Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Michelle Knight, DISENCHANTED
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Lulu Picart, DISENCHANTED!
30th ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
Hamilton Leads Nominations with a Record-Breaking 12, Including Outstanding Musical; Revival of Into the Woods Earns 7 Nominations; Between Riverside and Crazy is the Most Nominated Play with 6, Including Outstanding Play
New York, NY (April 2, 2015) – The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories for the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST, and hosted by Emmy-nominated actors Anna Chlumsky (“Veep,” Broadway’s Living on Love) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family,” this summer’s The Tempest). This year’s event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.
The twelve nominations for The Public Theater’s Hamilton broke the record of eleven set just last year. Prior to that, the most nominations earned by one show had been eight. Hamilton and the most nominated play, Between Riverside and Crazy, also earned nominations for directing and acting, as well as multiple technical awards.
As previously announced, playwright Terrence McNally will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award; writer and composer Jeanine Tesori will be inducted onto the famed Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the Lucille Lortel Theatre; and veteran general manager Nancy Nagel Gibbs will receive the Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award.
A cocktail reception honoring the nominees will take place on Monday, April 20, at The Library at the Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street).
The Off-Broadway League’s Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Terry Byrne, Dean Carpenter, Denise Cooper, Margaret Cotter, Carol Fishman, George Forbes, Michael Page, Catherine Russell, and Lindsey Sag) produces the Lortel Awards ceremony. Acclaimed writer/director Michael Heitzman returns to direct the Lortel Awards for the sixth consecutive year. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Additional support is provided by Theatre Development Fund.
Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee.
Members of the general public are again welcome to view the 7:00 PM ceremony. Public tickets are $75.00 and will be available starting today, April 2, via phone at 212.998.4941, online at www.nyuskirball.org and in person at the Skirball Center’s Shagan Box Office (556 LaGuardia) from Tuesday – Saturday from 12 – 6pm, and two hours before performance.
For updates and news about the ceremony, hosts, presenters and media releases, visit www.LortelAwards.org. Follow the Lortel Awards on Twitter at https://twitter.com/OffBroadwayNYC (#LortelAwards) and like the awards on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LortelAwards.com.
2015 LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Play
Between Riverside and Crazy
Produced by Atlantic Theater Company
Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Produced by The Public Theater in association with American Repertory Theater
Written by Suzan-Lori Parks
The Invisible Hand
Produced by New York Theatre Workshop
Written by Ayad Akhtar
My Mañana Comes
Produced by The Playwrights Realm
Written by Elizabeth Irwin
The Nether
Produced by MCC Theater
Written by Jennifer Haley
Outstanding Musical
The Fortress of Solitude
Produced by The Public Theater in association with Dallas Theater Center
Book by Itamar Moses, Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman
Conceived by Daniel Aukin, Based upon the novel by Jonathan Lethem
Hamilton
Produced by The Public Theater
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Inspired by the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
The Lightning Thief
Produced by Theatreworks USA
Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, Book by Joe Tracz
Adapted from the book by Rick Riordan
Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Produced by Radio Mouse Entertainment, Martin Hummel, Caiola Productions, Terry Schnuck, Susan Jaffe Tane, Hernreich-Horvath Productions, Catalyst Theatre in association with Fireboat Productions, Mary Cossette, Meredith Lynsey Schade
Written and Composed by Jonathan Christenson
Pretty Filthy
Produced by The Civilians in association with Jon B. Platt
Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Book by Bess Wohl
Conceived by Steve Cosson, Michael Friedman & Bess Wohl
Outstanding Revival
Fashions for Men
Produced by Mint Theater Company
Written by Ferenc Molnár
Indian Ink
Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with American Conservatory Theater
Written by Tom Stoppard
Into the Woods
Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company in association with McCarter Theatre Center, a Fiasco Theater production
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine
Sticks and Bones
Produced by The New Group
Written by David Rabe
The Wayside Motor Inn
Produced by Signature Theatre
Written by A.R. Gurney
Outstanding Solo Show
EVERY BRILLIANT THING
Produced by Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, Patrick Daly, Kelpie Arts LLC, Scott Rudin, Marc & Lisa Biales, Terry Allen Kramer, Michael Ostin
Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe
Performed by Jonny Donahoe
Josephine and I
Produced by The Public Theater
Written and Performed by Cush Jumbo
Just Jim Dale
Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company
Written and Performed by Jim Dale
The Lion
Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club
Written and Performed by Benjamin Scheuer
Outstanding Director
Michael Greif, Our Lady of Kibeho
Thomas Kail, Hamilton
Austin Pendleton, Between Riverside and Crazy
Ken Rus Schmoll, The Invisible Hand
Ivo van Hove, Scenes From a Marriage
Outstanding Choreographer
Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton
Camille A. Brown, The Fortress of Solitude
Denis Jones, Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story
Laura Krewski, Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Lisa Shriver, Into the Woods
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Usman Ally, The Invisible Hand
Carson Elrod, The Heir Apparent
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy
Owiso Odera, Our Lady of Kibeho
