'August' actresses both eligible

Morton, Dunagan look to be Tony shoo-ins

By GORDON COX

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Looks like Amy Morton and Deanna Dunagan, two "August: Osage County" thesps who look to be shoo-ins for Tony noms, will duke it out in the same category: Both will be considered eligible as lead actresses, according to the Tony Awards Administration Committee.

The committee meets periodically throughout the season to determine eligibility where it deviates from the standard, which puts above-the-title actors in the lead categories and below-the-title in featured.

Also among the announcement made by the committee were the decision to consider both Brian Cox and Rufus Sewell of "Rock 'n' Roll" as lead actors, while four actors in "The Homecoming" -- Raul Esparza, Michael McKean, James Frain and Gareth Saxe -- all will vie for noms for featured actor.

Martha Plimpton has been deemed a lead actress in "Cymbeline," while Roger Bart will be considered a lead actor for "Young Frankenstein."

Admin committee will meet twice more to determine kudos eligibility before the Tony nominations are announced May 13.