‘A Strange Loop’ Leads With 11 Tony Award Nominations, While Daniel Craig Is Snubbed

A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson’s critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize-winning, autobiographical musical about a queer Black writer and theater usher wrestling with issues of identity and creativity, leads the 75th Tony Awards nominations pack, with 11 nods announced Monday morning. The categories include a best musical nomination, and a lead actor nomination for Jaquel Spivey for his first role out of college.

In the Best Musical category, A Strange Loop is up against the Michael Jackson musical MJ the Musical, Paradise Square (about the racial tinderbox of 19^th century New York), Henry VIII wives’-fight-back show SIX The Musical, the Bob Dylan-inspired Girl From the North Country, and Billy Crystal’s amiable musical comedy Mr. Saturday Night.

‘A Strange Loop’ Triumphs, Uncompromisingly, on Broadway

The Lehman Trilogy is the most-nominated play, with eight nods in all, and its three leads—Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester—each nominated in the Best Actor category. Lehman is up against Clyde’s, Hangmen, The Minutes, and Skeleton Crew for Best Play.

In terms of notable snubs, Funny Girl, which received largely negative reviews from critics, was locked out of the best revival of a musical category, and its star, Beanie Feldstein, was not nominated in the best actress (musical) category. Daniel Craig also was not nominated for his role as Macbeth, while his co-star Ruth Negga was nominated for playing Lady Macbeth. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick also went un-nominated for their roles in Plaza Suite. Of its three big names, only Sam Rockwell scored an acting nomination for American Buffalo.

After A Strange Loop, MJ and Paradise Square each scored 10 nominations, Company nine nominations (its star, Broadway icon, Patti LuPone was nominated), and SIX: The Musical had eight nominations. The critically derided Diana, The Musical got one nomination for its costumes.

The acting categories will be particularly hard fought. As well as big-name stars, deserved recognition for standout performances were also earned by Kara Young (Clyde’s), Deirdre O’Connell (Dana H.), Gabby Beans (The Skin of Our Teeth), and Myles Frost (MJ), while three actors from Take Me Out—Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael Oberholtzer, and Jesse Williams— will compete in the best featured actor (play) category.

The Tony Awards will be presented on June 12, and broadcast live on CBS.

Full list of Tony nominations, 2022

Best Play

Clyde’s

Hangmen

The Lehman Trilogy

The Minutes

Skeleton Crew

Best Musical

Girl From The North Country

MJ

Mr. Saturday Night

Paradise Square

SIX: The Musical

A Strange Loop

Best Revival of a Play

American Buffalo

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

How I Learned to Drive

Take Me Out

Trouble in Mind

Best Revival of a Musical

Caroline, or Change

Company

The Music Man

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy

Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy

Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy

David Morse, How I Learned to Drive

Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues

David Threlfall, Hangmen

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth

LaChanze, Trouble in Mind

Ruth Negga, Macbeth

Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.

Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night

Myles Frost, MJ

Hugh Jackman, The Music Man

Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire

Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change

Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset

Sutton Foster, The Music Man

Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square

Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Alfie Allen, Hangmen

Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out

Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde’s

Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out

Jesse Williams, Take Me Out

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s

Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew

Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Kara Young, Clyde’s

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Matt Doyle, Company

Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square

Jared Grimes, Funny Girl

John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop

A.J. Shively, Paradise Square

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country

Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night

Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man

L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop

Patti LuPone, Company

Jennifer Simard, Company

Best Direction of a Play

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth

Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy

Neil Pepe, American Buffalo

Les Waters, Dana H.

Best Direction of a Musical

Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop

Marianne Elliott, Company

Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country

Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical

Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Best Choreography

Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Warren Carlyle, The Music Man

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical

Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square

Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Best Orchestrations

David Cullen, Company

Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical

Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country

Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ

Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop

Best Book of a Musical

Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson

MJ, Lynn Nottage

Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel

Paradise Square, Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan

A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Flying Over Sunset Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie

Mr. Saturday Night Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green

Paradise Square Music: Jason Howland; Lyrics: Nathan Tysen & Masi Asare

SIX: The Musical Music and Lyrics: Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss

A Strange Loop Music & Lyrics: Michael R. Jackson

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew

Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy

Anna Fleischle, Hangmen

Scott Pask, American Buffalo

Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset

Bunny Christie, Company

Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop

Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ

Allen Moyer, Paradise Square

Best Costume Design of a Play

Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth

Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind

Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite

Jennifer Moeller, Clyde’s

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change

Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square

William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical

Santo Loquasto, The Music Man

Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical

Paul Tazewell, MJ

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Joshua Carr, Hangmen

Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy

Jane Cox, Macbeth

Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Neil Austin, Company

Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical

Donald Holder, Paradise Square

Natasha Katz, MJ

Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset

Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Best Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf

Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.

Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth

Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy

Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country

Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical

Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company

Drew Levy, A Strange Loop

Gareth Owen, MJ

Tony Nominations by Production

A Strange Loop - 11

MJ - 10

Paradise Square - 10

Company - 9

The Lehman Trilogy - 8

SIX: The Musical - 8

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf - 7

Girl From The North Country - 7

The Music Man - 6

The Skin of Our Teeth - 6

Clyde’s - 5

Hangmen - 5

Mr. Saturday Night - 5

American Buffalo - 4

Flying Over Sunset - 4

Take Me Out - 4

Trouble in Mind - 4

Caroline, or Change - 3

Dana H. - 3

How I Learned to Drive - 3

Macbeth - 3

POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive - 3

Skeleton Crew - 3

Diana, The Musical - 1

Funny Girl - 1

Lackawanna Blues - 1

The Minutes - 1

Mrs. Doubtfire - 1

Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite - 1

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.