The 79th Annual Tony Awards have just taken place, and there's so much to talk about. Feel free to watch me discuss what I got wrong in my predictions as well as my thoughts on the show as a whole.
Sutton Ross said: "They just did one 10 years ago which met with universal acclaim, but closed after only 4 months. I wonder what names they gotif this is actually true."
To be fair, the Deaf West revival was always intended to be a limited run. It just didn’t end up making any money.
I see film aficionados post on social media all the time about veteran actors they’d love to see become first-time Oscar nominees. I thought I’d ask a similar question regarding veteran Broadway actors.
Of those who’ve been around for a while, but have never been Tony nominated before, who would you most like to see get one someday?
Someone in a Tree2 said: "To Jeffrey Karasarides, you along with many others have credited Queen Jean's win for Best Musical Costume Design as the first time a Tony award has gone to an out trans artist. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Alex Newell winfor SHUCKED in 2023?"
I was mainly referring to Jean as the first trans winner for Best Costume Design of a Musical.
In my latest piece for Gold Derby, I dive into 26 records, milestones and fun facts about this year’s Tony winners (and losers). https://www.goldderby.com/theater/2026/2026-tony-awards-fun-facts-records-trivia-egot/?fbclid=IwdGRleASUIuhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFer8NwOrPGyFaTkd7mC8EBKPQPInvBZeFUyNGAiVyWRr3kJ85YN5VtSJAYU_aem_uU7oLDrEFBaMsbNO61HbRQ
I've seen someone doubt Chess will ever have a good book. They feel the fault lies with the character of Florence. She has no dreams or ambitions of any import that we know of, and her character just bounces back and forth between two men who are emotionally unavailable. That story trap is compounded by the fact that all of her songs cover the same emotional territory. Unless someone is willing to change or jettison the songs at the risk of undermining the show’s
broadway86 said: "So it’s looking like Levy is pretty close to a lock? She was very good, but I feel like the category is just super weak this season. " I guess it's kind of similar to 2019 where this category was filled out with respected performances, but didn't spark a ton of enthusiasm. So Stephanie J. Block just ran away with it. Although at the time, I was skeptical about whether or not she could win given that The Cher Show wasn't nominated for Best Musical and Heather Headley at that point was the last individual to have overcome that hurdle when she won for Aida in 2000. I also didn't buy this overdue narrative for Block given that she had only been nominated twice before (unlike Kelli O'Hara when she won in 2015) and was still relatively young (unlike André De Shields when he won this same year). I remember some speculated if Beth Leavel could upset as a consolation prize for The Prom or if Eva Noblezada could be a potential coattail win for Hadestown. Yet goodwill from Block being a mainstay in the Broadway community for the past decade and a half at that point likely helped.
This year, I've seen some speculate Marla Mindelle as a potential threat to win. While possible, I have a feeling that Levy having the juiciest role of the lineup coupled with goodwill from her 20 years in the community may carry her across the finish line.
Ensemble1698878795 said: "I think people don’t realize how political Tonys are. Touring voters will vote for the show that will sell best in their market. It’s not about what’s deserving. It’s also how many co producers on a show vote for their own show. Ragtime has already announced a tour. It has commercial edge though it’s not the most thought provoking revival."
Keep in mind that it was revealed about a decade ago that the
malcs98 said: "Ptero2 said: "Ragtime finally getting to compete with Jellicle Ball and getting both Revival and Direction seems like a good omen for them. I've been on the verge of switching my Tony predictions to the same winners and this helps... with the caveat that it IS the Drama League Awards. Anyone know offhand if they're more predictive in winners than they are in their insane nominees?"
I think most of the time they are, but you never k
quizking101 said: "Not Lear winning for direction. WHAT. DIRECTION?!"
Well, part of the director's job is to get the best performances they possibly can out of their actors. Not to mention that Lear did previously win this award for Into the Woods in 2023. I'm not expecting her to repeat with the Tonys though.
theatrekid3302 said: "MadsonMelo said: "Is this groundbreaking for a RAGTIME production? Nope, but still hit hard.
Lear deBessonet just knew how to stage those scenes and effortless took direction to create images without a single thing (hyperbole!) on that stage. I kept looking how things were being managed and felt like it's a very clever part of the production this direction. I know many people didn't liked that, but I dig hard.
The cast? Probably my favorite of all of these musicals. The 5 actors nominated earned those noms even tho Uranowitz was maybe not 100% the night I saw.
Ben Levi Ross may be the only musical nominee that was stronger in the book scenes than in musical numbers, that applause on open scene during that moment with Father was stunning.
Henry is outta this world, he acts for the last person of that Mezz but works damn well, I will likely remember his performance for many many years.
Caissie Levy has this amazing presence, and when it came to ''Back to Before'' I was speechless.
I have to say that Nichelle has such a different tone from Audra that it was strange some moments, but I still wept at ''Wheels of a Dreams''.
As a whole it's a reminder that this piece has one of my, don't know, 10 favorite scores of a Broadway musical? And to see it live with THAT cast was a dream."
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