NEW YORK - "Billy Elliot," the season's biggest musical hit with Montreal native David Alvarez as one of three rotating stars in the title role, dominated the 2009 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, picking up 15, more than any other show.

Based on the popular British movie, the show about a coal miner's son who dreams of becoming a dancer will compete for best musical against "Next to Normal," "Rock of Ages" and "Shrek the Musical."

In one of the more unusual nominations, the three boys who share the title role in "Billy Elliot" -- 14-year-old Alvarez, 13-year-old Trent Kowalik and 14-year-old Kiril Kulish -- were named together for the best actor-musical prize.

Alvarez, who began his day at 3 a.m. to get up for a performance on CBS's "The Early Show," said he's been inundated by calls and emails since snagging the nomination.

"I still can't believe it, it was really unexpected," Alvarez said from his home in New York, where he lives with his parents and a younger sister. An older sister studies law in Montreal.

"As soon as I heard my name ... I just put a smile on my face."

The kudos follow a lot of hard work for the teen, who trained for six months for the role in classes including tap, acrobatics, singing, acting as well as speaking with a northeastern English accent.

Born and raised in Montreal to Cuban parents, Alvarez says he still didn't have a solid grasp of the English language when he auditioned for the part of Billy Elliot.

"English is my third language," says Alvarez, a classically trained dancer whose dream role is to perform in "Swan Lake."

"My first one is Spanish, then French, then English. So, in order to get cast I had to learn proper English, and then I had to learn the British accent. That was really hard for me."

Elton John, nominated for the show's original score, told "The Early Show" he was happy the musical earned the Tony recognition.

"It's been an amazing experience," said John. "It's made an incredible impact on my life."

Best-play nominations went to "God of Carnage," "Dividing the Estate," "reasons to be pretty" and "33 Variations."

"Next to Normal," a heartfelt musical about a woman battling mental illness, received 11 nominations, while "Shrek" and the revival of "Hair" tied with eight each.

In several of the acting categories, performers from the same show will compete against each other.

For best-actor play, James Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels, stars of "God of Carnage," will face each other. So will their two co-stars in Yasmina Reza's scathing comedy of manners -- Marcia Gay Harden and Hope Davis -- in the actress-play category.

Other actor-play nominees were Raul Esparza, "Speed-the-Plow"; Geoffrey Rush, "Exit the King"; and Thomas Sadoski, "reasons to be pretty."

The two royal ladies of "Mary Stuart" -- Janet McTeer as Mary, Queen of Scots, and Harriet Walter as Elizabeth I -- will also battle for the actress nod. The last slot in the category was filled by Jane Fonda, who portrays a dying musicologist in "33 Variations."

Their competition: Gavin Creel, "Hair"; Brian d'Arcy James, "Shrek the Musical"; Constantine Maroulis, "Rock of Ages"; and J. Robert Spencer, "Next to Normal."

The 15 nominations received by "Billy Elliot" were the most received by a production since "The Producers" was honoured with the same number in 2001. Besides best-musical, score and lead actor, "Billy Elliot" received nominations for book, featured-actor (two), featured-actress (two), scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, direction, choreography and orchestrations.

Dolly Parton was nominated for her score of "9 to 5," but the show was passed over for a coveted best musical nod. In this play-heavy season, a lot of well-known actors were snubbed including Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Daniel Radcliffe, Carla Gugino, Brian Dennehy, Frank Langella and John Lithgow.

Joesefina Scaglione, Maria in the revival of "West Side Story," picked up an actress-musical nomination. She will compete against Stockard Channing, "Pal Joey"; Sutton Foster, "Shrek"; Allison Janney, "9 to 5: The Musical"; and Alice Ripley, "Next to Normal."

Winners will be announced June 7 at Radio City Music Hall.

-- With files from The Canadian Press.