2011 Tony Award nominees
2011 Tony Award nominees. Winners of the 65th annual Tony Awards will be announced June 12. There is no doubt this year’s host, Neil Patrick Harris, will bring the laughs, and hopefully a musical number or two. We review the nominees in some of the major categories.Best play, 2011 Tony Awards
* Written by: David Lindsay-Abaire
* Plot: Set in the Southie neighborhood of Boston, it follows the ups and downs of an out of work woman who falls in with an old fling.
* Stars: Frances McDormand; Tate Donavan.
"Jerusalem" – Get tickets
* Written by: Jez Butterworth
* Plot: Set in the woods of southwest England, a former daredevil is now a wanted man.
* Stars: Mark Rylance
"The Motherf**ker with the Hat" - Get tickets
* Written by: Stephen Adly Guirgis
* Plot: A longtime couple struggle with sobriety and living clean.
* Stars: Chris Rock; Bobby Cannavale; Annabella Sciorra.
"War Horse" - Get tickets
* Written by: Nick Stafford
* Plot: After his beloved horse is sold when he was a boy, a young man embarks on a mission to reclaim it.
* Stars: Matt Doyle
Best actor play 2011 Tony Awards
Brian Bedford for "The Importance of Being Earnest"
* See photos of veteran English actor.
* His big screen work: Voice of the title character in a Disney classic; starred in a race-car drama.
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 1971 for his role in "The School for Wives."
Bobby Cannavale for "The Motherf**ker with the Hat"
* His TV work: Gained fame on a critically acclaimed action drama Played a gay cop on a TV comedy
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 2008 for his role in "Mauritius".
Joe Mantello for "The Normal Heart"
* See photos of actor/director.
* His work: Directed "Wicked".
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 2004 for directing "Assassins."
Al Pacino for "The Merchant of Venice"
* See photos of the veteran actor.
* His big screen work: A gangster in a classic trilogy; a blind retired Army officer in his Academy-Award winning film.
* Previous wins: Won a Tony Award for "Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?" Watch his acceptance speech.
Mark Rylance for "Jerusalem"
* His big screen work: A 1991 fantasy; A drama about sexual obsession.
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 2008 for "Boeing-Boeing."
Best musical 2011 Tony Awards
"The Book of Mormon" – Get tickets
* Written by: Trey Parker; Matt Stone.
* Plot: Written by the creators of this satirical animated series, the religious satire tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries.
* Stars: Andrew Rannells; Josh Gad.
"Catch Me If You Can" - Get tickets
* Written by: Based on a 2002 film of the same name.
* Plot: A young con man is chased around the world by a determined FBI agent.
* Stars: Aaron Tveit; Norbert Leo Butz.
"The Scottsboro Boys"
* Written by: Based on a book by David Thompson. Photos from production.
* Plot: The story is based on the Scottsboro Boys trial in Alabama in 1931.
* Stars: Colman Domingo
"Sister Act" - Get tickets
* Written by: Based on the ‘90s film version, which starred the play’s producer, Whoopi Goldberg.
* Plot: A lounge singer goes under witness protection at a convent.
* Stars: Patina Miller
Best actor musical 2011 Tony Awards
Norbert Leo Butz for "Catch Me If You Can"
* His work: Starred in several Broadway plays such as "Wicked" and "Thou Shalt Not." Starred in an ABC drama.
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 2005 for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels".
Josh Gad for "The Book of Mormon"
* His TV work: Appeared on a short-lived situation comedy.
Joshua Henry for "The Scottsboro Boys"
* See photos.
* His big screen work: Appeared in the first "Sex and the City" film.
Andrew Rannells for "The Book of Mormon"
* His stage work: Performed in a jukebox musical.
Tony Sheldon for "Priscilla Queen of the Desert"
* See photos of the Australian actor.
* His stage work: Has won a slew of awards for his work in "The Producers"; "The Witches of Eastwick."
Best actress musical 2011 Tony Awards
Sutton Foster for "Anything Goes"
* See photos of the Tony-Award winning actress.
* Her TV work: Appeared in a HBO comedy; appeared in a law drama.
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 2002 for "Thoroughly Modern Millie".
Beth Leavel for "Baby It’s You!"
* See photos of the actress.
* Her stage work: Appeared in the 2008 production of "Young Frankenstein".
* Previous win: Won a Tony Award in 1998 for "The Drowsy Chaperone".
Patina Miller for "Sister Act"
* Her TV work: Was cast in a daytime soap in 2007.
Donna Murphy for "The People in the Picture"
* See photos of the actress
* Her big screen work: Gave voice to a new animated film; taught in a ballet drama.
* Previous wins: Won a Tony Award in 1995 for "Passion"; won in 1996 for "The King and I."
Source: msn