BY PAULA SCHWARTZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Tony nominations were announced this morning and “Once,” adapted from a 2006 indie Irish movie about two young songwriters who make music and love together, was the leader with 11 nominations, including nods for the beguiling leads, Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti. Their parts were created on screen by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who also wrote the songs, based on their real-life experiences as street performers on the Dublin streets and for which they received an Academy Award.

Following in the Tony race with 10 nominations, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” the George Gershwin musical starring Kelli O’Hara, who received a nomination, and Matthew Broderick, who did not.

The other nominations in the musical category, which mean the most because they drive ticket sales the most, are “Newsies” and “Leap of Faith,” which received it’s one and only nod here.

Other nominees for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical, the always fabulous Audra McDonald – who has already won four Tony Awards - nominated for “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess,” Jan Maxwell for “Follies” and Laura Osnes for “Bonnie & Clyde.” It will be a tough race between Ms. McDonald and Ms. Milioti.

The surprise snub is “Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark,” which received three nominations only, for best scenic design and two for costume design. Too bad for them, unlike the Oscars, there are no special visual effects awards on Broadway.

Best play nominees are “Clybourne Park” (Bruce Norris), “Other Desert Cities” (Jon Robin Baitz), the music heavy “Peter and the Starcatcher” (Rick Elice), and “Venus in Fur” (David Ives). In the best revival of a play category, Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” – which has been selling out the house – is the strongest contender with the other plays nominated being “Gore Vidal’s ‘The Best Man,’” along with “Master Class” and “Wit. “

For best actor, Philip Seynour Hoffman, who stars in “Death of a Salesman” will be hard to beat; he competes with veteran James Earl Jones (Gore Vidal’s ‘The Best Man’), James Corden (“One Man, Two Guvnors”), Frank Langella (“Man and Boy”) and John Lithgow (“The Columnist”).

In the best actress field for leading role in a play, the nominees are Nina Arianda (“Venus in Fur”), Tracie Bennett (“End of the Rainbow”), Stockard Channing (“Other Desert Cities”), Cynthia Nixon (“Wit”) and Linda Lavin (“The Lyons”).

Broadway can be brutal for outsiders to the community, and notable snubs were “Evita” stars Ricky Martin and Elena Roger although the always reliable and terrific Michael Cerveris picked up a nod for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical. We mentioned earlier Mr. Broderick was left off the list and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” picked up only a single nomination, for best costume design by Paul Tazewell.

The awards will be handed out on June 10 at the Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side and air live on CBS. Neil Patrick Harris will take his third turn as host.

Here is a complete list of the nominees.