Theatre World Award Alumni Courtney B. Vance, Anika Noni Rose, Ben Vereen, Christine Lahti, Tony Sheldon, Lea Salonga, Isabel Keating, Phillip Boykin, Jessie Mueller, Jackie Hoffman, Wesley Taylor, Patricia Elliott, Meg Bussert, Crystal A. Dickinson, with special guest Nathan Lane, have been announced as presenters and performers at the 69th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony onMonday evening, June 3, 2013 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45^th Street), home of the current Broadway revival of Pippin.  Mother and daughter, Rosemary Harris and Jennifer Ehle, both Theatre World Award Alumni, are 2013 Honorary Co-Chairs.

Hosted annually by well-known theater journalist, Peter Filichia, the awards ceremony will be directed by Theatre World Award recipient John Tartaglia, with Board Members Mary K. Botosan and Erin Oestreich returning as producers of the annual event.

The 2013 Theatre World Award Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance include Bertie Carvel (Matilda The Musical), Carrie Coon (Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Brandon J. Dirden (The Piano Lesson), Shalita Grant (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike), Tom Hanks (Lucky Guy),Valisia LeKae (Motown: The Musical), Rob McClure (Chaplin), Ruthie Ann Miles (Here Lies Love), Conrad Ricamora (Here Lies Love), Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody), Yvonne Strahovski (Golden Boy) and Tom Sturridge (Orphans).   Jonny Orsini (The Nance) will receive the 5^th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award, and Alan Aldawill be honored with the newly established John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement.

First presented in 1945, the prestigious Theatre World Awards, founded by John Willis, the Editor-in-Chief of bothTheatre World and its companion volume, Screen World, are the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performances.  The Theatre World Awards are presented annually at the end of the theatre season to six actors and six actresses for their significant, reviewable, debut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. The ceremony is a private, invitation-only event followed by a party to celebrate the new honorees and welcome them to the Theatre World “family.” In what has become a highly entertaining and often touching tradition, 12 previous winners serve as the presenters, and often relive moments from past ceremonies and share wonderful stories rarely heard at other theatrical awards.

The Theatre World Award winners were chosen by the Theatre World Awards Committee that includes David Cote(Time Out New York and “NY1”), Joe Dziemianowicz (New York Daily News), Peter Filichia (The Newark Star-Ledger, Emeritus) Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (Talkin’ Broadway), Frank Scheck (New York Post), and Linda Winer (Newsday).

They haven’t even opened yet but the buzz and demand for tickets to Neil Labute’s newest play Reasons to Be Happy  is high and they have announced that the world premiere of the new play, also directed by LaBute, will now extend through Saturday, June 29^th.  It was previously scheduled through June 23^rd.  For the additional performances only, the schedule will be: June 25^th – June 26^th at 7PM, June 27^th - June 28^th at 8PM, and June 29^th at 2 and 8.  Reasons to Be Happy is a companion piece to LaBute’s critically-acclaimed award-winning play, Reasons to Be Pretty, first produced at MCC Theater in 2008 before moving to Broadway where it was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Play.  Performances began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on May 16, 2013.  An official opening is set for June 11, 2013.

Emmy Award® nominee Jenna Fischer, making her Off-Broadway debut, joins Reasons to Be Happy as the ninth and final season of NBC’s smash hit “The Office” comes to a close.  Also making her Off-Broadway debut is Leslie Bibb, who has appeared in films such as Iron Man and Talladega Nights and on television in ABC’s “GCB” and The CW’s “Popular,” among many others. Both are join by stage veteran Josh Hamilton, who has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award®-winning hits The Coast of Utopia and Proof; and Fred Weller, an MCC alum who also starred on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Take Me Out as well as acclaimed revivals of Edward Albee’s Seascape and David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross.

In a previously-released joint statement, the MCC Artistic Directors said, “Our 10-year relationship with Neil LaBute has been one of our proudest collaborations because the process is always so invigorating and the result has always stirred our audience and triggered such rich conversation and debate.  We are especially thrilled that Neil is directing his dazzling new play for MCC audiences.  He has assembled an ideal cast and an impeccable creative team for what we know will be an extraordinary cap to what has been a very exciting 2012-13 season for us.”

