Tony Awards press contact: PMK/HBH - NY, (212) 582-1111
Shawn Purdy/Allen Eichhorn/Shea Martin
New York, NY (May 16, 2006) - Nominations in 24 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 60th Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards® were announced today by past Tony Winners Phylicia Rashad, Natasha Richardson and Liev Schreiber at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement Reception sponsored by IBM. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 23 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2006 Tony Awards are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing. (The list of nominations follows.) Marking 60 years of excellence on Broadway, The Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, Sunday, June 11th, 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay). Legitimate theatrical productions opening in any of the 39 eligible Broadway theatres during the current season may be considered for Tony nominations. The 2005/2006 eligibility season began May 5, 2005 and ended May 10, 2006. The Tony Awards will be voted in 24 categories by 754 members of the theatrical community. Ballots will be mailed at the end of this week. Based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association, Intiman Theatre of Seattle, Washington, will be the recipient of the 2006 Regional Theatre Tony Award accompanied by a grant of $25,000 sponsored by Visa USA. This award is given to a regional theatre company that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally. As previously announced, the Tony Administration Committee has voted a Special Tony Award to Sarah Jones for "Bridge & Tunnel." A Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be given to Harold Prince. This year there will be no award given in the category of Best Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Recreated Role. The 2006 Tony Award Nominating Committee consists of: Victoria Bailey, Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Bogardus, Edward Burbridge, Ben Cameron, Kirsten Childs, Betty Corwin, Jacqueline Davis, Mercedes Ellington, Nancy Ford, Dana Ivey, Andrew Jackness, Geoffrey Johnson, Robert Kamlot, Todd London, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jon Nakagawa, Lynn Nottage, Enid Nemy, Gilbert Parker, Jonathan Reynolds, Jac Venza and Franklin Weissberg. For the CBS broadcast, Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are Executive Producers. Weiss also serves as Director. Allen Kelman is Line Producer. Elliot Lawrence is Musical Director. Dave Boone is writing the script. Carol Propp is Talent Executive. The Production Designer is Steve Bass. Bob Dickinson is designing the lighting and David Toser the costumes. Toni-Marie Gonzalez is Associate Producer and Alan Hall is Production Supervisor. A limited number of tickets will be sold to the public beginning today, Tuesday, May 16th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online through www.TonyAwards.com or by calling the Tony Awards TicketMaster Hotline, (212) 307-4544. The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The League and the Wing will host the official 2006 Meet the Nominees Press Reception on Wednesday, May 17th at The View at the Marriott Marquis. For media RSVP's to the Press Reception, please contact PMK/HBH at (212) 582-1111. # # # The Tonys are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing. At the League, Gerald Schoenfeld is Chairman and Jed Bernstein is President. At the Wing, Sondra Gilman is Chairman, Doug Leeds is President and Howard Sherman is Executive Director. For Tony Award Productions, Elizabeth I. McCann is Managing Producer and Joey Parnes is Coordinating Producer. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are Executive Producers of the 2006 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2006 Tony Awards. The official Tony Awards web site, www.TonyAwards.com, is developed, designed, and hosted by IBM, an official partner of the Tonys. News and feature content is provided in cooperation with Playbill.com. Along with IBM, official partners of the Tonys include Visa, the exclusive card accepted at the Tonys. Continental Airlines and Sprint are official supporters of the Tonys. Promotional and media partners for the 2006 Tony Awards include Macy's, Movie Tunes, Playbill, USA Today, The Waldorf-Astoria Collection, Van Wagner and Virgin Entertainment. # # #
Images from the 2006 Tony Awards events will be aAvailable at: www.WireImage.com
Nominations for the 2006 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards®
Best Play
The History Boys Author: Alan Bennett Producers: Boyett Ostar Productions, Roger Berlind, Debra Black, Eric Falkenstein, Roy Furman, Jam Theatricals, Stephanie P. McClelland, Judith Resnick, Scott Rudin, Jon Avnet/Ralph Guild, Dede Harris/Mort Swinsky, The National Theatre of Great Britain The Lieutenant of Inishmore Author: Martin McDonagh Producers: Randall L. Wreghitt, Dede Harris, Atlantic Theater Company, David Lehrer, Harriet Newman Leve & Ron Nicynski, Zavelson Meyrelles Greiner Group, Mort Swinsky & Redfern Goldman Productions, Ruth Hendel Rabbit Hole Author: David Lindsay-Abaire Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove
Shining City Author: Conor McPherson Producers: Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Barry Grove, Scott Rudin, Roger Berlind, Debra Black Best Musical
The Color Purple Producers: Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, David Lowy, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Bob & Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich, Todd Johnson
