Nominations in 27 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony"® Awards were announced today by Tony Award Winners Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. To view the complete list of nominees, click here.
The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards are bestowed annually on theatre 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.
The American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony"® Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2009 (8-11pm, live EST, PT time delay) on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.
BroadwayWorld Presents The 2009 Tony Award Nominees:
'Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical'
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish ("Billy Elliot" in Billy Elliot)
David Alvarez: Born to Cuban parents in 1994, he started ballet at the age of eight in his native Montreal. His family has lived in New York City since 2006, when he won a full scholarship to study classical ballet at the American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. With ABT, David has danced featured roles in The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. He also studies piano on scholarship at the 92nd Street Y School of Music.
Trent Kowalik is making his Broadway debut in BETM. He previously performed the role of Billy on London's West End. He is the winner of national and regional dance titles under the direction of Dorothy Medico, Dorothy's School of Dance, Bellmore, NY, and five-time undefeated National Step Dancing Champion and World Champion under the direction of Sean Reagan, Inishfree School of Irish Dance. Big hugs and thanks to family, friends and teachers who helped him find his "electricity."
Kiril Kulish started ballet at age five. He was the winner of the Youth America Grand Prix and International World Ballet Competition (YAGP) for the past two consecutive years. He is the National Ballroom Dance Champion in the Junior Division for the last two years. He was also the youngest male dancer admitted to the San Diego Academy of Ballet Junior Company. He has been a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. He is also an accomplished concert pianist and made his international debut in Cordoba. He loves football, basketball, tennis and skateboarding and is excited to perform as Billy.
Gavin Creel ("Claude" in Hair)
Gavin Creel is a total Aries and has a groovy rescue dog named Wally. Gavin had glasses, braces and bad skin growing up and thanks God for all of those things. He loves his parents a lot and dreams of having a family of his own someday. Gavin has no patience for people who perpetuate inequality in the guise of "religious belief," and is grateful for HGTV. If you're happy and you know it, join the tribe. For Melbel.
