In recent days, those few hundred individuals who decide who will win each Tony award, have been mailed CDs of Thou Shalt Not. Connick's score is nominated for a best score Tony Award. The record, produced by Tracey Freeman, is accompanied by a hand-written note by Connick himself, reading: "I simply cannot believe my nomination for best original score—win or lose, I feel like I've found a new home on Broadway—I sincerely hope I can be a part of this awesome community for years to come." Connick has previously expressed his desire to compose again for Broadway. The CD features the following songlist:

Overture
"It's Good to Be Home"
"I Need to Be in Love Ballet"
"My Little World"
"While You're Young"
"I Need to Be in Love"
"Broken Tea Cup"
"The Other Hours"
"The Other Hours Ballet"
"All Things"
"Sovereign Lover"
"I've Got My Eye on You"
"Light the Way"
"Take Her to the Mardi Gras"
"Tug Boat"
"Entr'Acte"
"Won't You Sanctify"
"Time Passing"
"Take Advantage"
"Oh! Ain't That Sweet"
"Thou Shalt Not Ballet"
"I Live Love More"
"It's Good to Be Home" (reprise)

Thou Shalt Not opened Oct. 25, 2001, and closed Jan. 6 at Broadway's Plymouth Theatre. This musical adaptation of Emile Zola's gritty tale of murderous adultery starred Kate Levering in the role of Therese Raquin (the name of the original novel), Craig Bierko her lover Laurent and Norbert Butz (who was Tony-nommed for the part) as her husband Camille. Debra Monk and Leo Burmester are also in the cast.

The show did not have the luck of Stroman's last Lincoln Center project, the Tony Award-winning Contact, which is still playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The dark Thou Shalt Not — a marked departure for Stroman, who usually works in the bright showbizzy world of The Music Man and The Producers — opened to largely negative reviews. The best notices were saved for supporting player Butz's performance. Butz was remembered by the Tony nominators, earning a Best Featured Actor (Musical) nom.

—By Robert Simonson