Walken, Denzel up for Outer Critics prize

NEW YORK, April 26 (UPI) -- Film stars Christopher Walken and Denzel Washington were nominated in New York Monday for the Outer Critics Circle Award for outstanding actor in a play.

The actors were recognized for their performances in "A Behanding in Spokane" and "Fences" respectively. They will compete for the prize against Bill Heck of "The Orphans' Home Cycle," Jude Law of "Hamlet" and Liev Schreiber of "A View from the Bridge."

The nominees for outstanding actress in a play are Nina Arianda for "Venus in Fur," Laura Benanti for "In the Next Room," Viola Davis for "Fences," Laura Linney for "Time Stands Still" and Jan Maxwell for "The Royal Family."

In the running for outstanding actor in a musical are Brandon Victor Dixon for "The Scottsboro Boys," Sean Hayes for "Promises, Promises," Douglas Hodge for "La Cage aux Folles," Chad Kimball for "Memphis" and Nathan Lane for "The Addams Family."

Vying for the outstanding actress in a musical title are Kate Baldwin of "Finian's Rainbow," Barbara Cook of "Sondheim on Sondheim," Montego Glover of "Memphis," Bebe Neuwirth of "The Addams Family" and Catherine Zeta-Jones of "A Little Night Music."

The winners of the Outer Critics Circle Awards are to be announced at a ceremony May 17 at Sardi's restaurant in Manhattan.