Earlier today, two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster and Emmy-nominated “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson announced the nominees for the 2013 Tony Awards. While there were several startling snubs this year, “Matilda the Musical” and “Kinky Boots” both kicked up a storm of accolades. The two hit shows took 12 and 13 nominations each, including Best Musical.
Based on the 2005 British film, “Kinky Boots” features a score composed by pop star Cyndi Lauper and a book written by Tony-winning Broadway veteran Harvey Fierstein. After the nominations were announced, an incredulous Lauper, who has captivated critics as a Broadway newcomer, told NY1’s Pat Kiernan and Roma Torre, “I can’t believe it! I’m so thrilled for all of us.” She went on to thank the show’s stars – Stark Sands, Billy Porter and Annaleigh Ashford – and expressed the utmost gratitude to Fierstein, who “found” Lauper four years ago before launching the project. “I’m crying and jumping up and down! It’s just me and my dog here right now,” she laughed breathlessly.
Sadly, it appears that not everyone on Broadway was jumping for joy. Some surprising and noteworthy exclusions this year include Bette Midler, whose one-woman show “I’ll Eat You Last” did not get a single nomination. Likewise, Alan Cumming went completely overlooked for his solo star turn in “Macbeth”. Even Fiona Shaw got spurned for her role as the mother of Jesus in “The Testament of Mary,” a controversial one-woman monologue based on Colm Toibin’s novel.
While Hollywood stars Scarlett Johansson (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”), Jessica Chastain (“The Heiress”) and Katie Holmes (“Dead Accounts”) were left out in the cold, Tom Hanks scored a nomination for the leading role in Nora Ephron’s “Lucky Guy”. Nathan Lane and Cicely Tyson also received nominations for their performances in “The Nance” and “The Trip to Bountiful”, respectively. A somewhat unexpected but well-deserved nod went to Holland Taylor (“Ann”) whom we fondly remember as filthy-rich Peggy Peabody on Showtime’s “The L Word”.
So, what do you think?
Did the Tony Awards get it right?
See the complete list of nominees here.
What Do You Think?