I usually do really well predicting the Tonys; let's see how I do this year:
Best Musical:
An American In Paris, Fun Home, Something Rotten!, The Visit
Best Play:
The Audience, Constellations, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Hand To God, and Wolf Hall
Best Revival of a Musical:
The King and I, On the Twentieth Century, On the Town
Best Revival of a Play:
The Elephant Man, It's Only a Play, Skylight, You Can't Take It With You
Best Lead Actor in a Musical:
Michael Cerveris, Fun Home; Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten!; Robert Fairchild, An American In Paris; Rob McClure, Honeymoon in Vegas; Tony Yazbeck, On the Town
Best Lead Actress in a Musical:
Kristin Chenowith, On the Twentieth Century; Leanne Cope, An American In Paris; Beth Malone, Fun Home; Kelli O'Hara, The King and I; Chita Rivera, The Visit
Best Lead Actor in a Play:
Stephen Boyer, Hand To God; Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man; Ben Miles, Wolf Hall; Bill Nighy, Skylight; Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident...
Best Lead Actress in a Play:
Lindsay Duncan, A Delicate Balance; Helen Mirren, The Audience; Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles; Carey Mulligan, Skylight; Ruth Wilson, Constellations
Best Featured Actor in a Musical:
Christian Borle, Something Rotten!; Andy Karl, On the Twentieth Century; Paul Alexander Nolan, Doctor Zhivago; Brad Oscar, Something Rotten!; Max Von Essen, An American In Paris
Best Featured Actress in a Musical:
Judy Kuhn, Fun Home; Sydney Lucas, Fun Home; Ruthie Ann Miles, The King and I; Emily Skeggs, Fun Home; Alysha Umphress, On the Town
Best Featured Actor in a Play:
K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway; Richard McCabe, The Audience; Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man; Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall; Bryce Pinkham, The Heidi Chronicles
Best Featured Actress in a Play:
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can't Take It With You; Francesca Faridany, The Curious Incident...; Judith Ivey, The Audience; Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall; Julie White, Airline Highway
Best Director of a Musical:
John Doyle, The Visit; Sam Gold, Fun Home; Casey Nicholaw, Something Roten!; Bartlett Sher, The King and I; Christopher Wheeldon, An American In Paris
Best Director of a Play:
Stephen Daldry, The Audience; Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident...; Scott Ellis, You Can't Take It With You; Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall; Moritz von Stelnhagel, Hand To God
Best Choreography:
Joshua Bergasse, On the Town; Warren Carlyle, On the Twentieth Century; Christopher Gattelli, The King and I; Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!; Christopher Wheeldon, An American In Paris
Best Book of a Musical:
Wayne Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, Something Rotten!; Lisa Kron, Fun Home; Craig Lucas, An American In Paris; Terence McNally, The Visit
Best Score:
Jason Robert Brown, Honeymoon in Vegas; John Kander and Fred Ebb, The Visit; Sting, The Last Ship; Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron, Fun Home
Best Orchestrations:
Christpher Austin, Don Sebesky and Bill Elliott, An American In Paris; John Clancy, Fun Home; Bruce Coughlin, On the Town; Larry Hochman, The Visit
Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Bob Crowley and Production 59, An American In Paris; Scott Pask, The Visit; Michael Yeargan, The King and I; David Zinn, Fun Home
Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Bunny Christie, The Curious Incident...; Bob Crowley, The Audience; Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall; David Rockwell, You Can't Take It With You
Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Bob Crowley, An American In Paris; William Ivey Long, On the Twentieth Century; Paul Tazewell, Side Show; Catherine Zuber, Gigi
Best Costume Design of a Play:
Bob Crowley, The Audience; Jane Greenwood, You Can't Take It With You; Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall; Clint Ramos, The Elephant Man
Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Donald Holder, The King and I; Natasha Katz, An American In Paris; Ben Stanton, Fun Home; Japhy Weideman, The Visit
Best Lighting Design of a Play:
Paule Constable, The Curious Incident...; Paule Constable and David Plater, Wolf Hall; Lee Curran, Constellations; Rick Fisher, The Audience
Best Musical: An American in Paris Fun Home Honeymoon in Vegas (if there’s a fifth nominee) Something Rotten! The Visit
Best Play: The Audience-Peter Morgan The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time-Simon Stephens Disgraced-Ayad Akhtar (if there’s a fifth nominee) Hand to God-Robert Askins Wolf Hall-Hilary Mantel & Mike Poulton
