Tony Predictions: 2019

Best Musical

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Beetlejuice

Hadestown

The Prom
Tootsie

• Liz Wollman: Hadestown. Seriously, can we please celebrate a creative team that’s almost all women, along with an original book and score? I’m sure Tootsie’s great, but if we’re going to pretend the Tony’s honor the best of the genre, I’d love to see the award not go to another repurposed movie.
• Sandra Mardenfield: Ditto. Even though Tootsie changed its movie scenario extensively, making it a better fit for the stage, Hadestown was the most original work.
• Wendy Caster: I'm picking Hadestown not because I'm sure it'll win but because I loved it.

Best Play

Choir Boy

The Ferryman

Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Ink
What the Constitution Means to Me

• LW: This seems to be a race between Ferryman and Constitution, either one of which would be fine with me (and I suspect it will go to Ferryman, though I admit to rooting for Constitution).
• SM: I, too, think Ferryman will win, even though I prefer the underdog Constitution. Still, isn’t this what the Tony’s are about—finding new talent and rewarding it? I am hopeful.
• WC: Okay, so I saw What the Constitution Means to Me and thought it was a nice little play that I was glad to have only paid $45 to see. I never expected it to get all the attention it's gotten, so what do I know? But I'm predicting Ferryman, just like Liz and Sandra.

Best Revival of a Musical

Kiss Me, Kate

Oklahoma!

• LW: If this doesn’t go to Oklahoma! then civilization has ended, and that’s not an exaggeration at all.
• SM: Kiss Me, Kate still feels antiquated despite the updates, and although I still love the music and all that tap, Oklahoma! should take it.
• WC: Haven't seen Oklahoma!, but Kiss Me, Kate, was bland and unnecessary. Oklahoma! it is.

Best Revival of a Play

All My Sons

The Boys in the Band

Burn This

Torch Song

The Waverly Gallery

• LW: I’m stumped, especially since I missed a bunch of these. I’ll be thrilled to see any of the contenders win, though I think I’d be extra-thrilled to see Boys win, so that’s my pick even though I’ll probably be wrong and it’ll more likely go to Waverley Gallery.
• SM: I tend to think Liz is right with this one. Still, I’m going to cast my vote in the name of sentiment for All My Sons, the first play that made me cry in the theatre.
• WC: I'm going with The Waverly Gallery.

Best Book of a Musical

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations: Dominique Morisseau

Beetlejuice: Scott Brown and Anthony King

Hadestown: Anaïs Mitchell

The Prom: Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin

Tootsie: Robert Horn

• LW: Hadestown, though I’d be happy to see Dominique Morisseau take a Tony home any day.
• SM: I think Anais Mitchell for Hadestown will get it, but it could go to Robert Horn from Tootsie. Beetlejuice should have hired him to update their musical!
• WC: While I loved Hadestown, I thought its book was its weak point. I'm going out on a limb with this one and predicting The Prom.

Best Original Score

Beetlejuice, music and lyrics: Eddie Perfect

Be More Chill, music and lyrics: Joe Iconis

Hadestown, music and lyrics: Anaïs Mitchell

The Prom, music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Chad Beguelin

Tootsie, music and lyrics: David Yazbek

To Kill a Mockingbird, music by Adam Guettel

• LW: Hadestown, hands (a long way) down.
• SM: Hadestown. The musical was developed for years, and it shows with strong, emotional and impactful tunes.
• WC: The gorgeous Hadestown.

Best Direction of a Play

Rupert Goold, Ink

Sam Mendes, The Ferryman

Bartlett Sher, To Kill a Mockingbird

Ivo van Hove, Network

George C. Wolfe, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

• LW: If for the baby- and animal-wrangling alone, I’m going to bet this will go to Sam Mendes for Ferryman
• SM: I agree Sam Mendes for The Ferryman, but I also like George C. Wolfe for Gary: A Sequal to Titus Andronicus, who makes the grisliness of Shakespeare’s bloodiest play as campy and fun as its going to get.
• WC: I agree: Sam Mendes.

Direction of a Musical
Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown

Scott Ellis, Tootsie

Daniel Fish, Oklahoma!

Des McAnuff, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations
Casey Nicholaw, The Prom

• LW: A tough one. Chavkin’s a genius with space and mood, but Fish has practically reinvented one of the most revered musical chestnuts without changing a word. I think Fish should get this one, but it’ll probably go to Chavkin (Hadestown).
• SM: Can it be a tie? Both are deserving, but I go with Chavkin because of the structured beauty of each scene, for the overabundance of emotion in the vehicle, AND for her ability to make this downer of an ending uplifting and hopeful.
• WC: I wish this would go to Chavkin, but I actually think Daniel Fish'll get it.

Best Leading Actor in a Play

Bryan Cranston, Network

Paddy Considine, The Ferryman

Jeff Daniels, To Kill a Mockingbird

Adam Driver, Burn This

Jeremy Pope, Choir Boy

• LW: Cranston may get it because he’s easily the best thing about Network, though I’d love to see Pope get the award in a thrilling upset.
• SM: I think Cranston for Network is the favorite here.
• WC: This is a difficult one to predict, but I'm going with Adam Driver.

Best Leading Actress in a Play

Annette Bening, All My Sons

Laura Donnelly, The Ferryman

Elaine May, The Waverly Gallery

Janet McTeer, Bernhardt/Hamlet

Laurie Metcalf, Hillary and Clinton

Heidi Schreck, What the Constitution Means to Me

• LW: Did you SEE Elaine May in Waverly? Because holy Moses the woman was just fucking extraordinary. If she doesn’t win, she sure as shit should have.
• SM: Didn’t see Waverly, but I’m going with Heidi Schreck. The Tonys love a success story: from giving speeches about the Constitution to earn college tuition to opening a show about it on Broadway could be a plot to a new play next season.
• WC: I'm still astonished that Glenda Jackson wasn't nominated, even though I didn't think she was all that good. I think it's Elaine May.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Brooks Ashmanskas, The Prom

Derrick Baskin, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Alex Brightman, Beetlejuice

Damon Daunno, Oklahoma!

Santino Fontana, Tootsie

• LW: I bet it’ll go to Fontana, but again, if there’s an upset and Daunno gets it, I wouldn’t throw anything at the television set or anything.
• SM: Damon Daunno of Oklahoma or Santino Fontana from Tootsie—although, like Liz I think Fontana is the favorite.
• WC: I agree: Santino Fontana
  

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Stephanie J. Block, The Cher Show

Caitlin Kinnunen, The Prom

Beth Leavel, The Prom

Eva Noblezada, Hadestown

Kelli O’Hara, Kiss Me, Kate

• LW: This is tough. Block and Leavel stand out most from where I sit—and I think Block is favored over Leavel, so I’ll bet it’ll be her.
• SM: Definitely Block. She captured the legendary Cher perfectly.
• WC: I agree: Stephanie Block.

Best Featured Actor in a Play

Bertie Carvel, Ink

Robin de Jesús, The Boys in the Band

Gideon Glick, To Kill a Mockingbird

Brandon Uranowitz, Burn This

Benjamin Walker, All My Sons

• LW: I’d love to see Robin de Jesús win for “The Boys in the Band” though I haven’t seen a great many of the contenders and I suspect the dude nominated for Ink (Bertie Carvel) will get it instead.
• SM: Ditto on Bertie Carvel for Ink.
• WC: Although I was not impressed with Benjamin Walker personally, a lot of other people were.

Best Featured Actress in a Play

Fionnula Flanagan, The Ferryman

Celia Keenan-Bolger, To Kill a Mockingbird

Kristine Nielsen, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Julie White, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Ruth Wilson, King Lear

• LW: Fionnula Flanagan was particularly memorable in The Ferryman, though I’d be happy to see any of these women win.
• SM: Flanagan should get it or Celia Keenan-Bolger in To Kill a Mockingbird. She made a grown-up version of Scout believable and touching.
• WC: I'm going with Ruth Wilson, who was the best thing in Lear.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

André De Shields, Hadestown

Andy Grotelueschen, Tootsie

Patrick Page, Hadestown

Jeremy Pope, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Ephraim Sykes, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

• LW: C’mon, people, give André De Shields some love for this role and for a career as one of the hardest working men in show business, will you please? But if not, seriously, then Patrick Page, ditto. Then again, they’re all awesome and brilliant at what they do, so whatever.
• SM: Love De Shields, but Patrick Page, and that deep voice from Hell should get it.
• WC: I think it will be Andy Grotelueschen because he's the only one who won't be splitting the vote with someone else from his show.

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Lilli Cooper, Tootsie

Amber Gray, Hadestown

Sarah Stiles, Tootsie

Ali Stroker, Oklahoma!

