaela Diamond procession
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E Cooper, not la mo
Samuel L Jackson, Augustus Wilson’s Piano Lesson
Arian supporter doll house
Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt
David Zayas, cost of living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nicky Crawford Fat Ham
Crystal Lucas Perry, not la mo
Miriam Silverman The banner in Sidney Brustein’s window
Katie Sullivan, cost of living
Kara Young cost of living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, peeled
Justin Cooley Kimberly Akimbo
Kevin Del Aguila, Some like it hot
Jordan Donica, Camelot Lerner and Loew
Alex Newell, peeled
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester Into the forest
Ruthie Ann Miles Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Bonnie Milligan Kimberly Akimbo
Natasha Yvette Williams, Some like it hot
Betsy Wolfe and juliet
Best Design for a Scenic Play
Miriam Bouthier, first face
Tim Hatley and Andre Golding, Hyatt Bay
rachel hook, Good night, Oscar
Richard Hudson, Leopoldstadt
Dan Lavery and Lucy McKinnon, Christmas carol
Best music design
Beowulf Burritt New York, New York
Mimi Lynn, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Michael Yergan and 59 Productions, Camelot Lerner and Loew
Scott Pask, peeled
Scott Pask, Some like it hot
Best Costume Design for a Play
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes, and Finn Caldwell, Hyatt Bay
Dominic Fawn Hill, Fat Ham
Brigitte Riefenstweil, Leopoldstadt
Emilio Sosa not la mo
Emilio Sosa Good night, Oscar
Best Musical Costume Design
Greg Barnes, Some like it hot
Susan Hilferty procession
Jennifer Mueller, Camelot Lerner and Loew
Clint Ramos and Sophia Choi, kpop
paloma young, and juliet
Donna Zakowska, New York, New York
Best stage lighting design
Neil Austin, Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers first face
john clark, doll house Bradley King, Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin, Hyatt Bay
Gene Shriver, Death of traveling salesman Arthur Miller
Ben Stanton, Christmas carol
Best lighting design for music
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu, Camelot Lerner and Loew
Heather Gilbert procession
Howard Hudson, and juliet
Natasha Katz, Some like it hot
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Sound Design for a Play
Jonathan Deans and Taylor Williams, not la mo
Caroline Downing, Hyatt Bay
Joshua D. Reed, Christmas carol
Ben and Max Ringham doll houseH
Ben and Max Ringham first face
Best sound design for music
Kai Harada, New York, New York
John Shivers, peeled
Scott Lerer and Alex Newman, Into the forest
Gareth Owen and juliet
Nevin Steinberg, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Direction of a Play
Sohem Ali Fat Ham
Joe Bonney, cost of living
Jimmy Lloyd, doll house
Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt
Stevie Walker Webb, not la mo Max Webster Hyatt Bay
Best Music Direction
Michael Arden, procession
Lear de Bissonnet, Into the forest
Casey Nicolau, Some like it hot
Jack O’Brien peeled
Jessica Stone Kimberly Akimbo
Best choreography
Stephen Huggett, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Casey Nicolau, Some like it hot
Susan Stroman New York, New York
Jennifer Weber and juliet
Jennifer Weber kpop
The best bands
Bill Sherman and Dominic Valacaro, and juliet
John Clancy Kimberly Akimbo
Jason Holland, peeled
Charlie Rosen and Brian Carter, Some like it hot
Darrell Waters and Sam Davis, New York, New York