Best Actor in a Musical tony- Page 2

[B3TA07]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 6:59pm

Parks let's have a Tony-watching party.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:03pm

^ You two would be too busy doing other things than watching the Tonys!

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:10pm

Curtains will win-Kander and Ebb-it is tourable from the sound of things. Reviews have been strong.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:12pm

Raul should win not only because he is phenomenal in COMPANY, but, unlike Pierce, he has given a series of raved about performances both on Broadway and Off, back since he made his Broadway debut in 2002.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:16pm

"But, unlike Pierce, he has given a series of raved about performances both on Broadway and Off, back since he made his Broadway debut in 2002."

I'm all for Raul winning, too, but not because he has done other great work, because his work in COMPANY is great.

"Career" awards, which plague the Oscars from time to time, are pointless. The award is for a specific performance.

**Edited for spelling

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 07:16 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:18pm

David Hyde would have a Tony nom if they put him in the Featured Actor slot for Spamalot. He was great.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:18pm

I think they're pointless if the performance within the season doesn't itself merit an award and it's therefore achieved on prior basis, which you can certainly argue is not the case with Raúl.

As for the Groff argument that isn't too prevalent in this thead but is in many others -- I'm sorry, but people don't win Tonys nor do they get Tony nominations for having nice asses. Groff is very good in a role that lacks the substance assumedly (I'm hoping!)found in those of many of his fellow leading men, and he'll be vying for a slot with both famous actors and Broadway veterans. He hasn't a snowball's chance in hell, if you ask me.

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 07:18 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:18pm

Having seen both performances (Esparza's and Pierce's), I still think Pierce should get the award, however, Esparza is more likely to be the winner and he does deserve it, his Bobby is nothing short of breath-taking.
I hope Bryan D'Arcy James gets a nomination in this category, he definitely shines in The Apple Tree and has great on-stage chemistry with Chenoweth.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:27pm

If you look through Tony history, there have been many fewer instances of "career awards," "make up" awards (where people win for lesser performances just because they lost in the recent past) and sentimental choices than at the Oscars (where it seems like every year someone undeserving takes home a trophy for one political reason or another). It's not to say it never happens, but the frequency is much rarer than at the Oscars.

The bigger problem the Tonys have is how often Best Musical goes to the most commercial choice rather than the most artistically accomplished show (due in large part to the large contingent of road voters who often prefer to vote their wallets over their heads and hearts).

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:28pm

Well so far Groff has two votes:
One for his ego and one for his ass.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:30pm

Well, is that not the basis of his appeal? I hesitate to assume it's because of the non-extant greatness of his performance that his fangirls think he deserves a nomination, whether they realize it or not!

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:40pm

As for the Groff argument that isn't too prevalent in this thead but is in many others -- I'm sorry, but people don't win Tonys nor do they get Tony nominations for having nice asses.

Ah, Emcee. How I love you for this post. I agree whole-heartedly. I thought his performance was just OK, not Tony-award winning, not even nomination worthy.

Well, is that not the basis of his appeal?
Seems to be. He has a good voice, but so do most people who have roles in Broadway, off-Broadway, etc. musicals...Edit: I should have clarified this, but as pointed out, it's the role that I think really skews the performance, not his talent.

I'm revisiting SPRING again next Thursday and will have to pay attention to his acting. But, I remember that his performance didn't "wow" me the first time I saw it, so this leads me to believe that it won't the second time, either.

Edited for spelling.
Updated On: 2/14/07 at 07:40 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:43pm

I think it's more a flaw of the writing than it is in the talent of the actors (for the most part). I'm just -- as I've stated many times before -- frustrated by the degree of character underdevelopment that hinders the show (IMO, at least).

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 07:43 PM

[teka21]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:43pm

Jon Groff's performance in SA is terrific, and has nothing to do with the brief moments of nudity (despite the snide comment), and he deserves to be included among the leading men nominees. He may be unlikely to win, but I believe he should be recognized with a nomination anyway. What this gracious and disciplined young actor does NOT deserve is nasty and unwarranted comments about his ego.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:46pm

Didn't Raul show his ass in some show?

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:46pm

Em, I see what you mean and I agree with the underdevelopment of the characters. He may be a good actor, but good acting doesn't really lend itself to his role, IMO.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:46pm

Oh please. You read what you want to read. The "snide" remark was far more a jab at the fanbase comprised of teenaged girls obsessed with him for his looks than at the actor. I think he's very talented, but I'd have to bet that at least some in the legions of teenaged girls who are utterly squealing about the fact that he's deserving of a nomination probably just feel so strongly about him because he's adorable. Hence the comment about not getting awards for physical assets. Certainly not all there is to him, but you obviously failed to see the facecious nature of the comment at all. Point holds, though, that in my opinion, many of the people who think he's up to par with performers like Esparza or Cerveris are probably just so adamant about it because they find him attractive; I certainly don't see that performance as Tony-nomination worthy, which is not the same as to say I don't think he's very good. Again, fault of the role, I think, which could turn a fairly talented, well-sung performer into one infinitely replaceable by any young, good-looking guy who can sing.

