2008 Tony Nominations Recap

The 2008 Tony Award nominations were handed out today, with several musicals receiving the most nominations. In the Heights led all nominated shows with 13 Tony nominations, including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for actor/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda. The revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific followed with 11 Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Paulo Szot, and Best Actress in a Musical for Kelli O'Hara.

In the play categories, August: Osage County received the most Tony nominations with seven, including Best Play and Best Actress in a Play for Deanna Dunagan. Acting nominations included a share of big names, like Laurence Fishburne for Thurgood, Patrick Stewart for Macbeth, Patti LaPone for Gypsy, and S. Epatha Merkerson for Come Back, Little Sheba.

Mel Brooks failed to repeat his success from The Producers as his musical version of Young Frankenstein received just three nominations. A stage version of Disney's The Little Mermaid also underperformed with two Tony nods.

The 62'nd Annual Tony Awards will be telecast on Sunday, June 15, with Whoopi Goldberg as the host. Stephen Sondheim will be given a lifetime achievement award.

Complete Tony Nomination List

BEST MUSICAL
"Cry-Baby"
"In the Heights"
"Passing Strange"
"Xanadu"

BEST PLAY
"August: Osage County"
"Rock 'n' Roll"
"The Seafarer"
"The 39 Steps"

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
"Grease"
"Gypsy"
"South Pacific"
"Sunday in the Park With George"

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
"Boeing-Boeing"
"The Homecoming"
"Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
"Macbeth"

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
"Cry-Baby""In the Heights"
"Passing Strange"
"Xanadu"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
"Cry-Baby"
"In the Heights"
"The Little Mermaid"
"Passing Strange"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Ben Daniels, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"
Laurence Fishburne, "Thurgood"
Mark Rylance, "Boeing-Boeing"
Rufus Sewell, "Rock 'n' Roll"
Patrick Stewart, "Macbeth"