Tom Hanks and Cyndi Lauper nominated for Tony Awards

Many successful stage actors have gone on to succeed in the movie or music industry. However, established Hollywood or music superstars trying their hand on the Broadway stage are rarely awarded with Tony nominations.

Two such well-known celebrities have recently accomplished this feat.

Tom Hanks, arguably the most beloved and respected actor of his generation, has been honored with a nomination for his performance as Mike McAlary in “Lucky Guy“. He plays the role of a deceased journalist in the last play written by Nora Ephron’s before her recent death.

Hanks plays McAlary, a journalist from an outer borough whose career progresses from beat reporter on a rag newspaper to respected opinion columnist who attains the status of winning a Pulitzer Prize. Meanwhile, he suffers from the ravages of colon cancer, finally succumbing. Taking into consideration his past roles, this one is made for Hanks.

Hanks shows the versatility he possesses in portraying the everyman character, as he has done in film after film. He also exhibits, for the first time since his attainment of fame, his love for acting and his stamina to perform night after night. This has been an ability many talented movie actors have not been able to display.

Tom Hanks is part of a wonderful ensemble cast full of familiar names such as: Maura Tierney, Courtney B. Vance, Christopher McDonald, Peter Gerety, Peter Scolari, Michael Gaston, Dustyn Gulledge, Deirdre Lovejoy, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Richard Masur, Stephen Tyrone Williams. That’s right, Peter Scolari. Could anyone look back at “Bosom Buddies” without great fondness? Or not feel a twinge of weird 80’s nostalgia at the thought of Kip and Henry together again?

Meanwhile, the always adorable Lauper has written Harvey Fierstein’s book into a musical,  writing both the score and the lyrics. With 13 nominations, “Kitty Boots” has the highest number of nominations, two of those for Best Musical and Best Score. You go Cyndi!

“Kinky Boots” was adapted from the 2005 non-musical comedy film. It concerns a man who inherits a shoe store. He enlists the aid of a drag queen to save the failing establishment. Both the movie and the musical take advantage of the synergy between shoes and cross-dressing, business and fetish.

The thirteen nominations “Kinky Boots” has received include Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Best Book, Best Score, Best Actor (Stark Sands), Best Actor (Billy Porter) and Best Featured Actress (Annaleigh Ashford).

Kinky Boots” is playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, between 8th and 9th Aves, New York, NY.

“Lucky Man” is playing at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th Street, New York, NY.

Tickets for both are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200.  

No word yet on when either of these fine shows will be coming to San Diego, but we’ll keep our eyes open and let you know.