Seven nominations - recognizing producing, directing, lighting and scenic design, and choreography - emanated from the musical "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812," which received the most nominations of any show this year.

Photo of Tony Award

Twenty Two faculty and alumni of the Tisch School of the Arts, the Stern School of Business, the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and the Gallatin School of Individualized Study received a total of 18 Tony Award nominations, recognizing excellence in producing, writing, directing, acting, scenic design, costume design, lighting design, and choreography on Broadway.

NYU alumni affiliated with the musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, which received the most nominations of any show this year, made a particularly strong showing. The show boasts 18 alumni, with seven receiving Tony nominations for production, direction, scenic design, lighting design, and choreography.  Two alumni, producers Heni Koenigsberg (Steinhardt, ’74) and Stuart Thompson (Steinhardt, ’83), received nominations for two shows this year. 

The nominations were announced on May 2, 2017 by Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski and Christopher Jackson, nominated last year for his role in Hamilton. Now in their 71st year, the American Theatre Wing’s Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards honor excellence on Broadway in 24 competitive categories. The nominees are selected by an independent and rotating committee of 50 theater experts appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Tony Award winners are selected by 846 Tony voters comprised of producers, performers, and other industry professionals. The awards ceremony, presented by the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing and hosted by Kevin Spacey, will broadcast live on CBS Sunday, June 11, 2017.

NYU alumni and faculty nominees include the following:

Best Musical

Dear Evan Hansen
Caitlin Clements (TSOA, ‘13), producer
Carole Rothman (TSOA, ‘72), producer
Hunter Arnold (Stern, ’13), producer
Molly Smith (TSOA, ‘02), producer

Groundhog Day the Musical
Ken Davenport (TSOA, ‘94), producer

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812
Ben Feldman (Law, ’97), producer
Howard Kagan, (Stern, ‘87)
Janet Maisel Kagan, ’95 (Stern, ‘95)
Daniel Rakowski (Steinhardt, ’11), producer
Tom Smedes ’85 (Gallatin, ‘85)

Best Play

A Doll's House, Part 2
Lucas Hnath  (TSOA, ’01/’02), adj. professor, Dramatic Writing, author
Heni Koenigsberg (Steinhardt, ’74), producer

Indecent
Marc Platt (Law, ’82), producer

Sweat
Stuart Thompson (Steinhardt, ’83), producer

Best Revival of a Play

John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation
Stuart Thompson (Steinhardt, ’83), producer

Best Revival of a Musical

Hello, Dolly!
Heni Koenigsberg (Steinhardt, ’74), producer

Best Direction of a Musical
Rachel Chavkin (TSOA, ‘02), Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brandon Uranowitz (TSOA, ’08), Falsettos

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Mimi Lien (TSOA, ‘03), Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Best Costume Design of a Play
Susan Hilferty, Chair, Dept. of Design for Stage & Film, Present Laughter
David Zinn (TSOA, ’91) A Doll's House, Part 2

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Jane Cox (TSOA, ’98), August Wilson's Jitney

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Bradley King (TSOA, ’05), Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Best Choreography
Denis Jones (TSOA, ‘92), Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical
Sam Pinkleton (TSOA, ‘09), Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


For more information about the Tony Awards, visit here.

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