Well folks, tonights the night. It's been a long theater season, with some wonderful highs and some tragic lows. It all comes to a head this evening as the 2012 Tony Awards air live on CBS. Who will win? Who should win? I discuss my predictions in the major categories below.
Choreography: The nominees are:
Rob Ashford: Evita
Christopher Gateli: Newsies
Stephen Hogget: Once
Kathleen Marshal: Nice Work if you can get it.
Who should win: Christopher Gatelli
Who will win: Christopher Gatelli
He's been nominated before and never won. His choreography in newsies in absolutely wonderful. In addition to just being fantastic choreography, every step perfectly enhances the emotional moments of the story. The choreography is in fact an extension of story telling. This should be his year. Never count out Kathleen Marshal though, she could score back to back Tony wins.
Director of a musical: The nominees are:
Jeff Calhoun: Newsies
Kathleen Marshal: Nice work
Dianne Paulus: Porgy and Bess
John Tiffany: Once
Who should win: Jeff Calhoun
Who will win: John Tiffany
This year seems to be a battle between what is commercially popular and what is considered to be art. The "commercial entity" is Newsies, and the "art" is Once. Now, I'm not making any statements on the quality of either piece, however, if we base things on years past (the horribly boring and bland RED winning best play, for example) art usually wins out. Jeff Calhoun doesn't always do what I would consider quality work as a director. In Newsies, however, he has succeeded in steering a ship that could have easily been sunk, and he headed it straight to Broadway. He deserves to win. Of course, Dianne Paulus over came all odds (and Stephen Sondheim) to bring a profoundly different Porgy and Bess to the great white way. She could be rewarded for her efforts.
Director of a play: The nominees are:
Nicholas Hytner: One Man, Two Govnors
Pam Makinnon: Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols: Death of a salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers: Peter and the Starcatcher.
Who should win: Roger Rees and Alex Timbers
Who will win: Mike Nichols
What Roger Rees and Alex Timbers have accomplished with Peter and the Starcatcher is nothing short of amazing. The simplicity of the story telling juxtaposed with the complexity of the play are delightful to watch. Nichols, however, has received huge praise for his touching, profound, and modern yet old fashioned revival of this Arthur Miller classic. Don't count out Nicholas Hytner however, One Man Two Guvnors has been a huge success and could be rewarded for it.
Featured Actor in a Play: The Nominees Are:
Christian Borle: Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty: End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden: One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield: Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos: Clybourne Park
Who should win: Christian Borle
Who will win: Tom Edden
Christian Borle is giving the best performance of his career so far every night at The Brooks Atkinson theater. The comic timing as well as emotional depth he is exhibiting in Peter and The Starcatcher trancesds everything this actor has done before. Tom Edden, however, is One mans best chance at a Tony win, and voters will surely not send this popular show home empty handed. Don't count out Andrew Garfield however, for his exceptional Broadway debut performance in DOS.
Featured Actress in a play: The Nominees Are:
Linda Emond: Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden: Don't Dress for Dinner
Celia Keenan Bolger: Peter and the Starcatcher
Judith Light: Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad: Stick Fly
Who should win: Judith Light
Who will win: Judith Light
This category is the only one in which it's very difficult to choose the rightful winner. Every actress in this category is giving (or gave) a formiddle performance in the role for which she is nominated. Spencer Kayden carries the entire production of Don't Dress for dinner, while Condola Rashad was heart rending in Stick Fly. Judith light, having her second back to back nomination, is giving a performance of such high magnitude in a role that is so well written that it would be shocking if she didn't win.
Featured Actor in a musical: The Nominees Are:
Philip Boykin: Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris: Evita
David Alan Grier: Porgy and Bess
Michael McGrath: Nice work
Josh Young: Jesus Christ Superstar
Who should win: David Alan Grier
Who will win: Michael McGrath: Nice Work
This category is the least exciting. All of the actors nominated are extremely talented, but none are giving exceptionally buzz worthy perofrmances. Michael McGrath has won all other major awards ceremonys in this category so I would expect him to continue that streak. Of all the performances, David Alan Griers is the most deserving in my opinion. Don't count out Josh Young, who did recieve early criticle praise for playing Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Featured Actress in a musical: The Nominees Are:
Elizabeth A Davis: Once
Jayne Houdyshell: Follies
Judy Kaye: Nice Work
Jessie Mueller: On a Clear Day you can see forever
Da'Vine Joy Randolph: Ghost
Who should win: Jayne Houdyshell
Who will win: Judy Kaye
This, like the featured actor musical category - is pretty much a non event. Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Jessie Mueller have been given obligitory nominations so that there shows could at least have SOMETHING nominated. To be fair, Mueller was one of very few bright spots in a terrible revival. Jayne Houdyshell brought the house down every night with her utterly fantastic Broadway Baby. Judy Kaye, however, is giving an equally comic performance in a slightly larger role. Not to mention she has won every other award in this category that she has been nominated for this season. Don't count out Elizabeth A. Davis for Once though.
