Audra McDonald - Another Tony?

[WickedGinger]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 11:35am

Will Audra McDonald be eligible for a Tony nomination for her performance in Lady Day at Emersons Bar & Grill?

[dreaming]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 11:39am

One would assume so. They eliminated the 'special event' category so I don't know whether she'll be in the leading actress in a play or musical category. (I don't envy anyone being in either one to tell the truth. She's got a better shot at actress in a musical, but if they put her in leading actress in a play, she'll have been nominated in all four categories. I have no clue whether this is taken into consideration.) She just won leading actress in a musical not so long ago, and this is really a concert type of show, so I don't know if that will work against her. Because she's Audra, likely not. However, both categories are chock full of worthy competitors. (I tend to think either Marin Mazzie or Kelli O'Hara may FINALLY win and that Cherry Jones is the likely leading actress in a play contender at this point.)

[jkstheatrescene]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 11:57am

Does anyone know when they will be deciding if this is a play or musical? Revival or new? I don't think the Tony committee has met since early January...

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:02pm

The Internet Broadway Database categorizes the show as a Musical.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:02pm

She already has a mantlefull

Time for Ohara

Updated On: 3/18/14 at 12:02 PM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:02pm

Isn't this just her singing Billie Holiday songs cabaret style? Or is there dialogue and more of an "End of the Rainbow" thing?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:06pm

It's described as a "play," so it should be eligible in most categories. The better question:

Is it a play with music? Or a musical?

EDIT: I wouldn't go by IBDb.com. I've found tons of errors and omissions there.

The Tony nominating committee will decide, no doubt.

Updated On: 3/18/14 at 12:06 PM

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:06pm

I agree with Mr Roxy! I would LOVE to see Kelli being one home!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:29pm

This will likely be classified as a play unless they've added a significant amount of additional songs to the script.

Audra seems likely for a nomination in Best Actress in a Play and could be a strong candidate to win, since her chief competition, Cherry Jones and Rebecca Hall starred in plays that have closed and Tyne Daly is giving a wonderful performance in a not-very-good play.

Who else am I forgetting?

[dreaming]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 12:29pm

I'm in the camp of either O'Hara or Mazzie. Neither one has ever won a Tony and I was quite impressed with O'Hara's performance (going to see Bullets and I'll make up my mind about Ms. Mazzie then).

I think Cherry Jones will take leading actress in a play. I think it will make zero difference that her play closed-it ran a good long while and did very well. Her turn as Amanda is something that will set a new standard for that role. Updated On: 3/18/14 at 12:29 PM

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 1:18pm

I think we are seriously underestimating Michelle Williams. If she's in any way good, she could easily nab the Tony this year from O'Hara (I'd love her to win, but it really doesn't seem like a good enough role for her to finally triumph with...) and Menzel (don't think she's that loved to warrant a second Tony)... The brilliant Natasha Richardson won the Tony for her chilling Sally Bowles, and I see no reason if Williams pulls it out of the bag, to see the latter making her way to the podium come June. We'll see...

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 1:22pm

It's hard to underestimate when people are just projecting awards onto performances that have yet to be performed publicly in many cases.

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 3:26pm

Although O'Hara was great, I think its going to be Jessie Mueller who wins this year.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 4:09pm

"since her chief competition [for best actress in a play], Cherry Jones and Rebecca Hall starred in plays that have closed and Tyne Daly is giving a wonderful performance in a not-very-good play."

Michael Bennett you are forgetting Estelle Parsons: highly respected actress, Academy Award winner, four previous Tony nods (her first in 1968, her fourth in 2002) and never won, recently scored a major coup in a major role on Broadway when she took over from Deanna Dunagan in August: Osage County, outstanding out of town reviews in Velocity of Autumn (which will likely still be open at tony nom. time), 86 years old.








Updated On: 3/18/14 at 04:09 PM

[veronicamae]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 10:07pm

I thought the Tonys already classified it as a play?

I swear I read it...because I have been relieved of her going up against Idina for several days now.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 10:30pm

The committee won't make a determination on its eligibility until the show opens and they have seen it.

[veronicamae]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 10:36pm

"The committee won't make a determination on its eligibility until the show opens and they have seen it."

It better be a play with music! lol

I'm seeing it on 3/29. I will be sure to let them know.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 10:54pm

When "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" played Off-Broadway in 1987, Lonette McKee received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

The show features something like 16 musical numbers. But then so did "End of the Rainbow," and that was deemed a play by the Tony committee (and I would agree — it was a play about a singer, and therefore featured musical performances as part of the play. "Lady Day" might fall in the same category — but there is precedence for it being considered a musical).

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 11:03pm

because I have been relieved of her going up against Idina for several days now.

Totally, I'm glad someone can finally tell Mazzie, Mueller, O'Hara and all others that they are giving performances that are not Tony worthy.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/18/14 at 11:10pm

There IS precedent for Audra not winning a Tony.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 4:44am

At this point, I'm gonna say that its going to be a nail bitter between Menzel and O'Hara, with Menzel having a possible edge if BRIDGES doesn't make it to the TONY awards. McDonald is amazing, but it depends on if they make the show eligible in the Play categories or the Musical categories, and if she can knock it out of the ballpark (not saying she won't...Audra can sing the phone book and make me cry. But her name alone doesn't mean she will automatically be nominated, as with any actor).

[artscallion]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 7:53am

Lady Day has 18 full songs. It's basically a cabaret concert with typical cabaret patter in between, setting up each song and weaving a loose story. I didn't see "End of the Rainbow", were the 16 songs in that show full songs?

I've said it before, but my biggest concern is that, aside from Audra's skin color, her singing couldn't be any further from Holiday's singing. When I've seen this, it's presented as kind of a pretty direct impersonation/interpretation in the same way that "End of the Rainbow" was. Audra may sing the songs beautifully. But I'm not sure she'll read as Holiday. I mean that vocally, not acting-wise. But I guess she could prove me wrong.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 8:14am

I have the same preconception of Audra in this role, based on her previous work. I didn't buy her as Sarah in Ragtime even though she gave a strong acting performance. Her voice is/was all wrong for it, and it didn't fit the character. LaChanze was a much better Sarah for that reason. (I saw them both.)

In this case, we're talking about a real person with an iconic singing voice that has often been imitated, even to this day, by the likes of Nora Jones, Erykah Badu, and so many others who borrow her inflections and phrasing.

I don't need a straightforward impersonation of Billie, but if Audra can't convince me of the earthy (and kinda frightening) history behind that weary and wise voice, I don't think it's going to work. If she does do it convincingly, it will be a first. She didn't do it the last time.

Updated On: 3/19/14 at 08:14 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 9:15am

I know she hasn't started previews yet (though neither has Audra...), but I really think a lot of people are making a big mistake in counting out Michelle Williams in this category.

[WickedGinger]

Posted: 3/19/14 at 9:24am

Lets say Audra does qualify for a nomination in the lead actress for a musical category do we think the possibilites are as follows:
Audra McDonald - Lady Day
Idina Menzel - If / Then
Kelli O'hara - Bridges
Michelle Williams - Cabaret
Margo Seibert - Rocky
Marin Mazzie - Bullets
Jessie Mueller - Beautiful
Sutton Foster - Violet

I think I would pick Idina, Sutton, Kelli, Audra and Jessie.

Updated On: 3/19/14 at 09:24 AM