Best Featured Actor (in a play and musical)

[RingOfKeys2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 8:49pm

Neither Featured Actor categories seem to have a clear front-runner.

 For Best Featured Actor in a Musical, I think Something Rotten might be thrown its bone with Brad Oscar. Even though the role itself is not very dimensional, Oscar does get a standing ovation halfway through act one with his show stopping number, "A Musical". If he wins, it will be a similar type of nod that won James Monroe Iglehart his Tony last year (both under the direction of Casey Nicholaw).

As far as Best Featured Actor in a Play goes, I'm really having a hard time making a prediction. I don't think it's a very strong category. I think it is between Richard McCabe (The Audience) and Alessandro Nivola (The Elephant Man). I narrowed this down solely by process of elimination though....I don't think Micah Stock or Matthew Beard will win. And something tells me Airline Highway will be shut out completely so I don't see K. Todd Freeman winning this either.

Thoughts?

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 08:49 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:42pm

Featured Actor in a Musical: Andy Karl; He holds his own against Kristin Chenoweth, the role won Kevin Kline his first Tony Award, and in case Kristin doesn't end up winning Leading Actress in a Musical, it would be a great way to acknowledge On the Twentieth Century.

Featured Actor in a Play: Nathaniel Parker; He recently won the Olivier Award for his performance, and I think that would be the perfect way to acknowledge Wolf Hall.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:51pm

I'd love to see it go to Brad Oscar, or Andy Karl (simply because he's been a favorite of mine since Altar Boyz) but my gut tells it'll go to Christian Borle. Quite frankly, I wouldn't mind if any of the three won.

For play, I suspect it'll go to Richard McCabe but I'd love to see Nathaniel Parker win. It would be a nice way to recognize the production (since I don't think it'll win anything else but costumes.)

Updated On: 5/18/15 at 09:51 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:51pm

I really am pulling for Alessandro Nivola. I personally thought his performance in The Elephant Man was phenomenal and one of the best of the season, and he is such a nice guy too.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 9:58pm

"Oscar does get a standing ovation halfway through act one"

You say that as if it were written into the script. Is this a thing? Has he been getting standing ovations after that number at most performances? There was no one standing when I saw the show.

Anyway, I'm personally rooting for Christian Borle. I thought Borle, John Cariani, and Peter Bartlett had the only funny roles in the show (yes, including Brad Oscar). Considering the other two weren't nominated, I'd love to see it go to Borle. 

As for plays, I think Alessandro Nivola should win. I thought he was criminally misplaced in the featured category, after giving a fantastic LEADING performance along with Cooper. I'd love to see Nivola recognized to make up for that politically-driven insult to his performance. 

[bfreak]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:04pm

While I absolutely 100% agree that Alessandro Nivola was the lead along with Cooper (you could even kinda argue that Bradley was moreso supporting) but most people think of Bradley Cooper when they thought of The Elephant Man, and in this situation I also think that he has much more of a shot to win than if he was placed in leading since it is less competitive of a category this year.

[Depaultheatrekid]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 10:39pm

I am pulling for K. Todd Freeman, because I think he is brilliant but also a close friend. However, I'm pretty sure this category is going to Nathaniel Parker. His performance will probably be the only acknowledgement of Wolf Hall and the committee loves the Brits.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 11:00pm

"Featured Actor in a Play: Nathaniel Parker; He recently won the Olivier Award for his performance, and I think that would be the perfect way to acknowledge Wolf Hall."

Richard McCabe also won the Olivier for best featured (or, rather supporting) actor for The Audience.  Two seasons prior to Parker's win.

Which raises the question:  is the first time two Olivier winning performances have competed for the Tony?

(In addition to being the first time an actor playing a prime minister and supporting a lead playing a queen has competed against an actor playing a king who's supporting a lead playing a prime (or rather a "chief" - same thing really) minister?)

Updated On: 5/19/15 at 11:00 PM

[Curious3]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 11:21pm

I'll go with Max con Essen or Brandon Uranowitz in American in Paris. Not the front runners but their contributions are formidable.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/18/15 at 11:59pm

Nathaniel Parker

Andy Karl

[MegInManhattan]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 1:42pm

Is anyone worried about Brad Oscar and Christian Borle canceling each other out being from the same show? (I don't see this being an issue for AAIP fans since Max von Essen seems to be the popular choice of those two gentlemen). I'm a big Something Rotten fan and would have a very hard time choosing between those two. This could really open the door for Andy Karl or Max von Essen.

