10 Reasons why "Fun Home" will take home the Tony — Page 3

bdn, the "Matilda Effect" is an interesting and valid theory, although I think the case here differs. I think you're correct that "Matilda" came in as a front runner, but I know a lot of people who just didn't like that show (myself included). "Kinky Boots" is a better show, and Broadway tends to take care of its own (Cyndi and Harvey). Plus, I think people were skeptical of Cyndi the pop star being able to write a good Broadway score, after the failure of Phil Collins and Bono, and were shocked that the score was as good as it turned out to be.

Off topic, but interesting, I was at the TKTS booth last week and the people ahead of me were two parents with a 13 year old daughter who wanted tickets to "Kinky Boots." The guy at TKTS talked them out of it, saying the show was "inappropriate" for a 13 year old girl. I was floored, because there is NOTHING in Kinky Boots that is remotely controversial, especially for a 13 year old girl. I was going to say something, but I didn't want the TKTS idiot to give me crappy seats to the show I wanted to see, so I said nothing.

Regarding Kelli O'Hara vs. Judy Kuhn, everybody who posted is correct, they will be in different categories. O'Hara's competition is Chenowith, in a role that she was born to play. I think O'Hara will be good as Anna, but it will be hard for older Tony voters when they compare her to the memory of Donna Murphy's perfect performance in that show.

Lastly, I completely forgot to include in my top 10 list Michael Cerveris. His performance in "Fun Home" is stunning, and like nothing he's ever done before. If you look at his resume, from "Tommy" to "Hedwig" to "Sweeney Todd," he is constantly reinventing himself and is consistently terrific.

I don't know how "Fun Home" will sell, box office wise. I do know that "Curious Dog", a hard sell with no stars and a strange subject matter, is killing at the box office, because its a terrific production. I hope that "Fun Home" finds that word of mouth audience.

Beth Malone will be the Best Actress nominee from Fun Home.

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tazber, I doubt "The Visit" will make it to Broadway this season. I suspect its having a terrible time finding investors. "Scotsboro Boys" got across the board terrific reviews, and lost a fortune both here and in London. "The Visit" is very difficult subject matter, and a hard sell. No shade on Chita, but she's no Hugh Jackman or Nathan Lane when it comes to box office. And it's been done in several regional theatres with mediocre reviews.

The Helen Hayes is being bought by Second Stage, who will perform their own shows. The financial red tape that's going to go on will last past this season, and Second Stage won't get that theatre until next year, and I assume they are going to renovate it (which it really needs). Maybe Second Stage will produce "The Visit," which seems like a good idea, but it won't happen until next season.

As for the girls from "Fun Home," they are all terrific, but I fear they will cancel each other out.

"tazber, I doubt "The Visit" will make it to Broadway this season. I suspect its having a terrible time finding investors."

Nope.

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Not to mention, we haven't even seen the Broadway incarnation of Fun Home. It's not uncommon for shows to loose the spark they once had in a transfer. Also, I assume a lot will be re-staged with it now being in the round.

Updated On: 1/7/15 at 05:06 PM

Saw it a week after it opened at the Public, Halloween night.

I enjoyed it very much.

Hope the transfer holds up.

Zigggy, re: The Visit
It is happening this spring late March!
The Shuberts promised Chita a theater as it will be billed a limited engagement and her final appearance on Broadway and the Lyceum became avail and will be a perfect fit for the musical. Best actress musical will be a tough race with Chita as the favorite to win. Formal announcement any day now...just wait :)

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Yes, we've know this for a little while now.^

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Chita Rivera is a legend and even if 'The Visit' is her farewell role, is she really the favorite to win? She's already a two-time Tony winner. She didn't win her first Tony until 'The Rink' (on her fifth try). She didn't win for last 2 Tony nominations ('Nine' and 'A Dancer's Life') and wasn't even nominated for 'Drood.'

If anyone's overdue for a Tony, it's Kelli O'Hara, who notched her 5th Tony nod with 'Bridges of Madison County.' If she's as good as many of us suspect she will be in 'The King and I,' I think there'll be a lot of sentiment in the Broadway community to reward her.

But rather than declare a favorite, let the season unfold and look forward to Brynn O'Malley in 'Honeymoon in Vegas,' Kelli Barrett in 'Dr. Zhivago,' Laura Michelle Kelly in 'Finding Neverland,' Leanne Cope in 'An American in Paris,' and the others yet to come. And let's not forget to appreciate the work of Erin Davie and Emily Padgett in 'Side Show' and Rachel Tucker in 'The Last Ship.'

Updated On: 1/7/15 at 06:37 PM

Robbie 2 -

Why is Chenowith not in this equation?

In my humble opinion, O'Hara has not won because she was sometimes blown away by other people ("South Pacific"), or just not great ("Pajama Game"). I think she should have won for "Bridges", but she had serious competition that year.

Personally, I find O'Hara dull on stage, and generally without chemistry with her co-stars. I just saw her in "The Merry Widow" at the met, and her vocals couldn't fill the room. That was a strange production, with the vocals without amphlication, but the dialogue miked to the death. Stro's choreography was great, but the show was fighting against itself.

I think Cheno is the one to beat.

And there's Emma Stone, a Hollywood actress who doubled the box office of "Cabaret" after she took over.

Time will tell.
In a race with those four, I think O'Hara comes out on the bottom, and Cheno on the top.

Emma Stone will not be in consideration for anything. That's not how these awards work.

^ Not gonna happen.