Best Play
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play Author: Sarah Ruhl
Next Fall Author: Geoffrey Nauffts
Red Author: John Logan
Time Stands Still Author: Donald Margulies
THE TIZZY: Superior Donuts, Race, and Enron were all shut out. The first was well received, but shuttered quickly, the 2nd was not well received, but has done solid business and is still running, the 3rd is reviled by many for its perceived anti-Americanism. I’m somewhat surprised to see Time Stands Still on the list, mostly because I forgot it happened, and sort of thought it was a revival even though it clearly wasn’t. Oh, and Martin McDonough’s first direct-to-Broadway play, A Behanding in Spokane, was snubbed.
WHO WILL WIN: It’s between Red and Next Fall. Next Fall is a “New American Play” and that alone could get it the win, as could the orgasmic reviews it got. However, people I know who saw it HATED it, and Red is probably the better work. And, as Reasons to be Pretty can attest, Tony voters never actually vote American because everyone assumes only British people can make plays. Unless it’s Enron.
Best Musical
American Idiot
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet
THE TIZZY: Come Fly Away is not on the list, Million Dollar Quartet is. Some probably thought Everyday Rapture would make it on the list, but I was dubious. In general, Off-Broadway was the place for musical theater this year, and this is a sad lot of nominees with Memphis, which I simply did not enjoy, being the only musical in which a couple of writers sat down, created characters and a story, and then wrote songs for them to sing.
WHO WILL WIN: I’m pretty sure it’s going to be American Idiot, even if no one is really all that excited about it, and Mayer was snubbed in the director category. Fela! has it’s supporters, but most people thought it was--though stunning--confusing, long, and ultimately boring. But what it has going for it—amazing choreography and a unique “experience”—could be enough in this dud of a season. Million Dollar Quartet is a crowd pleaser, but not a serious contender. Memphis could actually take home top honors, simply by virtue of its pure intentions, and because it’s been running since the fall and building some kind of an audience for itself.
Best Book of a Musical
Everyday Rapture Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
Fela! Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones
Memphis Joe DiPietro
Million Dollar Quartet Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
THE TIZZY: Adams Family, the only new book musical of the season was not nominated. Probably because of that “everyone hates it” thing. But you’d be hard pressed to show me what kind of book Fela! has. Basically, there’s Memphis and filler. And, as I said before, I didn’t like Memphis.
WHO WILL WIN: It kinda has to be Memphis, doesn’t it. Though a win for Everyday Rapture is not out of the question, because everyone loves Sherie.
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Addams Family Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Enron Music: Adam Cork, Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
Fences Music: Branford Marsalis
Memphis Music: David Bryan, Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan
THE TIZZY: 2 plays are nominated in this category, because Broadway musicals sucked so hard this season.
WHO WILL WIN: Memphis, again, for showing up.
Best Revival of a Play
Fences
Lend Me a Tenor
The Royal Family
A View from the Bridge
THE TIZZY: That Jude Law Hamlet was overlooked, but, for the most part, these are the revivals people were talking about. Well, these and Brighton Beach Memoirs, which was ineligible because of its short run, but deserved to win.
WHO WILL WIN: A View from the Bridge or Fences.
Best Revival of a Musical
Finian's Rainbow
La Cage aux Folles
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
THE TIZZY: Promises, Promises was snubbed in favor of the Ragtime revival (which I loved, but many thought was a week regional production).
WHO WILL WIN: La Cage. It was fresh, felt contemporary, and elevated the source material. It is what a revival should be.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law Hamlet
Alfred Molina Red
Liev Schreiber A View from the Bridge
Christopher Walken A Behanding in Spokane
Denzel Washington Fences
THE TIZZY: All of these nominees are already-famous movie stars. And I’m sure they all deserve their nominations, but it’s not really celebrating and honoring the theater community—I expect this same bunch to be in competition for an Oscar somewhere down the line.
WHO WILL WIN: It’s probably between Liev and Denzel. Alfred Molina will win.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis Fences
Valerie Harper Looped
Linda Lavin Collected Stories
Laura Linney Time Stands Still
Jan Maxwell The Royal Family
THE TIZZY: So…there are apparently no roles for women this year, with Linney getting nominated more or less by default (and for being famous). At first I thought Tovah Feldshuh was snubbed, then I realized she wasn’t in anything this season.
WHO WILL WIN: Jan Maxwell. At least, she should. Otherwise, she’ll keep getting nominated for everything she’s in until she does. It’s called the Susan Sarandon factor. Remember when she was nominated for The Client? But Maxwell could win in featured, in which case, Lavin will win.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer La Cage aux Folles
Sean Hayes Promises, Promises
Douglas Hodge La Cage aux Folles
Chad Kimball Memphis
Sahr Ngaujah Fela!
THE TIZZY: Kelsey Grammer couldn’t really sing the role when I saw it (though I imagine anyone would sound flat singing “Look Over There”). John Gallagher Jr. was snubbed. As was the guy in A Little Night Music.
