‘Chaperone’ leads Tony contenders

? It’s shaping up as a battle between “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a frothy celebration of a faux 1920s musical, and “Jersey Boys,” showcasing the story and pop sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

“Chaperone” received 13 Tony nominations Tuesday – more than any other show – while “Jersey Boys” grabbed eight nods in what has been a busy Broadway season. They were the two best-reviewed musicals of the season, with “Chaperone” already winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and “Jersey Boys” the Outer Critics Circle prize.

But also showing surprising Tony strength was “The Color Purple,” the Oprah Winfrey-produced musical based on Alice Walker’s novel about a determined woman’s triumph over adversity. It placed second with 11 nominations.

All three will compete in the best musical category along with “The Wedding Singer,” based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film.

“Awake and Sing!” the well-received revival of Clifford Odet’s play about an American family during the Depression, led the drama field with eight nominations, followed by “The History Boys,” Alan Bennett’s highly praised British drama about rowdy teenagers hoping to get into Oxford or Cambridge, which received seven nods.

Bob Martin and Beth Leavel star in the Broadway production of The

The competition for the top drama prize also includes “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” Martin McDonagh’s comic splatterfest about a crazed Irish terrorist; “Shining City,” Conor McPherson’s ghost story set in present-day Dublin; and “Rabbit Hole,” David Lindsay-Abaire’s look at a suburban couple attempting to deal with the death of their young son.

Although “The History Boys” is an ensemble piece, Richard Griffiths, who portrays a beloved teacher, was nominated for best actor. Going up against Griffiths will be Ralph Fiennes who plays the title character in Brian Friel’s “Faith Healer”; Oliver Platt, the haunted husband in “Shining City”; David Wilmot, a crazed terrorist in “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” and Zeljko Ivanek, an intense naval officer in “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,” which closes Sunday after a two-week run.

In one oddity, all the women nominated for best actress starred in plays that already have closed: Cynthia Nixon, the distraught mother in “Rabbit Hole”; Judy Kaye, a tone-deaf diva in “Souvenir”; Lisa Kron, an embattled daughter in “Well,” and two performers from the revival of W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Constant Wife,” Kate Burton and Lynn Redgrave.

Tuesday’s announcement included several notable omissions, particularly among the Hollywood set: Julia Roberts’ critically panned performance in Richard Greenberg’s “Three Days of Rain” was snubbed, as was David Schwimmer’s turn in “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.” The revival of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick failed to get any nominations. Two heavily promoted Broadway musicals – “Tarzan,” based on the Walt Disney animated feature, and “Lestat,” a show based on the Anne Rice novels with songs by Elton John – received only three nods between them.

“This was a great year on Broadway,” said Jed Bernstein, president of the League of American Theatres and Producers, before the nominations were announced. “Not only were grosses and attendance up, but early this spring we had 38 shows playing at the same time – something that has not happened in over two decades.”

The winners will be announced June 11 in a ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.