Overcrowded Field for 2008 Best Actor & Actress in a Play Tony

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:15am

Yeah, I know it's bit premature, but nevertheless this is shaping up into one of the finest seasons in MANY a year for acting in straight plays. So fine that several first rate performances are bound to be overlooked for one of the five slots in each category.


Eligible for LEAD Actor -- though a couple may be moved to Featured to help their chances of even getting a nod -- include (alphabetically):

Kevin Anderson, COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA
Hank Azaria, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION
Norbert Leo Butz, IS HE DEAD?
Kevin Chamberlain, THE RITZ
Ben Daniels, LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES
Raul Esparza, THE HOMECOMING
Larry Fishburne, THURGOOD
James Frain, THE HOMECOMING
Morgan Freeman, THE COUNTRY GIRL
Ciarin Hands, THE SEAFARER
Terrence Howard, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
Kevin Kline, CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Nathan Lane, NOVEMBER
Jefferson Mays, PYGMALION
Ian McShane, THE HOMECOMING (? -- or Featured?)
Rufus Sewell, ROCK 'N ROLL
Jimmi Simpson, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION


Eligible for LEAD ACTRESS:

Eve Best, THE HOMECOMING
Margaret Colin, THE OLD ACQUAINTANCE
Sinead Cusack, ROCK 'N ROLL
Claire Danes, PYGMALION
Deanna Dunagan, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Jennifer Garner, CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Harriet Harris, THE OLD ACQUAINTANCE
Laura Linney, LES LIASONS DANGEROUSES
Elizabeth Marvel, TOP GIRLS
S. Epatha Merkerson, COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA
Laurie Metcalf, NOVEMBER
Amy Morton, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (? -- Featured?)
Rosie Perez, THE RITZ (? -- Featured?)
Allsion Pill, MAURITIUS
Martha Plimpton, CYMBELINE
Martha Plimpton, TOP GIRLS
Marisa Tomei, TOP GIRLS
whoever is cast as Maggie the Cat

Have I forgotten any?

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 10:15 AM

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:19am

Wow- I hadn't given it much thought but you're right. I knew this was a great season for plays but that list makes me want to book my flight to NYC right now- so many great performers.

But I am still rooting for 'August' to bring home a suitcase full of Tonys to Chicago.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:25am

Jennifer Garner - Cyrano

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:34am

Yeah, I thought of Jennifer Garner as well.
Will Frances McDormand be considered featured for THE COUNTRY GIRL? Don't know much about this play.
The category will definitely be incredibly competitive and even after the nominations come out, I doubt there will be a "lock" for a victory. Sounds pretty exciting.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:36am

No speculation here yet, but how wonderful to have the big exciting fields be for a play this year.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:37am

Sinead Cusack

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:47am

Cusack is marvelous, but I thought she and Cox would be considered Featured?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:52am

Is Marvel playing the lead in TOP GIRLS? I thought it was Tomeii. Who is playing what?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 10:54am

I'm not sure, which is why I put both and Martha Plimpton on the list.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:12am

Cusack and Cox are billed equally with Rufus Sewell. Cusack's role is one that straddles the fence between featured and leading, but I think she'll be considered for the leading category.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:12am

Bobby Cannavale for Mauritius. Also I would consider David Morse and Jim Norton as leading for The Seafarer if we're including Ciarin Hinds.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:14am

Alright, I put her on the list.

Jim Norton won the Olivier for Featured in London, so, I assumed it's pretty definite he'd be Featured for the Tony. Perhaps the whole cast should be considered Featured -- I don't know.

And Cannavale I thought could go either way.

I'll also put Garner on there (though she doesn't have a prayer in hell of getting a nod).

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 11:14 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:16am

Right, right the Olivier was for featured performance, my mistake.

[aliciag]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:17am

Wait a second... Terrence Howard is going to be in Cat in a Hot Tin Roof? When was that announced? And please tell me it's true, because that would be freaking awesome!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:20am

There was an interview with the CAT producer in the Daily News last week where he said that Howard was officially signed. There hasn't been a press release, but apparently they haven't signed their Maggie yet, so they're probably waiting until after they do.

