Hamilton tops Lucille Lortel Award Nominations along with Into the Woods, Between Riverside and Crazy, The Invisible Hand, The Nether and The Fortress of Solitude
The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories for the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Anna Chlumsky
The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST, and hosted by Emmy-nominated actors Anna Chlumsky (“Veep,” Broadway’s Living on Love) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family,” this summer’s The Tempest). This year’s event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.
The twelve nominations for The Public Theater’s Hamilton broke the record of eleven set just last year. Prior to that, the most nominations earned by one show had been eight. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton was nominated for outstanding musical, director (Thomas Kail), choregrapher (Andy Blankenbuehler), lead actor in a musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda), lead actor in a musical (Leslie Odom, Jr.), lead actress in a musical (Phillipa Soo), featured actor in a musical (Brian d’Arcy James), featured actor in a musical (Daveed Diggs), featured actress in a musical (Renée Elise Goldsberry), lighting design (Howell Binkley), sound design (Nevin Steinberg) and costume design (Paul Tazewell).
World Premiere Musical HAMILTON Transfers to Broadway; Previews begin July 13
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Michael Rispoli, Liza Colón-Zayas, Rosal Colón, and Ron Cephas Jones; photo by Carol Rosegg.
2014 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright recipient Stephen Adly Guirgis at the 2014 Steinberg Playwright Awards hosted by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust on November 17, 2014 in New York City. Photo by Lia Chang
The Atlantic Theater’s production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s Between Riverside and Crazy received six nominations including outstanding play, director (Austin Pendleton), lead actor in play (Stephen McKinley Henderson), featured actor in a play (Victor Almanzar), featured actress in a play (Liza Colón-Zayas) and scenic design (Walt Spangler).
DISGRACED playwright Ayad Akhtar at The Drama Book Shop in New York on January 22, 2015. Photo by Lia Chang
Pulitzer prize winning playwright Ayad Aktar’s The Invisible Hand, produced by New York Theatre Workshop, received five nominations including outstanding play, director (Ken Rus Schmoll), lead actor in a play (Usman Ally), lighting design (Tyler Micoleau) and sound design (Leah Gelpe). MCC’s production of The Nether by Jennifer Haley, also garner five nominations including outstanding play, featured actress in a play (Sophia Anne Caruso), scenic design (Laura Jellinek), lighting design (Ben Stanton), sound design (Daniel Kluger and Brandon Wolcott).
Photos: Playwright Ayad Akhtar, Josh Radnor and Aasif Mandvi Talk DISGRACED at The Drama Book Shop
Among Off Broadway musicals, Into the Woods, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center, a Fiasco Theater production, received seven nominations including outstanding revival, choreographer (Lisa Shriver), lead actor in a musical (Ben Steinfield), lead actress in a musical (Jennifer Mudge), featured actor in a musical (Andy Grotelueschen), featured actress in a musical (Emily Young), scenic design (Derek McLane); while The Public Theater’s production of The Fortress of Solitude scored four nominations in the categories of outstanding musical, choregrapher (Camille A. Brown), lead actor in a musical (Adam Chanler-Berat), featured actor in a musical (Kevin Mambo).
Among television, film and music stars who received nominations for their Off Broadway work this year were Bill Pullman for lead actor in Sticks and Bones; Emmy winners S. Epatha Merkerson for lead actress in Billy Porter’s While I Yet Live, and Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad”) for lead actress in Sex with Strangers; Tony Award winners Tonya Pinkins for lead actress in Rasheeda Speaking, and Lillias White for lead actress in a musical for The York Theatre’s production of Texas in Paris.
Father Comes Home From The Wars Opening Night Celebration on October 28, 2014 at The Public Theater- Cast members Sterling K Brown, Jenny Jules, Jeremie Harris, Peter Jay Fernandez, Tonye Patano, playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, Louis Cancelmi, Russell G. Jones, Jacob Ming Trent, director Jo Bonney and Julian Rozzell Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3), produced by The Public Theater in association with American Repertory Theater, and written by Suzan-Lori Parks, recently named the 2015 Winner of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History, received nominations for outstanding play and featured actor in a play (Jacob Ming-Trent).