Best Revival of a Musical: The King & I On the Town On the Twentieth Century Side Show (if there’s a fourth nominee)
Best Revival of a Play: The Elephant Man The Heidi Chronicles It’s Only a Play (if there’s a fifth nominee) Skylight You Can't Take It With You
Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Musical: Michael Cerveris-Fun Home Robert Fairchild-An American in Paris Brian d'Arcy James-Something Rotten! Rob McClure-Honeymoon in Vegas Tony Yazbeck-On the Town
Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Musical: Kristin Chenoweth-On the Twentieth Century Leanne Cope-An American in Paris Beth Malone-Fun Home Kelli O'Hara-The King & I Chita Rivera-The Visit
Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Play: Steven Boyer-Hand to God Bradley Cooper-The Elephant Man Ben Miles-Wolf Hall Bill Nighy-Skylight Alex Sharp-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Best Performance By a Leading Actress in a Play: Geneva Carr-Hand to God Helen Mirren-The Audience Elisabeth Moss-The Heidi Chronicles Carey Mulligan-Skylight Ruth Wilson-Constellations
Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Musical: Christian Borle-Something Rotten! Andy Karl-On the Twentieth Century Paul Alexander Nolan-Doctor Zhivago Brad Oscar-Something Rotten! Max von Essen-An American in Paris
Best Performance By a Featured Actress in a Musical: Victoria Clark-Gigi Megan Fairchild-On the Town Judy Kuhn-Fun Home Sydney Lucas-Fun Home Ruthie Ann Miles-The King & I
Best Performance By a Featured Actor in a Play: James Earl Jones-You Can't Take It With You Richard McCabe-The Audience Alessandro Nivola-The Elephant Man Nathaniel Parker-Wolf Hall Bryce Pinkham-The Heidi Chronicles
Best Performance By a Featured Actress in a Play: Annaleigh Ashford-You Can't Take It With You Patricia Clarkson-The Elephant Man Francesca Faridany-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Lydia Leonard-Wolf Hall Julie White-Airline Highway
Best Direction of a Musical: John Doyle-The Visit Sam Gold-Fun Home John Rando-On the Town Bartlett Sher-The King & I Christopher Wheeldon-An American in Paris
Best Direction of a Play: Stephen Daldry-Skylight Marianne Elliott-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Scott Ellis-You Can't Take It With You Jeremy Herrin-Wolf Hall Moritz von Stuelpnagel-Hand to God
Best Original Score: Fun Home-Music By Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics By Lisa Kron Honeymoon in Vegas-Music & Lyrics By Jason Robert Brown The Last Ship-Music & Lyrics By Sting The Visit-Music By John Kander, Lyrics By Fred Ebb
Best Book of a Musical: An American in Paris-Craig Lucas Fun Home-Lisa Kron Something Rotten!-Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell The Visit-Terrence McNally
Best Choreography: Joshua Bergasse-On the Town Warren Carlyle-On the Twentieth Century Christopher Gattelli-The King & I Casey Nicholaw-Something Rotten! Christopher Wheeldon-An American in Paris
Best Orchestrations: Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, & Bill Elliott-An American in Paris John Clancy-Fun Home Larry Hochman-The Visit Don Sebesky, Larry Blank, Jason Robert Brown, & Charlie Rosen-Honeymoon in Vegas
Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Donald Holder-The King & I Natasha Katz-An American in Paris Ben Stanton-Fun Home Japhy Weideman-The Visit
Best Lighting Design of a Play: Paule Constable-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Paule Constable & David Plater-Wolf Hall Natasha Katz-Skylight Japhy Weideman-Airline Highway
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Bob Crowley & 59 Productions-An American in Paris Scott Pask-The Visit Michael Yeargan-The King & I David Zinn-Fun Home
Best Scenic Design of a Play: Bunny Christie & Finn Ross-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Bob Crowley-Skylight Christopher Oram-Wolf Hall Scott Pask-Airline Highway
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Bob Crowley-An American in Paris William Ivey Long-On the Twentieth Century Paul Tazewell-Side Show Catherine Zuber-The King & I
Best Costume Design of a Play: Bob Crowley-The Audience Jane Greenwood-You Can't Take It With You Christopher Oram-Wolf Hall Clint Ramos-The Elephant Man
I know it's proabably not going to happen, but I really wish that Ken Watanabe would sneak in a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. He was phenomenal!
Why is that? I've read countless predictions of the nominees and only a handful have had any nomination for neverland. Personally I enjoyed the show, so I'm puzzled by its lack of recognition.
