Actress in a Musical Tony predictions ? — Page 5

Ljay, you certainly have made me very excited for THE VISIT. It sounds like a killer performance whether she wins the Tony or not.
I think the conversation about the nominees is a bit futile before we know the billing decisions from the Tony committee regarding the productions that have yet to open.
And honestly, O'Hara sounds spectacular in the BRIDGES cast recording (when doesn't she though?), but Jessie Mueller's performance will live in my mind for the rest of my life. Not only is she onstage pretty much the entire time, but she reinvented songs that many of us had listened to literally hundreds of times. The way she modified her voice from the shy, naive songwriter to the stunning, world-class performer she becomes by the time she sings the title song never fails to wow me and her performance during the book scenes was as delicate and electrifying. She earned that Tony in spades.

---

icecresmbenjamin, I'm curious, how many of these performances have you actually seen (as in live...actually at the theater)?

In terms of placement, I could see Fun Home petitioning Beth Malone in the Leading category. It's not a flashy role, but the whole show is told from her character's perspective, and I believe she has more stage time than either of the Allisons.

---

And seriously, do people who say someone who's older has less value than someone who is younger not realize that they will be older one day? Or do they hope to die before hitting a certain age?

EXACTLY. Those ageist comments were horrible.

I like to visit this board because there is just such a high level of knowledge of Broadway. And there is probably so much talent here that deserves a public hearing and probably will never get it. I don't usually post much, but I've been just so excited about King and I and 20th Century that I've been moved to join in.

I'm not sure if you can make ageist statements if you're already above the ages in question. It is just a sad fact that your ability to sing and dance decline as you move deep into middle age. Julie Andrews, as I said, confirmed this, if it needed confirming.

I've already said that Chita Rivera has an astonishing resume. She has been recognized with two Tony awards, a Kennedy Center honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It's doubtful that Kelli or Kristin will ever attain the latter two.

Chita Rivera simply could not duplicate the performance of Kristin Chenoweth. I've seen the show twice. In ten years, Kristin Chenoweth will not be able to perform as she is doing now. Sentimentality should not enter into the decision, although of course it often does.

Kelli O'Hara is so grounded that I don't think another snub will affect her much. She has had so much going right in her life with her Broadway success, her marriage, the birth of her two children, that I think she can put this into perspective. Last year was the year that might have hurt her because she put so much into "Bridges."

Tomorrow night I see her live for the fifth time, and I leave you all to just be nasty to each other.

"The Tony award should not go to the actress who made their show financially successful. "

I didn't mean financially successful I meant artistically successful. Bridges was unsuccessful on so many levels and her performance was part of that cloth.

---

JBroadway I couldn't disagree with you more. Kelli was flat and boring as Anna, to me. It's Chita's award to lose. Kelli sings well, but she is doing nothing with that role.

It sounds like Kristin is the favorite to win right now. Could change but I would love to see Kristin win one more Tony.

---

The best actress category is stacked this year, I think the Finding Neverland producers would be wise to per her in the supporting category if it's not too much category fraud. She would actually have a chance at the win in supporting.

---

Tough year. You can make a good case for any of them. I would be inclined to vote for Chita just to recognize her great career and her great contributions to Broadway theater. What might change my mind is that she has received two of the highest honors the country can give: the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Meal of Freedom.

So looking at the voting from a kind of sentimental viewpoint, I would want to give the award to the actress who will be hurt the most if she doesn't receive it.

I don't think that Kelli O'Hara is getting bad notices at all for The King and I. The night I saw it the curtain call applause doubled in volume when she took her final bow.

I do think that people may be starting to take Kelli O'Hara for granted. I expect reviews like "It's no surprise that Ms. O'Hara portrayed Anna almost without flaw." She is a hard working actress who goes from one project to the next and always delivers.

But Kelli's life has been going so well with the increasing fame, the good marriage and the birth of two children that I don't think she would be devestated by being passed over again.

I would go to Kristin Chenoweth. At forty-six, it's not clear how long she will continue to attract legions of fans attracted to her bubbling personality. It's not clear how much longer she will be able to play such a demanding role as Lily Garland, physically and vocally. This may be her one and only good shot at a Tony.

And due to her, a very good musical stuffed in the far corner of the attic has been brought back for everyone to enjoy.

Updated On: 4/8/15 at 10:44 AM

Behindthescenes2 has to get nominated for one of the categories with that Cheno love letter a few pages back.

---

I think I would actually feel really bad for Chita if she loses. I would love to see Kristin win though especially since she was snubbed for Apple Tree. And Kelli..well, she will get it eventually. What is Kelli O'Hara doing next anyway? Also, is Beth Malone definitely featured?

---

Updated On: 4/6/15 at 11:52 AM

Do we know when the final Tony eligibility meeting is? I couldn't find it on their website. I'm especially curious to see where everyone in Fun Home will land. Cerveris and Kuhn are billed above title with everyone else below, but I can't imagine that being how the final decision falls. I actually wouldn't be against Cerveris going Leading. And Beth Malone could as well. But I also wouldn't be upset with either landing in Featured. Is it enough of an ensemble piece that no one will be called a lead?

The last meeting has to be after the last opening night and before the nominations. So between the 23rd and the 28th.