2004 Tonys - Anika Noni Rose

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 7:30pm

I listened to both cast recordings of Caroline, or Change this week and it made me think about the only Tony award the show won - Best Featured Actress for Anika Noni Rose. For those who were around and can remember the buzz during that season, was it a surprise or expected that she won? I’m not familiar with any of the other shows that were nominated in that category:

Anika Noni Rose – Caroline, or Changeas Emmie Thibodeaux

• Beth Fowler – The Boy from Oz as Marion Woolnough
• Isabel Keating – The Boy from Ozas Judy Garland
• Karen Ziemba – Never Gonna Dance as Mabel Pritt
• Jennifer Westfeldt– Wonderful Townas Eileen Sherwoo

[jagman1062]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 7:48pm

I saw all the nominated performances that year and Rose's was the superior performance. She got great notices, as I recall, and deserved the award. The other actors were fine, but i don't remember anything stellar about their performances, although Isabel Keating was a decent Judy Garland and may have come in second. The real race that year was for best actress with Tonya Pinkins in contention as Caroline, but for featured actress, I wouldn't say it was much of a contest.

[djjd007]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:13pm

I always likened her performance to Audra Mc Donald’s in Carousel. You could feel a star was born where the actresses were so much larger than their roles and you were in the presence of some magic. Sadly, we haven’t seen Anika return in anything noteworthy, but she also has that Disney money and film. Would love to have her back in a musical!