I saw the production of Finding Neverland that played at A.R.T., so there may have been changes for broadway; I liked the show but felt while it had great moments they were too few and far between. My thinking is that there are simply better shows they can nominate and will do so. But who knows? The composition of the committee is all important, and without knowledge of who's on it, and what there biases might be, anything can happen.
I'm a bit afraid the four On the Town actresses are going to cancel each other out. I think they will only get at most one nomination and how will they chooe between Megan Fairchild, Jackie Hoffman, Elizabeth Stanley and Alysha Umphress? I personally would pick the latter but my hunch is that they will pick Elizabeth Stanley. (I don't feel this way about the Fun Home 3 in the category - Kuhn and Lucas are locks, and Skeggs isn't a sure thing, but I am hoping she makes it in and predicting she will)
Did Bruce Couglin do all of the orchestrations for ON THE TOWN? I assumed that they were the originals by, I believe, Hershy Kay. It's a shame that there's no orchestrator credited in the program.
I can't imagine the Gigi set being nominated. Did people actually like it? I thought it was the worst part of the show; huge, cold, and clumsy, not charming like the rest of the show. Actually, the whole design of the show was unappealing.
When it comes to set design, I personally hope it's Michael Yeargan's work on THE KING AND I that wins but Bob Crowley's set for AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is actually pretty striking in it's own way.
I think there is a possibility that Cariani may be nominated over d'Arcy James.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
I don't think McClure will get a nod. Wattanabee should take that spot. And I want to see Nancy Opel on the list. And Paul Nolan is Dreamy but I don't see ZHIVAGO getting anything.
Some have been comparing Something Rotten unfavorably to Spamalot and Book of Mormon. So where does that place it in the farcical musical genre when next to the gold standard: A Funny Thing? I fear it doesn't hold up well.
I enjoyed most of Something Rotten. But to say it belongs on a list with American in Paris, Fun Home, The Visit and The Last Ship (simply because SR opened in April) is like saying it belongs on a menu under the entrees, when it clearly belongs on that extra little menu you're handed after you've eaten and are fully satiated- the dessert. Yes, it is gooey and excessive, and some will enjoy and some will pass, but, in the end, it is entirely disposable.
In regards to Something Rotten! these were only my predictions and not my dream ballot. I have my dream ballot posted on gold derby and Christian Borle is my only citation from this show. It's not my type of show, to put it mildly.
I will throw up if Ken Watanabe is nominated. I know many really liked his performance, but for me I couldn't understand what he was saying and (often) singing too. I felt (for me) he has zero charisma and they (he and Kelli O'Hara as Anna) had no chemistry whatsoever. Again, it's likely a minority opinion, but I hold to it. I am rooting for Rob McClure to win - unlikely, but his was my favorite male lead performance (along with Tony Yazbeck in On the Town) of the season.
There's so much love for Bob Crowley's AiP set, which I found really clunky and cold.on the other hand, I think his Skylight set was perfection. I'd much rather see a nod for Fun Home which managed to make a very difficult space add so very much to the piece. I fear it will lose out for not being flashy, but to me it's one of the very best set designs in recent memory.
I don't see any situation where Matthew Morrison gets a nomination for Finding Neverland. There are SO many more worthy candidates and the he is not respected or well-reviewed. Hell, Brantley even said, "Mr. Morrison, in a determinedly neutral performance, has been divested of any hints of sensuality" also adding that neither he nor Grammer "appear wholly invested in their performances."
Why would that warrant a Tony nom? I know you may say CELEBRITY but you at least have to be somewhat good to get a nomination as a celebrity.
I may be wrong, but I just don't see him getting a nomination.
"I'd much rather see a nod for Fun Home which managed to make a very difficult space add so very much to the piece. I fear it will lose out for not being flashy, but to me it's one of the very best set designs in recent memory."
Agreed, Sauja! It deserves a nomination and I think it will get one (like Once). Not the flashiest set, but well done, intelligent, and serves the piece very well.
Morrison got mixed reviews. Some liked him, some didn't. I think some were surprised that after such a big deal was made out of choosing him over Jordan, that he did not show enough to demonstrate that Harvey had not made that call simply because he was better, but rather because he was more famous. I think the problem for Morrison is that the role is simply not that flashy. He's on stage a lot, but neither the score nor the book gives him much of an opportunity to set himself apart from other potential nominees. I don't think he will get left out because he was bad, or because Brantley wasn't crazy about his performance. He may get left out simply because there were five other actors who were more deserving.