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 11:20 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:21am

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/11/21/2007-11-21_terrence_howard_anxious_to_twostep_into_.html Updated On: 12/7/07 at 11:21 AM

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:42am

Cannavale was good but I would consider him featured, just like Schrieber was in Glengary.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 11:54am

I thought Raul Esparza was billed as Featured; that's how it was in the original production with Ian Holm.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:20pm

It's a very tough year - many exquisite performances (Kline, McShane, David Morse - who you left off the list!) and some very impressive debuts (Garner, Danes, Cannavale).

I think the only people assured of nominations - as of now - are Norbert Leo Butz for Is He Dead? (turning in THE best leading comic performance on Broadway in 2007 - Charles Busch wins for Off-Broadway) and Jim Norton as featured for The Seafarer (a shatteringly real performance that doesn't rely on the usual "drunken shtick" of falling all over onesself.)

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:27pm

What about Deanna Dunagan for AUGUST?

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:53pm

Dunagan is going to have some competition with S. Epatha Merkerson, Laura Linney, Marisa Tomei, and Francis McDormand - but my god that womans performance sticks with you like none other.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 12:56pm

I haven't seen August, yet. I have it tomorrow, as part of my weekend theater orgy.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 1:17pm

This only reminds me of how upset I am that I happened to be in the city during the strike and couldn't see any of these. I know it's selfish, but I mean, God, look at all these brilliant plays and performers. Hopefully I can get back to NYC before they start closing. It's going to be a VERY tough decision for the Tony this year...it'll be really interesting to see what happens.

[mikem]

Posted: 12/7/07 at 7:07pm

Very interesting -- a lot different from the Julia Roberts year when there were only 8 eligible Leading Actresses! This is potentially a great year for great performances.

Assuming it still happens, I would guess that the female lead in The Female of the Species should be on the list. Also, I imagine Frances McDormand's part is sufficiently large to be considered leading -- Grace Kelly won the Oscar for Best Actress for the role. I also think Rosie Perez will be considered for leading -- she is above the title, and it is probably the second-biggest part in the show. I have not seen August: Osage County, but I am guessing the producers will only ask for one actress to be considered as a lead. Also, I am assuming that A Bronx Tale will be considered a play rather than a special event, so Chazz Palmintieri should be on the list too. Charles Edwards for The 39 Steps is the lead, I believe. I have not seen Cymbeline -- is there a male role sufficiently large for Leading consideration? I also assume that there is a male lead in Stalag 17 (which I also don't know).

Obviously way too early to speculate on actual nominations, which is part of what makes speculating fun! I think the only lock for a nomination in either category is Deanna Dunagan for A:OC (which I think at this point is also a lock for a win for Best Play and also for the Pulitzer). My guesses for the final nominations in each category:

Best Actor:
Kevin Kline, Cyrano de Bergerac
Morgan Freeman, The Country Girl
Terrence Howard, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Rufus Sewell, Rock n Roll
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
#6 would be Nathan Lane, November.
(If Is He Dead?, The Farnsworth Invention, The Homecoming, or The Seafarer are still open in 6 months, their leads have a chance, but otherwise I think they will be sadly forgotten against this competition. Shows like Mauritius, Old Acquaintance, and The Ritz will probably suffer the same fate.)

Best Actress:
Deanna Dunagan, August: Osage County
Frances McDormand, The Country Girl
Laura Linney, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
S Epatha Merkerson, Come Back Little Sheba
Martha Plimpton, Top Girls or Cymbeline
#6 would be Laurie Metcalf, November, or Maggie the Cat, the Female of the Species, or Claire Danes, Pygmalion.

Updated On: 12/7/07 at 07:07 PM

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 12/8/07 at 12:01am

Let me just say, I think its great that there are so many wonderful plays this season. I love musicals, but you've gotta mke room for the plays on Broadway...