Our Reactions To The 2019 Tony Award Nominations

By Nicole Ackman ​​​

​The big day is here: we finally know who and what will be competing for the 2019 Tony Awards. This morning, Brandon Victor Dixon and Bebe Neuwirth revealed this year’s nomination on a live Facebook stream. The Tonys themselves will be hosted by James Corden on Sunday, June 9th. 

The other day, the Next Best Theatre team made their nominations predictions and while we did fairly well, there were definitely some snubs and some exciting recognition that we didn’t see coming. But we’re surely not the only ones who couldn’t have predicted that Glenda Jackson wouldn’t get a nomination for playing the titular role in "King Lear" and it’s unclear whether anyone guessed the entire Featured Actor in a Musical correctly.

Click for full list of nominations

BEST PLAY

• Choir Boy 
• The Ferryman 
• Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus 
• Ink 
• What the Constitution Means to Me 

BEST MUSICAL

• Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Beetlejuice
• Hadestown
• The Prom
• Tootsie

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

• Paddy Considine, The Ferryman
• Bryan Cranston, Network
• Jeff Daniels, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Adam Driver, Burn This
• Jeremy Pope, Choir Boy

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

• Annette Bening, Arthur Miller's All My Sons
• Laura Donnelly, The Ferryman
• Elaine May, The Waverly Gallery
• Janet McTeer, Bernhardt/Hamlet
• Laurie Metcalf, Hillary and Clinton
• Heidi Schreck, What the Constitution Means to Me 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

• Brooks Ashmanskas, The Prom
• Derrick Baskin, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Alex Brightman, Beetlejuice
• Damon Daunno, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• Santino Fontana, Tootsie

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

• Stephanie J. Block, The Cher Show
• Caitlin Kinnunen, The Prom
• Beth Leavel, The Prom
• Eva Noblezada, Hadestown
• Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

• Arthur Miller's All My Sons
• The Boys in the Band
• Burn This
• Torch Song
• The Waverly Gallery

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

• Kiss Me, Kate
• Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

• Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations , Dominique Morisseau 
• Beetlejuice, Scott Brown & Anthony King 
• Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell 
• The Prom, Bob Martin & Chad Beguelin 
• Tootsie, Robert Horn

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE

• Be More Chill, Music & Lyrics: Joe Iconis 
• Beetlejuice, Music & Lyrics: Eddie Perfect 
• Hadestown, Music & Lyrics: Anaïs Mitchell 
• The Prom, Music: Matthew Sklar, Lyrics: Chad Beguelin 
• To Kill a Mockingbird, Music: Adam Guettel 
• Tootsie, Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek  

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

• Bertie Carvel, Ink
• Robin De Jesús, The Boys in the Band
• Gideon Glick, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Brandon Uranowitz, Burn This
• Benjamin Walker, Arthur Miller's All My Sons

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

• Fionnula Flanagan, The Ferryman
• Celia Keenan-Bolger, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Kristine Nielsen, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
• Julie White, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
• Ruth Wilson, King Lear

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

• André De Shields, Hadestown
• Andy Grotelueschen, Tootsie
• Patrick Page, Hadestown
• Jeremy Pope, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Ephraim Sykes, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

• Lilli Cooper, Tootsie
• Amber Gray, Hadestown
• Sarah Stiles, Tootsie
• Ali Stroker, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• Mary Testa, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

• Miriam Buether, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Bunny Christie, Ink
• Rob Howell, The Ferryman
• Santo Loquasto, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
• Jan Versweyveld, Network

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

• Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Peter England, King Kong
• Rachel Hauck, Hadestown
• Laura Jellinek, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• David Korins, Beetlejuice

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

• Rob Howell, The Ferryman
• Toni-Leslie James, Bernhardt/Hamlet
• Clint Ramos, Torch Song
• Ann Roth, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
• Ann Roth, To Kill a Mockingbird

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

• Michael Krass, Hadestown
• William Ivey Long, Beetlejuice
• William Ivey Long, Tootsie
• Bob Mackie, The Cher Show
• Paul Tazewell, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

• Neil Austin, Ink
• Jules Fisher + Peggy Eisenhauer, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
• Peter Mumford, The Ferryman
• Jennifer Tipton, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden, Network

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

• Kevin Adams, The Cher Show
• Howell Binkley, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Bradley King, Hadestown
• Peter Mumford, King Kong
• Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini, Beetlejuice

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY

• Adam Cork, Ink
• Scott Lehrer, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Fitz Patton, Choir Boy
• Nick Powell, The Ferryman
• Eric Sleichim, Network

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

• Peter Hylenski, Beetlejuice
• Peter Hylenski, King Kong
• Steve Canyon Kennedy, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Drew Levy, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, Hadestown

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

• Rupert Goold, Ink
• Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
• Bartlett Sher, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Ivo van Hove, Network
• George C. Wolfe, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

• Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
• Scott Ellis, Tootsie
• Daniel Fish, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• Des McAnuff, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
• Casey Nicholaw, The Prom

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

• Camille A. Brown, Choir Boy
• Warren Carlyle, Kiss Me, Kate
• Denis Jones, Tootsie
• David Neumann, Hadestown
• Sergio Trujillo, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

• Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, Hadestown
• Simon Hale, Tootsie
• Larry Hochman, Kiss Me, Kate
• Daniel Kluger, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
• Harold Wheeler, Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

"Hadestown" Is 'Livin’ It Up On Top'

"Hadestown" goes home today with fourteen nominations, only two less than "Hamilton" which holds the record for the most nominations for a musical ever. Rachel Chavkin is the sole female director nominee across both categories this year and stands a good chance at making up for not winning for "Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet Of 1812" two years ago.

