Tony Rulings: Taboo Score Eligible, Oz Score Not; Little Shop a Revival

[macbeth]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:26pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83692.html

[Rob]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:30pm

No huge surprises here I don't think. Little Shop qualifies as a revival which answers a question that's come up here many times.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:32pm

"Euan Morton, who portrays Boy George in Taboo, is the only actor from that musical eligible in the Leading Actor in a Musical category; the Boy George score is eligible for a Best Score nomination."

May I ask why?

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:33pm

I would venture to say because Euan is in fact the only lead actor in the piece. The rest are supporting and function as such.

[lc1965]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:39pm

Robbiej: agreed. I've heard arguments that Esparza is a lead, but I disagree. He is supporting Morton -- very well, but supporting.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:47pm

So, Idina and Kristin are both eligible for Leading Actress. Here we go, folks!! The tony race of the year.

[gherbert]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:49pm

I am kind of disappointed that Stephanie d'Abruzzo and John Tartaglia are being placed in the leading categories, not because I don't think they belong there, but because I think they would have won in the featured categories where the competition will be less stiff. They both give amazing performances that I think they should be rewarded for, but I also love Donna Murphy, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Tonya Pinkins, too bad they can't all win, but 703 isn't divisible by 5 (I haven't seen Hugh Jackman, Euan Morton, or Alfred Molina (duh!) yet, so I can't comment).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 5:56pm

I really think Kristin's eligibility as a lead in Wicked is a disservice to Idina. They could easily split the vote. Kristin will get another shot at another Tony for Betty Boop or Legally Blonde or some other musical everyone wants her to star in.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:18pm

yeah lsoh is a revivial i asked one of the cast memebers when i was there last night and he said it was a revivial even though it was never on b'way

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:36pm

Mister Matt, that's not fair to Kristin, though.
Even though I desperately want Idina to win, I'm not saying Kristin shouldn't get it because she has other chances. What about Idina, first of all? You don't think her career will prosper, and she won't get other opportunities? And things with Kristin in Legally Blonde and Betty Boop or any other musicals may not work out.

If the Tony voters really think she deserves it, let her get it because of her performance in THIS role. Other performances her past or future don't or shouldn't count. That wouldn't be fair.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:45pm

I'm with Gherbert. In supporting, John & Steph have a real chance. But they are long shots in leading. And Hugh has his Tony all sewn up.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:46pm

Wow, MisterMatt, the King of Kindness and the Princess of Proper Manners seems to have been a little bitchy there.

Kristin is a lead in Wicked. Which is a disservice to the story. Although I understand why they built up her part and made it equal to Idina's, it makes no sense dramaturgically.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:47pm

i hope hunter foster gets a tony

Updated On: 1/8/04 at 06:47 PM

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 6:56pm

I can see Hugh Jackman running away with the Tony for Best Leading Male. As for Female, it's a toss up between Idina and Kristin. I'm sure both will be nominated, but we'll see. Taboo has a good chance at Best Score, as does Avenue Q. I can't comment on Best Revival yet because there's still a few to open.

[wiggum2]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 7:00pm

I think it's too bad that LSOH won't be up for best score, it's not fair that "Classics" that have never been on broadway aren't eligible for best score.

[mebice]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 7:17pm

I hope taboo wins for best score! I also am excited about Euan and Idina.

[friesgirl]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 7:45pm

I don't think they ruled on Assassins, did they? Everyone pretty much knew that LSOH would be a revival, it's Assassins that is a bigger question: can it be a classic even though outside the theatre community it isn't known as one? LSOH was a movie and has been done in regional, community, and high school productions. Revival will probably end up being LSOH, Wonderful Town, Fiddler, and Assassins (depending on the ruling). I'm still hoping that the Tony nomination committee doesn't forget Big River, which got fantastic reviews (and I must be selfish because I really want them to perform on the broadcast this year, not only for me but it would be great exposure for the upcoming tour).

I wanted John and Stephanie to be put in featured simply because they would have better chances to win, and their work is superb in Avenue Q. I'm still rooting for Idina to win Best Actress because I think she is truly phenomenal as Elphaba.

[jo]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 7:49pm

Even if the musical score for THE BOY FROM OZ is not eligible for a TONY, I hope they recognize the orchestrations as the best among the shows. Other than the cast's excellent performance, the orchestrations make the theatre evening at the Imperial and the cast album a joy to listen to.

Hugh - he's a legend in the making!

Jo

[tpdc]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 7:54pm

The Tony committee will meet again in the spring to rule on the rest of the season's shows. ASSASSINS eligibility will be decided then.

It's a shame the AVENUE Q actors are being put in the best actor/actress category. They were likely supporting winners.

Chenoweth deserves to be in the best actress category. I LOVE Menzel and Murphy. I have enjoyed and admired, if not loved, Chenoweth's past work. Having seen WICKED and WONDERFUL TOWN twice, if I had a Tony ballot, I'd go with Chenoweth. I wouldn't be surprised to see her win her second Tony. As the season draws to an end, look for Brantley to drool over her in CANDIDE (right before the Tonys) and to use the opportunity to plug her WICKED work.

[mebice]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 8:00pm

I have a question. Does this mean that Raul and Boy George are not elegible for a nom at all? I am confused.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 8:04pm

I think that it's all fine and well that Euan Morton is in the lead category, his part warrants it. But to be clear, Jackman is walking away with the Tony, so it's a VERY good thing that Esparza wound up in the featured category because the competition is far less of an issue.

[LC]

Posted: 1/8/04 at 8:07pm

It means that Euan is the only performer from Taboo eligible in the 'leading actor/actress' categories. All the other performers would be eligible in the 'featured actor/actress' categories.

[cbrown828]

Posted: 1/9/04 at 12:01am

i kinda agree with the tony people cause isn't the tony award for best NEW musical of the season. plus i think LSOH has a better shot of winning a tony as a revival (i haven't seen a wonderful town yet). im also glad that euan morton is considered the lead actor in taboo, cause raul has a better shot at a nomination or even winning. and with the 2 ladies from wicked i think it's gonna be a toss up! hoping that idina wins.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/9/04 at 12:06am

It very well may be split between Kristin and Idina. I don't understand why they didn't put one of them in the supporting category. It gives them a much better chance of taking both.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 1/9/04 at 12:22am

I am much happier that Esparza will be in the Featured category, if nominated at all (he certainly should be). However, I don't think the road is clear in that category either. With Joel Grey eligible for Featured as well, if he's nominated, I can't help but wonder if he'll win based on his past history. I can't say I'd be a happy camper if that were to happen. Having seen both, the two performances are barely comparable.