`LoveMusik' leads Drama Desk nominations

"LoveMusik," a look at the relationship between composer Kurt Weill and actress Lotte Lenya, received 12 Drama Desk nominations Thursday, honoring the best of the 2006-2007 New York theater season.

It was followed by three other musicals _ "Curtains," "Legally Blonde" and "Spring Awakening" _ and one play, "The Coast of Utopia." All four scored 10 nominations each.

Several of the shows, including "LoveMusik" and "Legally Blonde," had not officially opened when the nominations were announced. Nominators were allowed to see preview performances.

Both shows were nominated for best musical by the organization of theater journalists and critics, along with "Curtains," "Mary Poppins" and "In the Heights."

Best-play nominations went to "Blackbird" by David Harrower, "Some Men" by Terrence McNally, "Frost/Nixon" by Peter Morgan, "The Coast of Utopia" by Tom Stoppard, "The Accomplices" by Bernard Weinraub and "Radio Golf" by August Wilson.

Michael Cerveris, who portrays Weill in "LoveMusik," received a nomination for actor in a musical. He will compete against Raul Esparza, "Company"; John Gallagher Jr., "Spring Awakening"; Jonathan Groff, "Spring Awakening"; David Hyde Pierce, "Curtains"; and Martin Short, "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me."

Donna Murphy's portrayal of Lenya, Weill's wife, was nominated in the actress-musical category. Other nominees were Ashley Brown, "Mary Poppins"; Laura Bell Bundy, "Legally Blonde"; Kristin Chenoweth, "The Apple Tree"; Audra McDonald, "110 in the Shade"; and Lea Michele, "Spring Awakening."

Nominated for actor-play were Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Jack Goes Boating"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Brian F. O'Byrne, "The Coast of Utopia"; "Christopher Plummer, "Inherit the Wind"; Liev Schreiber, "Talk Radio"; Kevin Spacey, "A Moon for the Misbegotten"; and Paul Sparks, "Essential Self-Defense.

Receiving actress-play nods were Eve Best, "A Moon for the Misbegotten"; Orlagh Cassidy, "The Field"; Blythe Danner, "Suddenly Last Summer"; Jennifer Mudge, "Dutchman"; Sandra Oh, "Satellites"; Annie Parisse, "The Internationalist"; and Meryl Streep, "Mother Courage and Her Children."

Two major Broadway productions, the musical "Grey Gardens" and Terrence McNally's "Deuce" (starring Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes) were not considered for nominations. "Grey Gardens" played off-Broadway last season and "Deuce" did not invite nominators before the nomination cutoff date. The play, which officially opens May 6, will be considered next year.

The Drama Desk, founded in 1949, honors both Broadway and off-Broadway productions.

The awards show, hosted by Kristin Chenoweth, will take place Sunday, May 20, at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center.