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Tony Noms Reach Heights, Head South

Posted by Vogt
at June 3, 2008

The Great White Way is gonna paint the town red tonight.

In the Heights, a musical chronicling a group of immigrant dreamers in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, as backed by a salsa and hip-hop score, received a leading 13 nominations today for the 2008 Tony Awards.

Following close on its Capezio'd heels is Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, the much-heralded first ever Broadway revival of the iconic musical, which earned 11 nods.

But Mel Brooks' latest foray, the hugely hyped yet hugely disappointing musical take on Young Frankenstein, failed to register in any of the major categories, aside from featured-acting nods for supporting players Andrea Martin and Christopher Fitzgerald.

A few big names also made the cut: Laurence Fishburne, Patrick Stewart, Rufus Sewell, Laurie Metcalf, Martha Plimpton, Mary McCormack, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tom S. Epatha Merkerson, Tom "Luke Duke" Wopat and Bobby Cannavale were all singled out with individual acting nominations for their work on the boards.

Rounding out the top musical nominees was Stephen Sondheim's equally iconic Sunday in the Park With George, which follows the life of impressionist painter Georges Seurat during the creation of his famous painting, which earned nine nominations.

The top nominated play, meanwhile, was the Pulitzer Prize-sanctioned August: Osage County, a snapshot of a Midwestern family returning home to care for their manipulative and afflicted mother.

The Tonys, currently in its 62nd year, will air live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS June 15. Whoopi Goldberg will host.

Here's the complete list of nominees:

BEST PLAY

BEST MUSICAL

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS)

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

REGIONAL THEATRE TONY AWARD

SPECIAL TONY AWARD

SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE

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