Best Featured Actress in a Musical - 2006 Tony Award

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:35am

This category has me all excited, so I thought I'd start a thread devoted to it. I saw Sweeney again last week, and not only was I blown away by Lauren Molina (she's so funny and adorable, and her voice is gorgeous), but Donna Lynne Champlin turns in a fresh new interpretation of Pirelli. In addition, Diana DiMarzio is a kick-ass Beggar Woman. I think all three of these women are deserving of recognition. Then we go over to The Color Purple and we have Elisabeth Withers-Mendes who gives a touching, vocally gorgeous performance as Shug Avery. Not to mention, we have Sutton Foster coming up in The Drowsy Chaperone, Cyndi Lauper in The Threepenny Opera, and Megan Lawrence in The Pajama Game. This is a very crowded field. I can totally see the nominating committee giving first dibs to Sweeney's cast, pushing aside up-and-comers from other casts. I'd say Sutton is a lock. Am I missing anybody? What do you guys think of this category?

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 09:35 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:38am

I think the nominees will be:

Felicia P. Fields, "The Color Purple"
Sutton Foster, "The Drowsy Chaperone"
Lauren Molina, "Sweeney Todd"
Roz Ryan, "The Pajama Game"
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, "The Color Purple"

IMO, the winner will either by Felicia or Elisabeth, but you never know.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:40am

Alright, I didn't want this to turn into one of those threads where people keep listing off 5 nominees with no explanations. Can you elaborate a bit on why you think these actresses will be chosen?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:47am

Felicia P. Fields, "The Color Purple"

Felicia gives a powerhouse performance in TCP. The role is scene stealing and your heart goes out to the character.

Sutton Foster, "The Drowsy Chaperone"

Sutton is loved by the committee, having won once before and being nominated post-TMM. The reviews from LA of her performance have been fantastic, and I think that's even more insentive for her to be nominated.

Lauren Molina, "Sweeney Todd"

As you mentioned, the Sweeney supporting players are going to be recognized nomination wise, and I think Molina will get swept up in that momentum.

Roz Ryan, "The Pajama Game"

Ryan is a seasoned veteran who is beloved. Her performance has been getting good reviews, and she is another powerhouse scene stealer. I think she'll edge out Megan Lawrence for the nomination (I don't think they'll both get nominated.)

Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, "The Color Purple"

Elisabeth's performance is a star making stage debut.. let alone Broadway debut! She has gotten RAVE reviews, and she will most deffinetly be recognized (I think even with the award.)

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 09:47 AM

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:50am

I would think that the women of the color purple have a better chance than the women of Sweeney. Why? Just a feeling. Out of the Sweeney women, I'd rather Molina and Champlin than Dimarzio just because they were more original with their roles, and Champlin over Molina under that same criteria. I've also heard great things about Lawrence. Obviously, too, there's Sutton who is simply a given.

My nominations:
Felicia P. Fields, "The Color Purple"
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, "The Color Purple"
Sutton Foster, "The Drowsy Chaperone"
Megan Lawrence, "The Pajama Game"
Donna Lynne Champlin, "Sweeney Todd"

If I got to choose the winner it would be a toss up between Sutton and Champlin. Sutton because of prior bias and Champlin because of her amazing work with Pirelli.

As I've said, though, I think it's a toss up between the ladies from Momma Oprah's power house.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:51am

My pics (as of right now, and what I know or have seen about each of the productions) are as follows:

Megan Lawrence (The Pajama Game)
Felicia P Fields (The Color Purple)
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes (The Color Purple)
Sutton Foster (The Drowsy Chaperone)
Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone)

Megan Lawerence's "Hernando's Hideaway" is beyond brilliant. Felicia Fields is a glorious new talent. Sutton Foster & Beth Leavel are two Broadway vets who continue to make anything look good with ease, and now they have Fantastic material to play. And Elisabeth Withers Mendes gives one of the best performances of the season in the Color Purple.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:02am

I wouldn't count out Amy Spangler in The Wedding Singer. Practically every review that the show recieved in Seattle, had something great to say about her.