LaBute’s Reasons to Be Happy begins three years after a contentious break-up, with Steph and Greg wondering if they can make a fresh go of it.  Trouble is, she’s married to someone else and he’s just embarked on a relationship with Steph’s best friend, Carly, a single mom whose jealous ex-husband, Kent, has trouble articulating his feelings – navigating the rocky landscape of conflicting agendas and exploding emotions isn’t going to be easy for any of them.  Reasons to Be Happy is a funny, surprising, and poignant new play about the choices and sacrifices we are willing to make in the pursuit of that often elusive ideal: happiness.

Prolific playwright and filmmaker Neil LaBute is the author of the renowned plays The Shape of Things, Fat Pig, andReasons to Be Pretty, the latter of which served as his Broadway debut in 2009, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play.  On stage, he previously directed his plays The Mercy Seat, Wrecks, and The Shape of Things.  For film, LaBute wrote and directed the Cannes Palme d’Or finalist Nurse Betty, Your Friends & Neighbors, The Shape of Things, and In the Company of Men, for which he won the Independent Spirit Award and New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best First Feature.  He also directed the hit dark comedy Death at a Funeral.  LaBute is currently the Playwright-in-Residence at MCC Theater.  This year marks the 10^th anniversary of his relationship with MCC, with whom he has collaborated on 7 full-length plays.

Reasons to Be Happy features set design by Neil Patel of Broadway’s Side Man; costume design by Sarah Holden, who also designed LaBute’s reasons to be pretty; lighting design by Ben Stanton, who won the Lortel Award for The Whipping Man; and sound design by Robert Kaplowitz, who won a Tony Award® for his design of Fela.                            

All performances of Reasons to Be Happy will offer $25 Under 30 seating, with Rush seats available two hours prior to each curtain, pending availability, for $25 to patrons 29 years old or younger on the day of the performance.  Advanced $25 Under 30 seating is also offered online for each performance, with tickets available for pick-up at will call with valid ID.  One ticket per ID.  No exceptions.  Additionally, $20 Student Rush tickets for full-time high school and college students, 20 minutes before curtain (cash only) with valid ID.  General tickets are $69-$89 and are available by visiting www.mcctheater.org or calling 212-352-3101.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812  opened on May 16 to very strong reviews and great word-of-mouth.

The show is currently playing a limited run through September 1^st at Kazino (West 13^th Street and Washington Street) a brand new venue created specifically for the show, in the heart of New York’s meatpacking district, to transport audiences to a Russian supper club complete with an authentic Russian menu and bar. The show officially opened May 16^th and has been honored with numerous awards and nominations including the 2013 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater, a Special Citation from the OBIE Awards, five Drama Desk Award Nominations (Outstanding New Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Costume Design), two Drama League Award nominations(Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Performance – Phillipa Soo), and the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Outstanding New Musical.

Every ticket to NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812includes a full Russian-style dinner. Regular tickets are priced at $125 with prime and premium seating available for $175 and $237.50, respectively.

Here is our review roundup:

Tony^® Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) is proud to announce that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV’s “Chuck,” Disney’s feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingénue  Krysta Rodriguez (“Smash,”The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway’s new romantic musical comedy.  With a book byAustin Winsberg (“Gossip Girl”), music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner(Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella) FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5^thAvenue Theatre).  Featuring Sara Chase (“Arrested Development,” The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest(“Boardwalk Empire,” Hairspray), the cast of FIRST DATE also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre (220 West 48^th Street).  Additional casting to be announced shortly.

When tightly wound Aaron (Zachary Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Krysta Rodriguez) a quick drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious, high-stakes dinner.  As the date unfolds in real time, the couple quickly finds they are not alone on this date as Casey and Aaron’s inner critics take on a life of their own when other restaurant patrons and the wait staff get into the act.  Dinner is served with sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls,supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, who sing and dance them through ice-breakers, appetizers and potential conversational land mines. FIRST DATE is Broadway’s new hysterical and hopeful new musical about the chances we take to find love. 

FIRST DATE has scenic and media design by David Gallo, costume design by David C. Woolard, lighting design by Mike Baldassari, sound design by Kai Harada, Hair Design byJosh Marquette with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.  FIRST DATE is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Sue Frost) in association withStem Productions, Altar Identity Studios, Alex and Katya Lukianov, Susan W. and James C. Blair Family LP, Linda and Bill Potter, Yasuhiro Kawana, Vijay and Sita Vashee, Elim Enterprises LLP, Kevin and Lynn Foley, Jeff and Julie Goldstein, Edward and Mimi Kirsch, Paula and Stephen Reynolds, Tony Meola/John Yonover, ShadowCatcher Entertainment /Tom and Connie Walsh, and Pat Halloran/Laura Little Entertainment.

