The very popular Tony Awards held in New York City each year, which recognizes achievement in live American theatre has some really unusual names up its nominations this time. Some say this is an indication as to where the Broadway is heading. The ‘In the Heights’ creative team, which happens to be a musical with a mish mash score of hip-hop, rap and salsa, is leading with 13 Tony nominations and six of its 11 nominees are below the age of 33.

 

In the Heights show garnered decent but definitely not glowing reviews after it debuted off Broadway the previous year. The victory story of In the Heights can largely be attributed is young talented creator, 28-year-old Lin-Manuel Miranda, a new comer in Broadway who has received the rare privilege of being nominated both for leading actor as well as for composer/lyricist.

 

Just to underscore how atypical a season this has been, there is Stew the co-creator and star of the rock musical ‘Passing Strange,’ who show has been nominated for seven awards. He himself has been nominated in four categories - acting, book, score and orchestrations. With so many fresh faces dominating the approaching Tony Awards this time, Rocco Landesman, the president of Jujamcyn Theaters says this trend is really surprising as the nominator usually tend to favor those comparatively older.