#1
Posted: 5/16/09 at 12:58pm
Best Play: God of Carnage
Not a great season for new plays: there are three possible winners, and it's hard to have strong feelings about any of them. God of Carnage might lose to Dividing the Estate or reasons to be pretty - Dividing being more likely if the voters want to give the deceased Mr. Foote his first Tony. But the voters generally like to vote for what they most enjoyed, and if they can get over Carnage's sitcom-like aspects, than it'll win.
Best Musical: Billy Elliot the Musical
Because NEXT TO NORMAL is too audience-divisive to gather the needed momentum to topple the All-Season Frontrunner. It's boring, but Billy Elliot is a very good show, after all (unlike The Producers, it would perhaps deserve a whole lot of wins).
Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests
Because it's really really funny; because it was near-unanimously-swooned over by the critics (and there are critics who think like audience members); because it's epic (see The Coast of Utopia); because Matthew Warchus, who is on a real high this year, directed. Joe Turner might pull an upset, but it isn't likely.
Best Revival of a Musical: Hair
Because there's no competition: West Side Story disappointed a whole lot of people, and Guys and Dolls/Pal Joey never had a prayer. It's a shame, because Hair is actually a great production, and would have a fighting chance in a good year.
Best Director of a Play: Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests
Because he's on a high that would be a career-maker for any other director, but is pretty much the norm for him. He's also never won. He might also win for God of Carnage; if a vote split is at all possible, Bartlett Sher would probably be the next choice.
Best Director of a Musical: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep - though I'm hoping Diane Paulus upsets (it would be nice if an American won something this year).
Best Book of a Musical: Lee Hall, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep; also, there's not much competition (next to normal's book wasn't the most praised part of the show).
Best Original Score: Elton John and Lee Hall, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep; Elton John's score works much better on a stage (especially with that production), and the voters will probably come with that impression. But don't count next to normal out: if it's going to win anything, it'll be here.
(scroll down for more)
Not a great season for new plays: there are three possible winners, and it's hard to have strong feelings about any of them. God of Carnage might lose to Dividing the Estate or reasons to be pretty - Dividing being more likely if the voters want to give the deceased Mr. Foote his first Tony. But the voters generally like to vote for what they most enjoyed, and if they can get over Carnage's sitcom-like aspects, than it'll win.
Best Musical: Billy Elliot the Musical
Because NEXT TO NORMAL is too audience-divisive to gather the needed momentum to topple the All-Season Frontrunner. It's boring, but Billy Elliot is a very good show, after all (unlike The Producers, it would perhaps deserve a whole lot of wins).
Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests
Because it's really really funny; because it was near-unanimously-swooned over by the critics (and there are critics who think like audience members); because it's epic (see The Coast of Utopia); because Matthew Warchus, who is on a real high this year, directed. Joe Turner might pull an upset, but it isn't likely.
Best Revival of a Musical: Hair
Because there's no competition: West Side Story disappointed a whole lot of people, and Guys and Dolls/Pal Joey never had a prayer. It's a shame, because Hair is actually a great production, and would have a fighting chance in a good year.
Best Director of a Play: Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests
Because he's on a high that would be a career-maker for any other director, but is pretty much the norm for him. He's also never won. He might also win for God of Carnage; if a vote split is at all possible, Bartlett Sher would probably be the next choice.
Best Director of a Musical: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep - though I'm hoping Diane Paulus upsets (it would be nice if an American won something this year).
Best Book of a Musical: Lee Hall, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep; also, there's not much competition (next to normal's book wasn't the most praised part of the show).
Best Original Score: Elton John and Lee Hall, Billy Elliot the Musical
As part of the Billy Elliot sweep; Elton John's score works much better on a stage (especially with that production), and the voters will probably come with that impression. But don't count next to normal out: if it's going to win anything, it'll be here.
(scroll down for more)
"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
