Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

[TFMH18]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:30am

I know there is a whole thread for nominations, but this is the category which I think brought the most tension prior to the announcement and remains as such. 

In my opinion, they totally nailed it. Audra is fantastic, but the other five women are giving more valuable performances-- again just my opinion. Could not be more thrilled for Carmen Cusack, who I was pulling for above all else. 

What say you guys? 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:35am

After seeing all of the new musicals of the season, I personally wanted the 5 nominees to be:

Carmen Cusack, Laura Benanti, Audra McDonald, Jessie Mueller and Cynthia Erivo.

I saw Hamilton and Pippa was out. Though, I didn't find the role of Eliza to be "leading", at all, which is why I wanted those 5 I listed above to be nominated over her. I think she should have been featured. 

I'm thrilled that Carmen was nominated. However, I still really want Cynthia to win because her performance was absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like it.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:37am

Yep, I think they nailed it too.

Audra is pretty much always deserving of a nomination but she has had more than her share of the glory and will continue to in the future I'm sure. Letting actresses like Carmen and Phillipa have their moment is great. 

And Audra has been so gracious about this on Twitter.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:39am

Hairspray0901 said: "I saw Hamilton and Pippa was out. Though, I didn't find the role of Eliza to be "leading", at all, which is why I wanted those 5 I listed above to be nominated over her. I think she should have been featured."

Don't you think it would have been weird to pit Pippa and Renee against each other, considering Phillipa has double the amount of stage time? Renee pretty much disappears after Take a Break (aside from some narration in It's Quiet Uptown) whereas Phillipa carries the audience through the emotional parts all the way to the finale.

She has less stage time than the others in her category but it is not such a stark difference. She is absolutely a leading female in that show.

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 10:39 AM

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:40am

I agree this is a wonderful category this year. We are lucky to have some fabulous stories about women being told by some of Broadway's finest actresses (in any season). I think they got it right and I'm thrilled to see Carmen Cusack get in because she carries Bright Star with a beautiful performance. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:42am

I don't think a performer should be overlooked because of their placement: the committee makes those decisions, so they honor them.

 

I like the noms in this category...but wouldn't have been upset had Audra replaced Soo.   I'm sure it was close.

 

I'm not surprised Audra's been gracious - she always is.  Now, when Murin doesn't get a nom whenever Frozen hits the boards -- watch out!  (I kid, I kid.)

[jon2]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:42am

I feel bad for Benanti, because this would be her year if it weren't already Erivo's year.  So much of winning awards is about luck and timing. 

[Alex10]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:43am

I haven't seen Bright Star yet, but I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Cusack and have no doubt that her nomination is warranted. Audra is an incredible talent and so worthy of all her success, but I'm thrilled to see Phillipa get in- spreading the love to a newer actress who turned in a truly incredible performance, even if it lacked the stage time or show-off moments that some of the other roles have. I'm really happy about this category and it actually motivated me to go see Bright Star, which I had no interest in before.

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:44am

I was fortunate enough to see all of these actresses who are nominated.  IMO, both Cynthia  and Carmen gave the most outstanding performances.  I would love to see Carmen win it, but I feel Cynthia will win, which is fine with me...

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:44am

I admit I'm curious who got in over Audra. I'm guessing it was a McDonald/Cusack/Soo triangle. I don't have any problem with Soo getting in, she's wonderful in her role, but I also think she was nudged by Hamilton mania.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:45am

aaaaaa15 said: "Don't you think it would have been weird to pit Pippa and Renee against each other, considering Phillipa has double the amount of stage time?

"

Stage time has nothing to do with it. Case in point: Jonathan Groff pitted against Daveed Diggs and Christopher Jackson. I agree that Eliza feels supporting to me. 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:49am

JudyDenmark said: "Stage time has nothing to do with it. Case in point: Jonathan Groff pitted against Daveed Diggs and Christopher Jackson. I agree that Eliza feels supporting to me."

So if stage time has nothing to do with it, then what makes Eliza supporting? She closes the show at the front of the stage in the spotlight alone. Her character is only less important than Hamilton and Burr.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:51am

There is no exact science.

 

That's why the nominating committee meets several times during the year, to decide which categories performers belong in.

 

They aren't always consistent with the credit placement.

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 10:51 AM

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:53am

Exactly, so saying a performer doesn't deserve their nomination because 'they should have been in supporting' is silly, especially when its as debatable as it is here.

I'm sure if she had been placed in featured, some people would be saying she should be in leading, and that would lead more towards 'category fraud' as she'd certainly have a better chance in featured.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:57am

aaaaaa15 said: "Hairspray0901 said: "I saw Hamilton and Pippa was out. Though, I didn't find the role of Eliza to be "leading", at all, which is why I wanted those 5 I listed above to be nominated over her. I think she should have been featured."