FIRST DATE was originally co-produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, Executive Producer and Artistic Director; Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director; Bill Berry, Producing Director), and A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle, WA (Kurt Beattie, Artistic Director; Carlo Scandiuzzi, Executive Director) from March 10 to May 20, 2012.  Variety called FIRST DATE“Flat-out ingenious!” and The Seattle Times said FIRST DATE is “Terrific – snappy and irreverent!”  The production was awarded four Seattle Times Footlight Awards, including best musical.

Tickets for FIRST DATE are on sale now.  Tickets range from $35 to $137, and can be purchased atwww.Telecharge.com (212.239.6200).  The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm.  Beginning August 5, 2013 the performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7pm.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), the UK’s largest theatre owner/operator and a multi award winning theater production group, has through its subsidiary, Lyric Theatre LLC, acquired The Foxwoods Theatrefrom Live Nation Entertainment.

The Foxwoods Theatre, the largest theater on Broadway, is situated in a prime 42^nd Street location, opened in 1997 and seats nearly 2000 people. It is home to SPIDER-MAN Turn off the Dark, the most talked about show on Broadway.

This strategic acquisition makes The Foxwoods Theatre ATG’s 40^th venue and comes just months after ATG announced plans to expand overseas into key international territories including North America, Australia and the Asia Pacific Region.

Berenson & Company LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Ambassador Theatre Group with respect to this transaction.

Companies within the ATG Group have, for many years, been active and critically acclaimed producers on Broadway. Recent Broadway productions within the ATG Group have included The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, Exit the King starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon and John Doyle’s award winning production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. Recent Broadway credits for Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) include The Book of Mormon, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Jerusalem.

Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire, ATG’s co-CEOs, say that the deal for The Foxwoods Theatre will mark a significant increase in activity in North America.

“It is no secret that we at ATG have been looking to expand our impressive portfolio of UK theaters, by making acquisitions and alliances in strategic markets around the world,” said Panter. “We have been waiting for the right opportunity and The Foxwoods Theatre is a perfect match for our ambitions.  Ownership of The Foxwoods Theatre within the Group will provide a catalyst to expand in the North American market and to further build on our past production successes in North America.”

Squire added, “We are incredibly excited to be operating this beautiful landmark facility, situated right at the heart of one of the world’s most iconic streets for theater and we hold great esteem for Cora Cahan and The New 42^nd Street, Inc. and their impressive vision to preserve and restore the historic theaters of 42^nd Street. It is a great privilege for our Group to be entrusted with the guardianship of this magnificent New York Theatre. The Foxwoods Theatre management are exceptionally dedicated, passionate and diligent and we look forward to working alongside our new colleagues in North America.”

Panter said: “SPIDER-MAN Turn off the Dark is a truly ground breaking musical and is known to millions of people around the world. We’re looking forward to having SPIDER-MAN and producers Michael Cohl and Jere Harris at the theatre for a very long time, thrilling audiences and often bringing them to Broadway for the very first time.”

Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment, said, “My team at Live Nation worked very hard to find the right buyer for The Foxwoods Theatre and we are confident that the Ambassador Theatre Group will ensure a bright future for this historic theater. We will continue to focus on delivering live music to our fans.”

Erich Jungwirth, previously Vice President Theatrical for The Foxwoods is remaining with the venue as the Chief Operating Officer for Lyric Theatre, LLC.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced that the new musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book and direction by James Lapine, will kick off the theatre’s 35^th anniversary season this fall. William Finn and James Lapine return to Second Stage Theatre where they most recently collaborated on The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  Previews for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE begin October 15, 2013 with an official opening in mid- November.  Casting, full creative team, and opening night date will be announced at a later date.

On life’s twisty road, sometimes you need to pull over and change direction. When the coveted title of “Little Miss Sunshine” is unexpectedly within her reach, young Olive Hoover convinces her family to make the 800 mile trek to the pre-teen pageant of her dreams.  Along the way, a series of mishaps threatens to derail the group’s quest for the crown, until they realize a young girl’s far-fetched goal may actually hold the key to the family’s happiness.   From the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine and William Finn comes LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, a new musical comedy about one modern family’s unexpected route to brighter days.

“I am thrilled to kick off our 35^th Anniversary Season with LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and to welcome back William Finn and James Lapine, two artists who have significant histories with Second Stage, most recently with our production of their musical, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” said Carole Rothman, Artistic Director.  “It seems appropriate to kick off this landmark season with a musical about optimism and resiliency, two qualities that are crucial for any not-for-profit theatre celebrating its past while also looking to its future.  I can’t wait to introduce this exuberant, funny, and sophisticated new musical to our audience.”

