2010 Tony Award Nominees: 'Best Musical'

American Idiot
St. James Theatre. First Preview: 03/24/2010, Opened: 04/20/2010, Currently Running.

Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer; Music by Green Day; Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong.

Producers: Tom Hulce & Ira Pittelman, Ruth and Steven Hendel, Vivek J. Tiwary and Gary Kaplan, Aged in Wood and Burnt Umber, Scott Delman, Latitude Link, HOP Theatricals and Jeffrey Finn, Larry Welk, Bensinger Filerman and Moellenberg Taylor, Allan S. Gordon/Élan V. McAllister, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Awaken Entertainment, John Pinckard and John Domo.

American Idiot follows the exhilarating journey of a new generation of young Americans as they search for meaning in a post-9/11 world, borne along by Green Day's electrifying score. With a cast of 19 led by Tony Award-winner John Gallagher, Jr., this high-octane musical tells the story of three lifelong friends as one takes off for a life in the city, one leaves home to fight for his country and one stays behind, frozen in the safety of suburbia.

Green Day won two Grammy Awards for the groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, which went on to become one of the best selling albums of all time. Now the band joins with one of the theatre's most acclaimed creative teams: Tony Award-winning director of Spring Awakening Michael Mayer, two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt, and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, to bring this explosive, iconic story to the stage.

Fela!
Eugene O'Neill Theatre. First Preview: 10/19/2009, Opened: 11/23/2009, Currently Running.

Book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones; Music by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; Lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Producers: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glaser, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment, Alicia Keys.

Fela!, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones, welcomes audiences into the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Using his pioneering music (a blend of jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies), the musical explores Kuti's controversial life as artist, political activist and revolutionary musician.

Fela! features a multi-cultural cast led by Sahr Ngaujah (recipient of an Obie Award for his performance in the title role Off- Broadway) and Kevin Mambo (MTC’s Ruined), alternating in the role of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Tony Award-winner Lillias White plays Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Fela’s mother) and Saycon Sengbloh (Hair) plays Sandra, Kuti’s love interest.

Memphis
Shubert Theatre. First Preview: 09/23/2009, Opened: 10/19/2009, Currently Running.

Book by Joe DiPietro, Music by David Bryan, Lyrics by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan.

Producers: Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff, Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, Richard Winkler, Lauren Doll, Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group, ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee.

Turn up that dial! From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, by way of hit runs at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, comes a hot new Broadway musical with heart, soul and energy to burn. She's a black singer whose career is on the rise, but who can't break out of segregated clubs. He's a white radio DJ whose love of music transcends race lines and airwaves. When the two collaborate, her soulful music reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the Golden Era of early rock 'n' roll takes flight. But as things start to heat up, whether the world is really ready for their music - or their love - is put to the test.

A thrilling theatrical event that combines Broadway splendor with the roots of rock, Memphis features a story by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), an original score by David Bryan (Bon Jovi), direction by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys). Be ready to experience all the exuberance and the emotion...the beauty and the controversy...of a wondrous, defining time in our history. You're tuning in to Memphis.

Million Dollar Quartet
Nederlander Theatre. First Preview: 03/13/2010, Opened: 04/11/2010, Currently Running.

Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux.

Producers: Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, James L. Nederlander.

On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.