Best Actress Tony Race!!

Hey!
I've just wondering. The Best Actress Tony race has seemed to come down to...
Kristen Chenowith - Wicked
Idina Menzel - Wicked
Donna Murphy - Wonderful Town
Tonya Pitkins - Caroline, or Change
Out of these which do you think is the most likely to win. I personally think Idina Menzel is due for a Tony and deserves it(after all the was totally snubbed for her work in Rent)!
Thanks!
C'Ya!

Idina, has a great chance, but not a shoe in. Donna Murphey is amazing in Wonderful Town. So for me it comes down to these two ladies.
Barbara

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It's going to go to Pinkins. The ultra, "in the know, hip and sage" Tony committee members (YES, I'm being very sarcastic), like very high brow things. Caroline is about the only high brow musical on B'way right now. Which totally explains how Winokur took the Tony home last year. Again, insert Al dripping in sarcasm here. But seriously, I think the wicked ladies will cancel eachother out and the Tony will go to Pinkins.

Donna Murphy has won two awards for her performance this season and Tonya Pinkins has won one. Ken Mandlebaum speculates that Pinkins strong work as a character that some audiences don't embrace could be passed over for Murphy's well regarded performance that carries the whole show. WONDERFUL TOWN only got a revival because of Murphy. If ASSASSINS is ruled a revival, the only way to reward the well liked WONDERFUL TOWN might be Murphy.

Menzel and Chenoweth will split the vote.
Pinkins will not garner enough support.
Murphy will win.

That is if Menzel and Chenoweth both are in the running for Best Actress.

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Benzy92, I totally agree with your nominee list
I love Stephanie D'Abruzzo, both for being so sweet along with her many talents, and I sincerely hope she gets nominated come May 10th.
That said, however, as great as she is, the award will most likely go to one of the "hands-free" actresses.
Out of those ladies, I'd really like Idina to win personally. She'd be the only one (besides Ms. D'Abruzzo or possibly Kerry Butler) nominated who hasn't gotten a Tony yet and her work in Wicked is phenominal!

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 06:54 PM

I would love to see Idina take it home. I don't think Kristin and Idina will split the vote because Kristin could be hurt by the fact that Wicked is more about Elphaba than it is G(a)linda. I'd be pleased to see either of them win.

It's gonna be a close on btw Idina and Donna M. However, Donna DID win the Outer Critic's award. Hummmmm....

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Idina should win. While I loved Kristin and found her performance hysterical, it's Idina who's working her ass of night after night at the Gershwin. But after last year's Winokur over Peters shocker, I couldn't pin point a winner in this category for the life of me.

some of you guys make me laugh - i know this may upset people, and i know lots of you sweat Idina, and yes she does great job - but she just doesn't stand a chance in comparison to Murphy or Pinkins. as an actress she can't and hasn't proven to carry any of the show when she isn't singing. yeah i LOVE her voice as much as the next person and I have both of her albums - but Tony award winner this year she is not.

Tonya darlings!

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Updated On: 5/4/04 at 10:37 PM

I think that Idina should get it, though I haven't seen Pinkins yet but I will have to compare once I have seen Caroline, or Change. Donna is very good. I think it will be an exciting race.

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I must agree that Idina, although enjoyable, is not a great actress. The role of Elphaba could have been much more interesting with a stronger actress. Granted, she has some powerful pipes, but it needs to be about more than that. (I keep thinking that Audra McDonald would have been a much better choice. She's got more a "legit" sound and would have been just as electrifying in "Defying Gravity". And as Audra usually does, she'd take the character to surprising lengths.) One previous post said that Idina was WAY overdue for a win. Huh? She originated one other role on Broadway and had one nomination. I don't see how that is WAY overdue.

Kristin is perfectly cast in a wonderful performance. I was surprised to see that a fellow poster said that she played Sally Brown the same way. I don't see that at all. I find them completely different.

If the race came down to the 2 WICKED women, I'd go for Kristin. She's delivers a much more solid, complete performance. However, I don't think that WICKED is going to get any acting Tonys.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo, in a perfect world, would win the Tony, but in a different year. This year's race is particularly tough.

I agree that it will be between Donna Murphy and Tonya Pinkins. Donna is completely beloved in the Broadway world, and rightly so. Tonya has had some tough (well publicized) personal times in the past, and may very well win the Tony with some sympathy votes (remember Elizabeth Taylor's Oscar win for BUTTERFIELD 8?).

I'd say Tonya Pinkins.

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Updated On: 5/7/04 at 07:07 AM

Watch for the outcome of the Drama Desk awards. If Murphy grabs that one, we may see a triple crown. I think the dual focus of WICKED -- not the competing ladies -- candel that out. The show is about two major characters, for better or worse, and in such a strong season for musical ladies, the award will go to a woman who carries an evening on her shoulders. Chenoweth's CANDID gig might remind voters of what a treasure she is, but I don't think it'll sway them toward WICKED.

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