NEW YORK – "Spring Awakening," the Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater rock musical about the sexual longing of 19th century German teenagers, received a leading 11 Tony nominations on Tuesday.
"The Coast of Utopia," Tom Stoppard's epic trilogy about 19th century Russian intellectuals, and "Grey Gardens," a musical look at two of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' more eccentric relatives, each garnered 10 nominations.
"Curtains," a backstage whodunit set during a theatrical tryout in Boston, got eight.
Besides "The Coast of Utopia," the nominees for best play were: "Radio Golf," the final chapter in August Wilson's decade-by-decade look at the black experience in 20th century America; "Frost/Nixon," Peter Morgan's docudrama about the celebrated interviews between British journalist David Frost and Richard M. Nixon; and "The Little Dog Laughed," Douglas Carter Beane's social comedy about Hollywood hypocrisy.
"Mary Poppins," a lavish adaptation of P.L. Travers novels and the classic Disney movie, picked up seven nominations during the morning announcement at Lincoln Center. Besides "Poppins," best-musical nominations went to "Spring Awakening," "Grey Gardens" and "Curtains."
"Legally Blonde," a frothy, fast-paced stage adaptation of the Reese Witherspoon movie, failed to pick up a coveted best-musical nod -- important because nominees get a number on the nationally televised awards show -- but the show did get seven other nominations, including ones for book and score of a musical, as well as for its leading lady, Laura Bell Bundy.
Bundy's competition includes Christine Ebersole, "Grey Gardens"; Audra McDonald, "110 in the Shade"; Debra Monk, "Curtains," and Donna Murphy, "LoveMusik."
Angela Lansbury, a four-time Tony winner, has a chance for a fifth prize. She was nominated for her performance as a tennis legend in Terrence McNally's "Deuce."
"What a surprise -- I never thought it could happen again," Lansbury said after the nominations were announced. "I am overwhelmed. I am proud for the play and proud for the extraordinary lady I am out there playing every night."
In the actress-play category, Lansbury faces Eve Best, "A Moon for the Misbegotten"; Swoosie Kurtz, "Heartbreak House"; Vanessa Redgrave, "The Year of Magical Thinking," and Julie White, "The Little Dog Laughed."
In the actor-play category, the nominees were Boyd Gaines, "Journey's End"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Brian F. O'Byrne, "The coast of Utopia"; Christopher Plummer, "Inherit the Wind," and Liev Schreiber, "Talk Radio."
Jonathan Groff, the young rebel in "Spring Awakening," heads the actor-musical nominations. The other nominees include Michael Cerveris, "LoveMusik," Raul Esparza, "Company"; Gavin Lee, "Mary Poppins," and David Hyde Pierce, "Curtains."
The regional theater Tony Award will go to the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
The Tonys will be broadcast June 10 (8-11 p.m. EDT) on CBS from Radio City Music Hall.
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