Bill Pullman, Sticks and Bones
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Grand Concourse
Anna Gunn, Sex With Strangers
Jan Maxwell, The City of Conversation
S. Epatha Merkerson, While I Yet Live
Tonya Pinkins, Rasheeda Speaking
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Adam Chanler-Berat, The Fortress of Solitude
Claybourne Elder, Allegro
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Leslie Odom Jr., Hamilton
Ben Steinfeld, Into the Woods
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Michelle Knight, DISENCHANTED! The Hilarious Hit Musical
Jennifer Mudge, Into the Woods
Sally Murphy, The Threepenny Opera
Phillipa Soo, Hamilton
Lillias White, Texas in Paris
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Victor Almanzar, Between Riverside and Crazy
Jacob Ming-Trent, Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Jesse Pennington, Bootycandy
Will Pullen, Punk Rock
Scott Shepherd, The Village Bike
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Sophia Anne Caruso, The Nether
Sun Mee Chomet, brownsville song (b-side for tray)
Liza Colón-Zayas, Between Riverside and Crazy
Beth Dixon, The City of Conversation
Deirdre O’Connell, By the Water
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Andy Grotelueschen, Into the Woods
Brian d’Arcy James, Hamilton
Kevin Mambo, The Fortress of Solitude
Steve Rosen, Pretty Filthy
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
Luba Mason, Pretty Filthy
Lulu Picart, DISENCHANTED! The Hilarious Hit Musical
Jessica Tyler Wright, Allegro
Emily Young, Into the Woods
Outstanding Scenic Design
Brett J. Banakis, Big Love
Laura Jellinek, The Nether
Derek McLane, Into the Woods
Walt Spangler, Between Riverside and Crazy
Jan Versweyveld, Scenes From a Marriage
Outstanding Costume Design
Candice Donnelly, Indian Ink
Bretta Gerecke, Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Clint Ramos, Bootycandy
Paul Tazewell, Hamilton
Anthony Ward, Josephine and I
Outstanding Lighting Design
Howell Binkley, Hamilton
David Lander, The Library
Tyler Micoleau, The Invisible Hand
Ben Stanton, The Nether
Japhy Weideman, Punk Rock
Outstanding Sound Design
Mikhail Fiksel, My Mañana Comes
Leah Gelpe, The Invisible Hand
Daniel Kluger and Brandon Wolcott, The Nether
Nevin Steinberg, Hamilton
Matt Tierney, Pocatello
SPECIAL AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Award
Terrence McNally
Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Jeanine Tesori
Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award
Nancy Nagel Gibbs
ABOUT THE LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS
The Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League. The Lortel Awards recognize excellence Off-Broadway by honoring the invaluable contribution of artists to the theatre community. Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation, in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals, serve on the Voting Committee. Awards may be given in the following categories: Play, Musical, Solo Show, Revival, Alternative Theatrical Experience, Director, Choreographer, Lead Actor and Actress in a Play and Musical, Featured Actor and Actress in a Play and Musical, Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Design. The following honorary awards may also be given: Lifetime Achievement, Body of Work (awarded to an institution), the Edith Oliver Service to Off-Broadway Award, and induction onto the Playwrights’ Sidewalk in front of the historic Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City. For more information, please see www.LortelAwards.org.
ABOUT THE LUCILLE LORTEL FOUNDATION
The Lucille Lortel Foundation was created by Lucille Lortel to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre, as well as to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway. The Foundation has several major programs, including its general operating support program that has provided millions of dollars to small to mid-size theatres in New York City, universities, and theatre service organizations. The Foundation created and maintains the Internet Off-Broadway DataBase (www.lOBDB.com). For a listing of all of the Foundation’s programs, previous Lortel Award nominees and recipients, information on the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Playwrights’ Sidewalk, and much more, please visit www.lortel.org.
ABOUT NYU SKIRBALL CENTER
The Jack H
. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is the premier venue for the presentation of cultural and performing arts events for New York University and lower Manhattan. Founded by Jay Oliva (President Emeritus, NYU) and led by executive director Michael Harrington, the programs of the Skirball center reflect NYU’s mission as an international center of scholarship, defined by excellence and innovation and shaped by an intellectually rich and diverse environment. A vital aspect of the mission is to build young adult audiences for the future of live performance. www.nyuskirball.org
ABOUT THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND (TDF)
Theatre Development Fund, a not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, was created in the conviction that the live theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured. It is dedicated to developing diverse audiences for live theatre and dance, and strengthening the performing arts community in New York City. Since 1968, TDF’s programs have provided over 86 million people with access to performances at affordable ticket prices and have returned over $2.3 billion to thousands of productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF’s membership, outreach, access (including its Autism Theatre Initiative) and education programs—as well as its Costume Collection—have introduced thousands of people to the theatre and helped make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone, including students and people with disabilities. Recent TDF honors include a 2011 Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture, a 2012 Tony Honor for Excellence for its Open Doors Arts Education Program, a 2012 New York Innovative Theatre Award for its support of the Off-Off-Broadway community through its “OffOff@$9 Program” and a 2013 Lucille Lortel honor for “Outstanding Body of Work” in support of the Off-Broadway community. For more information, go to www.tdf.org.