Sundance Lab alums score big in Tony nominations

The road to Broadway glory - and Tony awards - again goes through the Sundance Institute.

Some of the top Tony nominees, announced Tuesday, are in plays and musicals created by alumni of Sundance's theater labs:

Bruce Norris, who wrote the Best Play nominee "Clybourne Park," was a Sundance fellow at this year's Playwrights Retreat at Ucross Foundation.

Douglas Carter Beane, who wrote the book for the musical "Lysistrata Jones" (nominated for best book of a musical), is a fellow of the 2005 retreat at Ucross.

Terrence McNally, whose "Master Class" is up for best revival of a play, is an alum of the 2005 Theatre Lab at White Oak.

Laura Osnes, nominated for her leading role in the musical "Bonnie & Clyde," was an actor in a post-lab support workshop.

Jeremy Shamos, nominated for his featured role in "Clybourne Park," was an actor in the 2008 Theatre Lab in Residence at the Public Theater.

Celia Keenan-Bolger, nominated for her featured role in the play "Peter and the Starcatcher," acted in the 2002 Theatre Lab.

Jayne Houdyshell, nominated for her featured role in the musical revival of "Follies," acted in the 2003 Theatre Lab.

Alex Timbers, nominated for directing the play "Peter and the Starcatcher" (co-directing with Roger Rees), was a fellow at the 2007 Theatre Lab.

Diane Paulus, nominated for directing the musical revival of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," was a fellow at the 2000 Theatre Lab.

But the year's biggest Tony success story came through a different part of Sundance. The recipient of the most nominations, the musical "Once" (which got 11), is based on director John Carney's movie, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on its way to global acclaim and an Oscar for Best Song (for "Falling Slowly").