Best Actress, Musical -- the most competitive in Tony history? - Page 2

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 3:08am

Reed will be lucky to be nominated in any of the categories... As will anything else associated with one of the hottest messes Disney has ever created for Broadway.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 5:08am

"I mainly just want her to get nominated."
I feel ya! Loved Big Fish to death. Her and Norbert had beautiful chemistry on stage and she really brought the emotion to her songs!

I hope it's Kelli's year as well!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 9:29am

It might turn out to be depending on the work, which we haven't really seen as a group yet. Certainly there is a crowded field of beloved Broadway stars this season (and in general one hell of a season).

But it will be hard for anything to ever live up to 1964: Channing as Dolly, Barbra as Fanny, Inga Swenson in 110, Bea Lillie (nominated) and Tammy Grimes (not nominated) in High Spirits (Louis Troy was nominated as featured) plus Viveca Lindfors and Rita Gardner in Pal Joey (revival), and Julia MIgenes in West Side Story (revival).

The field was so crowded that - not only did a legendary performance, Streisand's in Funny Girl, not win a tony, BUT three leading lady performances by Broadway stalwarts in three of their best roles weren't nominated. In each instance, the divas got rave reviews in shows which received raves and a great deal of tony attention in other categories.

Barbara Cook's Amalia in She Loves Me which in any other year might have been considered not only hands down a performance for the ages but a clear tony favorite. It was that year considered a performance for the ages in a show for the ages. And still is!

And Florence Henderson in The Girl Who Came to Supper.

And, as stated above, Grimes's Elvira in High Spirits.

I MEAN, COME ON!






Updated On: 2/21/14 at 09:29 AM

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 12:18pm

BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Mueller, Beautiful
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Idina Menzel, If/Then
Michelle Williams, Cabaret
Sutton Foster, Violet

I think that's what we can expect, with Mary Bridget Davis or Marin Mazzie being a potential spoiler.

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 1:32pm

I hope Marin goes into the featured category, as well. Helen Sinclair was a supporting role in the movie. Assuming that the the part stays the same, it seems like a pretty bad gamble to put Marin in the leading category.

In featured, Marin will be up against LaChanze, and the women of Les Mis. She stands a much better chance, I think.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 2:37pm

Brantley certainly solidified Kelli's place on the list.

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 5:52pm

Something inside of me reeeeeeeeaaally wants Jesse Mueller to win... even though I know that won't happen. My prediction is Idina Menzel. She's in one of the most anticipated shows of the season and it's mostly all about her.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:17am

And the Tony goes to Kelli O'Hara.

[artscallion]

Posted: 2/28/14 at 3:30pm

"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."

I've seen this before, regionally, with Rose Weaver at Trinity Rep. It's more of a cabaret concert. There are 18 full songs loosely linked with some patter in between to establish the thin plot. After Contact, I stopped understanding how they determine what is a musical and what is a play. But I would consider this to be a musical, not a play.

I'm wondering how Audra will do in this. Aside from her ethnicity, I don't think she could be any less like Holiday in musical style or voice. I love Audra, but not sure this will work for me.

Updated On: 2/28/14 at 03:30 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 2/28/14 at 4:36pm

This is a great category this year. I have seen Beautiful and Bridges so far. It's hard for me to believe there could be performances that could top either Kelli's or Jessie's but I suppose time will tell. My vote goes to Kelli O'Hara because her heart and soul is part of this role. Jessie did a fantastic portrayal of Carole King and deserves all the praise she is receiving. I also thought Beautiful was a much better show, but Kelli's portrayal of Francesca is burned into my memory for years to come. It moved me deeply and to see and hear Kelli sing from the depths of her heart. She was amazing. It is a signature performance.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 6:22pm

From the Violet board, is it safe to say that Sutton is a really huge competitor? That it could be Kelli vs. Sutton?

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 7:57pm

"From the Violet board, is it safe to say that Sutton is a really huge competitor? That it could be Kelli vs. Sutton?"

