Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Show Showdown's Tony Picks (Not All of Which Are "Hamilton")

If you are a reader of this blog, we probably don't have to tell you that early June means the annual Tony awards. Even if you are not a reader of this blog, we also probably don't have to tell you that Hamilton is up for a record-breaking 16 awards, and that it will very well end up getting most of them. But wait! That doesn't mean the broadcast will be dull! There have been some remarkable shows and performances on Broadway (and beyond) this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing excerpts on tv--and finding out who wins in some of the non-Hamilton categories. Plus, who knows? Major upsets happen sometimes, so it's not over 'til it's over--or at least 'til Burr takes deadly aim.
Without further ado, then, Show Showdown's humble contributors offer you our Tony predictions--and much, much more!---after the jump and this fetching picture of James Corden holding a Tony and maybe talking or singing to it.



PLAY
Wendy
Will winThe Humans
Should win: Not The Humans
I have no idea why this generic, predictable, and somewhat annoying show has been so well-received. I thought that King Charles III was way better: surprising, unusual, and thrilling.
OB/OOB shows that should have been nominatedJohn by Annie Baker; Schooled by Lisa Lewis; Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus; Salvage by August Schulenburg

Sandra
Will winThe Humans
I’m more of a musical kind of gal, so I saw none of the plays on this list. But all my theatergoing friends (save Wendy, above) rave about this one, so I'll walk with them.

Cameron
Will winThe Humans
Should winKing Charles III
Mike Bartlett's verse dramedy is one of the most inventive, original plays to reach Broadway in years, but will have been closed for nearly six months by Tony time. Stephen Karam's highly acclaimed (and currently running) family drama seems the show to beat.
OB/OOB shows that should have been nominatedJohn by Annie Baker

Liz
Will winKing Charles III
Should winEclipsed
I'm probably wrong about both, but as I see it, The Humans got lots of nominations for OB awards (after its run at the Roundabout)--just not a lot of actual wins. If the feminist in me had her way, Eclipsed--a show about, directed, written and performed (brilliantly, all around) by women--would take the prize.
OB/OOB shows that should have been nominated: I loved Annie Baker's John--as well as Taylor Mac's Hir and Jordan Harrison's Marjorie Prime--but the winner of this year's biggets OB prizes for best play is the one I agree was the best of the year--and of some other years, to boot. Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj kicked my ass last summer, burrowed its way into my guts and soul, and was enormously deserving.

MUSICAL
We're unanimous on this one: Hamilton will and should win, because duh, that's why. Cameron notes that Dear Evan Hansen should have been nominated had it been a Broadway show....which it will be this fall, so consider his shoutout an early nod for the 2017 Tonys.

REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Wendy
Will winA View from the Bridge
OB/OOB shows that should have been nominatedAdvance Man, Blast Radius, and Sovereign, all by Mac Rogers; Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill

Sandra
Will winA View from the Bridge

Cameron
Will and should winA View from the Bridge
No one brings fresh perspective to well-trod ground better than Ivo van Hove, who had a smashing debut season on Broadway after years working downtown and in Europe. I expect his extraordinary production of Miller's popular Greek tragedy will bring home the statue.
OB/OOB shows that should have been nominatedIncident at Vichy, Signature Theater

Liz
Will winThe Crucible
Should winA View from the Bridge
The Crucible is running now, is shinier and gimmickier and more star-studded than View was, and has just a titch more relevance to the current political climate. But I too think Bridge was the superior Van Hove production. Either way, I can't see this award going to someone who isn't Belgian--unless Long Day's Journey manages to upset the cart. 

REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
Wendy
Will winThe Color Purple

Sandra
Will winFiddler on the Roof
Should win: She Loves Me, because it’s just so damn charming.

Cameron 
Will and should winThe Color Purple
All four nominees are exceedingly fine, but never has a single production so profoundly changed the way I saw the material being presented.

Liz
Will winThe Color Purple
Should winSpring Awakening
Deaf West's production was beautiful, moving, and made so much more sense than the original production did. Also, Deaf West just kicks ass as what they do, so there.

