'Billy Elliot,' 'God of Carnage' Score Tony Nominations

Two movie adaptations, an original work about a bipolar mom and a compilation show of rock songs of the '80s will vie for the 2009 Tony Award for best musical.

The best-musical nominees -- "Billy Elliot, the Musical," "Shrek the Musical," "Next to Normal" and "Rock of Ages" -- were among the contenders in 27 categories announced yesterday at a news conference in New York by Tony-winning actress Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and creator of last season's winner for best musical, "In the Heights."

"Billy Elliot," based on the 2000 film of the same title and with a score by Elton John and Lee Hall, amassed 15 nominations, tying the record established in 2001 by "The Producers." Not far behind with 11 nominations was "Next to Normal," the poignant new musical about a suburban mom suffering from mental illness.

"Next to Normal" began off-Broadway and subsequently underwent a major revamping at Arena Stage before opening to strong reviews on Broadway last month. It is one of several nominated productions with Washington ties -- an extremely rare occurrence. One nominee for best new play, "33 Variations," had its world premiere at Arena, and "West Side Story," vying for best revival of a musical, got its out-of-town start last winter at the National Theatre.

In addition, Arlington-based Signature Theatre has been named the recipient of the special Tony Award given annually to a leading regional theater.

"I'm excited that we said yes to giving 'Next to Normal' a second chance," said Molly Smith, Arena's artistic director. "Arena provided the audience, and our own theatrical expertise, and this with a team of collaborators from 'Next to Normal' that included a strong producer, who knew what they were after and had excellent ideas on what they wanted to do. And they did it."

Alice Ripley, nominated for best actress in a musical for her role in "Next to Normal," said by phone from New York: "It feels really great to be so supported. We've been in three venues with the show this past year, and each one has been better than the last."

The best-play nominees represent the work of three American playwrights: Neil LaBute for "Reasons to Be Pretty," Venezuelan-born Moisés Kaufman for "33 Variations" and the late Horton Foote for "Dividing the Estate." The fourth slot went to the French dramatist Yasmina Reza for her comedy, "God of Carnage."

All four leads in "God of Carnage" will contend for best actor or actress in a play: James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden. Angela Lansbury was nominated for best featured actress in a play, for her turn as a loopy psychic in "Blithe Spirit." In an unusual move, the three young dancer-actors who rotate in the title role of "Billy Elliot" shared one nomination for best actor in a musical. Intriguingly, too, the Tony nominators picked Raúl Esparza for a best actor nod while ignoring his "Speed-the-Plow" co-stars Jeremy Piven and Elisabeth Moss.

Along with Harden, the other Oscar-winning actors who secured nominations included Geoffrey Rush, a best-actor nominee for his dying monarch in "Exit the King," and Jane Fonda, a best-actress contender for her role as a terminally ill scholar in "33 Variations." Constantine Maroulis, a onetime "American Idol" finalist, received a nomination as best actor in a musical for "Rock of Ages."

The best play revival category is particularly competitive this year. The nods went to productions of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," "Waiting for Godot," "The Norman Conquests" and "Mary Stuart."

In addition to "West Side Story," the nominees for best musical revival are "Hair," "Guys and Dolls" and "Pal Joey."

As is usual with the selection process, several notables were passed over. The most glaring omission on the ballot was the acclaimed revival earlier this season of "The Seagull," starring Kristin Scott Thomas. Perhaps the highest-profile show to be ignored in the best new musical category was the tepidly reviewed stage version of "9 to 5," although Dolly Parton's music and lyrics were picked for a best-score slot. And Daniel Radcliffe went unrecognized for his portrayal of a disturbed teenager in the revival last fall of "Equus."

A 26-member Tony committee made the nominations for the awards, which are often a crucial marketing tool. Now, 800 Broadway producers, theater presenters from across the country, other theater professionals and journalists will vote for the 63rd annual Tonys, which are to be handed out June 7 in a live CBS broadcast from Radio City Music Hall in New York.