While "Parade" was the most nominated show for this year's Tonys, it closed production in less than three months

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Friday, June 04, 1999 12:21:24 PM EST

In this story: The show The nominees 'Wonderful' Tennessee Full list of nominations RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- It was one of those years that had some theater fans and critics scratching their heads, and it will all peak on Sunday when Broadway presents its 53rd annual Tony Awards.

Consider this: American playwright Tennessee Williams, dead since 1983, has a chance to win for best new play. His 1938 work, "Not About Nightingales," premiered on Broadway this year after a successful London run.

Meanwhile, old favorites "Death of a Salesman" (six nominations) and "The Iceman Cometh" (three nominations) are back with a vengeance. Both can capture the best revival prize, and both feature lead actors competing for their own Tonys.

Then there's the musical categories, which many critics say epitomized a bizarre year on Broadway books. "Parade," for instance, is up for best musical, one of a leading nine nominations this year. But the production closed after just 10 weeks on stage, losing more than $5 million.

Livent Inc. theater company, which produced "Parade" and another much-nominated musical, "Fosse," snapped up 17 Tony nominations overall, but also filed for bankruptcy last year.

Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" is a favorite at the Tonys this year

The show

Regardless of the strange twists this season, Broadway will get a chance to sell itself once again with the Tonys. The awards show is considered one of New York theater's chief marketing tools, mainly because it's the one chance it has to reach out to millions of viewers who live outside of New York City.

The show, put together by the American Theater Wing, will be televised on CBS and PBS -- PBS will begin coverage at 8 p.m. EST and CBS will take the reins at 9 p.m. EST, aiming for an 11 p.m. bedtime.

This year's program will also feature another unique trait -- hosting by committee. Rosie O'Donnell, who led the show for the past two years, is stepping aside this year, and Broadway will fill her void with a plethora of performers: Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Christian Slater, Angela Lansbury, Alec Baldwin, Matthew Broderick, Kevin Spacey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Robards, William Hurt and Brian Dennehy will help hand out the Tonys.

Kevin Spacey in "The Iceman Cometh"

The nominees

Who are they expected to hand them to?

The biggest rivalry appears to be for best actor. Brian Dennehy in "Salesman" and Kevin Spacey in "Iceman" lead the category, and depending who you talk to, both will be taking home an award Sunday night.

Brian O'Byrne in "The Lonesome West" and Corin Redgrave in "Not About Nightingales" are also nominated.

While the competition in the best actress in a play category is formidable -- Zoe Wanamaker in "Electra," Stockard Channing in "The Lion in Winter" and Marian Seldes in "Ring Round the Moon" -- the consensus is that this is the moment for Judi Dench. The actress, who won an Oscar earlier this year for her supporting role in the movie "Shakespeare In Love," returned to Broadway after a 40-year absence to star in David Hare's "Amy's View."

"Salesman" and "Iceman" will vie for best revival, along with "Electra" and "Twelfth Night."

Tennesee William's "Not About Nightingales"

'Wonderful' Tennessee

"Not About Nightingales" has a total of six nods, including best play. This early Williams script, about a prison riot, was unknown and unstaged until actress Vanessa Redgrave discovered it among the playwright's papers while researching her role in "Orpheus Descending."

"To think that Tennessee Williams is still capable of writing the best new play of the season is wonderful," says Corin Redgrave.

Also nominated for best play: Patrick Marber's "Closer"; Martin McDonagh's "The Lonesome West"; and Warren Leight's "Side Man."

Best musical nominees are front-runner "Fosse," "Parade," "The Civil War," and "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues." Best revival musical nominees are "Annie Get Your Gun," "Little Me," "Peter Pan," and "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown."

Some other Tony plans: Arthur Miller will receive a special achievement award, and audiences will be entertained by scenes from eight nominees for best play and best play revival.

Reuters contributed to this report.