The Tony Nominations 2016

The Tony Award nominations were announced today.  To few people's surprise, the musical Hamilton led the way and got 16 nominations. Making that even more notable is that it's a record for most ever.  Also, the show's creator and heart, Lin-Manuel Miranda personally got three nominations -- Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Book, and Best Score.  (A lot of article mention him as getting four, including Best Musical, but that category officially goes to the producers.  But if you want to call it four, it's understandable.  Though if it wins, he won't get a Tony for it.)  The show has a chance to break the record for most wins by a show, which is 12, held by The Producers.  But the road will be narrow since it has multiple nominations in several categories -- two Best Actor and three Best Supporting Actor.  Obviously, only one person can win in each.  That means if it wins everything, it will end up with 13.  Given the show's acclaim, it's certainly possible.

A few other small observations.

Steve Martin, of all people, got two Tony nominations for the musical he co-wrote with Edie Brickell, Bright Star.  He was nominated for Best Book, and Best Score (which he and Brickell collaborated on).  The show also was nominated for Best Musical -- so, going by the Miranda Act, that would unofficially give Martin "three.")

A had written a couple of pieces, including this one here, about the musical Waitress, based on the wonderful movie by the late Adrienne Shelley.  The stage musical is written by Sara Bareilles  and stars Tony-winner Jessie Mueller, oft-mentioned around these parts since I saw her at the Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois, starring in She Loves Me by Harnick & Bock.  Waitress got Tony nominations for Best Musical, Best Score for Ms. Bareilles, and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Ms. Mueller.

And it was a very good day for the 92-year-old Sheldon Harnick, who sort of got three Tony nominations, including one guaranteed win.  What I mean is that two of the shows he and Jerry Bock wrote got nominations for Best Musical Revival, She Loves Me and Fiddler on the Roof.  And he personally is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.  (Alas, Jerry Bock passed away a couple of years ago.)  My only question is -- why on earth did Sheldon Harnick not get a Lifetime Achievement award before this???!!  Besides, he's 92 -- what were they waiting for?  Until he was old enough to build up more credits and really deserve and appreciate it???

It wasn't a shabby year for the late Arthur Miller either.  Two of his works got nominated for Best Revival of a Play, The Crucible and A View from the Bridge.

You read more about the nominations and analysis here on the Playbill website..