Heavy, light legal turns earn Tony noms

• Tweet

NEW YORK, May 15 (UPI) -- Portrayals of serious and seriously funny lawyers were among the Tony Award performance nominees announced Tuesday in New York.

Christopher Plummer earned a nomination for his role in the courtroom drama "Inherit the Wind." Other nominees were Boyd Gaines in "Journey's End," Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon," Brian F. O'Byrne in "The Coast of Utopia" and Liev Schreiber in "Talk Radio."

On the lighter legal side, Laura Bell Bundy earned a Tony nod as the California blonde attending Harvard Law School in "Legally Blonde The Musical." Other musical actresses nominated were Christine Ebersole for "Grey Gardens," Audra McDonald for "110 in the Shade," Debra Monk in "Curtains" and Donna Murphy for "LoveMusik."

Nominated for leading performances in a play were Eve Best, "A Moon for the Misbegotten"; Swoozie Kurtz, "Heartbreak House"; Angela Lansbury, "Deuce"; Vanessa Redgrave, "The Year of Magical Thinking," and Julie White, "The Little Dog Laughed."

Nominated male lead performances in a musical were Michael Cerveris, "LoveMusik"; Raul Esparza, "Company"; Jonathan Groff, "Spring Awakening"; Gavin Lee, "Mary Poppins," and David Hyde Pierce, "Curtains."

The 61st annual Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards will be held June 10 at Radio City Music Hall.