`SALESMAN' VS. `ICEMAN'; DRAMAS OUT FRONT IN TONY AWARDS.

Byline: Michael Kuchwara Associated Press

It says something about Broadway as a museum of American theater that the hottest race for 1999 Tony Awards is between venerable plays by theater icons Arthur Miller and Eugene O'Neill.

Revivals of Miller's ``Death of a Salesman'' and O'Neill's ``The Iceman Cometh'' and the competition between their two stars, Brian Dennehy and Kevin Spacey, promise the most suspense Sunday when the silver medallions celebrating the best of the theater season are handed out.

Both productions have received strong reviews. So have Dennehy's portrayal of Willy Loman, Miller's desperate believer in the American Dream, and Spacey's portrait of a man determined to puncture the alcohol-induced illusions of the down-and-out denizens of Harry Hope's bar.

The best new play? Most theater people expect a battle between ``Side Man,'' a family play about jazz musicians in the 1950s, and ``Not About Nightingales,'' Tennessee Williams' 1938 prison melodrama, unseen on stage until it was unearthed last year by Britain's Royal National Theatre. But Patrick Marber's dark cyber-sex comedy, ``Closer,'' can't be ruled out.

As for best musical - don't ask. It has been a disappointing year, particularly after the excitement of ``The Lion King'' and ``Ragtime'' the previous season.

``Fosse,'' an homage to choreographer Bob Fosse, is favored, although there is some sentiment for ``Parade,'' a serious love story set against the murder of a young girl in Georgia and the subsequent lynching of her accused killer. The show, unfortunately, closed in February, which will lessen its chances.

So what can one expect from Sunday night's extravaganza?

This year's telecast has left the Broadway theater community nervous, despite record Broadway grosses of $588.5 million and an increase in productions - 39 shows, compared with 33 the previous season.

For one thing, popular host Rosie O'Donnell, who was credited with boosting ratings after a long decline, said she was too busy to run the show for a third straight year.

O'Donnell will still be on stage, but only as one of many presenters, who will carry the show, two by two, instead of having a single host.

The twosomes will have some sort of link. Among them:

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker (they're married).

Spacey and Jason Robards (both played the lead in memorable productions of ``The Iceman Cometh'').

Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett (old friends since they played Carnegie Hall together).

Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur (co-stars in the original ``Mame'').

Chita Rivera and William Hurt (they were in stage and screen adaptations of ``Kiss of the Spider Woman'').

Christine Baranski and David Hyde Pierce (talented second bananas on television sitcoms).

Rosie O'Donnell and Elaine Stritch (huh? - well, both are superb at spontaneous, acerbic quips that could give the show some extra zip).

As for entertainment, executive producer Walter Miller has a problem. The play was the thing during the 1998-99 season. A few of them - such as ``Amy's View,'' ``Electra,'' ``The Blue Room'' and ``The Iceman Cometh'' - actually have made a profit.

That should be reason enough to celebrate, but how do you showcase them on the tube to best advantage - particularly this year, when there will be moments from eight productions, in both the new and revival categories?

In past years, these scenes tended to be awkwardly inserted into the show and were hard to follow without the context of the entire play.

What will the four nominated musicals do? ``Fosse'' wisely plans to reprise ``Sing, Sing, Sing,'' the big Benny Goodman show stopper from the master's 1978 revue ``Dancin'.'' It should look great on television.

``Parade'' and ``It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues'' will showcase their Tony-nominated performers. The first will feature Brent Carver and Carolee Carmello in ``This Is Not Over Yet,'' a stirring anthem of hope, while the second highlights Gretha Boston and Ron Taylor in the bitter hymn of exclusion ``Members Only.''

``The Civil War,'' the final musical nominee, will put its entire company on stage for ``Freedom's Child,'' a rousing chorale number.

For musical star power, the show will depend on Bernadette Peters who, along with co-star Tom Wopat, will deliver ``I've Got the Sun in the Morning'' and ``Old-Fashioned Wedding'' from ``Annie Get Your Gun.'' Peters is also nominated for best actress in a musical.

From ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'' - one new song (``Philosophy'') and one old (``Happiness'') will be sung. Martin Short, with a straw hat and French accent, will do ``Boom Boom'' from the revival of ``Little Me.''

And audiences will get the best moment from ``Peter Pan,'' Cathy Rigby and the children soaring across the Gershwin stage in ``I'm Flying.'' Right now, the television producers are hoping the ratings will soar just as high.

The plays and players vying for Tonys

The 1999 Tony Award nominations.

