The Outer Critics Circle, an organization of writers who cover New York theater for publications and media outside of New York, has announced the nominations for the 53rd annual Outer Critics Circle Awards, which include both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.
The new musical Hairpsray and the revival of the musical Nine lead the nominations with 12 each. Those two shows are followed by the new play Enchanted April with nine nominations, the Lincoln Center revival of Dinner at Eight with seven, and Baz Luhrmann’s production of Puccini’s La Bohème with five. The cast of the Off-Broadway play Talking Heads will receive a Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance.
The winners will be announced on Monday, May 5, with the awards ceremony to be held on Thursday, May 29 at Sardi’s. A complete list of the nominations follows:
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Outstanding Broadway Play
Enchanted April
The Play What I Wrote
Take Me Out
Vincent in Brixton
Outstanding Broadway Musical
Amour
Hairspray
Movin’ Out
Urban Cowboy
Outstanding Off-Broadway Play
The Exonerated
Kimberly Akimbo
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
Talking Heads
Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical
Avenue Q
Hank Williams: Lost Highway
A Man of No Importance
Radiant Baby
Zanna, Don’t!
Outstanding Revival of a Play
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Dinner at Eight
Our Town
Tartuffe
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Gypsy
La Bohème
Man of La Mancha
Nine
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Michael Engler, Talking Heads
Gerald Gutierrez, Dinner at Eight
Joe Mantello, Take Me Out
Michael Wilson, Enchanted April
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
David Leveaux, Nine
Baz Luhrmann, La Bohème
Sam Mendes, Gypsy
Randal Myler, Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Jack O’Brien, Hairspray
Outstanding Choreography
Jonathan Butterell, Nine
Robert Longbottom, Flower Drum Song
Jerry Mitchell, Hairspray
Twyla Tharp, Movin’ Out
Outstanding Set Design
John Lee Beatty, Dinner at Eight
Catherine Martin, La Bohème
Scott Pask, Nine
David Rockwell, Hairspray
Tony Straiges, Enchanted April
Outstanding Costume Design
Jess Goldstein, Enchanted April
William Ivey Long, Hairspray
Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie, La Bohème
Vicki Mortimer, Nine
Catherine Zuber, Dinner at Eight
Outstanding Lighting Design
Paul Gallo, Man of La Mancha
Nigel Levings, La Bohème
Brian MacDevitt, Nine
Kenneth Posner, Hairspray
Rui Rita, Enchanted April
Outstanding Actor in a Play
Brian Bedford, Tartuffe
Jochum ten Haaf, Vincent in Brixton
Eddie Izzard, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Howard W. Overshown, Yellowman
Daniel Sunjata, Take Me Out
Outstanding Actress in a Play
Jayne Atkinson, Enchanted April
Marylouise Burke, Kimberly Akimbo
Christine Ebersole, Dinner at Eight
Victoria Hamilton, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Clare Higgins, Vincent in Brixton
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Antonio Banderas, Nine
Harvey Fierstein, Haispray
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Man of La Mancha
Jason Petty, Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Roger Rees, A Man of No Importance
Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Jenn Colella, Urban Cowboy
Melissa Errico, Amour
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Man of La Mancha
Chita Rivera, Nine
Marissa Jaret Winokur, Hairspray
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Walter Bobbie, Polish Joke
Michael Cumpsty, Enchanted April
Daniel Gerroll, Enchanted April
Denis O’Hare, Take Me Out
B.D. Wong, Shanghai Moon
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Linda Emond, Life x 3
Kathryn Meisle, Tartuffe
Marian Seldes, Dinner at Eight
Emily Skinner, Dinner at Eight
J. Smith-Cameron, Tartuffe
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Randall Duk Kim, Flower Drum Song
Dick Latessa, Hairspray
Matthew Morrison, Hairspray
Steven Pasquale, A Man of No Importance
Corey Reynolds, Hairspray
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Laura Benanti, Nine
Kerry Butler, Hairspray
Jane Krakowski, Nine
Mary Stuart Masterson, Nine
Mary Beth Peil, Nine
Outstanding Solo Performance
Tovah Feldshuh, Golda’s Balcony
Frank Gorshin, Say Goodnight Gracie
Kate Mulgrew, Tea at Five
Louis Mustillo, Bartenders
Charlayne Woodard, In Real Life
John Gassner Award (presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Matthew Barber, Enchanted April
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Our Lady of 121st Street
Erik Jensen & Jessica Blank, The Exonerated
Dael Orlandersmith, Yellowman
Special Achievement Award
Outstanding Ensemble Performance, Talking Heads
