Outer Critics feel 'August' heat

'Xanadu,' 'Frankenstein' tie for best musical

By GORDON COX

'Young Frankenstein'

'Xanadu'

Patti LuPone took home lead musical actress honors from the OCC for her role in 'Gypsy.'

The Outer Critics Circle surprised legiters Monday by declaring the contest for top Broadway tuner a tie between “Young Frankenstein” and “Xanadu.”

“August: Osage County” took the the org’s award for Broadway play, with “South Pacific” and “The Homecoming” scoring revival kudos for musical and play, respectively.

In a competitive slot likely to prove equally tough in the Tony race, Patti LuPone nabbed lead musical actress for her role in “Gypsy,” besting a formidable lineup of nominees including Kelli O’Hara (“South Pacific”) and Faith Prince (“A Catered Affair”). LuPone’s co-star Laura Benanti took featured actress in a tuner.

Kevin Kline scored the win for actor in a play for his turn in the fall revival of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” beating out contenders including Patrick Stewart in “Macbeth” and Ben Daniels in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses.” Laurence Fishburne, currently appearing in Thurgood Marshall bio-play “Thurgood,” snagged the solo perf honor.

Supporting play thesp categories were won by James Earl Jones (“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”) and Laurie Metcalf (“November”).

New Off Broadway play went to the Rialto-bound “Dividing the Estate,” while “Adding Machine” tallied a win for Off Broadway tuner.

“Frankenstein,” Mel Brooks’ follow-up to “The Producers,” already had led the pack of Outer Critics nominations with an unexpectedly robust ten nods. The tongue-in-cheek adaptation of “Xanadu” has its share of nominations buzz, although few legiters peg it for a big winner.

Neither “Frankenstein” nor “Xanadu” scored any other awards from the OCC, which announced its list of winners Monday morning.

Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of “South Pacific” took a total of four trophies -- including tuner director (Bartlett Sher), plus lead (Paulo Szot) and featured actor (Danny Burstein) in a musical -- while a trio of laurels for “August” included play helmer (Anna D. Shapiro) and lead actress (Deanna Dunagan).

Overlooked entirely was critically praised tuner “Passing Strange.” The show was up for the new score award but was beaten out by a second tie, this one between “Adding Machine” and fellow Off Broadway offering “Next to Normal.”

Also overlooked was “A Catered Affair,” the Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical whose two noms yielded no wins. (Another Broadway tuner, “In the Heights,” was ineligible for OCC consideration because of its Off Broadway engagement last season.)

Liz Flahive’s “From Up Here,” now playing at one of Manhattan Theater Club’s Off Broadway spaces, took the John Gassner Award, given annually for a new American play by a new scribe.

Outer Critics Circle comprises journos who cover legit for media outlets based outside of Gotham. Org will hold its awards ceremony May 22 at Sardi’s.

And the winners are:

NEW BROADWAY PLAY
"August: Osage County"

NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
"Xanadu"(tie)
"Young Frankenstein" (tie)

NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
"Dividing the Estate"

NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

"Adding Machine"

NEW SCORE
"Adding Machine"(tie)
"Next to Normal" (tie)

REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
"The Homecoming"

REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
"South Pacific"

DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Anna D. Shapiro - "August: Osage County"

DIRECTOR OF A MUSICALBartlett Sher - "South Pacific"

CHOREOGRAPHER
Rob Ashford - "Cry-Baby The Musical"

SET DESIGN (Play or Musical)
David Farley / Timothy Bird - "Sunday in the Park With George"

COSTUME DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Katrina Lindsay - "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"

LIGHTING DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Ken Billington - "Sunday in the Park With George"

ACTOR IN A PLAY
Kevin Kline - "Cyrano de Bergerac"

ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Deanna Dunagan - "August: Osage County"

ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Paulo Szot - "South Pacific"

ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Patti LuPone - "Gypsy"

FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
James Earl Jones - "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Laurie Metcalf - "November"

FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Danny Burstein - "South Pacific"

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Laura Benanti - "Gypsy"

SOLO PERFORMANCE
Laurence Fishburne - "Thurgood"

JOHN GASSNER AWARD (Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Liz Flahive - "From Up Here"