James Monroe Iglehart, a 2014 Tony winner for his featured role as the Genie in the musical Aladdin, announced the nominations for the 74th annual Tony Awards today at noon. The original eligibility cut-off for Broadway openings in the 2019-20 season was April 23, but when the pandemic ended the season on March 12, the American Theatre Wing decided that only shows open by February 19 would be considered for the 2020 Tonys, which meant only four musicals were eligible. The West Side Story revival that opened February 20, the new musical Girl from the North Country that opened March 5, and the new musical Six that was to open March 12 were not eligible. No date has been set yet for this year’s virtual ceremony.
Three of the four eligible musicals received multiple nominations, including best musical: Jagged Little Pill (15); Moulin Rouge! (14); and Tina (12). The fourth show, The Lightning Thief, received none. For the first time in Tony history, only plays were nominated for original score, since all three musical nominees use existing music. Only eight previous years even saw a play nominated for best score. Also, for the first time since 1994, when the revival category was split, no musical revivals were eligible. Finally, there is only one nomination for leading actor in a musical, the fewest since 1985, when none at all were announced.
Among writers, the nominees for best book include Diablo Cody (Jagged Little Pill), John Logan (Moulin Rouge!), and Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins (Tina). Nominees for best score include Christopher Nightingale (A Christmas Carol), Paul Englishby (The Inheritance), Fitz Patton (The Rose Tattoo), Lindsay Jones (Slave Play), and Daniel Kluger (The Sound Inside). Nominees for best orchestrations include Tom Kitt (Jagged Little Pill), Katie Kresek, Charlie Rosen, Matt Stine, and Justin Levine (Moulin Rouge!), and Ethan Popp (Tina).
Best direction nominees include Diane Paulus (Jagged Little Pill), Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!), and Phyllida Lloyd (Tina), while best choreography nominees include Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Jagged Little Pill), Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge!), and Anthony van Laast (Tina).
Among designers, nominations for best scenic design went to Riccardo Hernández and Lucy Mackinnon (Jagged Little Pill), Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge!), and Mark Thompson and Jeff Sugg (Tina). Best costume design nominees include Emily Rebholz (Jagged Little Pill), Catherine Zuber (Moulin Rouge!), and Mark Thompson (Tina). Nominees for best lighting design include Justin Townsend (one for Jagged Little Pill and one for Moulin Rouge!) and Bruno Poet (Tina). Finally, best sound design nominees include Jonathan Deans (Jagged Little Pill), Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!), and Nevin Steinberg (Tina).
Performers nominated for best leading actress include Elizabeth Stanley (Jagged Little Pill), Karen Olivo (Moulin Rouge!), and Adrienne Warren (Tina). The sole nominee for best leading actor is Aaron Tveit (Moulin Rouge!). Best featured actor nominees include Derek Klena and Sean Allan Krill (Jagged Little Pill), Danny Burstein and Sahr Ngaujah (Moulin Rouge!) and Daniel J. Watts (Tina). Finally, the nominees for best featured actress include Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, and Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill), Robyn Hurder (Moulin Rouge!), and Myra Lucretia Taylor (Tina).