Best Score

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 11:16am

I'm curious how people think this category will go.  The general consensus seems to be that Maybe Happy Ending and Dead Outlaw are the primary contenders, and maybe the award will just go to whoever wins Best Musical. 

But the more I listen to MHE, the more I feel like at least half of it is pretty...skippable?  I hate saying that, because I find much of the score to be so charming, and I really loved the show.  But the standalone jazz songs don't really do anything for me (though they work well in context), and I usually lose interest in the cast album after Chasing Fireflies, which I could just listen to on repeat - it's so wonderful.  

As standalone songs, Dead Outlaw takes the cake for me, but I have a strong bias in this category towards scores that are fully integrated into the plot, which in my view represents the zenith of what musical theater can do. This is why I was so happy to see Suffs win over Stereophonic, even though that score rocks. 

Honestly, if I were a Tony voter, I would seriously consider casting my vote for Death Becomes Her.  It's a very cinematic score, tonally perfect for the material, and a great listen from start to finish.  And if anything, it's almost too plot-heavy, but I think the Michelle Williams songs come at just the right times to give the audience a breather.

Haven't really gotten into Operation Mincemeat yet, but need to give it another chance, and I'm excited to hear Real Women Have Curves.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 11:23am

I am rooting for Dead Outlaw but would be happy if Real Women snuck a win.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 11:32am

100% agree, Melissa. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 11:40am

From a craft point of view, Maybe Happy Ending is pretty flawless. I can see the appeal for all of the nominated scores (Dead Outlaw has the standalone/rock songs, Mincemeat has The Song of the Season, Death Becomes Her is the social media viral hit, Real Women Have Curves gets the biggest ovation of the season for its title song), so I think this is going to come down to voters’ personal preference. I can see voters wanting to reward Dead Outlaw or giving it to Maybe Happy Ending because it has their vote for Best Musical.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 12:05pm

I would vote for Dead Outlaw, because there's a stunning variety of songs, and they find a way to make them cohesive.

Maybe Happy Ending would be my choice for Best Musical but it's really the book that's overall more effective there in developing character and telling the story.

Again, I think the book is the stronger element of Operation Mincemeat.

Real Women Have Curves is fine but doesn't jump out as Tony-worthy work.

I've disliked everything I've heard from Death Becomes Her.

Updated On: 5/13/25 at 12:05 PM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 12:23pm

The only Tonys Death Becomes Her has a shot at are design categories.

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 12:58pm

For me, the weakest part of MHE was its score. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 1:18pm

I'd vote for Maybe Happy Ending in a heartbeat. I've heard the complaint that some songs aren't "hummable" which is probably the most boring musical theater complaint ever and comes up every year. The score does an outstanding job at setting the tone, developing its characters, and conveying their emotions. And it has a distinct musical identity.

Dead Outlaw was an enormous swing and a miss for me. I couldn't understand half of the lyrics thanks to the abysmal sound design in the theater. But this score just felt monotonous and abrasive to me. I love everything else Yazbek has done, but this failed to move me in any way and didn't get me to invest in a single character. Just not captivating. Last place.

Operation Mincemeat has a couple memorable tunes like Dear Bill. But I struggle to even remember how most of the score sounded. I remember lines of dialogue from this show, but couldn't really recall the tone of the music. This and Dead Outlaw would be at the bottom of my ballot.

I think Death Becomes Her is funny and memorable, with songs that make an impact. It is greatly helped by the stellar vocal performances of its leads. And I just adored Real Women Have Curves. I wish it could be more of a frontrunner here, but given that it only received 2 noms, it likely doesn't have a shot. But the music is catchy and vibrant, and the lyrics get to the heart of each character. Depending on my mood I could vote for DBH or RWHC for Score, but I think Maybe Happy Ending is too far out front. 