In addition to a Best Musical nomination, Anais Mitchell’s book and score were nominated along with four acting nominations for Eva Noblezada, Amber Gray, Patrick Page, and Andre De Shields. With rave reviews and an original concept, it stands a great chance at going home with the big award.

British Shows Reign Over the Plays

Last year, the play categories were dominated by British exports "Angels In America" and "Harry Potter And The Cursed Child." This year’s West End to Broadway transfers, "The Ferryman," "Ink," and "Network" all racked up many nominations. Both "The Ferryman" and "Network" did well at last year’s Olivier Awards with "The Ferryman" taking home Best Play, Best Actress (for Laura Donnelly, now a Tony nominee as well) and Best Director while Bryan Cranston snagged Best Actor for "Network."

James Graham’s INK scored six nominations, including Best Play, and Network garnered five. "The Ferryman" was nominated for nine including Best Play, Best Director, Leading Actress, and Leading Actor. The show is directed by Sam Mendes, well known for his work in theatre like "Cabaret!" And "Gypsy" and on films like "Road To Perdition" and "Skyfall." His next movie, "1917," will be released in early 2020.

All in all, the British transfers took home twenty of the thirty-eight nominations for plays. So if you want to look for the 2020 Tony nominees, it might be best to see what’s on in the West End…

Jeremy Pope is Good Luck for "Choir Boy" and "Ain't Too Proud"

The less expected front-runner is "Ain't Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations" which opened last month. It scored twelve nominations including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Direction, and two Featured Actor slots. Nominee Dominique Morisseau is one of the first black women to be nominated for writing the book for a Broadway musical.  

It’s a good day for Jeremy Pope who is nominated for Featured Actor for "Ain't Too Proud," but he also scored a Leading Actor in a Play nomination for "Choir Boy," a black gay love story that featured choir music and step dance. Both "Choir Boy's" Choreography and Sound Design were nominated alongside a Best Play nomination.

"Ain't Too Proud" and "Hadestown" are joined in the Best Musical category by quirky "Beetlejuice," heartfelt "The Prom," and the most recently opened "Tootsie."

A Chilly Reception for "Be More Chill," "King Lear" and Others

As always, when there are surprising nominations, there are also shows that got dropped to make a place for them. "Be More Chill," despite its successful off-Broadway run and popularity with teens across America, was met with subpar reviews which translated into only one nomination: Best Score for Joe Iconis. 

More surprisingly, "King Lear" only received one nomination and not for Glenda Jackson as Lear. Ruth Wilson, who plays both Cordelia and The Fool, slid in with a Featured Actress nomination. Similarly, Laurie Metcalf’s Leading Actress nomination was the only one that new play "Hillary & Clinton" managed, proving that you can never bet against Laurie Metcalf at the Tonys no matter how divisive her show.

"Kiss Me, Kate" also underperformed though it still managed to get four nominations including Best Revival of a Musical and Leading Actress for Kelli O’Hara. (Though how much of an achievement Best Revival of a Musical is when there are only two eligible shows, I’m not sure.) Will Chase, Stephanie Styles, and Corbin Bleu were all popular predictions and all three missed, leading me to wonder if they still have the sure shot at winning the Best Choreography award that I had previously assumed.

Other Notable Moments

• Despite the show having been closed for some time and the odds on Gold Derby declaring it near impossible, Janet McTeer got a nomination for Leading Actress in a Play for her splendid performance in "Bernhardt/Hamlet." The show also garnered a Best Costume Design nomination.
• Adam Guettel's score for "To Kill A Mockingbird" was given a sixth slot amongst the musicals in the Best Original Score category.
• "Gary: A Sequel To Titus Andronicus" garnered its Featured Actresses Julie White and Kristine Nielsen nominations despite lead and Broadway darling Nathan Lane being snubbed.
• "Beetlejuice" and "Oklahoma" got a respectable eight nominations each, spread out across the acting, tech, and big categories.
• Although it got nine nominations across the board, "To Kill A Mockingbird"  shockingly missed a Best Play nomination, leaving the path open for "The Ferryman."

How Did Everyone Else Compare?

HADESTOWN: 14
AIN’T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS: 12
TOOTSIE: 11
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: 9
THE FERRYMAN: 9
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA!: 8
BEETLEJUICE: 8
THE PROM: 7
GARY: A SEQUEL TO TITUS ANDRONICUS: 7
INK: 6
NETWORK: 5
KISS ME, KATE: 4
CHOIR BOY: 4
THE CHER SHOW: 3
ARTHUR MILLER’S ALL MY SONS: 3
KING KONG: 3
BURN THIS: 3
BERNHARDT/HAMLET: 2
TORCH SONG: 2
THE BOYS IN THE BAND: 2
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME: 2
THE WAVERLEY GALLERY: 2
HILLARY & CLINTON: 1
BE MORE CHILL: 1
KING LEAR: 1

While there were definitely some shoo-ins, there were also some great surprises today and there are some races that are sure to be hotly debated, especially Leading Actress in a Play.

The Next Best Theatre team will be back with our predictions for who will win at the Tony Awards next month, but we’d love to hear on Twitter who you’re predicting to win. Who was your favorite nomination? Which one surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter account.

​You can follow Nicole and hear more of her thoughts on Theatre and the Tonys on Twitter at @nicoleackman16