Leading Actor in a Play: The Nominees are:
James Corden: One Man, Two Guvnors
Phillip Seymour Hoffman: Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones: The Best Man
Frank Langella: Man and Boy
John Lithgow: The Columnist
Who should win: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Who will win: Philip Seymour Hoffman
There are only two horses in this race. Hoffman, and James Corden. Philip Seymour Hoffman is giving what many are calling the Penultimate Willy Lohman. This is not my favorite play, however, Hoffman is absolutely astounding in it. James Corden is giving an equally remarkable performance of a different kind over at The Music Box, however I expect Hoffman to walk away with the prize at the end of the day.
Leading Actress in a play: The Nominees are:
Nina Arianda: Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett: End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing: Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin: The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon: Wit
Who should win: Stockard Channing
Who will win: Tracie Bennet.
This is the hardest, yet easiest category to call. Every single actress nominated is giving a spectacular performance. Stockard Channing is giving a chilling, yet warm performance as matriarch Polly Wyeth, and her acting choices are remarkable. Her specificity is tremendous. You feel for this woman despite her nature because of Ms. Channings performance. Tracie Bennett, however, is giving the more buzz worthy performance. That's not to say that she isn't good, and there is no denying that she IS the show.
Leading actor in a musical: The nominees are:
Danny Burstein: Follies
Jeremy Jordan: Newsies
Steve Kazee: Once
Norm Lewis: Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines: Follies
Who should win: Danny Burstein
Who will win: Danny Burstein.
Every actor nominated is giving a wonderful performance. Danny Burstein is the best Buddie to have ever played the role, and therefore he must win. He is the only actor who has ever made the character work perfectly. Norm Lewis is giving too controversial a performance in Porgy and Bess to win. Jeremy Jordan will have other chances. It's Danny Bursteins year.
Leading Actress in a musical: The Nominees are.
Jan Maxwell: Follies
Audra McDonald: Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti: Once
Kelli O'Hara: Nice Work
Laura Osnes: Bonnie and Clyde
Who should win: Jan Maxwell
Who will win: Audra McDonald.
This was a hard one for me. Jan Maxwell was absolutely stunning as Phylis, and though she has been nominated many times she has never won. This is the best musical performance she has ever given. It almost seemed as though the role was written for her. Audra McDonald is giving the same type of performance in a larger role, in a show that is still running. I imagine that she will take home the prize.
Best Revival Play: The Nominees Are:
Death of a Salesman
The Best Man
Master Class
Wit
What should win: Master Class
What will win: Death of a Salesman
The MTC revival of Wit was one of the most profound theatrical experiences of my life and it deserves to win for it's superb culmination of all elements of theater. Death of a Salesman was equally stunning, however the cheated in using the original set design and music. It was a wonderful revival though, and I wont be upset if they win. Don't count out The Best Man, which is still running until sept and could use the boost in ticket sales.
Revival Musical: The Nominees Are:
Evita
Follies
Porgy and Bess
Jesus Christ Superstar
What should win: Follies
What will win: Follies
The Kennedy center production of Follies that played this season at the Marquis was unparalelled to any other revival that opened on Broadway this year. In my opinion it should still be running. Every theatrical element was perfect. It deserves to win.
Best Play: Clybourne Park
Other Desert Cities
Peter and the Starcatcher
Venus in Fur
What should win: Peter and the starcatcher
What will win: Clybourne Park.
Every nominated play is excellent. Peter and the starcatcher deserves to win not for it's superior writing, but for being the best over all production. Clybourne Park is equally deserving for it's direction, performance, and wonderful script. Other Desert cities could pull ahead though, and I'd be ok with that too.
Best Musical: Leap of Faith
Newsies
Nice Work if you can get it
Once
What should win: Newsies
What will win: Once.
NEwsies deserves to win because it's a better over all production. It has a wonderful (mostly) new score, fantastic direction and choreography, effective set, lighting, and costume design, and it's the most fun on Broadway. Once, however, is the more artistic choice, and it needs more help. Artists like to vote for what they consider to be art, even if it isn't very good.
So there you have it. The show is about to start to - I guess we'll see if I'm right!
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