 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 1:21pm

My money is on MAYBE HAPPY ENDING.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:04pm

I left MHE and while I loved the show, I couldn't remember a single song. Dead Outlaw I was humming songs the whole way home and downloaded...well, Part 1 of their cast cast recording. While MHE is my should/will for Best Musical, Dead is my will/should for Best Score. The others are fine.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:08pm

I can't get through a complete listen of MHE. it all just sounds the same ZzZzz.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:12pm

I remember A LOT of people thinking that ''Come From Away'' and ''Mean Girls'' would take ''Book'' back in thoses races but the sheer power of popularity of ''DEH'' and ''Bands Visit'' made them take both Score and Book.

think it's Maybe Happy Ending will be the same, but ''Dead Outlaw'' may get a consolation prize and ''Book'' seems more likely.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:19pm

Mean Girls' book was utter trash.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:21pm

Yep, but that didn't prevent most people to predict a win as a consolation prize and the producers even televised the category - which I think doesnt happen always.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 2:47pm

dramamama611 said: "I can't get through a complete listen of MHE. it all just sounds the same ZzZzz."

Same. Not a single stand out song. I still haven't seen Dead Outlaw or even listened to released score but already know a few lines because the songs from the ads are very catchy. I still like the OM score the most. Sail on Boys and Dear Bill are devastating.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 3:22pm

gibsons2 said: "dramamama611 said: "I can't get through a complete listen of MHE. it all just sounds the same ZzZzz."

Same. Not a single stand out song. I still haven't seen Dead Outlaw or even listened to released scorebut already know a few lines because the songs from the ads are very catchy.I still like the OM score the most. Sail on Boys and Dear Bill are devastating."

I agree on Sail on Boys and Dear Bill, true standouts in that score.  Is it just me, or does the cast recording as a whole sounds weirdly artificial / auto-tuned?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 3:22pm

I can’t imagine thinking the songs of Maybe Happy Ending are boring, same-sounding, or non-hummable. It’s certainly not a bombastic score, but it’s not meant to be. I listened to the score on repeat when it came out, and it just felt like a cozy hug. Different folks, I guess.

[ShowBro]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 3:30pm

MadsonMelo said: "I remember A LOT of people thinking that ''Come From Away'' and ''Mean Girls'' would take ''Book'' back in thoses races but the sheer power of popularity of ''DEH'' and ''Bands Visit'' made them take both Score and Book.

think it's Maybe Happy Ending will be the same, but ''Dead Outlaw'' may get a consolation prize and ''Book'' seems more likely."

TBV didn’t win Best Book because it was “popular”—it won because it had a strong, subtle, and beautifully crafted narrative structure. Mean Girls lost because the book was trash, with an even weaker, less memorable score. Popularity alone doesn’t carry you in those categories.

 

 

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 3:34pm

I absolutely love the score of Death Becomes Her and am baffled to see so many people on here who dislike it. It's zippy, bright, fun, and campy—exactly what the show is. I think Dead Outlaw is probably the most well-crafted score of the nominees, but I listen to the Death Becomes Her cast album on the daily.

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 3:59pm

MadsonMelo said: "Yep, but that didn't prevent most people to predict a win as a consolation prize and the producers even televised the category - which I think doesnt happen always."

Yes, they expected Tina Fey to win. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 4:07pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "I absolutely love the score ofDeath Becomes Herand am baffled to see so many people on here who dislikeit. It's zippy, bright, fun, and campy—exactly what the show is. I thinkDead Outlawis probably the most well-crafted score of the nominees, but I listento theDeath Becomes Her cast album on the daily."

 

100% - same here!

[ShowBro]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 4:45pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "My money is on MAYBE HAPPY ENDING."

I thoroughly enjoyed MHE, but I honestly have no idea why they pushed The Rainy Day We Met as the lead single in their current PR campaign. It’s easily one of the weakest songs in the show, IMO, and only really works within the context of the full production. 

 

 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 5:25pm

ShowBro said: "I thoroughly enjoyed MHE, but I honestly have no idea why they pushedThe Rainy Day We Met as the lead single in their current PR campaign.It’s easily one of the weakest songs in the show, IMO, and only really works within the context of the full production."

Probably because “Hitting the Road” is broken up into two separate tracks.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 5:28pm

Dreamboy3 said: "MadsonMelo said: "Yep, but that didn't prevent most people to predict a win as a consolation prize and the producers even televised the category - which I think doesnt happen always."

Yes, they expected Tina Fey to win."

Yes! People talking about quality but back in 2018 most people didn't believe TBV would win Best Book, that's all what I'm saying. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/13/25 at 6:23pm

Having only listened to the recordings (This is the first full season I have not been able to see the shows live), "Maybe Happy Endings" is my favorite score. However, I prefer the Korean recording of it and the song that got me hooked was "The Way That It Has to Be". JMO