In The Heights Tops ASCAP's Tony Nods

In The Heights tops the list of ASCAP-represented Broadway productions that received nominations for the American Theatre Wing's 62nd Annual Tony Awards. The nominations were announced May 13, 2008 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in Lincoln Center.

The Washington Heights-based musical about a vibrant and tight-knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan received a total of 13 nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. The musical's composer/lyricist, Lin-Manuel Miranda, also earned a Tony nod for Performance By a Leading Actor in a Musical. Manuel is a recipient of The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, which recognizes emerging musical theatre talent.

A Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre will be given to composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, and a Special Tony will be awarded posthumously to orchestrator Robert Russell Bennet in "recognition of his historic contribution to American musical theatre in the field of orchestrations, as represented on Broadway this season by Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific."

The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Award is bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The winners will be announced on Sunday, June 15 at Radio City Music Hall. The show will be telecast on CBS beginning at 8/7c.

ASCAP's list of Tony® Award nominees are:

BEST MUSICAL
Cry-Baby
In The Heights
Xanadu

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS)
WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE
Cry-Baby
Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger

In The Heights
Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Little Mermaid
Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
Grease
Gypsy
Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Sunday in the Park with George

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Jason Carr – Sunday in the Park with George
Bill Sherman – In The Heights
Jonathan Tunick – A Catered Affair

SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE
Stephen Sondheim

SPECIAL TONY AWARD
Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981), in recognition of his historic contribution to American musical theatre in the field of orchestrations, as represented on Broadway this season by Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific.