Stephen and Ruth Hendel are celebrating the raft of Tony nominations received by the Broadway musical "Fela!"

Stephen Hendel, who grew up in New London, co-conceived the musical. He and Ruth, who is a Norwich native, are its lead producers.

"Fela!" earned 11 nominations on Tuesday, making it the most-nominated new show. (The revival of "La Cage aux Folles" also nabbed 11 nods.)

"We were just so excited. We couldn't believe it," Ruth Hendel said today. "We were thrilled and grateful that we were acknowledged by the (Tony nominating) committee."

"Fela!" is about Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian political activist and Afrobeat superstar.

When Stephen Hendel first heard a CD by Fela in the early 2000s, he said, "I couldn't stop listening to it. He wrote songs about what was going on in his life and Nigeria. I was very moved by the voice of human dignity and human courage that he represented."

He began researching more about the musician and said, "I came to the conclusion that he was the most courageous artist of my lifetime, certainly the most courageous musician of my lifetime. His music was just glorious and profound and hugely sensual."

People in America didn't know who he was; he spent his life as the voice of the people in Nigeria, at great personal cost.

Hendel got the rights and brought together a creative team to develop a show, led by director and choreographer Bill T. Jones.

The Tony winners will be announced at a June 13 ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.