Judging by the title of this board, pretty much anyone of the possible candidates could be a huge competitor.

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 8:32pm

I think it's Idina's year, if for no other reason than she's the It Girl at the moment, with Kelli as the spoiler, as they might think she's overdue. I know the members of the Tony committee are huge fans of Sutton, though.

[Rinaldo]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 11:18pm

The Tony people have shown that they're not unduly impressed by reclame in other media -- Nora Ephron didn't end up with anything last year, even with the post-mortem factor. And if there's an It Girl on Broadway these days, it's Jessie Mueller.

But I too hope this is Kelli O'Hara's year. She's had heavy competition on all her previous nominations, but it's gotta happen sometime.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 11:26pm

"But I too hope this is Kelli O'Hara's year. She's had heavy competition on all her previous nominations, but it's gotta happen sometime."

Well, you know there is always The King & I...

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 11:42pm

I don't think it's very competitive at all. Kelli is the front runner and anyone else (Jessie) would be an upset. I hope Mary Bridget What's her name gets a nod. I think she could be the surprise nomination in this category.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 12:41am

"a year when "its an honor just to be nominated" is actually true!"

In what year would that possibly be untrue?!

[chewy5000]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 1:47am

1995?

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 1:50am

Why would the people nominated in 1995 not feel it was an honor?!

[chewy5000]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 2:00am

Seeing as they were both nominated by default, that sort of takes the shine off it. And, of course, in 1985 no leads were even honoured.

[nicnyc]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 2:32am

I haven't seen Michelle Williams yet (my Cabaret tix aren't until July) but I've seen most of the other major candidates - If I had to guess, I'd guess Idina for If/Then but no one has really stolen my heart yet - I'm really hoping Kate Baldwin and Ciarra Renee get nominated for featured for Big Fish. Both were two of the more memorable female performances this year.

[Freeman5]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 2:49am

Assuming that Bridges isn't a Bst Musical nominee, it's been extremely rare for the Tony to go to an actress when her show isn't nominated for either Best Musical or Best Revival - Vivien Leigh for Tovarich in 1963, Liza Minnelli in Flora, the Red Menace in 1965, Angela Lansbury in Dear World in 1969 - was Aida a Best Musical nominee? I think it wasn't, so Heather Headley in Aida in 2000 (my hazy memory: Aida won Best Score but was left off the Best Musical list?). Helen Gallagher won for No, No, Nanette in 1971 and Angela Lansbury for Gypsy in 1975, two revivals, but that was before there was a Best Revival category. My point is that it is a rare occurrence, and of course it all depends on if Bridges gets nominated for Best Musical or not! (:

Sutton Foster, Idina Menzel, Jessie Mueller, Kelli O'Hara and Michelle Williams are the likely finalists. I have a strong feeling Marin Mazzie will be placed in the Featured Actress category. I believe Kelli will be the only one who isn't in a show that gets either a Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical nomination. Perhaps the Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations will give someone more of a front-runner status?

1985: Glenn Close for Sunset Boulevard and Rebecca Luker for Show Boat were the only nominees. I believe they were the only eligible nominees, right?

[ethan231h]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 8:04am

I think this will happen

Best actress musical will be...
Sutton Foster
Idina Menzel
MIchelle Williams
Jessie Mueller
Cassie Levy ( even though she has a small part)

featured actress musical will be...
Courtney Reed
Lachanze
Linda Emond
Lena Hall
Nikki M. James

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 8:21am

I highly doubt any female in LES MIS will get a nomination. Ramin is carrying that show. Courtney Reed nominated for featured actress? Oh please...

[Wickedmonkey332]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 9:21am

"I think this will happen

Best actress musical will be...
Sutton Foster
Idina Menzel
MIchelle Williams
Jessie Mueller
Cassie Levy ( even though she has a small part)

featured actress musical will be...
Courtney Reed
Lachanze
Linda Emond
Lena Hall
Nikki M. James"

Lol- I don't know what will happen. But this won't be it.

Updated On: 3/30/14 at 09:21 AM