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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Tony Awards Presented This Weekend

Aired June 01, 2001 - 10:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Broadway's highest honors will be handed out this weekend at the 55th Annual Tony Awards, and if you haven't heard yet, a little show called "The Producers" is leading the pack, with a record 15 nominations. The stars of that show, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, are hosting Sunday night's festivities from Radio City Music Hall.

CNN's Jodi Ross takes a look at the contenders.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW BRODERICK, TONY NOMINEE (singing): I want to be a producer with a hit show on Broadway.

JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In 2001, the 55th Annual Tony Awards bring just two words to mind: "The Producers."

CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, TONY NOMINEE: I know "The Producers" sort of has everything cornered, but I'm grateful there's no best actress category for "The Producers" -- lucky me.

ROSS: Actually, not so lucky. The show landed a record-breaking 15 nominations, including ones for Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.

NATHAN LANE, TONY NOMINEE: We're all very, very grateful and a little overwhelmed by the reception.

ROSS: As well as a nod to the only female lead in the cast, Cady Huffman.

CADY HUFFMAN, TONY NOMINEE: I've worked a long time in this business, and it's just lovely to be noticed.

ROSS (on camera): You seem emotional about it.

HUFFMAN: I know, right. I wasn't expecting that.

ROSS (voice-over): On Broadway, revivals are all the rage: "42nd Street" scored nine nominations, "The Rocky Horror Show" got four, and "Follies," five.

POLLY BERGEN, TONY NOMINEE: I haven't sung in 35 years, and I haven't done a Broadway musical in 42 years, and then to get a Tony nomination -- I have really not totally taken it in. ROSS: Familiar faces from screens big and small have made their way to the stage.

GARY SINISE, TONY NOMINEE: Good morning, buddies.

ROSS: Gary Sinise got a nod for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," as did Jean Smart, in "The Man Who Came to Dinner," and Michele Lee, for "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife."

(on camera): Is this enough, if it ends here?

MICHELE LEE, TONY NOMINEE: I truly don't care if I win. That sounds awful. In a way, it sounds awful, but I don't, I don't. I love that I was recognized.

ROSS (voice-over): Also being recognized are films turned on their feet, like "Judgment at Nuremberg" and "The Full Monty," which got 10 nominations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALES (singing): Let it go, let it go.

ROSS: Surprisingly, many of the Tony-nominated shows have been let go from the Great White Way. "Seussical" and "Jane Eyre," with six nods between them, have closed.

But Broadway is not just for the biggies. Smaller shows with smaller budgets like "Stones in His Pockets" have gotten Tony attention. Stars Sean Campion and Conleth Hill are pleased with their nominations and are just excited about the Tony experience.

SEAN CAMPION, TONY NOMINEE: Hopefully, it will just be a great night out. I mean, I just hope it's going to be a good party.

ROSS (on camera): No matter what?

CAMPION: Absolutely, yes.

CONLETH HILL, TONY NOMINEE: Oh, yes.

ROSS (voice-over): So whether Mary-Louise Parker in "Proof" takes the prize, or all of "The Producers"'s neutralize, on Tony night, the show will go on.

Jodi Ross, CNN Entertainment News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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