BOOK OF A MUSICAL AND SCORE OF A MUSICAL
We're unanimous on these, too: Lin-Manuel Miranda for Hamilton. Though Sandra gives a nod for the freshman efforts of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (Bright Star) and to Sara Bareilles (Waitress) because it's nice to see some new composing blood on Broadway...especially since both scores were far better than U2's Spidey attempt.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
Wendy
Will win: Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge 
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Ed Harris, Buried Child; Jason Howard, Advance ManBlast Radius, and Sovereign

Sandra 
Will win: Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge

Cameron
Will win: Frank Langella, The Father
Should win: Mark Strong, A View From the Bridge
Strong gave the most finely-etched portrait of Eddie Carbone I've ever seen. But it seems that perennial favorite Langella is poised to collect his fourth career trophy. 
OB/OOB people who should have been nominatedDenis Arndt, Heisenberg

Liz
Should win: Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge or Frank Langella, The Father
This could easily go to either actor, both of whom gave exceptionally good performances. I'd love to see Strong win since he's a relative newcomer, but Langella's performance is certainly deserving.
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed, Guards at the Taj. Gentlemen, may you both get all the challenging, interesting, brilliant roles you deserve.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
Wendy
Will win: Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Vanessa Vache, Utility; Becky Byers, Blast Radius; Hanna Cheek, Sovereign

Sandra
Will win:  Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night 
Should win: Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible 
Okonedo was by far the most naturalistic, moving actor in the piece.

Cameron
Will win: Jessica Lange, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Should win: Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible
Lange's Mary Tyrone manages to be both manic and mannered, and left me completely cold. Nevertheless, she will claim her first career Tony. My vote goes to Okonedo, whose Elizabeth Proctor is the powerful center of an otherwise misguided production.
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Georgia Engel, John; Mary-Louise Parker, Heisenberg

Liz
Will and should win: Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible
Expressive, moving, and quirky, Okonedo was the anchor of the entire production. I'm sure Lange will understand.

OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Lois Smith, John and Marjorie Prime; Kristine Nielsen, Hir.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Wendy
Will and should win: Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Sandra
Will win: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Should win: Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Burstein's ebullient Tevye finds joy in a darkening world. 

Cameron
Will and should win: Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton
Burr will beat Hamilton. Sound familiar? 

OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: My eye's on you for next year, Ben Platt of Dear Evan Hansen.

Liz
Will and should win: Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton
I adore you, Danny Burstein, and still think you were robbed for Follies in 2011. Your day will come, I promise, and if this is the upset of the season, I'll eventually be ok with that, but Odom is extraordinary in a very tough role, and deserves the love Burr never gets.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Wendy
Will and should win: Cynthia Errivo, The Color Purple
Of course, there may be a Hamilton sweep, and Phillipa Soo is amazing, but I think Erivo will slow down the Hamilton express here.
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Kate BaldwinSongbird

Sandra
Will win: Philippa Soo, Hamilton
Should win: All of the nominees.
Wow … what a year for women’s performances. All were superb.

Cameron
Will and should win: Cynthia Errivo, The Color Purple"
A star is born" moments are few and far between on Broadway these days. Erivo's brilliant Broadway debut certainly qualifies.
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Alison Fraser, First Daughter Suite

Liz
Will and should win: Cynthia Errivo, The Color Purple
If the most jaw-dropping performance on Broadway doesn't earn this woman a Tony, I am going to fling heavy items at my television set.

FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
We're unanimous that it will go to Reed Birney, The Humans.

Wendy
I think people will take this opportunity to thank Birney for his entire, amazing career.

Cameron
Should win: Michael Shannon, Long Day's Journey Into Night
Shannon's performance is haunting and haunted, but the award will go to stage veteran Birney.
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Tom Phelan, Hir; Richard Thomas, Incident at Vichy

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Wendy
Will win: Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
See what I said above about Birney. Ditto.
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Dana Ivy, The School for Scandal; Sol Crespo, Salvage

Sandra
Will win: Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans

Cameron
Will win: Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Should win: Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Houdyshell is overdue, but her role in The Humans is not the kind that generally wins awards. Hilty's role in Noises Off, on the other hand, is.
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Lois Smith, John; Tamara Tunie, Familiar

Liz
Will win: Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Should win: Pascale Armand or Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed
Both Armand and Sengbloh deliver vividly realized portrayals in an engaging, important play.

FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Wendy
Will win: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
This is a super-strong category with five Tony-worthy performers. But Diggs has two showy roles in a masterpiece, and he is superb in both.

Sandra
Will win: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
A shout-out, though, to Jonathan Groff. Both Groff and Diggs are magnetic; King George just gets less air-time than Lafayette/Jefferson. 

Cameron
Will win: Christopher Jackson, Hamilton
Should win: Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Perhaps the hardest category to predict. Diggs should take home the statue for his brilliant reimagination of Thomas Jefferson, but my gut tells me Jackson's George Washington will get the gold.

