Does Chenoweth have a chance to give Ebersole a run for her money?- Page 2

[WalkOn]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:12pm

I think Chenoweth would have a fighting chance if she had created a truly leading role this season, rather than being the lead in a revival.

Someone need to write her her own show.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:12pm

Here we go again - discussing the Tonys as if they're based on merit, not politics and business.

Waste of energy.

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:14pm

Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz already did write her her own show and she lost the Tony to Idina Menzel.

Besides, that's like saying that Bernadette Peters did not deserve her Tony for playing Annie Oakley in 1999. Is that what you're trying to say?

[DBillyP]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:15pm

I am still surprised that Ebersole, as great as she sounded, won the Tony for LEAD actress for 42nd Street.

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:16pm

Well, the reason she won that was because there were no lead actresses in The Producers. lol!

[WalkOn]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:20pm

No.. I'm saying that up against Ebersole's already legendary performance, Chenoweth would have to have done something no one else has done to stand a fighting chance for a Tony.

Barbara Harris, I believe, already one a Tony for THE APPLE TREE. Harris' performance is legendary. Chenoweth's is great.

As for WICKED, I believe that the Glinda role is not a lead. I was given lead status in deference to Chenoweth's talent, but dramatically, WICKED is Elpahba's story and Galinda is a secondary -albeit large- role.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 3:21pm

Well, they could have given the Tony to one of the other nominees who actually played a LEADING role.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:38pm

If I recall, it's been said that Glinda was a much more minor role until Chenoweth workshopped her, and the things she brought to the table dramatically influenced the writers to expand the role and focus more on the Elfable/Glenda relationship. Her Tony helped too, I'm sure. Like when "Your Daddy's Son" was written for McDonald because, well, it was McDonald...

[jasobres]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 4:42pm

Actually in the Grimmerie, it is said that the role of Glinda was written with Kristin in mind.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:02pm

Chenoweth herself said she was surprised when the Tony committee deemed her eligible for the leading category since she always thought of Glinda as a featured role.
There is still a lot of controversy surrounding the fact Ebersole was considered in the leading category for 42nd street when she played a role that had always been thought of as a featured role. Yet, she has plenty of more solos than Sally or Phyllis do in Follies (both roles always considered for the leading category) and probably as many as Momma Rose, though I know the point is that she is not at the center of the story.
I still don't think Ebersole is a lock for the award, not because of her performance but because many times the Tonys are not exactly about WHO gave the best performance but about WHY they want to give the person (not the performance) the award. Not to beat a dead horse but Tonya Pinkins and Donna Murphy learned this in 2004 the hard way.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 5:34pm

"3 in the past" Audra has four,because she IS Audra!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 7:14pm

Ebersole

You can bet the farm on it

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:02pm

I also vote Ebersole.

However, it's going to be one helluva race.

My bets for the other for noms in this category will be Lea Michele, Kristen Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, and Donna Murphy. If Michele is considered featured (which she shouldn't) I'd wager her place will be given to Ashley Brown.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:18pm

Lea Michele is not a viable contendor, really. Her role should be considered featured.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:35pm

With the kind of lukewarm reviews Ashley Brown got (and the mixed reviews of the show itself) I doubt she'll get a nomination, especially in such a competitive year where only getting a nomination will be an achievement.
I feel the likely contenders for a nod are: Ebersole, McDonald, Murphy, Chenoweth, Monk. Jane Krakowski, Stephanie J. Block, and Laura Bell Bundy could all surprise though, especially Krakowski.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:37pm

while Brantley has this inexplicable obsession for Cheno, she's only proven to myself and MANY others that she can't carry a show, period.

Pardon, but have you seen the show?

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:44pm

Anything can happen.

For instance- in 2004, my picks for the winner in this category was Donna Murphy with Tonya Pinkins and Kristin Chenoweth in 2nd and 3rd. When Menzel won, I was shocked. She was in 5th for me behind Stephanie D'Abruzzo.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/15/06 at 11:46pm

It's about time you showed up, Foster.

