In Good Company

Donald McKayle has had some stiff competition for Tony Awards: Jerome Robbins, Harold Prince, Michael Bennet and Gower Champion, Broadway legends all.

Despite five nominations, the UC Irvine professor has never taken one home, notwithstanding the time he directed (and choreographed) a show that won the Tony for best musical.

“A split like that is rare,” he says. “I have no idea why they did it.”

In the 50-year history of the awards it has happened only a handful of times.

McKayle, who came to UC Irvine in 1989, was nominated in 1965 for the choreography of “Golden Boy,” a musical adaptation of the Clifford Odets play, starring Sammy Davis Jr. (That year Robbins won for “Fiddler on the Roof.”)

McKayle was nominated twice in 1974 for directing and choreographing “Raisin,” which won the Tony for best musical. (Prince won for directing “Candide,” and Michael Bennet took choreography for “Seesaw.”)

McKayle’s fourth Tony nomination came in 1975 for the choreography of “Doctor Jazz.” (George Faison won for “The Wiz.”) His fifth came in 1981 as one of three choreographers of “Sophisticated Ladies.” (Champion won, posthumously, for “42nd Street.”)