Play: ``Closer,'' ``Not About Nightingales,'' ``Side Man,'' ``The Lonesome West.''

Musical: ``Fosse,'' ``It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues,'' ``Parade,'' ``The Civil War.''

Book of a Musical: Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, ``Footloose''; Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman, ``It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues''; Pam Gems, ``Marlene''; Alfred Uhry, ``Parade.''

Original Score: Tom Snow, Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, Dean Pitchford and Jim Steinman, ``Footloose''; Jason Robert Brown, ``Parade''; Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy, ``The Civil War''; Jeanine Tesori, ``Twelfth Night.''

Revival-Play: ``Death of a Salesman,'' ``Electra,'' ``The Iceman Cometh,'' ``Twelfth Night.''

Revival-Musical: ``Annie Get Your Gun,'' ``Little Me,'' ``Peter Pan,'' ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.''

Actor-Play: Brian Dennehy, ``Death of a Salesman''; Brian O'Byrne, ``The Lonesome West''; Corin Redgrave, ``Not About Nightingales''; Kevin Spacey, ``The Iceman Cometh.''

Actress-Play: Stockard Channing, ``The Lion in Winter''; Judi Dench, ``Amy's View''; Marian Seldes, ``Ring Round the Moon''; Zoe Wanamaker, ``Electra.''

Actor-Musical: Brent Carver, ``Parade''; Adam Cooper, ``Swan Lake''; Martin Short, ``Little Me''; Tom Wopat, ``Annie Get Your Gun.''

Actress-Musical: Carolee Carmello, ``Parade''; Dee Hoty, ``Footloose''; Bernadette Peters, ``Annie Get Your Gun''; Sian Phillips ``Marlene.''

Featured Actor-Play: Kevin Anderson, ``Death of a Salesman''; Finbar Lynch, ``Not About Nightingales''; Howard Witt, ``Death of a Salesman''; Frank Wood, ``Side Man.''

Featured Actress-Play: Claire Bloom, ``Electra''; Samantha Bond, ``Amy's View''; Dawn Bradfield, ``The Lonesome West''; Elizabeth Franz, ``Death of a Salesman.''

Featured Actor-Musical: Roger Bart, ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''; Desmond Richardson, ``Fosse''; Ron Taylor, ``It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues''; Scott Wise, ``Fosse.''

Featured Actress-Musical: Gretha Boston, ``It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues''; Kristin Chenoweth, ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''; Valarie Pettiford, ``Fosse''; Mary Testa, ``On the Town.''

Director-Play: Howard Davies, ``The Iceman Cometh''; Robert Falls, ``Death of a Salesman''; Garry Hynes, ``The Lonesome West''; Trevor Nunn, ``Not About Nightingales.''

Director-Musical: Matthew Bourne, ``Swan Lake''; Richard Maltby Jr. and Ann Reinking, ``Fosse''; Michael Mayer, ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''; Harold Prince, ``Parade.''

Scenic Design: Bob Crowley, ``The Iceman Cometh''; Bob Crowley, ``Twelfth Night''; Riccardo Hernandez, ``Parade''; Richard Hoover, ``Not About Nightingales.''

Costume Design: Lez Brotherston, ``Swan Lake''; Santo Loquasto, ``Fosse''; John David Ridge, ``Ring Round the Moon''; Catherine Zuber, ``Twelfth Night.''

Lighting Design: Andrew Bridge, ``Fosse''; Mark Henderson, ``The Iceman Cometh''; Natasha Katz, ``Twelfth Night''; Chris Parry, ``Not About Nightingales.''

Choreography: Patricia Birch, ``Parade''; Matthew Bourne, ``Swan Lake''; A.C. Ciulla ``Footloose''; Rob Marshall, ``Little Me.''

Orchestrations: Ralph Burns and Douglas Besterman, ``Fosse''; David Cullen, ``Swan Lake''; Don Sebesky, ``Parade''; Harold Wheeler, ``Little Me.''

Special Awards: Uta Hagen, Arthur Miller, Isabelle Stevenson and the production of ``Fool Moon.''

Regional Theater: Crossroads Theatre Company, New Brunswick, N.J.

THE FACTS

The show: The Tony Awards.

What: The 53rd annual ceremony honoring Broadway shows and performers.

When: Sunday. Preceremony show at 8 p.m. on KCET (Channel 28). The awards show is at 9 p.m. on KCBS (Channel 2).

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Bernadette Peters, nominated for a Tony Award for best actress in a musical, performs two songs from ``Annie Get Your Gun'' at Sunday's presentation.

Junichi Takahashi/Associated Press

Box: The plays and players vying for Tonys (See text)