Tony Awards 2012

Jim Parsons and Kristin Chenoweth at the 2012 Tony Awards nominations announcement. Credit: J. Countess/WireImage.com.

A well-done, engaging stage production can evoke a number of different emotions in an audience member, including an appreciation of theatre. It is only once a year, however, that the excellence and achievement of individual productions is formally recognized by the American Theatre Wing's 66th annual Tony Awards, airing tonight, June 10 at 8pm ET on CBS.

The show will feature performances by 2012 Tony-nominated musicals including: Evita featuring Ricky Martin and Elena Roger; Follies featuring Tony-nominated actor Danny Burstein; The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess featuring Tony nominees Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier; Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Tony nominee Josh Young; Leap of Faith featuring Raúl Esparza; Newsies, featuring Tony nominated actor Jeremy Jordan; Nice Work If You Can Get It featuring Matthew Broderick and Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara; and Once featuring Tony nominees Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti and Elizabeth A. Davis.

The ceremony will also include performances by Tony nominated plays, such as End of the Rainbow with Tony nominated actress Tracie Bennett; One Man, Two Guvnors with Tony nominated actor James Corden, and Peter and the Starcatcher featuring Tony nominees Christian Borle and Celia Keenan-Bolger.

Last year's Tony Awards saw War Horse walk away with five awards, winning in all five of its nominated categories, and The Book of Mormon won nine awards, including Best Musical. War Horse made its Toronto debut in late February, and has been such a smash, that it will remain at the Princess of Wales Theatre indefinitely. The Book of Mormon arrives in Toronto next season, and will no doubt receive a similar reception here as it did on Broadway. The Tony Awards, therefore, are not to be missed, as they are very telling of what fabulous shows Toronto theatregoers can expect in the years to come.

In anticipation of what will no doubt be a magical evening (hosted, once again, by the multitalented Neil Patrick Harris), here is a review of the 2012 Tony Award Nominees for Best Play and Best Musical.

Best Play

Clybourne Park
Written by Bruce Norris

Clybourne Park was written in response to Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play, A Raisin in the Sun, which tells the story of a black family living in the Washington Park subdivision of Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, and Clybourne Park, which began its run on Broadway in 2010, is a fictional depiction of the events occurring in the same house before and after the 1959 story.

Clybourne Park is nominated for four Tony Awards: Best New Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Jeremy Shamos), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Daniel Ostling), and Best Direction of a Play (Pam MacKinnon).

Other Desert Cities
Written by Jon Robin Baitz

Originally titled "Love and Mercy," Other Desert Cities takes its name from a control city guide sign on Interstate Highway 10 in California, and focuses on the political differences within the Wyeth family, and their tragic, long-held family secret.

A finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Other Desert Cities is nominated for five Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Stockard Channing), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Judith Light), Best Scenic Design of a Play (John Lee Beatty), and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Kenneth Posner).

Peter and the Starcatcher
Written by Rick Elice

A unique and original production, Peter and the Starcatcher is adapted from the 2006 novel of the same name which explores the backstory of Peter Pan, and serves as a prequel to J.M Barrie's Peter and Wendy.

This production boasts an impressive nine Tony Nominations: Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (Roger Rees and Alex Timbers), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (Christian Borle), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (Celia Keenan-Bolger), Best Sound Design of a Play (Darron L. West), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jeff Croiter), Best Costume Design of a Play (Paloma Young, Best Scenic Design of a Play (Donyale Werle), and Best Original Score Written for the Theatre (music: Wayne Barker; lyrics: Rick Elice).

Venus in Fur
Written by David Ives

A stage director laments his frustrations at his failure to find a suitable actress for his new production, Venus in Fur. A young woman, talented beyond her years, comes into his office and clearly embodies all the negative traits that are the source of his frustration with all other actresses. This actress, however, gives an audition that is so electrifying and emotionally charged, that in 90 minutes she has the frustrated director wrapped around her finger. A two-person production, Venus in Fur is nominated for two Tony Awards: Best Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Nina Arianda).

Best Musical

Leap of Faith
Book by Janus Cercone and Warren Leight
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Music by Alan Menken

When a traveling ministry breaks down in a small Kansas town, a phony Evangelist who doubles as a con artist undergoes a spiritual awakening. The town sheriff, however, is determined to stop the con artist from taking the townspeople's money. Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, Leap of Faith features a score by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The production is a Tony nominee for Best Musical.

Newsies
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Music by Alan Menken

Disney-produced, with all the charms of the 1992 movie of the same name, Newsies takes place in New York City and tells the tale of young Jack Kelly, a newsboy who leads a group of teenaged “newsies” in 1899 NYC. But when William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer raise prices for newspaper distribution, the young newsies, led by Jack, go on a strike in protest.

Newsies is nominated for a staggering eight Tony Awards this year: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Jeremy Jordan), Best Direction of a Musical (Jeff Calhoun, Best Choreography (Christopher Gattelli, Best Orchestrations (Danny Troob), and Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Tobin Ost and Sven Ortel).

Nice Work If You Can Get It
Book by Joe DiPietro

A screwball romantic comedy set to a Gershwin soundtrack of recognizable classics as well as unknown gems, Nice Work if You Can Get It takes place in 1927 in the midst of Prohibition. The story centers on tough bootlegger Billie who meets wealthy playboy Jimmy on the weekend of his nuptials.

This production has the second highest nomination count, with a whopping 10 Tony nominations: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara), Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Michael McGrath), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Judy Kaye), Best Direction of a Musical (Kathleen Marshall), Best Choreography (Kathleen Marshall), Best Orchestrations (Bill Elliott), Best Costume Design (Martin Pakledinaz), and Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan).

Once
Written by Enda Walsh
Music and lyrics by Markéta Irglová

Based on the 2006 book by Enda Walsh, and the 2007 movie of the same name, Once tells the story of an Irish busker who meets a young Czech woman (the characters are named Guy and Girl). They are drawn together, on the streets of Dublin, by their shared love of music, and over the course of one week, their relationship evolves into a love story underscored by an emotionally charged musical score.

Once leads the Tony nominations with an incredible 11 nominations: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Steve Kazee), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Cristin Milioti), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Elizabeth A. Davis), Best Direction of a Musical (John Tiffany), Best Choreography (Steven Hoggett0, Best Orchestrations (Martin Lowe), Best Scenic Design (Bob Crowley), Best Lighting Design (Natasha Katz), and Best Sound Design (Clive Goodwin).

Don't miss the 2012 Tony Awards tonight at 8pm on CBS. We'll be watching closely, and keeping our fingers crossed that some of the nominated shows—especially Peter and the Starcatcher, Other Desert Cities, Once, Newsies and Nice Work if You Can Get It—will make appearances in Toronto soon.