The West End made its mark on today’s Tony Award nominations announcement, with a total of 10 nods for productions transferred from London featuring in the illustrious list.
Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin’s musical comedy Groundhog Day, which premiered with a short run at The Old Vic last year, was amongst the highest achieving musicals, garnering a total of 7 nominations. Amongst them were nods for Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Andy Karl – the equivalent accolades to the Olivier Awards the production claimed at last month’s London ceremony.
Creatives behind the time-warping show will also be in the running for Best Book of a Musical (Danny Rubin), Best Original Score (Tim Minchin), Best Choreography (Peter Darling & Ellen Kane), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rob Howell) and Best Direction of a Musical (Matthew Warchus).
Their total of 7 nominations was eclipsed by surprise hit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, which led the way with 12 nominations, while crowd-pleasing revival Hello, Dolly! received 10 nominations.
London theatregoers can look forward to another hugely successful Tony-nominated production transferring to the National Theatre and West End later this year in Oslo, the new J.T. Rogers diplomacy drama, recognised in 7 categories including Best Play.
Elsewhere, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular production of Boublil & Schönberg ‘s Vietnam-based romantic musical Miss Saigon, which departed for New York from the West End’s Prince Edward Theatre in February last year, was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. Leading lady Eva Noblezada capped a remarkable recent rise with a nod for Best Actress in a Musical on her Broadway debut.
Elsewhere, Mischief Theatre’s venture across the Atlantic with their Olivier Award-winning comedy The Play That Goes Wrong has been honoured with a nomination for Best Scenic Design of a Play (Nigel Hook).
British sound designers Gareth Fry & Pete Malkin, who were behind the aurally immersive technology of Simon McBurney and Complicite’s one-man play The Encounter, which also played at the Barbican last year, will be presented a Special Tony Award for their ground-breaking work.
The winners of the 71st Tony Awards will be announced in a ceremony on Sunday 11 June that will be hosted by Kevin Spacey.
For a full list of nominees visit the Tony Awards website.