Tony Awards 2013

Jessica Hecht, Jeremy Shamos, and Judith Light (L to R) in Richard Greenberg's The Assembled Parties. Credit: Joan Marcus.

On April 6, 1947, the first Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre were held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, celebrating the very best of Broadway. Although the awards are now better known as the Tony Awards, they still honour outstanding contributions to American theatre, and their 67th annual presentation is being held on Sunday, June 9th, at 8pm ET.

The show will feature performances by 2013 Tony-nominated musicals including A Christmas Story: The Musical, Bring it On: The Musical, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Kinky Boots, Matilda The Musical, Motown The Musical, and Pippin. 

Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris for the fourth time, this year's ceremony will also feature special appearances by Laura Benanti, Alan Cumming, Jon Cryer, Jesse Eisenberg, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sally Field, Barrett Foa, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks, Megan Hilty, Scarlett Johannson, Anna Kendrick, Cyndi Lauper, Audra McDonald, Matthew Morrison, Martha Plimpton, Hal Prince, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Mike Tyson, Sigourney Weaver, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Steven Van Zandt.

In anticipation of what will no doubt be a magical evening, here is a review of the 2013 Tony Award nominees for Best Play and Best Musical.

Best Play

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 

Written by Christopher Durang

Comic playwright Christopher Durang has borrowed characters and plotlines from Chekhov and remixed them in this comedy, starring Sigourney Weaver as Masha and David Hyde Pierce as Vanya. 

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is nominated for six Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (David Hyde Pierce), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Kristine Nielsen), Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Billy Magnussen), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Shalita Grant), and Best Direction of a Play (Nicholas Martin).

The Testament of Mary

Written by Colm Tóibín 

Highly controversial, Colm Tóibín's The Testament of Mary only ran for two weeks before closing, but garnered three Tony nominations during that time, including Best Play. In this production, the character of Mary denies that Jesus is the Son of God, doubts that he could have performed miracles, and states that Jesus only rose from the dead in the dreams of his followers.

The Testament of Mary is nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jennifer Tipton), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Mel Mercier).

Lucky Guy

Written by Nora Ephron

Starring two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks in his Broadway debut, Lucky Guy dramatizes the story of tabloid columnist Mike McAlary’s meteoric rise, fall and rise again, ending with his coverage of the Abner Louima case for which he won the Pulitzer Prize, shortly before his untimely death on Christmas Day, 1998. 

Lucky Guy is nominated for six Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tom Hanks), Best Performance by an  Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Courtney B. Vance), Best Direction of a Play (George C. Wolfe), Best Scenic Design of a Play (David Rockwell), and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer).

The Assembled Parties

Written by Richard Greenberg

The Assembled Parties invites the audience into the world of an Upper West Side Jewish family in 1980. In a Central Park West apartment, a former movie star and her sister-in-law bring their families together for their traditional holiday dinner. Things are unusual on this particular evening, as a houseguest joins the family for dinner, and invites himself into their family drama. Twenty years later, as 2001 approaches, the family's seemingly picture-perfect life may be about to crumble. 

The Assembled Parties is nominated for two Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Judith Light), and Best Scenic Design of a Play (Santo Loquasto).

Best Musical

Bring it On: The Musical

Written by Jeff Whitty

Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition. This production features a colorful crew of characters, an exciting fresh sound and explosive dance with aerial stunts.

Bring it On: The Musical is nominated for two Tony Awards: Best Musical, and Best Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler).

A Christmas Story, the Musical

Written by Joseph Robinette

Ralphie Parker wants only one thing for Christmas: An Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle. A Christmas Story is the hilarious account of Ralphie's desperate quest to ensure that this most perfect of gifts ends up under his tree this Christmas. 

A Christmas Story: The Musical is nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.

Kinky Boots

Written by Harvey Fierstein

Kinky Boots follows Charlie Price, who is forced to save his family’s shoe factory in Northern England after the sudden death of his father. Charlie finds inspiration in Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As the unlikely pair works to turn the factory around, they find they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible. 

Kinky Boots is nominated for a staggering 11 Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Billy Porter, Stark Sands), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Annaleigh Ashford), Best Direction of a Musical (Jerry Mitchell), Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (David Rockwell), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Gregg Barnes), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kenneth Posner), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (John Shivers). 

Matilda the Musical

Written by Dennis Kelly

Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, Matilda is the story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her destiny. 

Matilda the Musical is nominated for 12 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Bertie Carvel), Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Gabriel Ebert), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Lauren Ward), Best Direction of a Musical (Matthew Warchus), Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography (Peter Darling), Best Orchestrations (Chris Nightingale), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rob Howell), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Rob Howell), and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Hugh Vanstone).

Don't miss the 2013 Tony Awards tonight at 8pm on CBS! Visit tonyawards.com for the full list of nominees.

Gallery