'Drowsy Chaperone' tops Drama Desk noms

It sure looks like "The Drowsy Chaperone" is a sleeping awards giant. Early on during this theater season, Broadway aficionados made the mistake of dismissing this musical with a ho-hum title as a snooze, even after it was a surprise hit in Toronto and Los Angeles. But now it's waking up the Rialto, having just reaped the most Drama Desk nominations — 14!

There was more startling news, too: "The Color Purple" was the musical snubbed. Completely. Not a single nomination for a tuner expected to do well at the Tonys, not even recognition for its hot, breakout star LaChanze. Why?

"It comes down to the seven people on the Drama Desk's nominating committee," says Backstage managing editor David Sheward, a past president of the organization. "This is their opinion, so it doesn't necessarily mean that the Tonys will feel the same way."

But this total snub will probably hurt Oprah Winfrey's production since the Drama Desk kudos usually have a notable impact on the Tonys — or at least the two awards' results often line up in a curious way. Members of its nominating committee are: Barbara Siegel, Committee Chair ("The Siegel Column" on TheaterMania.com and Siegel Entertainment Syndicate); Michael Buckley ("Channeling Theatre" column at Playbill.com); Christopher Byrne (Gay City News and The Villager); Matthew Murray (TalkinBroadway.com, Stage Directions magazine); Andy Propst (AmericanTheaterWeb.com and XM Satellite Radio); Richard Ridge (Broadway Beat TV); and William Wolf (wolfentertainmentguide.com ).

Other notable snubs: "Rabbitt Hole" and star Cynthia Nixon passed over for best play and actress. No Julia Roberts in the actress lineup either, but that's no surprise, considering her reviews.

"The Drama Desk prides itself on paying special attention to shows from early in the theater season and to shows that were ignored by other awards," Sheward adds. Thus there were multiple bids for productions like Terrence McNally's "Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams" that were shunned by the Outer Critics Circle nominations.

Leading the pack among plays is the hit British import "The History Boys," which is the frontrunner to win the top Tony Award for dramas. It reaped 8 nominations. For a complete list of nominees, click here.

As usual, Harvey Fierstein will host the kudos ceremony, which will be held at the LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center on May 21. The Drama Desk Awards, which date back to 1954, are bestowed by journalists who cover both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in New York.

Photo: Drama Desk nominee Sutton Foster of "The Drowsy Chaperone" won the Tony Award for best musical actress in "Thoroughly Modern Milly" four years ago.
(Marquis Theatre)