Ethan Slater - frontrunner for Best Actor in a Musical?

I would’ve never imagined Spongebob could win Best Actor in a Musical....but I honestly believe he’s the frontrunner.

Joshua Henry will be his only competition. I expect him to be fantastic too. But who are the possible nominees for Best Actor?

Many people here think it is Josh Henry's (Carousel) to lose -- based only on conversation in a different thread. Seeing how we don't even know if SB will make it to nominations, yours seems a bit lofty, although I doubt you are alone.

So far, the best two shows this season by far are The Band’s Visit and Spongebob. Most of the plays have been garbage.

The Band’s Visit has wins in Best Musical and Katrina for Best Actress locked in.

Spongebob will be loaded with noms also, and they have a legit chance to walk away with Best Actor depending on how Joshua Henry is.

Updated On: 12/18/17 at 10:31 PM

^Spongebob might not even MAKE it, so don't count your chickens....

Obviously it's all speculation, but SpongeBob does have that Nickelodeon money behind it, and I'm be willing to bet they are willing to keep pumping money into it through at least the awards season, if not through the summer.

Except that Tom Kenny just did a voice.

Ethan is doing an incredibly physical role while singing 8 shows a week, and doing it flawlessly.

GeorgeandDot said: "SpongeBob winning over Billy Bigelow or Henry Higgins?"

The problem with comparing roles as opposed to performances means that you often do end up wrong.

Just in recent memory I can think of several examples where this same conversation might have played out in this manner with the same type of unexpected results.

"Tracy Turnblad winning over Madame Rose?"

"The guy in Curtains winning over Bobby in Company?"

"Marge MacDougal winning over Madame Armfeldt?"

Who knows. It's way too early to decide. I mean we might get a Donna Summer's musical as well, etc. There are plenty of open houses, so who knows.

HBBrock said: "Except that TomKenny just did a voice.

Ethan is doing an incredibly physical role while singing 8 shows a week, and doing it flawlessly."

I agree, but it is still just an imitation. It's the same reason that the historical figure Oscar bait movies always bother me. It becomes more of an impression. Ethan Slater is incredible and does it incredibly well, but it may hurt his chances just a bit. I guess I should say he's imitating the vocal performance by Tom Kenny and he's imitating the cartoon's physicality. IMO, I would have preferred a performance more like James Monroe Iglehart, where he reinvented the role. I think Gavin Lee kind of does this as Squidward. He feels like the character, but it never feels like he's trying too hard to imitate the cartoon. I don't know, just my opinion, but I think if Joshua Henry and Harry Hadden-Patton give strong performances, they both have a much stronger chance. Those roles are meaty and if they use the material to it's full potential, they definitely have a stronger chance.

GeorgeandDot said: "SpongeBob winning over Billy Bigelow or Henry Higgins?"

The problem with comparing roles as opposed to performances means that you often do end up wrong.

Just in recent memory I can think of several examples where this same conversation might have played out in this manner with the same type of unexpected results.

"Tracy Turnblad winning over Madame Rose?"

"The guy in Curtains winning over Bobby in Company?"

"Marge MacDougal winning over Madame Armfeldt?"



A teenager in a cast winning over Horace Vandergelder and Marvin from Falsettos?

Just a little wrinkle of "what if?" to throw in--suppose LCT decided to push Norbert Leo Butz for the lead category? George Rose won Lead Actor for playing Doolittle in 1976.



Of course, Butz has to be considered a real threat to win in the Featured category already, but if it's considered a weaker year then they could decide to go for the brass ring, especially with a Higgins who's not a known quantity.