Some interesting tidbits about nominations this year in the official press release:
"Next to Normal was considered last season...Under Drama Desk rules only new elements in a transfer can be considered. The producers, who requested that we consider the Broadway transfer only as an entirely new show, refused to invite nominators until it was too late for any new elements to be evaluated." I suppose one of these "elements" would be J. Robert Spencer.
"Only one actor playing Billy in Billy Elliot was seen by all nominators, who were not invited to see the other two for consideration unless the Drama Desk Executive Board agreed to classify all three separate performances as one unit for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. The Board rejected that request, as well as a request that as an alternative no actor playing Billy be considered." So I guess that means they only saw one Billy...don't know which...and considered him in the lead actor category and obviously, he did not get a nomination.
Anyway, I'm fairly pleased with the nominations...thrilled that Arthur Laurence did NOT get a nomination, very happy for Will Swenson's nomination...the only snub that really surprised me is the lack of any nominations for Joe Turner.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