Liz
Will and should win: Daveed Diggs or Christopher Jackson, Hamilton
I suspect Diggs will take it because his parts are both so showy and he is so brilliant in them, but Jackson is quietly, steadily strong as Washington, and his "One Last Time" just slays me. So I could see the award going to him, too.

FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Wendy
Will win: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton.
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated:  Erin Dilly, Songbird

Sandra and Liz
Will win: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton
She's incredibly deserving, but we both want to acknowledge Jennifer Simard, who dominated Disaster! with her comic timing and deliriously delightful gambling addiction. What an absolutely hilarious Broadway debut--please come back soon! 

OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Mary Testa, First Daughter Suite

Cameron
Will and should win: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton.
Eliza got the guy, but Angelica will get the Tony
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Rachel Bay Jones, Dear Evan Hansen and First Daughter Suite

SCENIC DESIGN, PLAY
Wendy and Sandra
Will winJan Versweyveld, A View from the Bridge

Cameron 
Will win: Christopher Oram, Hughie
Should win: Beowulf Boritt, Therese Raquin
In both cases, the best thing about the productions.

Liz
Will win: David Zinn, The Humans
That is one successfully rendered, perfectly hideous basement apartment, I tellya.

SCENIC DESIGN, MUSICAL
We all think David Korins will win for Hamilton. Sandra and Cameron both note, however, that David Rockwell's whimsical jewel-box set for She Loves Me deserves an award, but, Cameron adds, a sweep's a sweep.

COSTUME DESIGN, PLAY
Wendy
Will win: Michael Krass, Noises Off 
This is a total guess.

Sandra
Will win: Jane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night

Cameron
Will and should winJane Greenwood, Long Day's Journey Into Night 
The 20th time should be the charm for Greenwood, a veteran designer who has somehow never taken home a competitive Tony (she received a lifetime achievement award in 2014).

Liz
Will and should win: Clint Ramos, Eclipsed
Ramos's costumes manage to reflect both the characters' horrible living situation and the dignity they maintain as survivors.

COSTUME DESIGN, MUSICAL
We're unanimous that it'll go to Paul Tazewell for Hamilton. Have you ever tried strenuous contemporary dance in 18th-century garb? That shit needs to breathe AND be comfortable in a way that the real clothing surely never was. Give the man a prize for preventing the whole Hamilton cast from getting an unpleasant rash! 

LIGHTING DESIGN, PLAY
Wendy
Will winNatasha Katz, Long Day's Journey Into Night
I think the Jan Versweyveld vote will get split; with one show, I think he would win.

Sandra
Will win: Jan Versweyveld, The Crucible
This interpretation liked to play with light … a lot.

Cameron
Will and should winJan Versweyveld, A View From the Bridge
The menacing lighting was like an additional character in this brilliant production.

Liz
Will win: Jan Versweyveld, The Crucible
Should win: Jan Versweyveld, A View from the Bridge
See above: What Sandra and Cameron both said.

LIGHTING DESIGN, MUSICAL
Wendy and Sandra
Will win: Howell Binkley, Hamilton

Cameron and Liz
Will win: Howell Binkley, Hamilton
Should win: Ben Stanton, Spring Awakening
Cameron adds: Nearly nine months after seeing it, I'm still struck by how beautifully Deaf West's production of Spring Awakening was lit. But I don't for a second think it has a chance against Hamilton.

BEST DIRECTOR, PLAY
We are all pulling for Ivo Van Hove for A View from the Bridge, during which Liz frequently had to remind herself to breathe.

Wendy
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Will Davis, Men on Boats; Heather Cohn, Salvage; Jordana Williams, Advance Man, Blast Radius, and Sovereign

Cameron
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Sam Gold, John

Liz
OB/OOB people who should have been nominated: Rachel Chavkin, The Royale; Anne Kauffman, Marjorie Prime

BEST DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
Um, duh, it'll totally be Thomas Kail for Hamilton. Clear out a prominent spot in your office, dude!

Cameron
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Kirsten Sanderson, First Daughter Suite

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
We agree that it will almost certainly go to Andy Blankenbuehler for Hamilton, though Wendy, Sandra, and Cameron think that if there's an upset, it could go to Savion Glover for Shuffle Along, which would hardly suck because it's Savion fucking Glover for Pete's sake. 

Wendy
OB/OOB person who should have been nominated: Camille A. Brown, Cabin in the Sky

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
We all think it'll go to Alex Lacamoire for Hamilton. What, you're surprised by this at this point?

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