Nominees for leading actress in a musical

Pamela Isaacs
"The Life"

Isaacs plays a hooker named Queen who tries to support her boyfriend/pimp Fleetwood, while maintaining her position as the object of his affections. She was last seen on Broadway in the Lincoln Center production of "Hello Again."

Bebe Neuwirth
"Chicago"

Neuwirth, who plays Velma Kelly in this newest revival of "Chicago," has already taken the best actress award from the Outer Critics Circle for her work in "Chicago," and shares this year's Astaire Award for best female dancer with the show's choreographer and co-star, Ann Reinking. She won a Tony Award in 1986 for her featured actress role in the musical "Sweet Charity." However, outside the musical circuit, she is probably best known for her role as uptight "Cheers" psychiatrist Dr. Lilith Sternin, a part that won her two Emmy Awards on that show, and an Emmy nomination on a guest appearance of the spin-off "Frasier."

Tonya Pinkins
"Play On!"

Pinkins plays the decoy love interest, Lady Liv, in "Play On!," the second performance for which she has received a Tony nomination. For her performance in "Jelly's Last Jam," Pinkins received a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Clarence Derwent Award in 1992, and an Outer Critics Circle Award in 1993.

Karen Ziemba
"Steel Pier"

It is appropriate that Ziemba, a singer as well as an actress who counts work with the New York City Opera among her credits, should play bandstand singer Rita Racine in "Steel Pier." Ziemba has appeared in many regional theater productions and on Broadway, she has appeared in "42nd Street" and "A Chorus Line." She also won the Drama Desk Award for the Off-Broadway hit "And the World Goes 'Round."

Nominees for supporting actress in a musical

Marcia Lewis
"Chicago"

Lewis plays Matron "Mama" Morton in "Chicago." She was previously nominated for a Tony in the revival of "Grease!" and has held concerts and cabaret appearances in a range of venues, including Carnegie Hall.

Andrea Martin
"Candide"

Martin plays The Old Lady in this adaptation of the Voltaire novel. Like fellow "Candide" Tony nominee Jim Dale, she is no stranger to comedy, nor to the stage; she won Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards for her performance in "My Favorite Year" in 1993, and two Emmy Awards for her writing on the television comedy "SCTV," in which she also performed.

Debra Monk
"Steel Pier"

Monk plays showbiz veteran Shelby Stevens in the marathon dance show "Steel Pier." Her past Broadway work has won her Tony accolades before: In 1993, she won a Featured Actress Tony for the play "Redwood Curtain," and a year later, she was nominated for a Featured Actress Tony for the play "Picnic." Monk also has a lengthy filmography of supporting roles, including a part as Christian Slater's mother in "Bed of Roses."

Lillias White
"The Life"

White portrays Sonya, a veteran hooker, in the musical "The Life." She received acclaim for her performance in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; also on Broadway, she has played Grizzabella in "Cats."

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