This season, we saw every nominee in all of the musical categories (including Best Choreography nominee Scott Graham and Stephen Hoggett's work in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). We agreed, for the most part, on what we liked and didn't like, with a few differences (An American in Paris, for example - I liked it much better than he did...). Overall, though, I think we agree that this season was full of award-worthy shows and performances. In almost all of the musical categories, I think it is safe to say that any one of the nominees is a potential winner. A lot of these were difficult to choose; I'd love a tie or two!
JEFF’S TONY PICKS | MIKE’S TONY PICKS |
BEST MUSICAL | |
Fun Home | Fun Home |
Mike says: This is what I'm hoping for, anyhow, and I think it has a great chance of winning. If it doesn't, it'll be An American in Paris, which frankly left me extremely unimpressed. Jeff says: I really hope that Fun Home wins. Of the four nominees, An American in Paris was my least favorite, though I enjoyed it and recognize its artistry. This could end up being another Next to Normal – Billy Elliott or Urinetown – Thoroughly Modern Millie situation. | |
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL | |
The King and I | The King and I |
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL | |
Sam Gold Fun Home | Sam Gold Fun Home |
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY | |
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris | Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris |
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL | |
Lisa Kron Fun Home | Lisa Kron Fun Home |
BEST SCORE WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE | |
Jeanine Tesori (Music), Lisa Kron (Lyrics) Fun Home | Jeanine Tesori (Music), Lisa Kron (Lyrics) Fun Home |
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS | |
Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliott An American in Paris | Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, Bill Elliott An American in Paris |
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL | |
Brad Oscar Something Rotten! | Brad Oscar Something Rotten! |
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL | |
Judy Kuhn Fun Home | Sydney Lucas Fun Home |
Mike says: My personal choice would be Judy Kuhn, who makes an incredible impression with a small-ish part. But I think the ubiquitous 11-year-old Lucas will take the prize, which I'm also totally happy with. | |
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL | |
Michael Cerveris Fun Home | Michael Cerveris Fun Home |
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL | |
Kristin Chenoweth On the Twentieth Century | Kelli O’Hara The King and I |
Mike says:It's a toss-up between O'Hara and Kristin Chenoweth (I don't think Chita has much of a chance, much less Beth or Leanne). I guess I'm picking my sentimental favorite here; if I were actually betting on it, I might go with Kristin. Jeff says: Perhaps Kelli will finally get her long overdue award, possibly to make up for last year. But, as wonderful as she is, she’s not the best Anna Broadway has seen. Even though I hated On the Twentieth Century, even I can recognize that Kristin is giving a tour de force performance by most standards. I know it isn’t a popular opinion, but I thought she was superb in Promises, Promises– much better than she is in Twentieth Century. | |
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL | |
Bob Crowley and 59 Productions An American in Paris | David Zinn Fun Home |
Jeff says: I really hope Mike is right on this one, as Zinn’s design matches the entire production so perfectly, and it solves the Circle-in-the-Square space issues. I really admire Yeargan’s design for The King and I, too, for the exact same reasons, but I think it says something when design choices have to be explained in the program. But I can totally see the voters going for Paris because it incorporates those always hard-to-classify projections. (There really needs to be a separate category for those!) | |
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL | |
Gregg Barnes Something Rotten! | Gregg Barnes Something Rotten! |
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL | |
Donald Holder The King and I | Ben Stanton Fun Home |
What do you think of our choices? How do our picks compare to yours? Let us know! Email: jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com; Twitter: @jkstheatrescene; or leave a comment below!
Jeff