I'd say its looking like:

Sutton Foster, The Drowsy Chaparone
Megan Lawrence, The Pajama Game
Elisabeth Wither-Mendes, The Color Purple
Felicia Fields, The Color Purple
Amy Spangler, The Wedding Singer

[Horton]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:05am

Sutton Foster, The Drowsy Chaparone
Lauren Molina, Sweeney Todd
Donna Lynne Champlin, Sweeney Todd
Amy Spangler, The Wedding Singer

I think that Lauren Molina is georgous!
Updated On: 2/25/06 at 10:05 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:13am

Felicia P. Fields- Color Purple
Elizabeth Withers Mendes- Color Purple
Laura Molina- Sweeney Todd
Megan Lawrence- Pajama Game
Sutton Foster- The Drowsy Chaperone

And it'll go to Fields. She was phenomenal in The Color Purple and in my opinion, stole the show from the La Chanze. (La Chanze was great, don't get me wrong, but Fields wowed me!)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:45am

I'd be really surprised if Molina got a nomination, and this is coming from a huge fan of the revival. I think Champlin has a much better shot, actually.

I'll go with:

Felicia Fields - COLOR PURPLE
Megan Lawrence - PAJAMA GAME
Donna Lynn Champlin - SWEENEY TODD
Amy Spanger - WEDDING SINGER
Beth Leavel - CHAPERONE

I think Lauper will probably be campaigned as lead - as will one of the CHAPERONE girls - probably Foster.

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 10:45 AM

[Horton]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:18am

I think that Donna Lynn Champlin has such a great chance because of how many instruments she plays

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:26am

Well, I think partly its because DLC plays about 1/2 the major "core" of the orchestrations (keyboard) but also because she is the unofficial "conductor" of the show and really the haunting center of the production. When I think about the show - I actually return more to her performance than either LuPone or Cerveris - great as they are.

Still, its a crowded field and I think in the end if anyone loses out in this catagory it will be the SWEENEY gals. Brilliant or not - Pirelli and Johanna (as written) are not really Tony winning roles.

Really is a shame there is not an ensemble Tony. Updated On: 2/25/06 at 11:26 AM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:34am

I too am starting to think one of the Chaperone girls will be campaigned as Lead. Not knowing the show...Foster is the "name" of the show, but Leavel plays the title character. Either way - they both are extremely gifted musical comedy actresses.

[Horton]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:48am

I think that we may have a large Sweeney win, and Donna Lynn Champlin as well as Laura Molina will be swept into that title wave. But I think that Sutton may be denied the Tony this time, because she has already won once, and last year she was nominated once again. I really hope it is either Donna Lynn Champlin or Laura Molina, because both are amazing.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:49am

If any Chaperone girl is nominated as a lead, they can kiss any chance they have GOODBYE.

Anyway, I am really thinking Roz Ryan can get a nomination for PAJAMA GAME. She has been getting FABULOUS reviews. Roz deserves this nomination.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:14pm

I have to disagree on one point ljay...YES - Roz is FABULOUS in PG - But...theyve shrunk the role by epic proportions, and Roz doesnt have nearly enough stage time as possible others in the category, just as good if not better. I love Roz and always will, shes a fantastic performer. If the category werent so crowded, i'd say sure...but the fact is - there are better, more solid, more memorable performances this time around. Starting with her cast mate Megan Lawernce!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:26pm

There's also the very lovely Meryl Dandridge in Tarzan, who could also be a contender.

[Horton]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:28pm

I think that Roz Ryan may have a chance, I mean an old pro that has yet to win/be nominated for anything, but I wonder if it is looked down upon that this is a limited engagement.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:38pm

Roz is terrific in Pajama Game. I have a feeling, though, if someone gets in for supporting performance from Pajama Game, it would be Megan Lawrence, since "Hernando's Hideaway" really brings the house down.

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 12:38 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:42pm

I agree with Horton - PAJAMA GAME will get some nice nominations, but I think the fact that it is a limited run is going to probably hurt the show's chances - particularly at winning.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 1:02pm

Withers-Mendes is leagues better than Fields...

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 1:05pm

I agree, I think "Pajama Game" will get some nice nominations with the honor being in the nomination, not the award. I think it'll get noms for Best Revival, Best Actor (Connick Jr,) Best Actress (O'Hara,) Featured Actor (McKean,) and Featured Actress (Ryan and/or Lawrence.)

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 1:51pm

There is no chance Megan Lawrence won't get a nom... She's a lock, in my opinion

So is Sutton, obviously

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 2:07pm

I just heard that the creative team of Drowsy is really beefing up Foster's part, so I take it that they're going to want to push her for Lead, not Featured.

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 02:07 PM

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 2:33pm

That news is very interesting Margo. Very interesting. I still doubt that she'd have enough to truly contend with LaChanze and Lupone though. We shall see.