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Reactions to the Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations

The Outer Critics Circle Awards, announced on Monday, are equal parts great and odd. Here are a few thoughts I have about them:

  • It's really, really exciting that all of the nominees of the John Gassner Award are female. 
  • I'm really pleased Mean Girls did not get an Outstanding New Score nomination but I can't say the Desperate Measures one is any better.
  • Torch Song deserved an Outstanding Revival of a Play nomination over Travesties and Lobby Hero. Guess you can't beat Broadway, huh?
  • So happy to see Sean Carvajal nominated! In that category, with those performances (sorry, Greg Mazgola is not a lead in Cost of Living, Victor Williams is), he is the one who deserves to win.
  • Alright, alright, let's address the elephant in the room. I was looking at these nominations, and naturally I was just looking at the list of names. So I saw Michael Urie, did a fist pump at my desk, and moved on. It was not until my boyfriend emailed me later on in the morning did I realize he was not nominated for Torch Song but for The Government Inspector. I mean...that's...fine. Actually, it's pretty interesting because a) The Government Inspector opened almost a year ago and b) typically people go for drama over comedy. Regardless, his performance in The Government Inspector was amazing, and was the moment I thought, "You know what? This guy is way more talented than I ever, ever imagined." (I call it my "Amazing Grace" moment.) I recall feeling the same way about him during the last scene of the first act of that play as I did about Christian Borle doing the truck scene in Peter and the Starcatcher. He had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand and I couldn't wait to see what he was going to do next.
  • WHERE THE HELL IS JAMES MCARDLE'S NOMINATION? Have you no decency? 
  • Seriously, David Morse? I mean, he was in a totally different play than the rest of them. Maybe it was the play all of the nominators wanted to see?
  • Interesting they considered Johnny Flynn featured but regardless, an incredibly deserving nomination, along with Nathan Lane and the wonderful Anthony Boyle.
  • I am happy to see Jessica Hecht remembered for what I thought was her best performance in years. Also, Katy Sullivan was not leading either, Jolly Abraham was.
  • So so so happy to see Tony Yazbeck remembered as well (although they cleared liked Prince of Broadway) but it's weird that Alexander Gemignani was nominated. He was one of my favorite things about Carousel but his role felt so slight, especially with all of the cuts. I would've liked to see Grey Henson in there instead.
  • Ashley Park for the win!
  • And all and all, great to see all of the love for Spongebob.
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