Best Actress, Musical -- the most competitive in Tony history?

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:55pm

My God: Kelli, Idina, Sutton, Audra, Michelle Williams, and Jessie Mueller. This will be something to watch -- a year when "its an honor just to be nominated" is actually true!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:57pm

Definitely. I mentioned it in one of the "early Tony predictions" threads. Here are the ones who'll be eligible...

BEST ACTRESS
Krysta Rodriguez, First Date
Kate Baldwin, Big Fish
Mary Bridget Davies, A Night with Janis Joplin
Jessie Mueller, Beautiful
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Margo Seibert, Rocky
Courtney Reed, Aladdin
Idina Menzel, If/Then
Michelle Williams, Cabaret
Sutton Foster, Violet

I don't know the shows, but would anyone be considered from After Midnight, A Gentleman's Guide..., Soul Doctor, Les Misérables, Bullets Over Broadway, or Holler If You Hear Me, etc. (the latter has not announced a cast and has not started, of course)?

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 5:59pm

I think Audra's show is considered a play. And I think Holler If You Hear Me isn't coming til next season.

Do you think they'd petition any of the ladies (Reed in Aladdin, Seibert in Rocky, Mazzie in Bullets, etc?) into Supporting?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:01pm

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill is really more of a play with a few songs - similar to the recent End of the Rainbow. You never know with those Tony folks, but it's likely Audra will be in the Leading Actress in a Play category.

jacob - Kate Baldwin is in the Featured category for Big Fish.

[carlodowd]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:01pm

How about Lena Hall in Hedwig? Or would she be considered supporting?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:09pm

"The most competitive in history?"

What of 1960, with Mary Martin in The Sound of Music, Ethel Merman in Gypsy, Carol Burnett in Once Upon a Mattress, Dolores Grey in Destry Rides Again and Eileen Herlie in Take Me Along?

Or 1964 with Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly!, Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, Bea Lillie in High Spirits and Inga Swenson in 110 In The Shade?

Or 1976 with Donna McKechnie in A Chorus Line, Vivian Reed in Bubbling Brown Sugar, Chita Rivera in Chicago and Gwen Verdon in Chicago?

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:42pm

We also haven't seen half of these performances yet. It's not a sure thing that Idina or Sutton or even Audra will actually be good.

[StickIt]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 6:52pm

Most of the information I've seen/heard about this show indicated to me it would be billed as a play. If someone has information though that it would be considered a musical, they should share!

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 7:31pm

Reed should definitely be petitioned as featured.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:00pm

There is so much talent! which in a way is a good thing!

I think these will be the nominees
jessie Mueller
Michelle Williams
Cassie Levy
Sutton Foster
idina Menzel

for featured actress
Courtney Reed
Lachanze
besty Wolf
Linda emond
Lena Hall

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:03pm

I wonder will this be Kelli O'Hara's year, or will Menzel go for a 2nd or Foster a 3rd instead...?

I also think Emond and Burstein may have great chances this year at winning Tonys for Cabaret if they turn in strong performances - especially Burstein.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:06pm

Cassie Levy for Leading Role? Fantine fits more into the Featured category knowing she's only onstage for fifteen minutes!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:09pm

I saw Idina if IF/THEN in November. She's great, but she will defientely just get a nomination. I won't be surprised if she wins. On the other hand, LaChanze might have this in the bag.

Updated On: 2/20/14 at 08:09 PM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 8:22pm

Whether or not this is the most competitive leading actress/musical competition in history, I'll leave to those with more comprehensive knowledge of theatre history, but surely it is one of the most competitive. This sounds like it's going to be a nail-biter down to the minute the envelope is opened. I always find that far more compelling than having everyone in the room pretty much know who the winner will be in advance. I imagine that whomever the winner is, we will hear her mention what an extraordinary season this is for actresses.

[Emma White]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 9:47pm

I hope it's Kelli's year, because I think it's long overdue. Mind you, I'm mostly saying that because I haven't seen any of the shows, so I can't base it on how good they are, so I am resigned to hoping based on who I like best :)

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 9:53pm

"Reed should definitely be petitioned as featured."

Do we think Courtney Reed will be above the title (and thus initially placed in the Best Actress category) for Aladdin and need to be petitioned to be placed in featured? Has Disney ever had any actors billed above the title in any of their previous shows?

[bobs3]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 10:06pm

There is NO WAY the producers would put an actress of Marin Mazzie's stature in the featured category.

They will probably put Margo Seibert in featured which is a shame because Adrian really is a leading role (but she will probably win featured actress).

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 10:12pm

I love Marin Mazzie, but I don't think she's of any kind of stature to warrant leading versus supporting.

I'd say Angela Lansbury and Andrea Martin, among others, are more of a name than she is and both have won for featured roles in the past few years. I think Marin has a better shot to win in Featured, since Lead Actress is so stacked with Tony favorites. But I suppose both categories have a lot of promise this year.

I, too, hope it's Kelli's year, but I am not holding my breath.

Updated On: 2/20/14 at 10:12 PM

[StickIt]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 10:14pm

Well, it depends on if the producers want Marin to win in featured or lose in leading. Not because of her performance, per se, but the role as it was in the movie was very solidly featured. Unless they've expanded it significantly, I think her part will feel very small next to her competition. Idina, Sutton, Jessie, Kelli, etc. are the heart and soul of their respective shows and by all accounts carry them on their shoulders. While Helen is obviously the resident diva over at Bullets, she simply just (again, unless much was changed) doesn't have the stage time and the amount to do and handle as the other ladies.

I think her in leading might end up with a Bertie Carvel/Billy Porter situation. She may be giving the best performance but was placed in the wrong category.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/20/14 at 10:39pm

I will never understand why people offer their choices for nominees and select performances that haven't yet had their first preview.

I digress.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 12:30am

I know she's not going to win anything, but might Kate Baldwin's character be in the featured category?

I mainly just want her to get nominated.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 12:48am

Yes, Kate Baldwin is eligible in the featured actress category. The Tony committee announced back in the beginning of January that Norbert would be considered for best actor in a musical and all other eligibility determinations would be consistent with the opening night billing (and everybody was below the title in the Playbill for Big Fish, so they were all eligible for featured by default).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 1:43am

I just love a season when there's no clear front runner. Honestly, save First Date and Soul Doctor, all the new musicals have opened to strong reviews. And even First Date wasn't a totally dump (I really liked it).

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 2:09am

AEA, Disney put Susan Egan and Terrence Mann above the title in Beauty and the Beast. I think that's the only time they've ever done it.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 2:46am

To Smaxie's post, I'd add that in 1964 Barbara Cook was eligible for She Loves Me — it had opened too late to be eligible in 1963 — but was passed over.

I'd also add 1965-66: Angela Lansbury in Mame won over Gwen Verdon in Sweet Charity, Barbara Harris in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Julie Harris in Skyscraper, with Joan Diener in Man of La Mancha getting passed over for a nomination.

Even more recently there have been some very strong years. 2004 in particular comes to mind.