‘What America should be’ Broadway celebrates variety
NEW YORK » Tony voters on Tuesday celebrated everything from the goofy to the grotesque on Broadway, handing out nominations in double digits to such varied shows as Tina Fey’s catty “Mean Girls,” the sprawling AIDs drama “Angels in America,” a grown-up Harry Potter play and a candy-colored slice of seafood in “SpongeBob SquarePants” musical.
“I feel like that’s what you want — you want a diverse community coming to the theater,” said Fey, who got a writing nomination for her Broadway debut. “It just feels like there’s something for everyone, which is how it should be.”
Seven shows earned 10 or more nominations, led by “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” with 12 each. “Angels in America,” “The Band’s Visit” and “Carousel” tied with 11, and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and “My Fair Lady” each got 10.
“It’s really exciting to be part of this nice mix,” said “Mean Girls” star Taylor Louderman, a first-time nominee who plays a high school queen bee laid low. “I’m really glad that we’re not leaving out a genre or commercial theater.”
The best new musical category is filled by “The Band’s Visit,” “Frozen,” “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Those musicals that failed to make the cut were the Hal Prince revue “Prince of Broadway,” the Jimmy Buffett musical “Escape to Margaritaville” and “Summer,” about disco diva Donna Summer.
J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” franchise extended its magical touch to Broadway, with the two-part stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” earning nominations for lead actor Jamie Parker, featured actor Anthony Boyle, featured actress Noma Dumezweni, set design, costumes, lighting, sound design, choreography and a director nod for John Tiffany.
Boyle, who plays Scorpius Malfoy, originated the role in London but said he’s having a ball with Broadway audiences. “They’re so vocal, it’s like having an extra cast member onstage,” he said. “You hear audible gasps, and sobs. Broadway audiences are incomparable.”
Another British revival, “Angels in America,” Tony Kushner’s monumental, two-part drama about AIDS, life and love during the 1980s in New York, grabbed the most nominations for any play in Tony history. Its 11 nods beat Tom Stoppard’s “The Coast of Utopia” and August Wilson’s “Fences,” which both got 10.
Denise Gough, who plays Harper Pitt in “Angels in America,” was just pleased that the British import landed so gracefully on Broadway. “We’re doing New York’s play! That is a total privilege,” she said. “Wouldn’t that be terrible if we came back and you were all like, what have you done with our play?”
Katrina Lenk earned her first Tony nomination for “The Band’s Visit,” based on a 2007 Israeli film about an accidental clash of cultures when an Egyptian orchestra gets lost and ends up in the wrong Israeli town.
“I suppose it sounds cheesy if you say it, but it’s really an honor. It’s kind of hard to put into words. It’s a deep joy.” Next up for the actress: a nap before Tuesday night’s performance. “Then I get to do the show again. I love doing it. I love this cast. I love being here. So the best way to celebrate is just to come back and do it.”