William Finn and James Lapine’s previous collaborations include the Tony-winning hits Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  William Finn is also the composer of In Trousers, Romance in Hard Times, and A New Brain.  James Lapine is the book writer/director of the musicals Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Passion, among others.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is based on the film, Little Miss Sunshine, written by Michael Arndt.

Broadway grosses for the week ending May 19, 2013 held steady as attendance rose as did ticket prices and revenues from the previous week. Orphans, starring Alec Baldwin closed with a significant uptick in sales for its last week. While the bottom of the list increased their sales figures and the ‘one-man’ Macbeth starring Alan Cumming continues to do steady sales, the starry revival of The Trip To Bountiful saw a 20% drop in sales from the prior week. And Tom Hanks continues to rake in the revenue as Lucky Guy topped all shows except the top 3 musicals, even Kinky Boots  which received terrific reviews and has great word-of-mouth.

Averages and Totals:

• 10 Plays, 18 Musicals
• Gross Revenue— $24,657,2841
• 10 Shows in the Millionaire Club
• Average Capacity— 84%
• Average Ticket Price— $99.52
• Revenue Per Seat— $90.55
• Total Attendance— 240,992
• Empty Seats— 30,827

Broadway grosses remained steady for the week that ended with Mother’s Day. Pippin and  I’ll Eat You  Last  both broke house records in their theatres with over 100% capacity for the week.  The top 10 shows for the week averaged 94% capacity and $111.64 revenue per seat in their theatres.  It is always amazing when we see Phantom of the Opera sell over $1MM in sales after 23 years on Broadway, proving that love for this show never dies. And it looks like neither Alec baldwin’s Huffington Post article or To Sturridge’s Tony nomination did anything to help Orphans‘ sales last week as it lingers near the bottom of the pack.

Averages and Totals:

• 9 Plays, 20 Musicals
• Gross Revenue— $24,246,231
• 9 Shows in the Millionaire Club
• Average Capacity— 84%
• Average Ticket Price— $97.15
• Revenue Per Seat— $84.93
• Total Attendance— 240,234
• Empty Seats— 45,258

Billy Crystal will return to Broadway this fall for a 9-week-only limited engagement of his Tony Award-winning, record-breaking play 700 SUNDAYS. This will mark the final engagement of this production. Previews will begin Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2013 and a final performance set for Sunday, January 5, 2014. 700 SUNDAYS is performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel and direction by Des McAnuff.

“700 SUNDAYS has, without question, been the most satisfying experience of my career,” said Crystal. “When we originally opened on Broadway, all I knew was that I had a story that I was compelled to share.  Now that I’ve performed my play across the country and internationally, I’m gratified to know that the love of family, through joy and pain, is perhaps the most universal story. I’ve now decided to tell this story one last time in my own backyard, where it all took place.  It is a privilege to return to Broadway to say goodbye to one of the greatest thrills of my life.”

700 SUNDAYS, an autobiographical journey, is an original two-act play in which Billy plays numerous characters that have influenced who he is today. It deals with his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood. It is about family and fate, loving and loss.

Billy Crystal was pronounced “The King of Broadway” by The New York Post for the Broadway debut of 700 SUNDAYS which, in its opening week on Broadway, broke the house record for highest weekly gross at the Broadhurst Theatre and then continued to top its own record every week. With a cumulative gross of over $21 million, 700 SUNDAYS set a record for the highest weekly grossing non-musical in Broadway history at that time ($1,061,689 for the week ending 5/22/05) and was one of the top ten grossing shows every single week of its run, despite playing only seven performances per week.

The show won the 2005 Tony Award for Special Theatrical Experience and both the 2005 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Following the Broadway production, Billy played sold-out limited engagements of 700 SUNDAYS in Toronto, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Billy then took 700 SUNDAYS to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, where both engagements sold out upon announcement and won the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Special Event. In 2009, Billy brought the show back to the United States with engagements in six major cities: Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Dallas; Palm Beach; Miami; and Atlanta. This fall’s Broadway engagement will mark the show’s first return to New York since its Broadway debut.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2012-13 season in 24 categories.

