Broadway’s Four Matildas Ineligible as “Best Actress in a Musical”; Will Instead Receive Special Tony Award

Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro, the young ladies who share the title role in the new musical Matilda, will receive special Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre for their performances in that show, the Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced following their fourth and final meeting to discuss eligibility for the 2013 Tony Awards. As a result, the four actresses will not be eligible in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical.

Eighteen productions were discussed at the meeting on April 26, the day following the end of the 2012-2013 season. The committee made the following determinations:

Kristine Nielsen will be eligible in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Emilia Clarke and Cory Michael Smith will be eligible in the categories Best Performance by a Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for their respective performances in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Stark Sands and Billy Porter will be eligible in the categories Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for their respective performances in Kinky Boots.

Bertie Carvel will be eligible in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in Matilda the Musical.

Valisia LeKae and Brandon Victor Dixon will be eligible in the categories Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for their respective performances in Motown the Musical.

Nathan Lane will be eligible in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his performance in The Nance.

Bobby Cannavale will be eligible in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for his performance in The Big Knife.

Jessica Hecht will be eligible in the category Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her performance in The Assembled Parties.

Orphans will be eligible in the category Best Revival of a Play.

Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. will be eligible in the categories Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for their respective performances in The Trip to Bountiful.

Patina Miller and Matthew James Thomas will be eligible in the categories Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for their respective performances in Pippin.

All other eligibility determinations were consistent with opening-night credits.

To read TheaterMania’s report on the first eligibility meeting, click here.

To read TheaterMania’s report on the second eligibility meeting, click here.

To read TheaterMania’s report on the third eligibility meeting, click here.