Get Social: What’s the reaction to SpongeBob & Mean Girls topping Tony Awards shortlists?

02 May
2018
Author: Staff
get-social-what-s-the-reaction-to-spongebob-mean-girls-topping-tony-awards-shortlists
Pictures: Joan Marcus

So the nominations for the Tony Awards 2018 have been revealed and the likes of Spongebob and Mean Girls are vying with classics like My Fair Lady and Carousel – do you see a trip to NYC coming on and which shows should transfer to the West End?

Now we’ve said a fond farewell to the Olivier Awards, it’s time to look across the pond at all the musicals vying for prizes at the forthcoming Tony Awards, being hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles at Radio City Musical Hall on 10 June 2018.

Looks like the judges were getting in touch with their inner child, or teenager, as Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical (a kids’ TV favourite for almost 10 years) and Mean Girls (adapted from the 2004 movie comedy and with a book by writer and performer Tina Fey) top the nominations with 12 each.

Not far behind on the nominations front are The Band’s Visit (based on a 2007 Israeli movie with a score by David Yazbek) and the revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, each receiving 11 nominations. Two other revivals do pretty well too with My Fair Lady and Once On This Island very much in the running with eight noms each.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Frozen has three nominations – in the big categories for new musical, book of a musical and score, but what about the creative team and performers? There’s likely to be plenty of debate on social media about that!

We should also congratulate the British musical theatre nominees, not least Harry Hadden-Paton and Diana Rigg for their roles in My Fair Lady and Gavin Lee for Spongebob – good luck to them!

So what do you think of the list, have you seen any of the shows already, let us know via StageFaves’ Twitter and Facebook pages. And how about some initial reactions just to get us in the mood?! Well, see below...