Suzan-Lori Parks’ FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS, PARTS 1, 2 & 3 is the 2015 Winner of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History
Opening Night Photos: Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) by Suzan-Lori Parks at The Public Theater
Terrence McNally. Photo by Lia Chang
Playwright Terrence McNally will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award; writer and composer Jeanine Tesori will be inducted onto the famed Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the Lucille Lortel Theatre; and veteran general manager Nancy Nagel Gibbs will receive the Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award.
A cocktail reception honoring the nominees will take place on Monday, April 20, at The Library at the Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street).
Members of the general public are again welcome to view the 7:00 PM ceremony. Public tickets are $75.00 and will be available starting today, April 2, via phone at 212.998.4941, online atwww.nyuskirball.org and in person at the Skirball Center’s Shagan Box Office (556 LaGuardia) from Tuesday – Saturday from 12 – 6pm, and two hours before performance.
2015 LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Play
Between Riverside and Crazy Produced by Atlantic Theater Company, Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3), Produced by The Public Theater in association with American Repertory Theater, Written by Suzan-Lori Parks
The Invisible Hand, Produced by New York Theatre Workshop, Written by Ayad Akhtar
My Mañana Comes, Produced by The Playwrights Realm, Written by Elizabeth Irwin
The Nether, Produced by MCC Theater, Written by Jennifer Haley
The Company of The Fortress of Solitude. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus
Outstanding Musical
The Fortress of Solitude – Produced by The Public Theater in association with Dallas Theater Center, Book by Itamar Moses, Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Conceived by Daniel Aukin, Based upon the novel by Jonathan Lethem
Hamilton – Produced by The Public Theater, Book, Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Inspired by the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
The Lightning Thief – Produced by Theatreworks USA, Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, Book by Joe Tracz
Adapted from the book by Rick Riordan
Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, Produced by Radio Mouse Entertainment, Martin Hummel, Caiola Productions, Terry Schnuck, Susan Jaffe Tane, Hernreich-Horvath Productions, Catalyst Theatre in association with Fireboat Productions, Mary Cossette, Meredith Lynsey Schade, Written and Composed by Jonathan Christenson
Pretty Filthy – Produced by The Civilians in association with Jon B. Platt, Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Book by Bess Wohl, Conceived by Steve Cosson, Michael Friedman & Bess Wohl
Maria-Christina Oliveras, Alyse Alan Louis, Jared Zirelli (background), John Behlmann, Lulu Fall in Pretty Filthy.
Photo by Richard Termine
Outstanding Revival
Fashions for Men – Produced by Mint Theater Company, Written by Ferenc Molnár
Indian Ink – Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with American Conservatory Theater, Written by Tom Stoppard
Into the Woods – Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center, a Fiasco Theater production, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine
Sticks and Bones – Produced by The New Group, Written by David Rabe
The Wayside Motor Inn. Produced by Signature Theatre, Written by A.R. Gurney
Raviv Ullman, Bill Pullman, Holly Hunter, Morocco Omari and Ben Schnetzer (back). Photo by Monique Carboni
Outstanding Solo Show
EVERY BRILLIANT THING, Produced by Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, Patrick Daly, Kelpie Arts LLC, Scott Rudin, Marc & Lisa Biales, Terry Allen Kramer, Michael Ostin, Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, Performed by Jonny Donahoe
Josephine and I, Produced by The Public Theater, Written and Performed by Cush Jumbo
Just Jim Dale, Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company,Written and Performed by Jim Dale
The Lion, Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club, Written and Performed by Benjamin Scheuer
Nneka Okafor, Owiso Odera in Our Lady of Kibeho. Photo by Joan Marcus
Outstanding Director
Michael Greif, Our Lady of Kibeho
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Austin Pendleton, Between Riverside and Crazy
Ken Rus Schmoll, The Invisible Hand
Ivo van Hove, Scenes From a Marriage
The cast of Into the Woods. Photo by Joan Marcus
