Hello to all you lovely readers! So one of my favorite nights is tomorrow-Tony Awards!!!! The Tonys being the Oscars of Broadway, marks the one televised night where all of Broadway comes out to celebrate the season and honor the winners. Of course leave it to me to publish my predictions column until tonight, the eve of the Tonys! Please remember that these are my own opinions and predictions do not reflect the opinions of the Tony voters!
Best Play
Who will win: Clybourne Park. While this season has so many new plays, Clybourne Park is definitely one of the best critically acclaimed pieces and from the press and the buzz it has been getting it looks like it is the favorite and front runner to win.
Who I think should win:Peter and the Starcatcher. Peter was one of the best new plays that I have seen. It was funny, creative, imaginative and the cast in brilliant the not to mention critics loved it! Compared to other plays this season and past ones Peter is so different because it appeals to both adults and children, it has a sense of innocence about it while making you use your imagination-a Tony win is definitely deserved!
Best Musical
Who will win: Once. It was one of the best new musicals that I have seen in a long time! It is not only the best critically acclaimed new musical of the season but all the elements of the show from the music and acting are all so beautiful and produce this new piece of work that it so touching and real that I think the voters are really liking.
Who I think should win: Once. It was beautiful, moving and touching. I enjoyed it immensely both times I saw it!
Best Book of a Musical
Who will win: Enda Walsh for Once. While the book was well written, it was not my favorite of the season but I still think that it will win see above for why.
Who I think should win: Harvey Fierstein for Newsies. The book was great filled with well-written and fully developed characters.
Best Original Score
Who will win: Newsies. The music is wonderful, fun and energetic! I can’t stop listening to it!
Who I think should win: Bonnie and Clyde. While I love Newsies, I also adored B&C. I think the music to it is so different and fresh. But, people seem to have a bias against Frank Wildhorn and the voters also seem to prefer shows that are still currently running.
Best Revival of a Play
Who will win: Death of a Salesman. This play seems to be the event of the season, garnering rave reviews it appears to be the front-runner with a lot of steam behind it.
Who I think should win: Master Class. I loved this production! I think that Maria Callas is such a difficult and demanding role to play and that was done so beautifully by Tyne Daly. It is the dark horse in the category so while I know that it most likely won’t win I’m holding out a little bit of hope.
Best Revival of a Musical
Who will win: Porgy and Bess or Follies. I think that it comes down between these two and as I loved both of these it is hard to tell. However, Porgy is still running and they have Audra which might give them an edge.
Who I think should win: Porgy and Bess or Follies see above.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Who will win: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Death of a Salesman. He gave an amazing performance that was so moving and the voters seem to vote more now for the Hollywood stars for Tonys.
Who I think should win: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Death of a Salesman. While James Corden is definitely the one to watch for tomorrow night I think that Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance is definitely worthy of a win and will be a beautiful way to honor the show.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Who will win: I’m thinking that Tracie Bennett for End of the Rainbow will win. While she is not the first and definitely not the last actress to play Judy Garland, what makes her performance so stunning is that she really captures Judy Garland and her behavior during her final months.
Who I think should win: Either Nina Arianda for Venus in Fur or Tracie Bennett for End of the Rainbow. Nina is brilliant in Venus going back and forth between characters and accents then Tracie Bennett came along with her phenomenal portrayal of Judy Garland so for me it’s a toss up between the two.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Who will win: I think that Steve Kazee for Once will ultimately take home the trophy. His performance is mesmerizing as his character is a different one by musical theatre standards and people seem to like that.
Who I think should win: Steve Kazee for Once see above.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Who will win: Audra McDonald for Porgy and Bess because she is Audra McDonald and her Bess is just so incredible and amazing.
Who I think should win: While I love Jan I would love to see Audra win but I’m also holding out hope for Cristin Milioti for Once as her performance really holds the show together and I came out just wanting to know who she is and what she might do next.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Who will win: It’s a toss up between Christian Borle for Peter and the Starcatcher and Andrew Garfield for Death of Salesman. Both men gave wonderful performances and both seem to be neck in neck so it’s hard to determine.
Who I think should win: Christian Borle for Peter and the Starcatcher. He was so funny and I loved everything he said in that play. This is a very new meaty role to play that I think he has nailed.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Who will win: Celia Keenan-Bolger for Peter and the Starcatcher. What she does in the play is so challenging and demanding as she is driving force that really holds the show together and she does it while being funny, smart and witty. Lets not forget to mention that she is the only female in the cast!
Who I think should win: Celia Keenan-Bolger for Peter and the Starcatcher see above.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Who will win: I’m thinking that David Allan Grier for Porgy and Bess will take it as he really shines in this production!
Who I think should win: For me it comes down between David Allan Grier and Phillip Boykin for Porgy and Bess as I felt that they both really shined in the production. They both have invested a lot into their characters and it is evident.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Who will win: Judy Kaye for Nice Work If You Can Get It. The theatre community loves her and she is sole actress who I felt was the most consistently funny throughout the show!
Who I think should win: Judy Kaye for Nice Work If You Can Get It. See above.
Best Direction of a Play
Who will win: Mike Nichols for Death of a Salesman. His direction was beautiful and seamless as was the production and again this show is coming into the Tonys full force with a lot of energy behind it.
Who I think should win: Roger Rees and Alex Timbers for Peter and the Starcatcher. While I feel that they should win as what those actors do is so intricate and is almost like choreography which takes very incredible and precise directing. However, what makes me put it here is that I can’t help but wonder if having two directors will hurt them.
Best Direction of a Musical
Who will win: John Tiffany for Once as he really took a film that was so so and transformed it into a very beautiful and moving stage show.
Who I think should win: John Tiffany for Once see above.
Best Choreography
Who will win: Christopher Gatteilli for Newsies. His choreography is so demanding and wonderful to watch and I think that the voters might favor that.
Who I think should win: Christopher Gatteilli for Newsies see above.
Best Orchestrations
Who will win: Either Martin Lowe for Once or William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke for Porgy and Bess. If Once sweeps the awards which I’m thinking it might, than I fully expect Lowe to win, However, Porgy has been so updated that I would not be surprised if the committee wants to honor that.
Who I think should win: William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke for Porgy and Bess see above.