If I really had to choose, I'd probably go with Borle though. If not someone from Something Rotten I'd choose Andy Karl.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 2:27pm

I don't understand the theory of actors from the same show canceling each other out. I can see how that could've happened with the guys from The Book of Mormon but there are plenty of instances where actors beat out their co-stars.

Updated On: 5/19/15 at 02:27 PM

[RingOfKeys2]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:06pm

Nathaniel Parker isn't nominated. Also, not one person has mentioned Micah Stock. Hm. 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:10pm

"Nathaniel Parker isn't nominated."

Maybe re-read the nominees.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:18pm

I really think Andy Karl is going to win.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 3:27pm

I'm also going with Parker/Karl.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 4:22pm

RingofKeys...Nathaniel Parker is indeed one of the six nominees for Featured Actor in a Play. And I think he is going to win. Though that category is I think the most wide open one of the night. Given that Wolf Hall is the most nominated play (with nominations across acting, directing, and design) it seems odd to think they would only award it costume design (the one guaranteed win). I'd argue Parker is given the chance to show the most range. If Nivola/Elephant Man was still open I might go with him. But instead the biggest threat will be McCabe. But in this case The Audience has less overall support and is seen as "The Helen Mirren show"

 

As for musical, its a toss up between Oscar, Borle, and Karl. They just rewarded Borle not too long ago and might not be anxious to do so again so soon. Oscar gets the best number of the show, but his actual character isn't that demanding in terms of acting or singing (just my opinion). Karl is hysterical, but doesnt actually get much singing to do (I now cant even remember anything he sang, just his comical entrances and exits). I guess Ill go with Oscar, with very little confidence.

[RingOfKeys2]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 6:37pm

Okay, to be fair. I have read two different "complete list of nominees" online that exclude Nathaniel Parker. Obviously they aren't full lists. But that is why I was misinformed. On second (and third and fourth) thought I agree with those of you who think Parker will win.

I would like to see Karl win but I don't necessarily think it is a performance that screams Tony. Andy Karl does what Andy Karl does extremely well. Not to say he isn't doing a fabulous job because I thought his performance blew Peter Gallagher away and was on par with Kristen. It's just that none of the nominated actors are giving the "mind-blowing" performances that actors/actresses in other categories are. Brad Oscar, too. He is doing what he does really well. I wish there was one person in this category who really blew me away. But I think it will be either Karl or Oscar and I would be happy to see either of them win.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/19/15 at 7:01pm

^Kevin Kline won his first Tony Award as Bruce Granit in the original production.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 10:05am

I still think Brad Oscar will take the award, just as James Monroe Iglehart did for a showstopping song in Nicholaw's show last year. However, I will certainly not complain, and will be thrilled, if Andy Karl wins.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 10:33am

I'm going with Max for the upset.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 12:23pm

"They just rewarded Borle not too long ago and might not be anxious to do so again so soon."

Tell that to Audra!  

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 12:26pm

I'm surprised people think Borle is in contention. I know he's a past winner and has a lot of fans, but I thought his work in Something Rotten! was too underplayed. Granted, I found his material among the weakest in the show, but I expected this hilarious performance and was disappointed. I agree that it's between Brad Oscar and Andy Karl.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 12:29pm

"I'm surprised people think Borle is in contention. I know he's a past winner and has a lot of fans, but I thought his work in Something Rotten! was too underplayed. Granted, I found his material among the weakest in the show, but I expected this hilarious performance and was disappointed. I agree that it's between Brad Oscar and Andy Karl."

Although I picked Borle to win earlier in this thread, I do agree with you a bit on his material. It doesn't help that I thought his two big numbers were kind of weak (especially "It's Hard to Be the Bard.")

[vfd88]

Posted: 5/20/15 at 9:23pm

I was also surprisingly disappointed by Borle. I was much more impressed by Oscar and Brooks Ashmanskas, but that may have just been because their material was better.

I have a very strong feeling that this will go to Oscar. I don't see Something Rotten being a strong contender in any other categories, and if the voters want to honor it in someway, this may be the place to do it.