Broadway stars Judy Kaye, Audra McDonald, Michael McGrath, Donna Murphy and Tonya Pinkins will serve as gala award presenters at the upcoming 63rd Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards ceremony on May 23rd (4PM) at the legendary Sardis Restaurant. In addition to being acclaimed stage performers, the stars are also former recipients of the esteemed Outer Critics Circle Award.

As previously announced, based on recommendations by the OCC Executive Committee, a Special Achievement Award will be given to Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director) in recognition of 25 years of producing outstanding theatre.

Celebrating its 63rd season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theatre, the Outer Critics Circle, is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, web sites, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad.

Winners noted by * BOLD

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Grace
Lucky Guy
The Nance
The Testament of Mary
* Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
Chaplin: The Musical
A Christmas Story
Hands on a Hardbody
*Kinky Boots
Matilda the Musical

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Bad Jews
Cock
* My Name is Asher Lev
Really Really
The Whale

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
February House
Dogfight
Giant
* Here Lies Love
Murder Ballad

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Cinderella
Chaplin: The Musical
Dogfight
Kinky Boots
* Matilda the Musical

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Chaplin: The Musical
Dogfight
Hands on a Hardbody
Here Lies Love
* Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Golden Boy
Orphans
The Piano Lesson
The Trip to Bountiful
* Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Annie
Cinderella
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Passion
* Pippin

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Pam MacKinnon Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nicholas Martin Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
* Jack O’Brien The Nance
Bartlett Sher Golden Boy
Michael Wilson The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Warren Carlyle Chaplin: The Musical
Scott Ellis The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Jerry Mitchell Kinky Boots
* Diane Paulus Pippin
Alex Timbers Here Lies Love

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Warren Carlyle Chaplin: The Musical
Peter Darling Matilda the Musical
Jerry Mitchell Kinky Boots
Josh Rhodes Cinderella
* Chet Walker Pippin

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN (Play or Musical)
John Lee Beatty The Nance
* Rob Howell Matilda the Musical
David Korins Here Lies Love
Scott Pask Pippin
Michael Yeargan Golden Boy

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Amy Clark & Martin Pakledinaz Chaplin: The Musical
Gregg Barnes Kinky Boots
Dominique Lemieux Pippin
* William Ivey Long Cinderella
William Ivey Long The Mystery of Edwin Drood

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Ken Billington Chaplin: The Musical
Paul Gallo Dogfight
Donald Holder Golden Boy
Kenneth Posner Cinderella
* Kenneth Posner Pippin

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Tom Hanks Lucky Guy
Shuler Hensley The Whale
* Nathan Lane The Nance
Tracy Letts Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Tracee Chimo Bad Jews
Amy Morton Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Vanessa Redgrave The Revisionist
Joely Richardson Ivanov
* Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Bertie Carvel Matilda the Musical
Santino Fontana Cinderella
Rob McClure Chaplin: The Musical
* Billy Porter Kinky Boots
Matthew James Thomas Pippin

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Lilla Crawford Annie
Valisia LeKae Motown: The Musical
Lindsay Mendez Dogfight
* Patina Miller Pippin
Laura Osnes Cinderella

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Danny Burstein Golden Boy
Richard Kind The Big Knife
Jonny Orsini The Nance
Tony Shalhoub Golden Boy
* Tom Sturridge Orphans

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cady Huffman The Nance
Judith Ivey The Heiress
Judith Light The Assembled Parties
* Kristine Nielsen Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Vanessa Williams The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Will Chase The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Dan Lauria A Christmas Story
Raymond Luke Motown: The Musical
* Terrence Mann Pippin
Daniel Stewart Sherman Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Annaleigh Ashford Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark Cinderella
Charlotte d’Amboise Pippin
* Andrea Martin Pippin
Keala Settle Hands on a Hardbody

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Bette Midler I’ll Eat You Last
Martin Moran All the Rage
Fiona Shaw The Testament of Mary
* Holland Taylor Ann
Michael Urie Buyer & Cellar

John Gassner AWARD (Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Ayad Akhtar Disgraced
Paul Downs Colaizzo Really Really
Joshua Harmon Bad Jews
Samuel D. Hunter The Whale
* Aaron Posner My Name is Asher Lev

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Irish Repertory Theatre
Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director in recognition of 25 years of producing outstanding theatre

Winner’s Tally for 2 or more:

Pippin 7; Kinky Boots 3; Matilda The Musical 2; My Name Is Asher Lev 2 ;The Nance 2; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 2;

NOTE: The Nominating Committee attended all of this season’s Broadway productions prior to the OCC Award cut-off date. “The Other Place” was considered and nominated last season when it was produced Off Broadway.