Outer Critics Circle Award nominations include ‘An American in Paris,’ ‘The Last Ship’

The nominees for the 2014-15 Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced Monday recognizing achievement in both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

Among the productions to receive multiple nominations were Sting’s musical ‘The Last Ship,” which debuted in Chicago (for best production, score and book), and “An American in Paris” (with eight nominations, including best musical, best director, best choreographer, best set design, best leading actor and leading actress). The Gershwin musical was directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, who is set to create a new production of “The Nutcracker” for the Joffrey Ballet next year, and whose work will be on display before that as the Joffrey presents its New Works program April 22-May 3 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

Our review: “An American in Paris” makes dance its essential language

The Outer Critic Circle Award winners, to be announced May 11, are selected by writers covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway.

The nominees for outstanding new Off-Broadway play include “Between Riverside and Crazy” (to be part of Steppenwolf’s 2015-16 season), “The City of Conversation,” “The Nether,” “Rasheeda Speaking” (which debuted at Chicago’s Rivendell Theatre) and “The Village Bike.”