Tonys are Sunday

...and while I'll have a few thoughts to share once the awards are handed out, it probably bears noting the SoCal ties of some of the nominated plays, performers, etc. I'll throw in a bit of news, so that if clips of any of the nominated shows pique your fancy during Sunday's telecast, you'll have an idea if/when they'll be coming out here.

Best musical nominee "Cry-Baby" was already here, premiering at the La Jolla Playhouse in the fall. Christopher Ashley, who directed another nominated musical, "Xanadu," is the artistic director at the La Jolla Playhouse where "Xanadu" will kick off its national tour in November. (No word yet when it will get to L.A., but I'm guessing mid to late 09.)

"A Catered Affair," which was nominated for three Tonys including best orchestrations, premiered last September at the Old Globe in San Diego. Best actor nominee Tom Wopat and best actress nominee Faith Prince were both in that production.

Laurie Metcalf, best featured actress nominee for David Mamet's "November" works L.A. stages quite a bit whether at the Geffen Playhouse -- run by her fellow Steppenwolf Theatre Co. mate Randall Arney -- or at some smaller venue for playwright Justin Tanner. She was here not so long ago with "The Quality of Life" written and directed by Jane Anderson at the Geffen.

Speaking of Arney, the Geffen just announced that he'll direct the West Coast premiere of the best play-nominated Connor McPherson yarn, "The Seafarer" (as well as a production for Steppenwolf), in April of 2009. Fans of MCPherson's "The Weir" will probably want to take notice. The play is described as: "A whiskey laden tale set over a poker game in the Dublin home of two brothers on Christmas Eve, a fable about power, redemption and betting against the odds.

S. Epatha Merkerson, nominated for best performance by a leading actress in "Come Back, Little Sheba." Michael Pressman's production -- with Merkerson headlining a different cast -- played the Kirk Douglas Theatre last June and July.

As previously blogged, the revival of "Grease" (a best musical revival nominee) will get here during the 08-09 Broadway/LA series in March.

Best Actor nominee Laurence Fishburne (of the solo play "Thurgood") kicked his stage yearnings back into gear a couple years back with back to back productions of "Without Walls" and "Fences."

Once the Tonys have been handed out Sunday, there figure to be a spate of announcements about closings and tours. The presumptive best play winner, Tracy Letts' "August: Osage County" has already announced it will launch its national tour next summer from San Francisco. No L.A. dates announced, but believe you me, it will get here.

So will "Disney's The Little Mermaid" (best original score). If I had to guess, I'd say 2011.