Don't you think it would have been weird to pit Pippa and Renee against each other, considering Phillipa has double the amount of stage time? Renee pretty much disappears after Take a Break (aside from some narration in It's Quiet Uptown) whereas Phillipa carries the audience through the emotional parts all the way to the finale.

She has less stage time than the others in her category but it is not such a stark difference. She is absolutely a leading female in that show.

"

I personally didn't think any of the female characters in Hamilton were leading. To me, the only leads were Hamilton and Burr. And no, I do not think putting Pippa and Renee "against" eachother would have been weird. Miranda and Odom are against eachother, so are Diggs, Groff and Jackson. 

I am happy Pippa was recognized but in my opinion - I think the Tony committee should have ruled her as featured instead. 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:59am

I guess I just think Eliza is more integral to the story than any of the supporting characters. You could have left any of them out and just referred to them by name (as they do John Adams for example) but it would be too weird to do that with Eliza. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:01am

aaaaaa15 said: "Exactly, so saying a performer doesn't deserve their nomination because 'they should have been in supporting' is silly, especially when its as debatable as it is here.

I'm sure if she had been placed in featured, some people would be saying she should be in leading, and that would lead more towards 'category fraud' as she'd certainly have a better chance in featured.

"

Alright, NO WHERE in my post did I say Pippa was not deserving of her nomination because she should have been supporting. What I said was, I didn't think the role of Eliza was leading - I think she should have been featured. I have a different opinion on where the TONY COMITTEE should have placed her. That does not mean she is undeserving. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:02am

Cynthia Erivo.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:03am

Hairspray0901 said: "Alright, NO WHERE in my post did I say Pippa was not deserving of her nomination because she should have been supporting. What I said was, I didn't think the role of Eliza was leading - I think she should have been featured. I have a different opinion on where the TONY COMITTEE should have placed her. That does not mean she is undeserving."

What I meant was you said (or heavily implied) that she didn't deserve her place in leading.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:06am

I think the nominations were more or less cemented for Laura Benanti, Cynthia Erivo, and Jessie Mueller. If you look at any sort of pundit analysis, these three were always consistently showing up as contenders.

The last two slots were going to be a wild card between four actresses: Carmen Cusack, Philippa Soo, Audra McDonald, and Ana Villafane, since there was no general consensus on these performances.

Out of those four, I feel like the strongest case could've been made for Soo and McDonald.

I wonder who would've gotten bumped if Audra was considered for Featured Actress instead, like the men of the show?

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:08am

I loved Cynthia Erivo's performance and have no qualms if she wins, but I'm still on team Mueller. She is giving a breathtaking performance in a role she is originating (other than the movie) and has been with since workshops. She has really evolved in the role and grown with the character from ART to Broadway. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:12am

jon2 said: "I feel bad for Benanti, because this would be her year if it weren't already Erivo's year.  So much of winning awards is about luck and timing. 

What is it about Benanti that has people feeling so bad for her because this would have been her year.  She already has one Tony and, unless I am forgetting something, her only leading role was replacing Rebecca Luker in The Sound of Music.  She is certainly not overdue a Tony.

To set the record straight, I like Laura Benanti a lot.  I don't actually think her resume is particularly impressive, however.   She has a gorgeous voice and was very good in several supporting roles.  

 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:15am

Yes, I'm not sure about feeling bad for people that have already won Tonys because they're gonna lose to people that haven't.

It's like feeling sorry for Audra today. She's fine people!

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:19am

NJ_BroadwayGirl said: "I loved Cynthia Erivo's performance and have no qualms if she wins, but I'm still on team Mueller. She is giving a breathtaking performance in a role she is originating (other than the movie) and has been with since workshops. She has really evolved in the role and grown with the character from ART to Broadway."

Why should she be rewarded for originating a role when some of her fellow nominees weren't alive (Benanti) or weren't old enough (Errivo) when their shows first opened?

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:20am

I think they could've gone either way on Eliza, but she is the one who ultimately tells Hamilton's story, so I think they went the right way. It's a great role--I saw Alysha play it as well as Philippa and both women give stunning performances. I thought she might be left out just because of the stellar show-changing performances in this category, but I'm glad she was not. The only one of the performances I haven't seen is Audra, so I can't comment on whether I would've rather seen her be nominated than anyone else. 

 

I think Erivo will win and if so it will be richly deserved. However, to be honest, in my gut I'm rooting for Cusack. She just has such a great story of working so long in the business and she is finally getting her breakout role. She plays comedy and drama in Bright Star and does both seamlessly and flawlessly. She effortly transitioned back and forth between carefree, lighthearted teenager and a woman who has been through utter heartbreak. Plus by all accounts she seems to be a perfectly lovely person (not that the other ladies aren't). I won't be devastated regardless of who wins, because these are 5 Tony worthy performances, but if Cusack won I'd be particularly delighted.