Can the Tony Committee pull a Zeta-Jones on Benanti?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:43pm

After looking through the shows set to open this season, I was thinking of what the chances were of Laura Benanti even getting a nomination for Lead Actress this year. With Patti LuPone duking it out with LaChanze and Maria Friedman it's hard to conceive Benanti walking away with the award.

Since THE WEDDING SINGER really focuses around Robbie, do you think the Tony committee would put Benanti in the featured catergory if they knew she was a shoe-in for the award? (Kind of like what happened with Catherine Zeta-Jones for CHICAGO.)

I just really want to see Laura win a Tony already.

Updated On: 1/15/06 at 04:43 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:53pm

She won't win for Wedding Singer, but Tony loves her, so I'm sure she'll get a nomination.

She has many, many shows ahead of her. She'll get one. She's young.

LaChanze is overdue for the award.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:55pm

Bobby, do you think it's conceivable that they put her in the featured category?

And, if so, do you think she'd have a better chance?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:58pm

I doubt she'll be featured. It's a lead, and I doubt they could convince the nominating committee that she's featured. But who knows...I'm reviewing the show for the site for its Seattle opening, so I can probably give you a better idea of the size of her role then. But I'm almost positive it is a lead.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 5:04pm

If Benanti wants a Tony, why not ask for the Featured category. It's winning, isn't it? That's what many below the title actors do if they want leads, why not reverse it?
But anyway, about the lead category itself...
La Chanze is gonna get it. Updated On: 1/15/06 at 05:04 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 4:29am

I'd consider her featured, but really, I haven't seen the show yet so i don't know. kerry butler was considered a leading actress for little shop, for which she did not receive a nomination, but still, i'd think of audrey as a featured role, and this role seems similar. but really, regardless, benanti doesn't have a chance in heck at winning this year. leading is going to be between lachanze, patti, and maria. featured is going to be between elisabeth withers-mendes and felicia p. fields, among others (Sweeney's Johanna). We all really need to see the show first. It could flop for all we know and get zero nominations (look at Dracula - the show was panned but had some very worthy performers, but the entire show was shut out because it was that bad). Just wait and see.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 9:15am

I find it fascinating how everyone keeps saying Zeta Jones in Chicago was a lead role nominated in the supporting category to enhance her chances. I don't agree. For the film of Chicago, 90% of the cut songs were Velma's and her role was reduced to the point where she was indeed a supporting player in Roxie's story.

[timote316]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 9:39am

I really can't see any one other than Patti or LaChanze winning. Both performance were just... breathtaking. Personally, I think Patti is the front-runner, but should Oprah host (that rumor a while back did make a lot of sense), I think Color Purple may sweep (which will go to show how the Tonys are a load of crap).

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 9:41am

Well Maria Friedman is currently the heroine of Broadway so I wouldn't count her out.

[children&art]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 9:49am

um is "Wedding Singer" supposed to be any good? its based on a not-so great movie. and after "Starved" on FX, benanti shouldnt be up for ANYTHING!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 10:08am

I expect the category to look something like this:

Lead Actress in a Musical

Laura Benanti, The Wedding Singer
Maria Freedman, The Woman in White
LaChanze, The Color Purple
Patti Lupone, Sweeney Todd

With the fifth spot going to either Carolee Carmello for "Lestat" or Jenn Gamabtese for "Tarzan."

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 10:13am

I want Maria to win!!!!!!

but this i believe will be a year were anyone could win and i will be happy

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 10:21am

I am pulling for LaChanze. I think she deserves it and is overdue. However, I wouldn't be upset with Maria either.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 11:27am

I think Benanti has no better a chance in featured this year as that award is definitely either a Color Purple lady's trophy to win or, even better, the much-longer-overdue Carolee Carmello.
I think the Best Actress statue is a two-way race between LuPone and Friedman.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 11:30am

Zeta-Jones was Supporting for Chicago because it was Roxie's story. The film cut out When Velma Takes the Stand, I Know A Girl, Class, and I am my Own Best Friend, which IMO bumped Velma down to a meaty supporting role.

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 11:35am

Go Maria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jv92]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:05pm

It's actually pretty good that Zeta-Jones won a Supporting Actress Oscar and was nominated in that category. If she had been nominated for Best Actress, Nicole Kidman would have won over her.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:10pm

Carolee will likely be featured.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:12pm

bwaysinger, why do you count out LaChanze?

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:21pm

But Catherine Zeta Zones's part was considered featured in the film because they decided to make the movie be about Roxie and her becoming famous with the musical sequences going on in her head. They didn't just put her in supporting so she could win.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:31pm

LaChanze is definitely long overdue, but I don't think she'll win. The part of Celie isn't really that great, and she's about the third most interesting character in the play (Shug and Sophia are much better written). LaChanze is still relatively young though, and her time will come.

Personally, I think LuPone has it in the bag, but an upset by Friedman is certainly possible. Does anybody know if they plan to consider Cyndi Lauper leading or featured yet?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 3:35pm

children&art, if you're basing Benanti's talent based solely on "Starved" then just shut your mouth. Both her performances in INTO THE WOODS and NINE were breathtaking and she deserves to win a Tony. Maybe not this year, but soon.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 3:40pm

In my opinion, the only lead woman giving an amazing performance on Broadway this season is Patti LuPone. I found her performance absolutely exhilirating. LaChanze and Friedman really didn't do anything for me (partially the material's fault). I feel that if Laura gives the performance I hope she will, she still has a chance. If Marisa Jaret Winokur could win for Hairspray...

And I think the woman that plays Shug should be getting Featured Actress...I thought she was the only person in that show that really stood out and had some great moments.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 4:02pm

Foanatic, you can't just tell people to "shut their mouths" for an opinion. Starved was one of the worst shows to ever make it on to television in the history of the medium, was it Benanti's fault, no but she was part of it and it's her most recent project.

As for Wedding Singer, shouldn't we wait to see how the show is before we start naming nominees? It could be a big fat turkey, which is the "buzz" I've heard on it.

Benanti, while having one of the most glorious soprano's in theater, is not exactly the first person to come to mind to play a role like Julia. And *imho*, she did not deserve that Tony nomination for Swing, at all. And if you want to take it even further, she's someone who has a very well known rep for being "difficult" but I digress. It's not going to be her year nomination or not, not with heavy's like Lupone and favorites like LaChanze and Friedman.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 4:09pm

ruprecht, I said what I said because her talent was being bashed simply because she signed herself onto a crappy tv show. Does Kristin Chenoweth not deserve another nomination because her sitcom tanked as well? No. I was talking about her past theatrical roles.

As for the buzz on THE WEDDING SINGER, I've heard some very good things about it.

And the topic on this board has seemed to have gone awry. People are responding to it as if I've asked if Benanti could take Leading Actress. I already stated that I didn't think she'd win. I want LuPone to get Leading Actress. What I've asked is if she could win FEATURED.