Why I believe that Audra McDonald belongs in Lead Actress ina Musical category- Page 5

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 12:49am

Ah, well then… let 'em have it! Haha.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 1:41am

Lady Day... has always been classified as a musical as evidenced by original PR, former nominations and the fact that Samuel French categorizes it as a Full Length Musical. I would argue that it's a play with music, for the same reasons other posters have mentioned. And the nominating committee is chock full of folks who like a good show. They may well think that it's more fun to put Audra in the play category seeing as how the musical category already has inherent drama. And her "sweep" would would make nice PR for the League and the Wing.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 2:32am

This isn't a personality contest. They're going to vote for the performance that they believe deserves it; the performance that they were invited too, attended and which moved or convinced them to vote for whichever Actress they choose.

You can't be that naive. Politics always play a part in awards shows. There may be some people who honestly vote for what they think is the best performance/show/what-have-you, but there are also people who will vote for their favorite or even against someone or simply go along with groupthink. That's why awards shows are not a good barometer for what's the "best," which is all subjective anyway.

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 8:29am

I was there last night, too.

I was bowled over. Let me say I've never liked Audra McDonald very much-this changed my mind. She captures the essence of Billie Holiday perfectly. It was like being there in that time and place. It went beyond mere imitation (which i was afraid was what might be the case).

That said, I'm in the camp of 'it's a musical'. If 'Marlene' was a musical (the show with Sian Phillips which re-created Marlene Dietrich's concerts), then this surely is. The music does serve to tell the story, and does move it along. That to me is a musical.

In any case, I think she's got the Tony.

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 7:55pm

...and scene.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 8:45pm

Now that the category is settled, it's time to speculate:

Is Audra trying to sneak her hand into Cherry Jones' bag?

[veronicamae]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 9:21pm

I feel so proud for my opinion being the correct one.

Especially after Ms. Liza denounced my rationale.

That aside - that Tony should be Audra's, period.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/25/14 at 9:48pm

"I'm really confused here. I keep reading and hearing "…the Tony Voters will give it to the one with 5 nominations and no wins," or "so-and-so's runner up status will earn her the win," etc. This isn't a personality contest. They're going to vote for the performance that they believe deserves it"

The Tonys are hugely political. Elaine Stritch is an example of an actress turning in great performances but being snubbed continuously. Then finally when everyone thinks she was going to die they awarded her the Tony for the show where she plays herself.

For example, she was excellent in "A Delicate Balance" but she was put up against her co-star Rosemary Harris in Best Actress (Zoe Caldwell won for Master Class). Had she been able to be put into Supporting she would have been up against winner Audra in Master Class.

She was totally snubbed for playing Parthy in the Show Boat revival. That year was so bad that only two actresses were in Best Actress (Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard and Rebecca Luker for Show Boat). In Featured Actress, it was Greta Boston for Show Boat and the three women from Smokey Joe's Cafe.

So yes, I believe politics can play a huge role in the awards.

Updated On: 4/25/14 at 09:48 PM

[felipenor]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 1:14pm

I'm not familiar with Lady Day, so what's the issue here? Why is there doubt whether it should be considered a play or a musical?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 1:44pm

Read the thread....its' pretty much all laid out there for you.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 1:45pm

Those who say it is a musical say it has over a dozen songs and that is the central action of the piece.
Those who say it is a play say the music is reality based because the character is actually singing.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 1:51pm

I haven't seen the show, but wasn't the music in Jersey Boys reality-based, mainly consisting of The Four Seasons' greatest hits? That was deemed a musical.

.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 4:42pm

"I haven't seen the show, but wasn't the music in Jersey Boys reality-based, mainly consisting of The Four Seasons' greatest hits? That was deemed a musical. "

On a few occasions they sing the music in response to emotions and not because they are necessarily really singing. I have not seen it in so long but I think I remember Frankie singing a song because he was upset and not because he is actually singing in a club, concert or recording studio.

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 4:48pm

Nyc- then what about End of the Rainbow? Act 1 closes with Judy singing the man the got away sitting on the floor of her hotel room. Not on stage.


Although for some reason I do 'feel'. Lady Day and Rainbow are both plays with music. And Beautiful and Jersey Boys are musicals.


And I can't say why!