Breaking: Tony Committee Decides Eligibility on Slew of Shows, Matilda Girls NOT Up for Best Actress But Recognized- Page 2

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:36pm

She had a good chance in supporting, but she is the lead...it's appropriate.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:36pm

Thank you, SondheimFan and JBroadway, for the replies.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:36pm

Patina is far from sealed, Osnes and Crawford are def in the running.
Miller got better reviews for SISTER ACT, and did not win for that.
And even though it's called The LEADING PLAYER, it's still a supporting role.
I think Carmello might benefit the most from the MATILDE decision.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:39pm

I wouldn't be surprised if the R+H estate puts in alot of money for one hell of a campaign that will have some focus on Osnes.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:40pm

I disagree, The Leading Player is definitely equal to and/or larger than Pippin's role.

Osnes isn't winning, not for this role.
Crawford has a chance to be nominated but she won't win.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:40pm

Man o man...this just got interesting!

Featured Actor in a Musical and Featured Actress in a Play just opened up WIDE.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:41pm

I saw MATILDA again on Wednesday, and as much as I absolutely love Bertie Carvel's performance (and I do...it is literally genius), the role is a featured one. He has just as much stage time as Miss Honey, who is clearly a supporting character. Carvel is so great that he makes the part seem bigger than it really is.

When you put Trunchbull up against a character like Lola in KINKY BOOTS, there is no comparison as far as which is "leading" and which is "featured." I think Carvel will win, but he's in the wrong category.

I would also imagine this opens MATILDA up to win Featured Actor as well, for Ebert. Updated On: 4/26/13 at 02:41 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:46pm

With Nielsen in leading now, does that make Judith Light the front runner for supporting actress?

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:47pm

It looks like they will not be doing what they did for 'Billy Elliot' in 2009.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:49pm

I think Light is in good position to repeat now that Nielsen isn't in Supporting. Who else is there that really has a chance? I'm disappointed for Nielsen, who was a virtual lock to win in Supporting, but the move is appropriate. Will she struggle to be nominated in the Lead category? If she is nominated, who gets pushed out? Wow that is quite a competitive group!

Interesting point that Carmello might get into Lead without the Matilda girls; who else is vying for that slot?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:50pm

Tho is bull****. Carvel is on stage for 20 minutes. Nielsen now will probably lose. But worst of all, they're gonna automatically award the MATILDA girls while Lilla is doing 4x the work?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:51pm

Honestly, the Matildas not being eligible to me makes Stephanie J. Block's nomination much more likely than Carmello's. Yes, she was the best part of Scandalous, but that's not saying much, and I didn't find her to be anything to write home about.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:54pm

good decision by the Tony committee. I don't think the four Matildas should be rewarded for playing only two shows a week. I'd say the five Best Actress nominees will be: Miller, Crawford, Osnes, Carmello & Valisia LeKae, with Miller as the frontrunner.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:55pm

Lilla is going to get in..Im sure of it. The only way the committee can justify giving the matildas an award is if they give lilla a nomination. common sense people, she is getting in. We all need to accept this.

[bdn223]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:55pm

I have a feeling Best Supporting Actor will now go to one of the well deserving Men in The Mystery of Edwind Drood...Will Chase or Andy Karl's eyebrows.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:59pm

"With Nielsen in leading now, does that make Judith Light the front runner for supporting actress?"

It would seem to be a contest between the two Judith's unless they award the Broadway debut of Yvonne Strahovski in GOLDEN BOY which could very well happen if she is nominated.

I'd still given the edge to Light because her play is still running and THE HEIRESS and GOLDEN BOY have finished their limited runs.

Updated On: 4/26/13 at 02:59 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 2:59pm

We've seen them do this before, as with the rotating principal cast of La Bohème. Those performers only performed 2-4 times a week. (No, I'm not equating the role of Matilda to Mimi, but it's a similar situation.) I see this as the Tony Awards saying that the performances are (in their eyes) award-worthy, but it would be unfair to put them in contention for a competitive award, as has been argued to death on these boards.

[jaxandmci]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:00pm

I agree with The Matildas not being eligible. Four Tonys for one role is excessive. If I were doing eight shows a week and lost it to someone doing two, I'd have a hard time being happy for them.

I also agree that Kristine Nielsen is leading but fear her chances of going home with a Tony may be greatly diminished because of the stiff competition in the leading category. She would have been a lock as featured.

Loved Bertie Carvel but with just two numbers--both of which he shares with Miss Honey and The Children--I really feel he is featured and now may rob Billy Porter of his due.

Updated On: 4/26/13 at 03:00 PM

[suestorm]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:02pm

i saw both GB and Heiress and YS role was so much more substantial. and she KILLED IT!!

Werent the Matilda girls eligible for OLIVIERS????

[FindMe12]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:03pm

With this ruling I think best actress in a musical will be

Stephanie J. Block*
Lilla Crawford
Valisia LeKae
Patina Miller
Laura Osnes

*this spot is really between Block and Carmello with the other 4 locked. I think Block has the better chance regardless of how Carmello carried her show the voters will remember Drood more then Scandalous

Updated On: 4/26/13 at 03:03 PM

[Wynbish]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:03pm

broadway guy, why did Crawford's nomination change from "a chance" to "I'm sure of it" in 15 minutes?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:03pm

suestorm, they won the Olivier! (So did Bertie in the Leading category, by the way.)

[BroadwayBaby2012]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:04pm

There is a presumption that Kristine was moved to Leading by request or that Bertie was moved to lead by request. The committee reviews each letter and makes its own determinations. Kristine Neilsen did not ask for Leading eligibility. The committee rejected the characterization of her as a featured performer. I am sure she is disappointed by the decision.

We have no way of knowing what was requested - only what the committee's determinations were.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:07pm

How many actors alternated playing the role of Billy Elliot? I'm curious as to why the boys playing Billy could be eligible for an acting nomination but the girls of Matilda can't...

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/26/13 at 3:07pm

It just kinda clicked in my head wynbish. It makes sense right? How can the commitee give an award to 4 children without giving another award to or at least nominating another child who works harder than all 4 of the other kids. It's only way they can justify it.