The Drowsy Chaperone Producers: Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Boyett Ostar Productions, Stephanie P. McClelland, Barbara Freitag, Jill Furman Jersey Boys Producers: Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Pelican Group, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Latitude Link, Rick Steiner/Osher/Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group The Wedding Singer Producers: Margo Lion, New Line Cinema, The Araca Group, Roy Furman, Douglas L. Meyer/James D. Stern, Rick Steiner/The Staton Bell Osher Mayerson Group, Jam Theatricals, Jujamcyn Theaters, Jay Furman, Michael Gill, Dr. Lawrence Horowitz, Rhoda Mayerson, Marisa Sechrest, Gary Winnick, Dancap Productions, Inc., Élan V. McAllister/Allan S. Gordon/Adam Epstein
Best Book of a Musical
The Color Purple Marsha Norman
The Drowsy Chaperone Bob Martin and Don McKellar Jersey Boys Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice The Wedding Singer Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Color Purple Music & Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray
The Drowsy Chaperone Music & Lyrics: Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison The Wedding Singer Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
The Woman in White Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: David Zippel Best Revival of a Play
Awake and Sing! Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten
The Constant Wife Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Ellen Richard, Julia C. Levy Edward Albee's Seascape Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten
Faith Healer Producers: Michael Colgan & Sonia Friedman Productions, The Shubert Organization, Robert Bartner, Roger Berlind, Scott Rudin, Spring Sirkin, Gate Theatre Dublin
Best Revival of a Musical
The Pajama Game Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Jeffrey Richards, James Fuld, Jr., Scott Landis
Sweeney Todd Producers: Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Ambassador Theatre Goup, Adam Kenwright, Tulchin/Bartner/Bagert The Threepenny Opera Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Ralph Fiennes, Faith Healer Richard Griffiths, The History Boys Željko Ivanek, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Oliver Platt, Shining City David Wilmot, The Lieutenant of Inishmore Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Kate Burton, The Constant Wife Judy Kaye, Souvenir Lisa Kron, Well Cynthia Nixon, Rabbit Hole Lynn Redgrave, The Constant Wife Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, Sweeney Todd Harry Connick, Jr., The Pajama Game Stephen Lynch, The Wedding Singer Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone John Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Sutton Foster, The Drowsy Chaperone LaChanze, The Color Purple Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game Chita Rivera, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Samuel Barnett, The History Boys Domhnall Gleeson, The Lieutenant of Inishmore Ian McDiarmid, Faith Healer Mark Ruffalo, Awake and Sing! Pablo Schreiber, Awake and Sing! Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Tyne Daly, Rabbit Hole Frances de la Tour, The History Boys Jayne Houdyshell, Well Alison Pill, The Lieutenant of Inishmore Zoë Wanamaker, Awake and Sing! Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Danny Burstein, The Drowsy Chaperone Jim Dale, The Threepenny Opera Brandon Victor Dixon, The Color Purple Manoel Felciano, Sweeney Todd Christian Hoff, Jersey Boys Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Carolee Carmello, Lestat Felicia P. Fields, The Color Purple Megan Lawrence, The Pajama Game Beth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, The Color Purple Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, Rabbit Hole Bob Crowley, The History Boys Santo Loquasto, Three Days of Rain Michael Yeargan, Awake and Sing! Best Scenic Design of a Musical
John Lee Beatty, The Color Purple David Gallo, The Drowsy Chaperone Derek McLane, The Pajama Game Klara Zieglerova, Jersey Boys Best Costume Design of a Play
Michael Krass, The Constant Wife Santo Loquasto, A Touch of the Poet Catherine Zuber, Awake and Sing! Catherine Zuber, Edward Albee's Seascape Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, The Drowsy Chaperone Susan Hilferty, Lestat Martin Pakledinaz, The Pajama Game Paul Tazewell, The Color Purple
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Christopher Akerlind, Awake and Sing! Paul Gallo, Three Days of Rain Mark Henderson, Faith Healer Mark Henderson, The History Boys Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington and Brian Monahan, The Drowsy Chaperone Howell Binkley, Jersey Boys Natasha Katz, Tarzan
Brian MacDevitt, The Color Purple
Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, The History Boys Wilson Milam, The Lieutenant of Inishmore Bartlett Sher, Awake and Sing! Daniel Sullivan, Rabbit Hole Best Direction of a Musical
John Doyle, Sweeney Todd Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, The Wedding Singer Donald Byrd, The Color Purple Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone Best Orchestrations
Larry Blank, The Drowsy Chaperone Dick Lieb and Danny Troob, The Pajama Game Steve Orich, Jersey Boys Sarah Travis, Sweeney Todd * * * Special Tony Award
Sarah Jones for Bridge & Tunnel Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Harold Prince Regional Theatre Tony Award
Intiman Theatre, Seattle, WA * * * Total Nominations by Production
The Drowsy Chaperone - 13 The Color Purple - 11 The Pajama Game - 9 Awake and Sing! - 8 Jersey Boys - 8 The History Boys - 7 Sweeney Todd - 6 Rabbit Hole - 5 The Lieutenant of Inishmore - 5 The Wedding Singer - 5 The Constant Wife - 4 Faith Healer - 4 Edward Albee's Seascape - 2 Lestat - 2 Shining City - 2 Three Days of Rain - 2 The Threepenny Opera - 2 Well - 2 The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial - 1 Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life - 1 Souvenir - 1 Tarzan - 1 A Touch of the Poet - 1 The Woman in White - 1 | 
