'Modern Millie' gets 11 Tony nominations

By Michael Kuchwara
Associated Press

NEW YORK — "Thoroughly Modern Millie," the tale of an ambitious 1920s flapper in search of a wealthy husband, received 11 Tony Awards nominations yesterday, while the fairy-tale musical "Into the Woods" and the provocatively titled "Urinetown" got 10.

"Morning's at Seven," the nostalgic story of family squabbles, received nine nominations, with five of the nine going to either the featured actor or featured actress category.

"The Graduate," the Kathleen Turner star vehicle based on the Mike Nichols classic film comedy, got no nominations. Also passed over were such critically lauded performers as Ian McKellen in "Dance of Death" and Bill Pullman in "The Goat."

As expected, the announcement of nominations for the best of the Broadway season yielded something that was missing from last year's contest — real competition.

In 2001, the smash Mel Brooks musical "The Producers" dominated the nominations and then the ceremony itself. The show received 15 nominations and took home 12 awards last June, unseating "Hello, Dolly!" as the winningest show ever.

This year's winners will be announced June 2 in a nationally televised broadcast from Radio City Music Hall.

With 'The Producers' out of the way, expect some real competition this year

Play: "The Goat," "Fortune's Fool," "Metamorphoses," "Topdog/Underdog"

Musical: "Mamma Mia!," "Sweet Smell of Success," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Urinetown The Musical"

Book of a Musical: Catherine Johnson, "Mamma Mia!"; John Guare, "Sweet Smell of Success"; Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; Greg Kotis, "Urinetown The Musical"

Original Score: "Sweet Smell of Success," Marvin Hamlisch (music), Craig Carnelia (lyrics); "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Jeanine Tesori (music), Dick Scanlan (lyrics); "Thou Shalt Not," Harry Connick, Jr. (music & lyrics); "Urinetown The Musical," Mark Hollmann (music), Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis (lyrics)

Revival — Play: "The Crucible," "Morning's at Seven," "Noises Off," "Private Lives"

Revival — Musical: "Into the Woods," "Oklahoma!"

Special Theatrical Event: "Bea Arthur on Broadway," "Just Between Friends," "Elaine Stritch at Liberty," "Mostly Sondheim," "Sexaholix ... a love story"

Actor — Play: Alan Bates, "Fortune's Fool"; Billy Crudup, "The Elephant Man"; Liam Neeson, "The Crucible"; Alan Rickman, "Private Lives"; Jeffrey Wright, "Topdog/Underdog"

Actress — Play: Kate Burton, "Hedda Gabler"; Lindsay Duncan, "Private Lives"; Laura Linney, "The Crucible"; Helen Mirren, "Dance of Death"; Mercedes Ruehl, "The Goat"

Actor — Musical: Gavin Creel, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; John Cullum, "Urinetown The Musical"; John Lithgow, "Sweet Smell of Success"; John McMartin, "Into the Woods"; Patrick Wilson, "Oklahoma!"

Actress — Musical: Sutton Foster, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; Nancy Opel, "Urinetown The Musical"; Louise Pitre, "Mamma Mia!"; Jennifer Laura Thompson, "Urinetown The Musical"; Vanessa Williams, "Into the Woods"

Featured Actor —Play: Frank Langella, "Fortune's Fool"; William Biff McGuire, "Morning's at Seven"; Brian Murray, "The Crucible"; Sam Robards, "The Man Who Had All the Luck"; Stephen Tobolowsky, "Morning's at Seven"

Featured Actress — Play: Kate Burton, "The Elephant Man"; Katie Finneran, "Noises Off"; Elizabeth Franz, "Morning's at Seven"; Estelle Parsons, "Morning's at Seven"; Frances Sternhagen, "Morning's at Seven"

Featured Actor — Musical: Norbert Leo Butz, "Thou Shalt Not"; Gregg Edelman, "Into the Woods"; Shuler Hensley, "Oklahoma!"; Brian d'Arcy James, "Sweet Smell of Success"; Marc Kudisch, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"

Featured Actress — Musical: Laura Benanti, "Into the Woods"; Harriet Harris, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; Spencer Kayden, "Urinetown The Musical"; Judy Kaye, "Mamma Mia!"; Andrea Martin, "Oklahoma!"

Scenic Design: John Lee Beatty, "Morning's at Seven"; Tim Hatley, "Private Lives"; Daniel Ostling, "Metamorphoses"; "Douglas W. Schmidt, "Into the Woods"

Costume Design: Jenny Beavan, "Private Lives"; Jane Greenwood, "Morning's at Seven"; Susan Hilferty, "Into the Woods"; Martin Pakledinaz, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"

Lighting Design: Paul Gallo, "The Crucible"; David Hersey, "Oklahoma!"; Natasha Katz, "Sweet Smell of Success"; Brian MacDevitt, "Into the Woods"

Choreography: Rob Ashford, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; John Carrafa, "Into the Woods"; John Carrafa, "Urinetown The Musical"; Susan Stroman, "Oklahoma!"

Direction of a Play: Howard Davies, "Private Lives"; Richard Eyre, "The Crucible"; Daniel Sullivan, "Morning's at Seven"; Mary Zimmerman, "Metamorphoses"

Direction of a Musical: James Lapine, "Into the Woods," Michael Mayer, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; Trevor Nunn, "Oklahoma!"; John Rando, "Urinetown The Musical"

Orchestrations: Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Martin Koch, "Mamma Mia!"; Doug Besterman & Ralph Burns, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"; William David Brohn, "Sweet Smell of Success"; Bruce Coughlin, "Urinetown The Musical"

Special Awards: Julie Harris and Robert Whitehead

Regional Theater: Williamstown (Mass.) Theatre Festival