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

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 9:14pm

* It would've much shrewder for 'Matilda' to submit Bertie Carvel for Featured Actor; he probably would've won there, just as he won the Drama Desk award for Featured Actor in a Musical. For the record, it might be added that Carvel DID win the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in London, and there, he beat out Paulo Szot in 'South Pacific' (who won the Tony for Best Actor).

* Kelli O'Hara joked about competing with Judy Kuhn, but they'd be in different categories. Kuhn was up for Featured Actress in a Musical at the Lortels and the Outer Critics Circle. O'Hara would be up for Best Actress in a Musical. And if she lost, she wouldn't be the first Anna to lose in 'The King and I'; Mary Beth Peil accomplished that feat in the 1985 revival. (In a rare move, the Tonys eliminated the category of Best Actress in a Musical that season - due to the skimpy competition - Peil was moved to the Featured Actress in a Musical category; there, she lost to Leilani Jones ('Grind').

* That said, it's far too premature to predict 'Fun Home' winning any Tonys, especially when there are at least 6 or 7 new Broadway musicals yet to open, just as it was premature to expect 'Matilda' would triumph and take Broadway's top prize.







Updated On: 1/6/15 at 09:14 PM

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 3:42pm

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.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:12pm

You forgot to mention Chita, who is surely the sentimental favorite.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:14pm

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

[tazber]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:17pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Sydney Lucas wins supporting actress.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:37pm

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.

[binau]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:39pm

ZiggyCringe, is this based on anything other than speculation? The current rumour mill is that The Visit is actually imminently about to announce a transfer.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 4:46pm

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

Nope.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:04pm

While I wish the absolute best for Fun Home, and any show for that matter, it seems kind of silly to assess it as the clear Best Musical without even seeing the majority of the shows that will be considered. New York audiences have yet to see Something Rotten, It Shoulda Been You, The Visit, Finding Neverland, An American in Paris, or Doctor Zhivago. I love the enthusiasm, but I wouldn't discount anything that we have yet to see.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:06pm

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

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:10pm

Re: "The Visit" --

Totally based on speculation. If it announces it found a Broadway house tomorrow and starts selling tickets, I guessed wrong, and I'll be first in line to buy a ticket.

My speculation is based on "The Visit" being announced for Broadway for the last five years, and it hasn't happened. Riedel announced in November that it was landing at a Shubert house, but those are sparse. With "The Last Ship" closing, that leaves a house for it, so it may happen.

I think considering the cast size, it could probably be done for $7-8 million. So maybe. But the Kander and Ebb investors that got burned on Steel Pier and Scotsboro Boys and Curtains are probably wary.

Honestly, I hope it happens, I happen to love both the play and the film, and the clips that I've seen from previous productions look promising. I also think it would be wise for them to wait a season, and go into the Helen Hayes/Whatever Corporate Sponsor that theatre is going to be named, and have a chance. And seeing Chita again on Broadway again is always a joy.

Again, just speculation on my part.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:19pm

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

I enjoyed it very much.

Hope the transfer holds up.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:28pm

Gleek -

I agree with you, the season remains to be seen. Any one of the shows you mentioned could be terrific. I have high hopes for Dr. Zivago, which seems to lend itself to musicalization, plus has Des behind it.

"Something Rotten" is coming in blind, since the 5th Avenue Theatre cancelled it. It's had staged readings that have been well received, but so have a bazillion other shows. Will it be better than "Rockabye Hamlet?" Probably. Will it fill the cavernous St. James? Probably not.

"Finding Neverland"? I have no idea. History is not on its side, when you fire the composers and the director and start from scratch. That doesn't tend to work. (Again, I could be wrong. Rogers and Hammerstein were supposed to write "My Fair Lady," and failed, and Lerner and Loewe made it a massive hit. You never know).

"It Shoulda Been You" sounds like Tony and Tina's Wedding set to music. I haven't seen it, and I don't know anybody who has. But it sounds like a catastrophe.

"An American in Paris" got good reviews in Paris (which means nothing), and I think with "On the Town" and "Paris" being huge ballet dance shows, they will cancel each other out.

As far as "Fun Home" being in the round, we don't know that. Circle in the Square can be used as a round theatre or a thrust. I suspect they'll do thrust, and it brings you closer to those characters. Still my vote, because it's brilliant from top to bottom.

Again, its all speculation. And I wish well to all the new musicals coming in this season.






Updated On: 1/7/15 at 05:28 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:40pm

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 :)

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 5:49pm

"As far as "Fun Home" being in the round, we don't know that. Circle in the Square can be used as a round theatre or a thrust. I suspect they'll do thrust, and it brings you closer to those characters."

Err, we do know they are selling seats in the round, though. They are on sale already.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 6:05pm

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

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 6:32pm

Well, it sounds like "The Visit" will hit Broadway this season, and "Fun Home" is playing in the round.

Color me wrong.

I wish all the new musicals the best, and still cling to the hope that "Fun Home" wins best musical. (Just FYI, I did the same campaign for "Next to Normal," and we all know how that turned out.)

Thanks to all of you for the conversation.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 6:37pm

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

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 6:55pm

Wayman Wong
Just saying as I believe Chita's the favorite as she did not win her last 2x around and in her final appearance on Broadway she "is" giving the performance of a lifetime in The Visit (after seeing her @ WTF) that's the main reason for the limited run and the sentiment will be in rewarding her but just like last year, best actress musical will be highly competitive but really between Chita & Kelly in a performance yet to be seen. As for the other ladies you list and the performances seen already by some of them all were notable.

Updated On: 1/7/15 at 06:55 PM

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 8:21pm

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.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 8:25pm

Emma Stone is a replacement, she's not eligable for a Tony. Chenowith is probably a candidate...Lily Garland is a great role, though it's to be seen how that's going to be received. But yeah, it's probably O'Hara's year.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 8:31pm

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

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 8:55pm

JohnnyBroadway --

These awards are amorophous. Larry Kert was nominated for a Tony Award for Company, even though Dean Joans originated the role of Bobby.

Never say never.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:00pm

^ Not gonna happen.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:10pm

And Cabaret was kinda last season...