Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek and Paul, August Wilson, and More Receive Oscar Nominations
(© Dale Robinette)
A host of theater favorites have been nominated for this year's Academy Awards. The honors will be presented on February 26.
In the leading actor category, Denzel Washington received a nomination for his performance in his film adaptation of August Wilson's Fences, alongside theater vet Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) and Ryan Gosling (La La Land). In the supporting actor category, Yen star Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and Long Day's Journey Into Night Drama Desk winner Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) both received nods.
In the leading actress category, Meryl Streep is up for her work in Florence Foster Jenkins, as is Emma Stone for her work in La La Land. In supporting roles, Fences Tony winner Viola Davis is nominated for her performance in the film adaptation of the drama, up against Michelle Williams (Cabaret) for Manchester by the Sea.
Dear Evan Hansen songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul received a pair of nods for two of their songs in La La Land, "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" and "City of Stars," while Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is up for his song "How Far I'll Go" from Moana. Miranda's nomination leaves him able to add the Oscar to his potential EGOT status.
Playwrights are well-represented too. The late August Wilson is nominated for his screenplay for the film adaptation of his play Fences, as are Kenneth Lonergan (This Is Our Youth) for Manchester by the Sea, and Tarell Alvin McCraney (with Barry Jenkins) for Moonlight.
Lonergan is also nominated in the directing category for Manchester by the Sea. It, alongside La La Land, Fences, and others, are nominated as Best Picture.
