2016 Drama League Nominations & Awards — Page 2

I predict this will likely be between:

Danny Burstein

Jessica Lange

and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Danny and Jessica are giving great performances atop very distinguished careers and Lin-Manuel is simply winning everything in sight for HAMILTON, so why not here as well?

I wouldn't discount Laura Benanti either. And given the year she had and her career as a whole, I could even see someone like Lois Smith taking it, though it probably doesn't help that both of her shows are closed.

Diggs makes sense. Anyone who thinks Lin is giving a more "distinguished" performance than Renee, Leslie, and Chris Jackson....I'm not sure.

The award is just for performance, correct? Not "everything."

BroadwayConcierge said: "Official Drama League page with a bit of an easier-to-view layout of the noms:

http://dramaleague.org/events/awards/nominees



"

Good call, much better.

The performance award really has to be viewed as a Lifetime Achievement Award because it can only be rewarded once to the chosen actor.

In theory, it perhaps would be nice for people like Goldsberry and Groff to be mentioned here, but the likelihood of them winning would have been extremely unlikely.

Cynthia Ervio could be a dark horse winner here because she is the Tony frontrunner. I have a feeling this isn't going to be the part Bennati gets this award for, but I do think at some point she will receive this honor.

I actually do, the more I think about it, bet they go with Lin-Manuel Miranda. It's not the performance that most deserves it, but the show is simply too big a juggernaut, and as far as the "life-time achievement' aspect goes -- this is his time.

Updated On: 4/20/16 at 11:35 AM

There's only one logic by which I think Miranda could win: him having the most iconic performance of the season. I really think of this award in that regard. Think about it: Patti LuPone as Rose. Audra McDonald as Bess. Neil Patrick Harris as Hedwig. These are iconic, you-had-to-have-been-there performances. The only question is if we really consider Miranda's performance to be of that caliber.

Updated On: 4/20/16 at 11:38 AM

Not necessarily. Alfred Molina won in 2010.

Lin Manuel won't have my vote. The performance is not the distinguished part of what he is doing with Hamilton.

neonlightsxo said: "Wayman_Wong said: "Generally speaking, the League limits itself to 2 performers per show."

Then they should say that in their press release."

Agreed. That's something that should be clarified.

Miranda is excellent in HAMILTON but I can't see him winning over people like Danny Burstein, Jessica Lange, or Lois Smith. Still, I personally see them going with Benanti or Erivo, but maybe I'm not reading them too well. I am a bit baffled by the omissions too, people like Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jane Krakowski, Leslie Odom Jr., and Daniel Brooks not being included makes no sense to me. It makes sense that they'd have a two performers per show only rule though--still, hard to be happy with any list that doesn't include Goldsberry or Odom Jr., both of who should be in contention for the award itself. Oh well.

I also wouldn't count out Cicely Tyson.

I really wish Odom had been nominated. I still think he gives the best performance in Hamilton. Obviously it's not up to me, but if it were, I'd choose him over either Miranda or Diggs.

"I sometimes think Renee's performance gets slightly overhyped "



Well that's just not true, but OK.