A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson’s critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize-winning, autobiographical musical about a queer Black writer and theater usher wrestling with issues of identity and creativity, leads the 75th Tony Awards nominations pack, with 11 nods announced Monday morning. The categories include a best musical nomination, and a lead actor nomination for Jaquel Spivey for his first role out of college.
In the Best Musical category, A Strange Loop is up against the Michael Jackson musical MJ the Musical, Paradise Square (about the racial tinderbox of 19th century New York), Henry VIII wives’-fight-back show SIX The Musical, the Bob Dylan-inspired Girl From the North Country, and Billy Crystal’s amiable musical comedy Mr. Saturday Night.
The Lehman Trilogy is the most-nominated play, with eight nods in all, and its three leads—Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester—each nominated in the Best Actor category. Lehman is up against Clyde’s, Hangmen, The Minutes, and Skeleton Crew for Best Play.
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In terms of notable snubs, Funny Girl, which received largely negative reviews from critics, was locked out of the best revival of a musical category, and its star, Beanie Feldstein, was not nominated in the best actress (musical) category. Daniel Craig also was not nominated for his role as Macbeth, while his co-star Ruth Negga was nominated for playing Lady Macbeth. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick also went un-nominated for their roles in Plaza Suite. Of its three big names, only Sam Rockwell scored an acting nomination for American Buffalo.
After A Strange Loop, MJ and Paradise Square each scored 10 nominations, Company nine nominations (its star, Broadway icon, Patti LuPone was nominated), and SIX: The Musical had eight nominations. The critically derided Diana, The Musical got one nomination for its costumes.
The acting categories will be particularly hard fought. As well as big-name stars, deserved recognition for standout performances were also earned by Kara Young (Clyde’s), Deirdre O’Connell (Dana H.), Gabby Beans (The Skin of Our Teeth), and Myles Frost (MJ), while three actors from Take Me Out—Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael Oberholtzer, and Jesse Williams— will compete in the best featured actor (play) category.
The Tony Awards will be presented on June 12, and broadcast live on CBS.
Full list of Tony nominations, 2022
Best Play
Clyde’s
Hangmen
The Lehman Trilogy
The Minutes
Skeleton Crew
Best Musical
Girl From The North Country
MJ
Mr. Saturday Night
Paradise Square
SIX: The Musical
A Strange Loop
Best Revival of a Play
American Buffalo
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
How I Learned to Drive
Take Me Out
Trouble in Mind
Best Revival of a Musical
Caroline, or Change
Company
The Music Man
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy
Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy
Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy
David Morse, How I Learned to Drive
Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
David Threlfall, Hangmen
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind
Ruth Negga, Macbeth
Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.
Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night
Myles Frost, MJ
Hugh Jackman, The Music Man
Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire
Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change
Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset
Sutton Foster, The Music Man
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Alfie Allen, Hangmen
Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out
Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s
Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out
Jesse Williams, Take Me Out
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s
Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kara Young, Clyde’s
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Matt Doyle, Company
Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square
Jared Grimes, Funny Girl
John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop
A.J. Shively, Paradise Square
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country
Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night
Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man
L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop
Patti LuPone, Company
Jennifer Simard, Company
Best Direction of a Play
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy
Neil Pepe, American Buffalo
Les Waters, Dana H.
Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop
Marianne Elliott, Company
Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country
Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Warren Carlyle, The Music Man
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical
Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ
Best Orchestrations
David Cullen, Company
Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical
Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country
Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ
Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop
Best Book of a Musical
Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson
MJ, Lynn Nottage
Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
Paradise Square, Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan
A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Flying Over Sunset Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie
Mr. Saturday Night Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green
Paradise Square Music: Jason Howland; Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Masi Asare
SIX: The Musical Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
A Strange Loop Music & Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew
Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy
Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
Scott Pask, American Buffalo
Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset
Bunny Christie, Company
Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop
Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ
Allen Moyer, Paradise Square
Best Costume Design of a Play
Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth
Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind
Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite
Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change
Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square
William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical
Santo Loquasto, The Music Man
Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical
Paul Tazewell, MJ
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Joshua Carr, Hangmen
Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy
Jane Cox, Macbeth
Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Neil Austin, Company
Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical
Donald Holder, Paradise Square
Natasha Katz, MJ
Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset
Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth
Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy
Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country
Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company
Drew Levy, A Strange Loop
Gareth Owen, MJ
Tony Nominations by Production
A Strange Loop - 11
MJ - 10
Paradise Square - 10
Company - 9
The Lehman Trilogy - 8
SIX: The Musical - 8
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf - 7
Girl From The North Country - 7
The Music Man - 6
The Skin of Our Teeth - 6
Clyde’s - 5
Hangmen - 5
Mr. Saturday Night - 5
American Buffalo - 4
Flying Over Sunset - 4
Take Me Out - 4
Trouble in Mind - 4
Caroline, or Change - 3
Dana H. - 3
How I Learned to Drive - 3
Macbeth - 3
POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive - 3
Skeleton Crew - 3
Diana, The Musical - 1
Funny Girl - 1
Lackawanna Blues - 1
The Minutes - 1
Mrs. Doubtfire - 1
Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite - 1
