New Plays at the Tonys

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 1:45pm

Seems like we have a much stronger field this year than last year for new plays (also, new musicals, but plenty of discussion already going on there).
I'm interested to see where the nominators land with this group. Thought some discussion and conjecture might be fun (yes, I understand, no one knows for sure until late April, but I'd love to chat about about the strengths of each piece):

Seems like Curious Incident is a lock.
Wolf Hall also seems very strong. And the 2-part nature will probably give it a leg-up.
We could end up having a completely British category if The Audience and Constellations finish out the nominations, but I somehow don't think they'll let that happen...Constellations seems especially vulnerable (even though it was my favorite after Curious Incident)...
Hand to God may be the most likely American piece to get in. I think the nominators will go for this one. Very unique.
And then there's Disgraced...will they fail to nominate a Pulitzer Prize winner? Or give it a slot because it seems odd not to? Do its timely issues give it precedence over the other pieces?
Of course no one knows much about Airline Highway or Living on Love (is that what that's called?) yet...Airline Highway seems more likely than Love to possibly break in. But that's just because I have a lot of respect for Steppenwolf (that's where that's coming from right?).
And I guess we could end up with 5 nominations again if things are tight...
I don't know.
At the moment, I'd love to see the 4 British pieces nominated (not that I'm anti-American or anything...I just tend to love British theatre a lot), but my guess is Hand to God or Disgraced will get there instead of Constellations.
Thoughts?

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 1:50pm

Oh, and I guess I failed to mentioned Fish in the Dark which doesn't seem to be of the same caliber as the others, but may end up being the biggest hit of any of them, so I guess it should be in the discussion as well. The Country House and The River seem out of the question...amIright?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 1:51pm

My guess:

Curious Incident
Hand To God
Wolf Hall
The Audience or Disgraced (both if we end up with 5 noms)

Updated On: 3/29/15 at 01:51 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 1:55pm

Right now I think Curious Incident is the only lock for a nomination. The marketing for Hand to God constantly calls attention to the fact that it's a new American play, so I think they're definitely trying to stand out against all the British pieces this season, although I don't think The Audience or Constellations will make it in. Disgraced seems a likely bet too, since it won the Pulitzer and got very good reviews, but since it closed I doubt it will win if nominated.

Right now, I'd probably guess Curious Incident, Hand to God, Wolf Hall, and Disgraced will get nominated, with Airline Highway spoiling or grabbing the possible fifth slot.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:01pm

Curious Incident
Hand to God
Wolf Hall
Disgraced
Living on Love

[Golenboybway]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:15pm

What about Fish in the Dark

[Kad]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:27pm

The most Fish can hope for is maybe a best featured actress for Jayne Houdyshell.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:40pm

"Of course no one knows much about Airline Highway"

That's a stretch as it played a successful 2 1/2 month run at Steppenwolf, where thousands of people saw it. Look up the thread about it on this board or look at the official reviews. I personally loved it and saw it twice, and I know many people who passionately adored it, but a lot of people felt ambivalent. A rather similar reaction to the playwright's earlier work Detroit. I'd say Disgraced has a better shot at a nomination, but it's a much stronger play than Constellations.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:48pm

CURIOUS is definitely in the nomination field, and probably the favorite.
I think HAND TO GOD is positioning itself very well.
I haven't seen THE AUDIENCE, but CONSTELLATIONS would absolutely have my (subjective) vote, and think the reviews were more enthusiastic for it. Hopefully that helps, since they both have been hits as imports.
DISGRACED has the Pulitzer and the reviews, but now is fighting to stay in mind.
AIRLINE HIGHWAY I think is still on the outside, with plenty of time for the newer cast members or any changes from Chicago to add to or subtract from it's chances.
And WOLF HALL needs to capture the imagination of the theatergoing crowd, I think. Or get extraordinary reviews.

I would say it looks like this

CURIOUS

HAND TO GOD

CONSTELLATIONS
DISGRACED
THE AUDIENCE
WOLF HALL

AIRLINE HIGHWAY

But there's a lot of jostling to go as the final month of previews and opening commences.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/29/15 at 2:48pm

Safe bets:

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
2. Wolf Hall
3. Disgraced

Fighting it out:

4. The Audience
5. Constellations
6. Hand To God

Dark horses:

7. Living on Love
8. Airline Highway
9. The River
10. Fish in the Dark
11. The Country House