It's shaping up as a battle between "The Drowsy Chaperone," a frothy celebration of a faux 1920s musical, and "Jersey Boys," showcasing the story and pop sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

"Chaperone" received 13 Tony nominations Tuesday — more than any other show — while "Jersey Boys" grabbed eight nods in what has been a busy Broadway season. They were the two best-reviewed musicals of the season, with "Chaperone" already winning the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and "Jersey Boys" the Outer Critics Circle prize. But also showing surprising Tony strength was "The Color Purple," the Oprah Winfrey-produced musical based on Alice Walker's novel about a determined woman's triumph over adversity. It placed second with 11 nominations. All three will compete in the best musical category along with "The Wedding Singer," based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film.

"The History Boys," Alan Bennett's London success about a group of boisterous students trying to get into Oxford or Cambridge, dominated the play categories, receiving seven nominations including one for best play. The play's competition for the top drama prize will be "The Lieutenant of Inishmore," Martin McDonagh's comic splatterfest about a crazed Irish terrorist; "Shining City," Conor McPherson's ghost story set in present-day Dublin; and "Rabbit Hole," David Lindsay-Abaire's look at a suburban couple attempting to deal with the death of their young son.

Going up against Griffiths will be Ralph Fiennes who plays the title character in Brian Friel's "Faith Healer"; Oliver Platt, the haunted husband in "Shining City"; David Wilmot, a crazed terrorist in "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" and Zeljko Ivanek, an intense naval officer in "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," which closes Sunday after a two-week run.

In one oddity, all the women nominated for best actress starred in plays that already have closed: Cynthia Nixon, the distraught mother in "Rabbit Hole"; Judy Kaye, a tone-deaf diva in "Souvenir"; Lisa Kron, an embattled daughter in "Well," and two performers from the revival of W. Somerset Maugham's "The Constant Wife," Kate Burton and Lynn Redgrave.

One actress who is still starring on Broadway (through June 1 is Julia Roberts, but she was passed over for a nomination in "Three Days of Rain," as were her two co-stars, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper.

Harry Connick Jr. was luckier. He received an actor-musical nod for his work in the revival of "The Pajama Game," which got nine bids.

--Source: Yahoo; Click here for the complete list of nominations.

Posted by: Lawrenkm at 07:39 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Drowsey Chaperon -- the little Canadian musical that started as a wedding gift.

Posted by: jasper at May 17, 2006 08:54 AM (WXpnq)

2 Boo on you! Not one mention of the nominations for the acclaimed revival of "Sweeney Todd?" I think Patti Lupone is going to win another Tony. Sutton Foster seems to be consistently picking great projects to star in. I think this makes her third nomination in four years.

Posted by: chuck at May 17, 2006 11:11 AM (Rf+MO)

3 I couldn't list EVERYTHING, Chuck! Lupone could easily come away w/ another victory. I noted that about Sutton as well. I think Cynthia Nixon is going to win for "Rabbit Hole."

Posted by: Lawren at May 17, 2006 11:47 AM (Z93ge)

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