Outstanding Choreographer
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Camille A. Brown, The Fortress of Solitude
Denis Jones, Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story
Laura Krewski, Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Lisa Shriver, Into the Woods
Usman Ally and Justin Kirk in The Invisible Hand. Photo: Joan Marcus
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Usman Ally, The Invisible Hand
Carson Elrod, The Heir Apparent
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Owiso Odera, Our Lady of Kibeho
Bill Pullman, Sticks and Bones
Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Grand Concourse
Anna Gunn, Sex With Strangers
Jan Maxwell, The City of Conversation
S. Epatha Merkerson, While I Yet Live
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Anna Gunn and Billy Magnussen in Second Stage Theatre’s “Sex With Strangers.” Photo by Joan Marcus
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Adam Chanler-Berat, The Fortress of Solitude
Claybourne Elder, Allegro
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton
Ben Steinfeld, Into the Woods
The Schuyler sisters work it in Paul Tazewell’s costumes: Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones, who plays their sib and Hamilton’s mistress. Photo by Joan Marcus
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Michelle Knight, DISENCHANTED! The Hilarious Hit Musical
Jennifer Mudge, Into the Woods
Sally Murphy, The Threepenny Opera
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Lillias White, Texas in Paris
Lillias White stars as Osceola Mays, and Scott Wakefield as John Burrus in Texas in Paris. Photo by Carol Rosegg
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Victor Almanzar, Between Riverside and Crazy
Jacob Ming-Trent, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Jesse Pennington, Bootycandy
Will Pullen, Punk Rock
Scott Shepherd, The Village Bike
Liza Colón-Zayas. ©2015, Carol Rosegg
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Sophia Anne Caruso, The Nether
Sun Mee Chomet, brownsville song (b-side for tray)
Liza Colón-Zayas, Between Riverside and Crazy
Beth Dixon, The City of Conversation
Deirdre O’Connell, By the Water
Sun Mee Chomet and Sheldon Best in brownsville song (b-side for tray). Photo by Erin Baiano
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Mambo. Photo by Lia Chang
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Andy Grotelueschen, Into the Woods
Brian d’Arcy James, Hamilton
Kevin Mambo, The Fortress of Solitude
Steve Rosen, Pretty Filthy
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Luba Mason, Pretty Filthy
Lulu Picart, DISENCHANTED! The Hilarious Hit Musical
Jessica Tyler Wright, Allegro
Emily Young, Into the Woods
Steve Rosen, Maria-Christina Oliveras in Pretty Filthy. Photo by Richard Termine
Outstanding Scenic Design
Brett J. Banakis, Big Love
Laura Jellinek, The Nether
Derek McLane, Into the Woods
Walt Spangler, Between Riverside and Crazy
Jan Versweyveld, Scenes From a Marriage
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Libby Winters and Stacey Sargeant. Photo by T Charles Erickson.
Outstanding Costume Design
Candice Donnelly, Indian Ink
Bretta Gerecke, Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Clint Ramos, Bootycandy
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Anthony Ward, Josephine and I
Outstanding Lighting Design
Howell Binkley, Hamilton
David Lander, The Library
Tyler Micoleau, The Invisible Hand
Ben Stanton, The Nether
Japhy Weideman, Punk Rock
Outstanding Sound Design
Mikhail Fiksel, My Mañana Comes
Leah Gelpe, The Invisible Hand
Daniel Kluger and Brandon Wolcott, The Nether
Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton
Matt Tierney, Pocatello
The Off-Broadway League’s Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Terry Byrne, Dean Carpenter, Denise Cooper, Margaret Cotter, Carol Fishman, George Forbes, Michael Page, Catherine Russell, and Lindsey Sag) produces the Lortel Awards ceremony. Acclaimed writer/director Michael Heitzman returns to direct the Lortel Awards for the sixth consecutive year. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Additional support is provided by Theatre Development Fund.
Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee.
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon and Taxman. She has guest starred on “One Life to Live,” “As the World Turns,” and “New York Undercover.” Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington and Roscoe Orman. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
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