The hit Broadway musical 'Fela!' has received 11 Tony Award nominations, which were announced this morning.
The exhilarating production – tracing the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – is the brainchild of Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones.
Produced by Stephen Hendel, Jay-Z, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, the critically acclaimed production garnered nods for best musical, best book, best costume design, best direction and best choreography.
Joining 'Fela!' in the best musical category are 'American Idiot,' 'Memphis' and 'Million Dollar Quartet.'
August Wilson's 'Fences,' which stars two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, also picked up 10 nominations, including best revival of a play, and best actor for Washington.
Washington's co-star, Academy Award nominee and Tony winner Viola Davis, also garnered a nomination for best leading actress in a play.
Kelsey Grammar's Broadway return in the latest revival of 'La Cage aux Folles' also tied 'Fela!' for the most nominations.
A complete list of nominations are below.
The Tony Awards will be handed out June 13 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The Truth About Fela
On Aug. 2, 1997, the world lost one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time: Fela Anikulapo Kuti. A legend in his native Nigeria, Kuti's impact has been felt all across the world. Now, Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones (and celebrity producers Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) has brought the late great Afrobeat icon's life to the stage in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical 'Fela!' There's a lot to know about the Nigerian born trailblazer. We present some facts about the man that was known as the "Black President" -- long before Barack Obama surfaced on the political scene.
Fela Kuti was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Nigeria, on Oct. 15, 1938, to Yoruba parents. He considered his original middle name, Ransome, to be a slave name and changed it to Anikulapo, which means "one who carries death in his pouch," in the '70s.
Fela was a Pan-Africanist who was heavily influenced by the Black Power Movement. His former love interest, Sandra Smith (now Sandra Isidore), a former member of the Black Panther Party is credited with turning him on to Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver, among other influential figures. During his life, Fela often referred to himself as the "Black President."
Fela grew up in a middle-class family. His mother, Funmilayo, was an activist in the anti-colonial movement in Nigeria, championing for women's rights. His father, Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a reverend.
In 1954, Fela joined the Cool Cats, a highlife band. Highlife was a popular music form in Nigeria at the time, particularly in Lagos. In 1958, he went to London to study medicine but decided to take up music at the Trinity College of Music instead. In 1961, he met and married his first wife, Remi Taylor. The couple had three children (Femi, Yeni and Sola).
In 1968, Fela announced the arrival of a new musical style called Afrobeat, which fuses "elements of Yoruba music, jazz and funk rhythms with an instrumentation that emphasizes African percussion and vocal styles blend of elements of jazz, funk and Yoruba music." (Source:) His first band, Koola Lobitos, blended the highlife music of Nigeria with Western jazz and R&B. The group made its first trip to the United States in 1969. The names of Fela's bands have included Koola Lobitos, Africa 70, Nigeria 70 and Egypt 80.
In 1970, Fela formed his own commune, which he called the Kalakuta Republic --- a place for artists, musicians, political activists and followers. He also opened a nightclub in Lagos called The Shrine. Seven years later, during an army raid on Kalakuta Republic, Fela's 77-year-old mother, Funmilayo, was thrown from a second-story window. She died from her injuries shortly thereafter. Fela carried his mother's coffin to the headquarters of the Nigerian military government and composed a song marking the event called 'Coffin for Head of State.' After the raid, Fela lived briefly in exile in Ghana, returning to Nigeria in 1978.
Fela married 27 women (many of whom were his female dancers) in 1978. Many people objected to his views on women and homosexuality.
In 1979, Fela formed his own political party called MOP (Movement of the People). He attempted to run for president of Nigeria in 1979, but his candidacy was refused by the government. His songs often condemned Nigerian leadership under people such as Mohammed Buhari, Sani Abacha and Olusegun Obasanjo.
In 1979, Roy Ayers embarked on a nine-city tour of Nigeria with Fela Kuti. Ayers' experience touring in Africa inspired the 1981 album, 'Africa, Center of the World.' A year later, the Roy Ayers and Fela Kuti collab album, 'Music of Many Colors,' was released.
The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards are bestowed annually on theater professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television.
Complete List Of Tony Nominations
Best Play
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Next Fall
Red
Time Stands Still
Best Musical
American Idiot
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet
Best Book of a Musical
Everyday Rapture
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Addams Family
Enron
Fences
Memphis
Best Revival of a Play
Fences
Lend Me a Tenor
The Royal Family
A View from the Bridge
Best Revival of a Musical
Finian's Rainbow
La Cage aux Folles
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law, Hamlet
Alfred Molina, Red
Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane
Denzel Washington, Fences
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences
Valerie Harper, Looped
Linda Lavin, Collected Stories
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer, La Cage aux Folles
Sean Hayes, Promises, Promises
Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles
Chad Kimball, Memphis
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, Finian's Rainbow
Montego Glover, Memphis
Christiane Noll, Ragtime
Sherie Rene Scott, Everyday Rapture
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
David Alan Grier, Race
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken, Enron
Eddie Redmayne, Red
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family
Jessica Hecht, A View from the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson, A View from the Bridge
Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
Robin De Jesús, La Cage aux Folles
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow
Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away
Lillias White, Fela!
Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family
Alexander Dodge, Present Laughter
Santo Loquasto, Fences
Christopher Oram, Red
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Christine Jones, American Idiot
Derek McLane, Ragtime
Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles
Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me a Tenor
Constanza Romero, Fences
David Zinn, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Santo Loquasto, Ragtime
Paul Tazewell, Memphis
Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, Hamlet
Neil Austin, Red
Mark Henderson, Enron
Brian MacDevitt, Fences
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, American Idiot
Donald Holder, Ragtime
Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Wierzel, Fela!
Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners, Fences
Adam Cork, Enron
Adam Cork, Red
Scott Lehrer, A View from the Bridge
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music
Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, Red
Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall
Kenny Leon, Fences
Gregory Mosher, A View from the Bridge
Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley, Memphis
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles
Aaron Johnson, Fela!
Jonathan Tunick, Promises, Promises
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Spring has sprung, and Broadway has a wealth of offerings – old and new – worthy of your hard-earned money. With the prestigious Tony and Drama Desk nominations under way, here's a look at 10 must-see shows on the Great White Way.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
A Behanding In Spokane
'A Behanding of Spokane' is a dark comedy starring Christopher Walken, Zoe Kazan, Sam Rockwell and Anthony Mackie of 'The Hurt Locker.' John Crowley directs Irish writer Martin McDonagh's play about a man searching for his missing hand (Walken), two hustlers aiming to make a few hundred bucks (Mackie and Kazan) and a curious hotel clerk (Rockwell) looking for excitement.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
American Idiot
Using the music of Green Day's epic album, 'American Idiot' focuses on working-class character from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East. They seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. The show morphs into a high-octane rock opera about war, drugs, dreams and reality. 'American Idiot' stars John Gallagher Jr. , Michael Esper, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Stark Sands.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Come Fly Away
Directed, conceived and choreographed by Tony Award winner Twyla Tharp, 'Come Fly Away' features the voice of Frank Sinatra and is backed by a live 19-piece band and 15 of the world's finest dancers. The musical focuses on four couples who fall in and out of love in a song-and-dance filled nightclub. Keith Roberts and Karine Plantadit are among the cast members.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Fela!
Directed by Bill T. Jones and co-produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, 'Fela!' is one of Broadway's most raved about musicals. Based on the life of Afrobeat music pioneer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the musical has not one but two tour de force performances from both Sahr Ngaujah, who originated the role of Fela when it was off-Broadway, and Kevin Mambo, who shares the role with Ngaujah.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Fences
Directed by Kenny Leon, this Broadway revival of August Wilson's 'Fences' stars two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Viola Davis in a story set in 1950s Pittsburgh. The drama follows Troy Maxson (Washington), a former baseball player in the Negro League, who is now reduced to collecting trash. Troy must deal with his headstrong football-player son who has a chance to go much further than he did, as well as his wife, Rose (Davis), who re-evaluates their marriage when Troy comes home with the baby he fathered with another woman. Early word is that Washington is a shoo-in for a Tony Award.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Hair
The musical that created history by bringing rock and roll to the theatrical stage, 'Hair' defines the '60s generation by examining a group of young adults struggling for generational and personal identity in the throws of the Vietnam War. The dynamic score includes 'Let the Sunshine In,' 'Aquarius' and 'Good Morning Starshine.'
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
In The Heights
'In the Heights' features music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel. The story explores three days in the New York City Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. The score features hip-hop, salsa, meringue and soul. The musical's 2008 Broadway production was nominated for 13 Tonys and won for best musical. Corbin Bleu from 'High School Musical' is currently in the cast.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Memphis
'Memphis' is a musical about a music-loving mixed-race couple struggling to survive during the early civil rights era. The show puts on plenty of gospel, R&B, rock and soul to tell the story of a white radio DJ and the black singer who becomes his muse in the segregated South of the 1950s. 'Memphis' stars Chad Kimball as DJ Huey Calhoun, with Montego Glover as singer Felicia Farrell.
The 10 Shows To See On Broadway This Season
Race
Acclaimed playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet's latest Broadway play, 'Race,' is a new production that stars Emmy winner James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington and Richard Thomas. The show grabs its touchy subject matter -- racial prejudice and sex – by the sequins through three lawyers in a firm, two black and one white, who must decide whether to defend a white man charged with a crime against a black woman.
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