The Piano Lesson and Murder Ballad Lead Lucille Lortel Award Nominations

Nominations for the 28th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards have been announced, with Signature's revival of The Piano Lesson leading the group with six nominations. MTC's Murder Ballad scored the most nods of any musical with five nominations. Jake Gyllenhaal, Vanessa Redgrave and Danny Burstein are among the nominated actors. The Lortels honor outstanding achievements in off-Broadway theater. Hosted by Maura Tierney and nominee Aasif Mandvi, the Lortels will be held on May 5 at the NYU Skirball Center.

A full list of nominees follows:

Outstanding Play
Bethany
Cock
Detroit
The Flick
The Whale

Outstanding Musical
Dogfight
Giant
Murder Ballad
The Other Josh Cohen
Skippyjon Jones

Outstanding Revival
All In The Timing
My Children! My Africa!
Passion
The Piano Lesson
Talley's Folly

Outstanding Solo Show
All the Rage
Jackie
Title and Deed

Outstanding Director
Sam Gold, The Flick
Anne Kauffman, Belleville
Tina Landau, A Civil War Christmas
James Macdonald, Cock
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Lead Actor
Danny Burstein, Talley’s Folly
Brandon J. Dirden, The Piano Lesson
Daniel Everidge, Falling
Shuler Hensley, The Whale
Aasif Mandvi, Disgraced

Outstanding Lead Actress
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Neva
America Ferrera, Bethany
Vanessa Redgrave, The Revisionist
Roslyn Ruff, The Piano Lesson
Sharon Washington, Wild With Happy

Outstanding Featured Actor
David Wilson Barnes, Don’t Go Gentle
Chuck Cooper, The Piano Lesson
Zach Grenier, Storefront Church
Jake Gyllenhaal, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
Mark Nelson, My Name Is Asher Lev

Outstanding Featured Actress
Eisa Davis, Luck of the Irish
Annie Funke, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Murder Ballad
Amanda Quaid, Luck of the Irish
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, What Rhymes with America

Outstanding Choreographer
George De La Peña, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Christopher Gattelli, Dogfight
Kyle Mullins, Triassic Parq: The Musical
Alex Sanchez, Giant
Doug Varone, Murder Ballad

Outstanding Scenic Design
Beowulf Boritt, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
Miriam Buether, Cock
Clint Ramos, Wild With Happy
Louisa Thompson, Detroit
Mark Wendland, Murder Ballad

Outstanding Costume Design
Toni-Leslie James, A Civil War Christmas
Jessica Pabst, The Whale
Clint Ramos, Wild With Happy
Emily Rebholz, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Anita Yavich, Golden Child

Outstanding Lighting Design
Jane Cox, The Flick
Rui Rita, The Piano Lesson
Ben Stanton, Belleville
Ben Stanton, Murder Ballad
Scott Zielinski, A Civil War Christmas

Outstanding Sound Design
Leah Gelpe, Slowgirl
Bray Poor, The Flick
Shane Rettig, Detroit ’67
Jane Shaw, Jackie
Matt Tierney, Detroit

Special Awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Todd Haimes

Playwrights’ Sidewalk Inductee
Neil LaBute

Outstanding Body of Work Award
Theatre Development Fund

Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience
Old Hats