Broadway In Chicago is beyond excited for the 2016 Tony Awards on Sunday June 12th 7-10PM CT! We’ll be highlighting the nominees in each category and filling you in on some fun facts each week leading up to the award ceremony.

Here are the 10 phenomenal directors nominated for Best Direction of a Play and Best Direction of a Musical:

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Rupert Goold – “King Charles III”

Jonathan Kent – “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”

Joe Mantello – “The Humans”

Liesl Tommy – “Eclipsed”

Ivo van Hove – “A View from the Bridge”

Here are some fun facts:

-Jonathan Kent directed the revival of “Man of La Mancha” in 2002. Flashback to when “Man of La Mancha” first premiered in Chicago at the old Shubert Theatre June 2 – June 28, 1969!

-“Eclipsed”, led by the direction of Liesl Tommy, is making history as the first all black and all female Broadway show!

-Joe Mantello is well known for his direction of “Wicked” which was last at the Oriental Theatre October 30 – December 21, 2013.

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Michael Arden – “Spring Awakening”

John Doyle – “The Color Purple”

Scott Ellis – “She Loves Me”

Thomas Kail – “Hamilton”

George C. Wolfe – “Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed”

Here are a few more fun facts:

-John Doyle’s “Sweeney Todd” toured through Chicago April 23 – May 4, 2008 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

-Thomas Kail directed “In The Heights” which last played here in Chicago January 10 – 15, 2012 at the Oriental Theatre.