"Catered Affair" Served 12 Drama Desk Noms
"A Catered Affair," a musical about one family's complicated wedding plans, received a leading 12 Drama Desk nominations Monday, honoring the best of the 2007-2008 New York theater season.
It was followed by "Adding Machine," an adaptation of Elmer Rice's expressionistic drama, with nine nods, and the lavish Lincoln Center Theater revival of "South Pacific" and Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," both with eight.
Besides "A Catered Affair" and "Adding Machine," shows nominated for best musical by the organization of theater journalists and critics were "Passing Strange," "The Glorious Ones," "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island" and "Xanadu."
"In the Heights," thought to be strong contender in the 2008 Tony Award race, was largely ineligible because it was considered last season off-Broadway, before its Broadway move.
Photos: Young Frankenstein
Besides "August: Osage County," best-play nominations went to "Intimate Exchanges" by Alan Ayckbourn, "Horizon" by Rinde Eckert, "From Up Here" by Liz Flahive, "Dividing the Estate" by Horton Foote and "Rock 'n' Roll" by Tom Stoppard.
Faith Prince, who plays the mother of the bride in "A Catered Affair," received a nomination for actress in a musical. She will compete against Sierra Boggess, "The Little Mermaid"; Patti LuPone, "Gypsy"; Kelli O'Hara, "South Pacific"; Alice Ripley, "Next to Normal"; and Jenna Russell, "Sunday in the Park With George."
In actor-musical, the nominees were Daniel Breaker, "Passing Strange"; Andre De Shields, "Black Nativity"; Daniel Evans, "Sunday in the Park With George"; Cheyenne Jackson, "Xanadu"; Matthew Morrison, "10 Million Miles"; and Paulo Szot, "South Pacific."
Nominated for actor-play were Bill Champion, "Intimate Exchanges"; Kevin Kline, "Cyrano de Bergerac"; Bull Pullman, "Peter and Jerry"; Mark Rylance, "Boeing-Boeing"; Tobias Segal, "From Up Here"; and Rufus Sewell, "Rock 'n' Roll."
"Boeing-Boeing" had not officially opened when the nominations were announced. Nominators were let into preview performances.
Receiving actress-play nods were Sinead Cusack, "Rock 'n' Roll"; Deanna Dunagan, "August: Osage County"; Frances McDormand, "The Country Girl"; "Amy Morton, "August: Osage County"; Fiona Shaw, "Happy Days"; and Julie White, "From Up Here."
The Drama Desk, which was founded in 1949, honors both Broadway and off-Broadway productions.
The awards show will take place May 18 at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center.
By Michael Kuchwara