Drama Desk vs. Tony

[bigred3535]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:51pm

I don't know if this has been discussed or pointed out, but has anyone ever won two lead actor/lead actress Drama Desk Awards and won neither Tony for those roles. I didn't see Raul in Taboo, but I thought he was great in Company and, while I'm sure DHP is great in Curtains because he's a very engagin and entertaining performer, it seems like all the politics and controversy that went with Taboo may hinder Raul for the rest of his career (or maybe I'm just rationalizing because I'm disappointed he didn't win...).

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:54pm

I doubt he didn't win becaue of TABOO...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 8:59pm

I'd assume there's a pretty big list of people who have won the Drama Desk and then not the Tony for the same role. The Drama Desks are sort of to the Tonys what the Globes are to the Oscars. They don't always line up. Raúl is not the only one, so it's presumptuous to cry conspiracy over this. I'm sure the Taboo drama lost Esparza a handful of votes, but I highly, highly doubt it's the REASON he didn't win. I think any one of a million things could possibly have caused the upset, and I'm sure it was a combination of many things rather than entirely the work of just one. Of course, I'd hope that if any of this was about Taboo, people will eventually have the good sense look past a relatively minor incident enough to actually honor his work, because he really is one of the finest performers we have.

Updated On: 6/11/07 at 08:59 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 9:08pm

I wanted Raul to win.
However, I think DHP won largely for two reasons: 1. Some felt he should have won for Spamalot. (not me)
2. He's in a Kander and Ebb show that failed to win any other awards. I think the Tony voters wanted to honor the show in some manner given the recent passing of Ebb.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:25pm

"However, I think DHP won largely for two reasons: 1. Some felt he should have won for Spamalot. (not me)
2. He's in a Kander and Ebb show that failed to win any other awards. I think the Tony voters wanted to honor the show in some manner given the recent passing of Ebb."

or

3. The voters simply preferred DHP's performance over Raul's.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/11/07 at 11:00pm

Of course the winners for the desks and Tonys are going to differ, if for no other reason than the Drama desk includes Off and Off-Off Broadway, and the Tonys do not. That is why Christine won the Desk last year while La Chanze won the Tony, and Audra/Donna the desk, and Chistine the Tony this year.