WHO WILL WIN: It’s between Hodge—who was fantastic in La Cage—and Ngaujah. If I had a vote, I would go with Hodge, but I think Ngaujah could walk away with it. Only catch—he only does about half the shows a week. Many Tony voters probably saw the understudy and doubtfully want to sit through the show again.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin Finian's Rainbow
Sherie Rene Scott Everyday Rapture
Montego Glover Memphis
Christiane Noll Ragtime
Catherine Zeta-Jones A Little Night Music
THE TIZZY: Christiane Noll was nominted. Kristen Chenoweth was not.
WHO WILL WIN: Sherie. Not only is she wonderful and he show poignant and honest, but she basically threw it on Broadway in 2 weeks after Megan Mullaly pulled out of Lips Together, Teeth Apart. Kate Baldwin was the darling of the fall, and might win if Tony voters want to reward her for, you know, acting, which Sherie doesn’t exactly do, as she is playing herself.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
David Alan Grier Race
Stephen McKinley Henderson Fences
Jon Michael Hill Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken Enron
Eddie Redmayne Red
THE TIZZY: Maybe someone expected Tony Shaloub to get a nomination for Lend Me a Tenor? And no one from Next Fall was nominated. Otherwise, this category looks like a dumping ground for token nominations for otherwise overlooked plays.
WHO WILL WIN: The guy from Red won shit in London, but doesn’t this award always have to go to someone in a revival of an August Wilson play?
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Rosemary Harris The Royal Family
Jessica Hecht A View from the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson A View from the Bridge
Jan Maxwell Lend Me a Tenor
THE TIZZY: Um, Maria Dizzia? She was good, don’t get me wrong, but to be the only recognized performance from that show…that seems odd. Also, this is randomly the most fiercely competitive category of the season.
WHO WILL WIN: Jessica Hecht. Unless Jan Maxwell wins this instead of Leading Actress. Really, she should win both.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin The Addams Family
Robin De Jesús La Cage aux Folles
Christopher Fitzgerald Finian's Rainbow
Levi Kreis Million Dollar Quartet
Bobby Steggert Ragtime
THE TIZZY: Actually, this seems about right. Maybe someone expected Euan Morton to get nominated, but I did not.
WHO WILL WIN: I personally think it should be Christopher Fitzgerald, but I actually think it will be Bobby Steggert.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit Come Fly Away
Lillias White Fela!
THE TIZZY: Old lady catfight!
WHO WILL WIN: Angela should have the edge, because she is acting and Babs is just singing songs we’ve heard her sing before. But Angie won last year, and Babs hasn’t been up for nomination since She Loves Me or something. But Katie Finneran could walk away with the award, like the originator of her role, for providing some merciful humor in Promises, Promises.
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage Red
Sheryl Kaller Next Fall
Kenny Leon Fences
Gregory Mosher A View from the Bridge
THE TIZZY: I actually don’t think there are any major upsets here. Well, perhaps people thought Rupert Good would get a nom for Enron.
Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley Memphis
Marcia Milgrom Dodge Ragtime
Terry Johnson La Cage aux Folles
Bill T. Jones Fela!
THE TIZZY: Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s nomination is probably getting a lot of WTFs. Also, Michael Mayer—who is, ostensibly the only reason American Idiot is a show in the first place—was overlooked, which actually does not bode well for its chances of winning.
WHO WILL WIN: Terry Johnson.
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford Promises, Promises
Bill T. Jones Fela!
Lynne Page La Cage aux Folles
Twyla Tharp Come Fly Away
THE TIZZY: Oh, that’s where Promises, Promises and Come Fly Away has been hiding.
WHO WILL WIN: Bill T Jones. I mean, he has to.
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr La Cage aux Folles
Aaron Johnson Fela!
Jonathan Tunick Promises, Promises
Daryl Waters & David Bryan Memphis
Below are the rest of the nominations, which I will not comment on. I will say that I am so excited for The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, where I had the pleasure of working the past 2 summers, and its well deserved Tony Award for Best Regional Theater.
Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty The Royal Family
Alexander Dodge Present Laughter
Santo Loquasto Fences
Christopher Oram Red
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici Fela!
Christine Jones American Idiot
Derek McLane Ragtime
Tim Shortall La Cage aux Folles
Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz Lend Me a Tenor
Constanza Romero Fences
David Zinn In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Catherine Zuber The Royal Family
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici Fela!
Santo Loquasto Ragtime
Paul Tazewell Memphis
Matthew Wright La Cage aux Folles
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin Hamlet
Neil Austin Red
Mark Henderson Enron
Brian MacDevitt Fences
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams American Idiot
Donald Holder Ragtime
Nick Richings La Cage aux Folles
Robert Wierzel Fela!
Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners Fences
Adam Cork Enron
Adam Cork Red
Scott Lehrer A View from the Bridge
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans La Cage aux Folles
Robert Kaplowitz Fela!
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen A Little Night Music
Dan Moses Schreier Sondheim on Sondheim
Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Alan Ayckbourn
Marian Seldes
Regional Theatre Tony Award®
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut
Isabelle Stevenson Award
David Hyde Pierce
Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
B.H. Barry
Tom Viola
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lol re: best original score tizzy
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of this. Big difference: Fela will win Best Musical, Viola Davis will win Best Actress (I know Jan is great, but you need to see Viola) and Jan or Jessica will win in Featured. We'll see how it goes...
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