Theater in the Now's Top 5 Tony 2014 Snubs

1) Zachary Quinto for Best Actor in a Play
The Glass Menagerie received critics praise for being an exceptional revival. The Tony nominators honored Cherry Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Brian J. Smith for their performances but forgot about Zachary Quinto. Though the race was tight, Quinto, who got the Brantley stamp of approval, could have squeaked into the fifth spot.

2. The Realistic Joneses for Best Play
What may have been the most polarizing play of the season, nominators sacrificed daring for traditional. Will Eno's star-studded play couldn't even grab the fifth spot in the newly allowed five play race in the considerably weak season. The aftermath of its lack of inclusion has been quite the buzz, but press is press!

3. Brandon J. Dirden for Best Featured Actor in a Play
The Twelfth Night domination forced a lot of strong performances to be forgotten, one of which was Brandon J. Dirden's turn as Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way. Perhaps had three out of five nominees not been from the same show Dirden's star turn could have been the sleeper in the category.






4. LaChanze for Best Featured Actress in a Musical 
If/Then was a confusing cacoffiny of a story, but there was a performance that was memorable. And that performance came from LaChanze. Though Idina Menzel's performance was honored, she was usually upstaged most of the time she shared it with LaChanze who brought life and spunk to the show. But for a musical that garnered little love, there was little chance for a LaChanze nomination. 

5. Cass Morgan for Best Featured Actress in a Musical 
This would have been a long shot, but Cass Morgan's performance in The Bridges of Madison County was one of the very few highlights. Cass Morgan brought the perfect amount of heart and comedy to the drama despite her big solo being cut off for the newly icon number of the show.

Theater in the Now's Top 5 Tony 2014 Surprises

1. A Fifth New Play But Not Musical?
This year was the first for the Tony's, allowing a fifth spot to open up for Best New Play and Best New Musical. Though considered a "weak" year (but don't we say that nearly every year now?), the nominators gave a fifth spot in the Best New Play category and not the Best New Musical, knocking out contenders like Rocky, The Bridges of Madison County, and If/Then.

2. No Nom Land
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart brought everyone's favorite bromance to Broadway in a double bill of Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land. Beyond their newfound Internet trending persona, the duo offered some acclaimed performances yet neither were nominated for Best Actor nor were their shows.




3. Twelfth Night Domination in Best Supporting Actor
Speaking of double bills, the gender-blind Twelfth Night fared much better than Richard III, garnering seven nominations including three in the Best Supporting Actor category for Paul Chahidi, Stephen Fry, and Mark Rylance. Now the question remains: will they wash each other out for votes leaving the door open for Reed Birney or Brian J. Smith?

4. Samuel Barnett Snags Best Actor Nomination
I mean while we're on Twelfth Night, Samuel Barnett snagged a nomination in the hefty category for his turn as Viola knocking out heavy hitters like Denzel Washington and Daniel Radcliffe. Does Barnett have a chance against Walter White himself?










5. Big Names, No Love
With another season of Hollywood types on the Great White Way, some performances were neglected. While Washington, Radcliffe, James Franco, Dule Hill, Zachary Quinto, the entire cast of The Realistic Joneses and many others didn't get recognized, there was shock within the theater community with heavy hitters like Alex Timbers and Sam Gold being left off the Best Director lists.

2014 Lucille Lortel Awards Announced!

It's officially award season in theater! The 2014 Lucille Lortel Awards were announced, honoring the best of Off Broadway, with Here Lies Love and Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 leading the pack with eleven nominations each. The winners will be announced on May 4th at the 29th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards. 

Outstanding Play
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon (Roundabout Theatre Company)
Domesticated by Bruce Norris (Lincoln Center Theater)
The Night Alive by Conor McPherson (Atlantic Theater Company)
The Open House by Will Eno (Signature Theatre)

Outstanding Musical
Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori, Music, Lisa Kron, Book and Lyrics (The Public Theater)
Here Lies Love by David Byrne, Concept and Lyrics, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Music (The Public Theater)
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812​ by Dave Malloy
What's It All About by Kyle Riabko and David Lane Seltzer, Conceived, Burt Bacharach, Music, Hal David and Others, Lyrics (New York Theatre Workshop)

Outstanding Revival
Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht, Translation by John Willett (The Public Theater and The Foundry Theatre)
Hand to God by Robert Askins (MCC Theater)
London Wall by John Van Druten (Mint Theater Company)
The Model Apartment by Donald Marulies (Primary Stages)
The Weir by Conor McPherson (The Irish Repertory Theatre)

Outstanding Solo Show
Buyer & Cellar by Jonathan Tolins, Performed by Michael Urie
How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, Co-Conceived with Todd Kreider, Collaborated and Performed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Signature Theatre)
Satchmo at the Waldorf by Terry Teachout, Performed by John Douglas Thompson

Outstanding Director
Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Lear deBessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Sam Gold, Fun Home
Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love
Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Hand to God

Outstanding Choreographer
Martha Clarke, Chéri
Marguerite Derricks, Heathers: The Musical
Danny Mefford, Fun Home
Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love
Sonya Tayeh, Kung Fu

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Steven Boyer, Hand to God
Jon DeVries, Regular Singing
Peter Friedman, The Open House
Taylor Mac, Good Person of Szechwan
Armando Riesco, The Happiest Song Plays Last

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Tracee Chimo, Bad Jews
Diane Davis, The Model Apartment
Carolyn McCormick, The Open House
Laurie Metcalf, Domesticated
Andrus Nichols, Bedlam's Hamlet and Saint Joan

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Jeff Blumenkrantz, Murder For Two
Michael Cerveris, Fun Home
Jose Llana, Here Lies Love
Kyle Riabko, What's It All About
Conrad Ricamora, Here Lies Love

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Sydney Lucas, Fun Home
Ruthie Ann Miles, Here Lies Love
Alexandra Socha, Fun Home
Phillipa Soo, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Barrett Wilbert Weed, Heathers: The Musical

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Carson Elrod, The Explorers Club
Philip Ettinger, Bad Jews
Russell G. Jones, The Call
Jeremy Shamos, Dinner With Friends
Fred Weller, Reasons to Be Happy

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Hannah Bos, The Open House
Lynn Cohen, I Remember Mama
Lisa Kron, Good Person of Szechwan
Molly Ranson, Bad Jews
Sarah Stiles, Hand to God

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Heath Calvert, Nobody Loves You
Nick Choksi, Bunty Berman Presents...
Blake DeLong, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Noah Hinsdale, Fun Home
Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Uzo Aduba, Venice
Brittain Ashford, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Melody Butiu, Here Lies Love
Judy Kuhn, Fun Home
Shaina Taub, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Scenic Design
Miriam Buether, Love and Information
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Clint Ramos, Appropriate
Matt Saunders, Good Person of Szechwan

Outstanding Costume Design
Gabriel Berry and Andrea Hood, Love and Information
Clint Ramos, Here Lies Love
Anita Yavich, The Explorers Club
Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Catherine Zuber, Far From Heaven

Outstanding Lighting Design
Daniel Ionazzi, The Jacksonian
Bradley King, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Ben Stanton, Fun Home
Justin Townsend, Here Lies Love
Japhy Weideman, What's It All About

Outstanding Sound Design
M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Clive Goodwin, What's It All About
Matt Hubbs, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Ryan Rumery, The Hatmaker's Wife
Christopher Shutt, Love and Information