Audra McDonald and Danny Burstein Make Tony History!!!

[SondheimTesori]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 11:11am

Huge congratulations to both of them. Audra is now the most Tony nominated performer in history (11 nominations), and Danny ties Jason Robards as the most Tony nominated male performer in history (8 nominations)!!!!

Feel so grateful to be alive in an era when these two are onstage.

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 11:11 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 1:01pm

It is wild that Burstein only has one Tony... and it's for Moulin Rouge... and was given during the Covid ceremony.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 1:10pm

It is wild that he is nominated for this.  A boring performance.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 1:37pm

Kad said: "It is wild that Burstein only has one Tony... and it's for Moulin Rouge... and was given during the Covid ceremony."

Reading your comment, I genuinely forgot he was even in that show lol.

 

Herbie is an odd character, and as an amalgam of figures and impulses I feel one of the least "perfect" aspects of this mostly-"perfect" show. And he is, of course, basically made to be steamrolled anyway. But I do feel like Danny made more of an impression than the character typically does. He has more of a spine than Boyd Gaines' Tony-Winning Herbie did. I saw a good regional Gypsy a few years ago and it occurs to me I can't even remember what Herbie looked like...

Anyway, quite an achievement for them both! 

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 1:57pm

SmokeyLady said: "It is wild that he is nominated for this. A boring performance."

Agreed... he's usually fantastic, but I've seen more charming, nuanced Herbie's in dinner theatre.

[binau]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 4:33pm

It was much more devastating to watch Danny Burstein in Follies. He was so perfectly cast as the beta male that Sally settled with. 

Bernadette's Sally very unhappy to see him because of course she is looking to find Alpha male Ben

Now she is having a much better time clearly 


Danny tormented about the way he is being treated



Confronting Sally in one of her deranged interactions 



There was A LOT of love for Danny at the time and he was hyped to have a good chance to win the Tony for the production (likely played a part perhaps of the Tony performance being 'Buddy's Blues', but didn't. 

It is kind of cool that Danny has now been next to two of the Sondheim 'red dress' (80th birthday) girls - Bernadette in Follies and Audra in Gypsy. 

But I barely remember his performance in Gypsy from last year............................

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 04:33 PM

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 5:26pm

He absolutely disappears in this production. Made all the more glaring by the steamroller that is Audra's performance in this. Which may also be an effect on Joy's Louise as well because she too bored me to tears. 

[always bway]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 5:34pm

Audra's performance of Rose's Turn was truly incredible. The depth and rage is unmatched. 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 6:58pm

always bway said: "Audra's performance of Rose's Turn was truly incredible. The depth and rage is unmatched."

Oh yeah- and move the hit wheee she can’t belt it so she sounds like a mouse singing opera.

Bursteins Tony nomination is a joke. He makes no impact in this show- mainly because the part is so weak, but someone else more deserving lost out here.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 7:06pm

Take your hatred somewhere else.

Congratulations on both of these two absolutely lovely, brilliant, and beautiful stars! 

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 7:37pm

There have been rich and soulful Herbies before.  His is just bland and the same stuff he has done before.  And it is not hatred to have opinions and different views.  It is showbiz.  

Updated On: 5/1/25 at 07:37 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 8:12pm

I always found Burstein overrated. Meanwhile, I'd be very happy if Audra won another Tony.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 8:55pm

I'll be the one to say it...Burstein delivers a nuanced and beautifully modulated take on Herbie. Watching his performance, I was struck by just how much Herbie is suffering below the surface, caught between his love for Rose and how uncomfortable he is made by her behavior. His Herbie is a fundamentally decent guy who's short fuse had clearly lead to trouble in the past, and he plays the role with a lot of hard-won emotional control. The way he uses the notes of anger and frustration throughout are fascinating (I thought this was the case in FOLLIES too)...when he has the opportunity to be angry at someone other than the woman he loves, all that suppressed rage comes pouring out. It's a lot of nuance and a lot of skill. Absolutely Tony-worthy work. Y'all need glasses. 

I would not have nominated Joy Woods (or Gracie Lawrence, for that matter) but ce la vie. It's a crowded field this year and there's a lot of great performances. Cheers to a great season. 

[bear88]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 9:07pm

ChairinMain said: "I'll be the one to say it...Burstein delivers a nuanced and beautifully modulated take on Herbie. Watching his performance, I was struck by just how much Herbie is suffering below the surface, caught between his love for Rose and how uncomfortable he is made by her behavior. His Herbie isa fundamentally decent guywho's short fuse had clearly lead to trouble in the past, and he plays the role with a lot of hard-won emotional control. The way he uses the notes of anger and frustration throughout are fascinating (I thought this was the case in FOLLIES too)...when he has the opportunity to be angry at someone other than the woman he loves, all that suppressed ragecomes pouring out. It's a lot of nuance and a lot of skill. Absolutely Tony-worthy work. Y'all need glasses.

I would not have nominated Joy Woods (or Gracie Lawrence, for that matter) but ce la vie. It's a crowded field this year and there's a lot of great performances. Cheers to a great season."

I thought Burstein was terrific and played very well off McDonald. His Herbie goes through a lot during the show and from my seats -sixth row or so - I could see it in his eyes and how he carried himself. (I had never seen Gypsy before, so I don’t have other Herbies with whom to compare.)

[DAME]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 9:16pm

 

Have you seen him on stage before?  

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 9:26pm

I've seen him in Follies, Drowsy Chaperone and Moulin Rogue - he was wonderful in each of these shows. 

[DAME]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 9:37pm

Drowsy he was terrific in.  He’s a wonderful, wonderful actor. But he definitely has his bag of tricks. Glad you enjoyed him.

[bear88]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 10:34pm

DAME said: "

Have you seen him on stage before? "

First time for me (in the case of Burstein).

[Kad]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 10:52pm

People are really bitching about Danny Burstein, one of Broadway’s most reliable troupers and biggest mensches? Seriously? 

[DAME]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 11:00pm

I think his performance in the show is being discussed.  But if people want to bitch ..it is still a free country.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 5/1/25 at 11:05pm

His Tevye was meh.  And very similar to his Herbie.  Just saying.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 3:09am

I was quite let down by their Gypsy but these are two of the greatest performers we have. They very much deserve this honor.

[alovingfan]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 2:27pm

We can celebrate the fact that they made Tony history.  But we can still have our thoughts on their work in the show.  

[CJRochester]

Posted: 5/4/25 at 8:57pm

My favorite Danny Burstein role was Doolittle in My Fair Lady. He was a replacement, so he couldn't win a Tony, but it was definitely an award-worthy performance. 

[VanillaIceCream2]

Posted: 5/5/25 at 11:18pm

Audra mentioned that her husband bought her a Tony the Tiger t-shirt as a gift to celebrate her history-making nomination, which I thought was very cute.

Audra's win rate is just unreal, and a bit of a fluke (as far as I know, no one else has every racked up three wins in five years). That being said, she's my pick to win this year too for her transcendent Rose's Turn.