Ned Beatty. John Lithgow. And yes, Sean Combs, but he wasn’t expecting one anyway.
Combs didn’t get a 2004 Tony Award nomination Monday, but he graciously thanked his co-stars in “A Raisin in the Sun” — Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan — who did received nominations for their work in the hit revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s drama.
“It’s more than a dream come true to be a part of this history-making play and I send huge congratulations to Phylicia, Sanaa and Audra on their nominations,” Combs said in a statement. “I am so proud and happy to be working along side these amazing actresses.”
There were no major snubs Monday on the order of the infamous 1984 exclusion when Dustin Hoffman wasn’t nominated for his portrayal of Willie Loman in a highly praised revival of “Death of a Salesman” or when Bill Pullman was overlooked in 2002 for his fine work in Edward Albee’s “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?”
Yet Beatty didn’t make the cut this season despite raves for his performance as Big Daddy in a revival of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Did nominators remember the catty remarks Beatty made about co-stars Ashley Judd and Jason Patric in a New York Times interview?
But then the genial Lithgow wasn’t nominated either, even though his two co-stars in “The Retreat From Moscow,” Eileen Atkins and Ben Chaplin, were.
Chalk it up to an exceptionally strong lead-actor category, monopolized by such heavyweights as Christopher Plummer, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, Simon Russell Beale and the unknown Jefferson Mays, who may triumph for his galvanizing performance in “I Am My Own Wife.”
They more than filled the category leaving little room for the inexperienced yet game Combs, who is making his theater debut in “Raisin.”
Far more damaging were the snubs for shows, specifically “Bombay Dreams” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” not nominated in the musical and musical-revival categories, respectively. Only nominated musicals get valuable minutes on the Tony telecast. So don’t look for a musical production number from either show at the June 6 ceremony from Radio City Music Hall.
The oddest omission was for director Joe Mantello, who oversaw both “Wicked” and “Assassins” this season. Many thought he would be nominated for both shows.
Although “Wicked” received 10 nominations, direction of a musical wasn’t among them. It may, however, improve Mantello’s chances for “Assassins.” At least, he is not competing against himself.
And some shows know when to give up. “Prymate,” the critically maligned play about animal testing and a gorilla who knows sign language, didn’t even wait for the nominations. It didn’t get any and folded Sunday after playing a mere five performances.