“Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical” led this year’s Tony Awards nominations with 12 each. Here are some of the biggest surprises and snubs among the categories.
SURPRISE: “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical”
A musical based on a Nickelodeon cartoon about aquatic life — complete with a grab-bag score of hits by veteran pop musicians — shocked everyone by tying with “Mean Girls” as the year’s most-nominated show.
SNUB: “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”
The jukebox compilation about the Queen of Disco earned just two nods, for two of the three actresses playing the star: LaChanze and Ariana DeBose.
SURPRISE: Amy Schumer, “Meteor Shower”
The comic actress earned strong reviews for her Broadway debut in Steve Martin’s four-person comedy but Hollywood stars don’t always make the cut — especially in comedies and shows that have long since closed.
SNUB: Uma Thurman, “A Parisian Woman”
The movie star got mostly negative reviews for her Broadway review in Beau Willimon’s political drama.
SURPRISE: “Latin History for Dummies”
John Leguizamo’s one-man comedic tour of Latin history scored a surprise nod in the Best Play category — over more traditional choices.
SNUB: Chris Evans, “Lobby Hero”
Marvel’s big-screen Captain America won raves for his Broadway debut but was passed over by nominators in favor of co-stars Michael Cera and Brian Tyree Henry
SURPRISE: Taylor Louderman, “Mean Girls”
Lead mean girl Taylor Louderman was a surprise not just because she’s competing with veterans like Jessie Mueller and LaChanze — but because nominators mysteriously expanded the category to allow for six nominees instead of the usual five.
SNUB: Elizabeth McGovern, “Time and the Conways”
The “Downton Abbey” alum earned raves for her performance in this revival — but the fact that it had a limited run last fall clearly worked against her.
SURPRISE: Steven Hoggett, Choreography, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
It’s rare that the choreography of a nonmusical gets any recognition — but Hoggett’s cape-twirling movement got deserved recognition.
SNUB: “Escape to Margaritaville”
The Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical has been struggling at the box office — and its complete shut-out by Tony nominators isn’t going to help matters.
SURPRISE: Brian Tyree Henry, “Lobby Hero”
The “Atlanta” star delivers a scene-stealing turn in the Kenneth Lonergan revival and beat out co-star Chris Evans for a nod.
SNUB: Keegan-Michael Key, “Meteor Shower”
The Emmy-winning comic actor has many scene-stealing moments in the Steve Martin comedy, but the fact that the show ended its limited run in January clearly worked against him.
SNUB: Michael Moore
Fox News fans can breathe easier — the liberal firebrand’s one-man show “Terms of My Surrender” got no love from Tony nominators.
