The nominations for the 2024 Tony Awards have been announced. The nominees for this year’s ceremony, which takes place June 16, include Illinoise, the dance-musical by Justin Peck based on Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 album, Illinois, which is up for Best Musical, as well as Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. Despite heavily featuring his music, Illinoise’s nominations do not extend to Stevens himself.
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Broadway musical Here Lies Love, about the Philippines’ former first lady Imelda Marcos and the People Power Revolution, has also been nominated in four categories (Best Original Score, Best Scenic Design, Best Sound Design, and Best Choreography). Alicia Keys, meanwhile, is up for several awards for the musical Hell’s Kitchen, which features songs from her catalog and is loosely based on her life; it is the most-nominated production at this year’s Tonys with 13 nominations.
Illinoise premiered on Broadway in a limited engagement just last week after previous runs at Bard College’s Fisher Center, Park Avenue Armory, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Justin Peck, who is formally nominated for Best Choreography, said in a statement: “I’m completely awe-stunned by this news. Illinoise began as just a quiet whisper of an idea, and has grown over time through the faith and nourishment of the creative team surrounding it. I thank them for their unwavering trust in this vision. We are just so thrilled for this recognition and that we can continue to share this musical with audiences.”
Timo Andres, the Best Orchestration nominee for Illinoise, said: “It’s been an honor to work on Illinoise and help Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury shepherd Sufjan Steven’s wonderful songs from album to stage. I am indebted to music director Nathan Koci, sound designer Garth MacAleavey and the stellar Illinoise band, who make the score come alive in the most beautiful, heartfelt way night after night. This recognition is as much theirs as mine. I’m excited for audiences to hear them over the coming months.”
In addition, Orin Wolf, an Illinoise producer and formal nominee for Best Musical, stated: “I’m so happy for Justin, Jackie, Timo, and the entire Illinoise family. We love what’s happening at the St. James and I hope this recognition continues to bring more people to the theater.”
Here Lies Love wrapped up its Broadway engagement last November after a July opening; it followed an album released in 2010 featuring music from the show and an extensive Off Broadway run throughout the 2010s. Hell’s Kitchen, a collaboration between Keys and playwright Kristoffer Diaz, premiered last year Off Broadway at the Public Theater in New York; it has since premiered on Broadway.