Mary Testa, Oklahoma!

• LW: Don’t make me pick this one! Just give them all a prize for ending up in the most competitive competition in the whole goddamn Tony awards, maybe ever in all of history. Truly, choosing one feels like a betrayal to all the other astounding brilliance. But Ali Stroker, probably.
• SM: Sorry Amber Gray from Hadestown. I truly loved your joyfulness and energy but it's Ali Stroker’s year.
• WC: While I suspect Ali Stoker will indeed win, I cannot vote against Amber Gray, who strikes me as a great star in the making and whom I adored.

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Miriam Buether, To Kill a Mockingbird

Bunny Christie, Ink

Rob Howell, The Ferryman

Santo Loquasto, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Jan Versweyveld, Network

• LW: I’m thinking it’ll go to The Ferryman, though I haven’t seen Mockingbird.
• SM: Rob Howell, The Ferryman
• WC: Santo Loquasto

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Peter England, King Kong

Rachel Hauck, Hadestown

Laura Jellinek, Oklahoma!

David Korins, Beetlejuice

• LW: For me it’s between Hadestown and Oklahoma! with a slight edge toward the latter.
• SM: I gotta go with the monkey so Peter England from King Kong. Although Rachel Hauck of Hadestown is probably going to win
• WC: Total guess: King Kong

Best Costume Design of a Play

Rob Howell, The Ferryman

Toni-Leslie James, Bernhardt/Hamlet

Clint Ramos, Torch Song

Ann Roth, To Kill a Mockingbird

Ann Roth, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

• LW: No clue. Ann Roth for one or the other? And will she be upset if she loses out to herself?
• SM: I think  Ann Roth has the best odds …
• WC:  Ann Roth for Gary

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Michael Krass, Hadestown

William Ivey Long, Tootsie

William Ivey Long, Beetlejuice

Bob Mackie, The Cher Show

Paul Tazewell, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

• LW If Bob Mackie doesn't win, his life will be a total sham and we will all have to apologize to him, both collectively and personally.  
• SM:  Bob Mackie all they way for The Cher Show.
• WC: Who am I to argue:  Bob Mackie

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Neil Austin, Ink

Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

Peter Mumford, The Ferryman

Jennifer Tipton, To Kill a Mockingbird

Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden, Network

• LW: Peter Mumford, The Ferryman
• SM: Peter Mumford, The Ferryman
• WC: Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden, Network

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kevin Adams, The Cher Show

Howell Binkley, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Bradley King, Hadestown

Peter Mumford, King Kong

Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini, Beetlejuice

• LW: I gasped aloud at a few moments during Hadestown, which is one of the most visually beautiful musicals I've ever seen. It should go to King.  
• SM: It’s amazing how Bradley King changes the mood onstage with light adjustment in Hadestown.
• WC: Kevin Adams, The Cher Show

Best Sound Design in a Play

Adam Cork, Ink

Scott Lehrer, To Kill a Mockingbird

Fitz Patton, Choir Boy

Nick Powell, The Ferryman

Eric Sleichim, Network

• LW I think the Ferryman will take this, if only for the slow sonic build at the end of the three-hour saga.  
• SM: Fitz Patton, Choir Boy.
• WC: Eric Sleichim, Network

Best Sound Design in a Musical

Peter Hylenski, King Kong

Peter Hylenski, Beetlejuice

Steve Canyon Kennedy, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Drew Levy, Oklahoma!

Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, Hadestown

• LW: I’m leaning toward Oklahoma!
• SM: I think Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz for Hadestown.  
• WC: Who knows? Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Best Choreography

Camille A. Brown, Choir Boy

Warren Carlyle, Kiss Me, Kate

Denis Jones, Tootsie

David Neumann, Hadestown

Sergio Trujillo, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

• LW: I was delighted by Brown’s choreography for Choir Boy but suspect Tootsie.  
• SM: Warren Carlyle for Kiss Me, Kate. The dancing is the best thing about the show—and he shows you why tap is still relevant as an art form.
• WC: Sergio Trujillo, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

Best Orchestrations

Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, Hadestown

Simon Hale, Tootsie

Larry Hochman, Kiss Me, Kate

Daniel Kluger, Oklahoma!

Harold Wheeler, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations

• LW: OMFG PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS BE FOR OKLAHOMA!
• SM: Liz seems so passionate with this one, so I’m gonna side with her. Oklahoma!
• WC: Peer pressure! Oklahoma!