Award Central News

Among the new musical candidates are Broadway offerings “Billy Elliot,” “Shrek the Musical,” “Rock of Ages,” “Liza’s at the Palace” and “9 to 5,” which was left out of the race in Monday’s Outer Critics nominations. Off Broadway productions include “Road Show,” “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” “The Toxic Avenger,” “This Beautiful City” and “Fela!”

The 11 play nominees include “God of Carnage,” “33 Variations” and “Reasons to Be Pretty” from the Rialto and newly anointed Pulitzer winner “Ruined” from Off Broadway.

In the six-show musical revival category, buzzed-about Broadway offerings “Hair” and “West Side Story” compete with “Pal Joey” and “Guys and Dolls,” also from the Main Stem, and Off Broadway shows “Enter Laughing” and “The Garden of Earthly Delights.”

A dozen plays are nommed for revival, including “Blithe Spirit,” “Desire Under the Elms,” “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” “Mary Stuart,” “The Norman Conquests” and “The Seagull,” all from Broadway, as well as Off Broadway’s “Our Town.”

Long list of performers, from which one winner will be selected, includes Sutton Foster (“Shrek”), Daniel Radcliffe (“Equus”), David Hyde Pierce (“Accent on Youth”), Kristin Scott Thomas (“The Seagull”), James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden (both of “God of Carnage”) and Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon (“Exit the King”).

Drama League rules mandate that actors can win the org’s performance kudo only once in their careers.

Winners of all award categories will be announced at a luncheon set for May 15. Previously announced special awards will go to Elton John (achievement in musical theater), Arthur Laurents (directing), Angela Lansbury (unique contribution to the theater) and producer Herb Blodgett (leadership).