5th Leading Actress in a Musical Slot speculation

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 6:59pm

With everyone saying that Christine Ebersole - Grey Gardens, Kristin Chenoweth - The Apple Tree,Donna Murphy - LoveMusik, &
Audra McDonald - 110 in the Shade are locks for the Tony's leading actress in a musical category this season, there is still much speculation about who should get the 5th nominee spot! The other choices include:

Lisa Brecia, The Times They Are A-Changin'
Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins
Lea Michele, Spring Awakening
Debra Monk, Curtains
Stephanie J. Block, The Pirate Queen
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde

There's a lot of speculation about whether it's going to Debra Monk or Laura Bell Bundy. Who do you guys think deserves the nomination more based on their performances this season? Thanks!

Edit: I know there's a thread on contenders https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=910789#2929790 , but it's like 26 pages and this thread deals with just that specific fifth slot Updated On: 4/17/07 at 06:59 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:13pm

If we are agreeing that your first 4 are definites, then the 5th will be , I assume, LBB.

I have my reservations about Cheno getting a nod though. I wouldn't be surprised if Monk takes her slot.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:19pm

I don't think we saw the same Laura Bell Bundy.

That said, it's Debra Monk's place to lose. Brescia and Brown are giving generic performances, Michele's part isn't big enough, and Block and her show got negative reviews.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:44pm

Debra Monk should not be nominated for her performance. Her part is tiny, and when she was onstage everything she did fell flat. I found her extremely bad. I would like to see Bundy take her spot and I would LOVE to see Block take Cheno's spot even though PQ got bad reviews.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:54pm

I have some reservations about Murphy getting nominated... not due to perfomance so much as that previous incident of hers.

my picks for the nominations are as follows
Christine Ebersole
Kristin Chenoweth
Audra McDonald
Debra Monk
Laura Bell Bundy

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 7:59pm

The 5 women will most certainly be:

Christine Ebersole
Audra McDonald
Donna Murphy
Kristin Chenoweth
Laura Bell Bundy (who I just saw the other day, and while she is amazing, it is the part that will get her nominated.. she is NEVER off that stage!)

Left out will probably be: Stephanie J. Block, Ashley Brown, Debra Monk, and Lea Michele..

Some argue Kristin won't be up, but she was the one redeeming quality about the revival, and won raves pretty much across the board. She'll be up.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:05pm

"That previous incident of hers" certainly didn't keep Murphy from winning virtually every single award leading up to the Tonys for her performance in WONDERFUL TOWN (as well as a Tony nod) nor did it keep it from winning two Tonys in '94 and '96.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:07pm

Did she win it for Passion?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:08pm

Agree. Those who have seen Murphy have said she is ravishing.

My picks:

Ebersole
McDonald
Murphy
Monk
Chenoweth*

Possibly LBB

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:10pm

Raviolisun, Murphy won just about every NY theater award she was eligible for in '94 for her performance of Fosca in PASSION, then she won again in '96 for THE KING & I.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:11pm

Gee, it's sad that medical problems are considered "previous incidents" that should prohibit someone from accolades.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:18pm

Since Chenos show was only a limited engagement I think she will be over looked.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:20pm

Ebersole
Murphy
Munk
Chenoweth
McDonald

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:20pm

She is, arguably, the best reviewed female actor of the season (besides Ebersole). She'll be nominated.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:23pm

Thank you, Ray. She's amazing on the recording.

[mikem]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:25pm

If the Curtains producers are smart, I think they would petition for Monk to be moved to Featured -- Featured is much less competitive and I think both she and Ziemba would get nominated in that category. Of the six likely candidates for Leading Actress, Monk is the only one who is not carrying her show (David Hyde Pierce is clearly playing the central character), and that might hurt her. I think her performance is worthy of a Tony nomination, but just like Lea Michele, an insistence on being in the Lead category may hurt her.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:27pm

I very much agreed, YankeeFan, Chenoweth got across the board raves and actually gave a tour-de-force performance in THE APPLE TREE, her Eve was particularly touching, funny, and smart at the same time. The fact that it was a limited engagement doesn't really matter much.
Raviolisun, if you like Murphy on recording, you should check out the DVD, it's truly fascinating to watch her performance in the show.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:42pm

It's too late for Monk to be moved to Featured. Petitions for category changes have to be made in writing by producers within two weeks of a show's opening night.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:48pm

I'll be sure to check that out, Ray!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 8:51pm

not that she has a chance in hell at getting a nomination (though i loved her in the role), wouldn't Jen Colella be in consideration for leading actress?

[mikem]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:02pm

Since the same committee does all of the nominations, I think the nominees in this category might be influenced by what happens in other categories. Specifically, I think it would be hard to nominate Legally Blonde for Best Musical without an accompanying nomination for Bundy. If Legally Blonde is left of the Best Musical list, I think Bundy will be left unnominated as well.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:04pm

It's not a science...

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:16pm

I may be wrong, but I don't think so WithoutATrace. Will Chase's name wasn't above the marquis, but the producers petitioned him to the Leading Actor category. Any mention of Colella's role being Leading Actress would have taken place then. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[James2]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:16pm

After hearing what people have said about Murphy and having seen the show myself, I'm not as confident as before that she will get a nomination. I think it might go as this:
Laura Bell Bundy
Kristin Chenowith
Christine Ebersole
Audra McDonald
Debra Monk

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 4/17/07 at 9:25pm

Not too sure about that. Donna Murphy is one of the most respected actresses in the biz. (not my type-we all know who is! But-it's not without reason that she's so highly regarded.)
I still think:
Christine Ebersole
Donna Murphy
Audra McDonald
Kristin Chenoweth
Laura Bell Bundy
are your 2007 Tony nominees for best actress in a musical
Winner: Christine Ebersole