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 07:46 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 7:55pm

From my point of view, all of the actors in Spring Awakening are at an immediate disadvantage in that the characters lack a great deal of depth. I've come to terms with how that works in the context of the show, but I'm not sure I see how you could remotely compare Groff's performance with ones that actually carry their shows. It's a good performance, but not a distinctive one by the very nature of the character.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:06pm

I'm sorry, but people don't win Tonys nor do they get Tony nominations for having nice asses

I can't pass judgement on Groff yet, but I just wanted to say that you are awesome for that.

I think Brian d'Arcy James could(and should) get a nomination. Raul will definitely get nominated, and I could see him winning.

[snl89]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:12pm

Ok, I know I've been bringing it up in a lot of threads, and I SWEAR I will not be bringing it up again. But its just it's being discussed and so, despite my trying to refrain from posting in this thread, I feel the need to just this once.

I just wanted to put it out there that I am in no way basing my hope for Groff getting a nomination on his looks. Do I think he's very good looking? of course I do. But the reason I think he deserves a nomination is because he's a REALLY good ACTOR. And in my opinion, its NOT an extremely easy role. At all, actually. It requires a LOT of vulnerability and a LOT of putting yourself out there. Sure, its underdeveloped, I'm def not disagreeing with that, but the fact that he IS as good as he is (strictly speaking about acting- no looks involved) in an underdeveloped role really says a lot I think. Sure, he's not necasserily up to par with people like Raul or Michael Cerveris, which is why I've said all along that win and nomination are two very different things. But I do feel that he deserves recognition on account of the fact that I think very few people that age could play the role with as much conviction (so I guess where I really differ from you guys, particularly Emcee, is that I DONT think he could be replaced that easily.) Now, I'm not going to lie and pretend like I'm an expert- seeing as I havn't actually seen any other shows this season I probably dont have the best basis on which to go by. I simply find it pretty hard to believe that there's really THAT many other performances I would feel are stronger than his. And maybe I'm totally off- I very well could be. But, as of now at least, thats the honest opinion I've come to form.

Again, I really am not looking to start anything up again, its just I really felt like I needed to defend myself because I know I can come off as pretty fangirly/crushy when it comes to actors that I like. And since I dont know anyone on these boards personally, I wouldn't expect anyone to know me well enough to know that I REALLY do try and keep a level head when it comes to these types of things. I may be fangirly, but when I form my opinions about awards and such, or about what shows I choose to see, I in NO way make those decisions based on looks. I dont even base it on how much I love the CHARACTER, let alone if I think the performer is attractive. I base it strictly on how well I think the actor did in the context of the role they were given. Again, I know my comments would sometimes suggest otherwise, but in reality thats simply not who I am. I may spazz pretty easily, especially over looks, but with things like this I'd like to think I stand back and really look at it with as much perspective as I can. And I can't really speak for anyone else who's expressed similar opinions to mine, but I bet at least some of them are the same way.

aand with that I am done :)

Updated On: 2/14/07 at 08:12 PM

[fairygodmother]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:15pm

i'm still looking for some clarification on the bitchy nature to bobbybubby's comment about groff's ego. you shouldn't assassinate someone's character (real or supposed) without backing it up.

i completely understand the ass comments - there's a huge deal of attention paid to..erm.. that area. and tho i would love to see SA gets as many nominations as possible because i think it is innovative and not pandering to the "easy" audience, I'm not sure he will get a nomination when placed against some of the others. john gallagher jr might get a nod for featured - and i think it would be great, not many featured actors in a musical get into such heavy, challenging territory. but then, how do you compare that with david hyde pierce? i think it would be a nightmare to judge these things.

[Horton]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:21pm

What show is Cerveris in?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:25pm

He'll be playing Kurt Weill in LoveMusik this April.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:33pm

i agree, j.groff may sneak in there to be the dark horse. i would love it, but i have heard a lot of chatter about esparza. we shall see. i feel like the tony's are forever away still... i wish the days would go quicker!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 8:34pm

*starts slow clap for Emcee*


"He'll be playing Kurt Weill in LoveMusik this April."

Also Cerveris will be playing opposite the divine Donna Murphy.