I saw THE APPLE TREE and while I found Kristin Chenoweth funny/cute and the overall show enjoyable, I don't think Christine Ebersole has anything to worry about. Ebersole was phenomenal in GREY GARDENS! She is to GREY GARDENS what Meryl Streep is to SOPHIE'S CHOICE. Simply brilliant!

Updated On: 12/15/06 at 11:46 PM

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 1:34am

perfectliar, plenty of people thought that La Chanze would win over LuPone last year.

And there were some, americanboy99, who thought that Menzel was going to win the year before, just by process of elimination: Murphy (especially) and Chenoweth were missing performances. Also, Chenoweth's role wasn't really the leading role (though people in even smaller roles have won on occasion in the leading category). Pinkins is not a beloved person in the community. D'Abruzzo didn't have a shot. That left Menzel, whose nearly perfect attendance in a demanding role compelled admiration, especially that year.

Anyway, again, it does seem that Monk will be considered in featured this year. And Colella won't be nominated even in featured, but I'd think that's the category she'd be in if she were to get nominated. Her role really wasn't a leading role. It should have been. That was one of the show's problems, perhaps its biggest.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 1:53am

NobodyHome, I understand why Murphy didn't win, I've read articles and heard people saying that her absences cost her the Tony Award. However, I was not aware that Tonya Pinkins was not beloved in the community, her "Lot's Wife" alone seemed worthier of the award than any acting required in Wicked, why is she not "beloved"? Thanks for your "analysis" of the 2004 award, it makes more sense to me now, your great insight on the board is always appreciated
Interesting to see that Monk will be considered for the featured category because it means she'll be competing against Karen Ziemba and they might cancel each other out (though most people believe Mary Louise Wilson is a lock for the award). If Monk is featured, then I definitely believe either Murphy or/and Krakowski (if she is in Xanadu) will get a nomination given their past record, their great skills as stage actresses, and the place they've gained in the community.

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 2:19am

I havent seen Grey Gardens but back in September when Ebersole performed at Broadway On Broadway, the song she sang was completely unimpressive. I practically forgot she was on stage. It really makes me scratch my head when everyone thinks shes a lock. I guess she & the material work better in context.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 2:36am

Thanks, ray-andallthatjazz86. I don't want to go into too much detail about Pinkins. You hear stories, which may or may not be true. But those stories get around and contribute to someone's reputation, even if they're exaggerated or not true at all. I do wonder if some of it has to do with racial and sexual politics.

And who knows but maybe one of her competitors was spreading them?

Alas, talent and giving the best performance doesn't always out, as we see pretty much every year.

I'm not positive Monk will be in featured, but pretty much everything I've heard suggests that her role is not really a lead, even if it might actually be as big some roles that have won in leading categories, like Miss Hannigan.

And given this year's competition, the producers of Curtains would be wise to request that she be in featured if her billing is over the title. In featured, she might have a shot. I don't think it's necessarily in the bag for Mary Louise Wilson.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 3:12am

Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz already did write her her own show and she lost the Tony to Idina Menzel.


Wicked was not written for Kristin AT ALL...

And Mistress_Spouzic go see Grey Gardens RIGHT NOW!

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 8:37am

Pardon, but have you seen the show?

Yes, Wannabe I have, twice and have seen Chenoweth in everything she's done and keep waiting for the sheer wonderment of all that is Cheno to dawn upon my clearly blind self. Seriously, other than looking like she was working her ass off (and not in a good way), how many more times am I supposed to endure this GROWN woman doing her cupie doll schtick? I'm bored and just because the general consensus is that she's "amazing" and just because Brantly says so, I'd like to have my own opinion, which is valid in and of itself. I'm not a sheep. And if you've been paying attention, the "general consensus" amongst us mere mortals, has been "eh" with regards to her performance in Apple Tree.

[steveshack]

Posted: 12/16/06 at 8:50am

When I saw Christine Ebersole at as ASCAP function, I knew I was in the presence of greatness. She sang "Around The World" and it was absolutely magnificent. I don't think I've ever seen a better, more transformative 5 minutes on a stage. I can't wait to see GREY GARDENS.
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