Among the 2008 Tony Award nominees are a trio with South Florida connections.

Riding the top of the wave at the moment is Adam Epstein, native Miamian and the lead producer of the musical "Cry-Baby," based on the 1990 John Waters movie. Epstein already has a Tony on the shelf in his office across the street from where "Hairspray" is playing - he won it in 2004 when he was coproducer behind mentor Margo Lion. Epstein, 34, was uncertain the day before the nominations were announced whether his show would edge into the top races. It has a total of four nominations.

Former Miamian Raul Esparza picked up his third nomination of the decade, for the recently-closed revival of Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming," which has a total of three. Esparza is up for Best Featured Actor in a Play, leading lady Eve Best is nominated as Best
Actress, and the show is a contender as Best Revival of a Play. Esparza has been nominated previously for "Taboo" and last season's revival of "Company."

New to the process is Miami's New World School of the Arts grad Alex Lacamoire, nominated along with collaborator Bill Sherman for the orchestrations for "In the Heights," which leads this year's nominations with a total of 13. Lacamoire was previously assistant musical director on "Wicked."

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