Ethan Slater - frontrunner for Best Actor in a Musical?

[HBBrock]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:22pm

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

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:26pm

A little premature, don't you think?  Even in a year that doesn't look that impressive, we still have a Billy Bigelow and a Henry Higgins coming, if nothing else.  I have to think that he will only have a chance if the show is still running.

Updated On: 12/18/17 at 10:26 PM

[HBBrock]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:27pm

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

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:27pm

I agree he’s likely to get a nomination and things look good for him right now, but let’s hold off until we see how the male leads in the big revivals in early 2018 do before we hand him the award.

I do agree that nothing that has opened so far seems to pose much competition for him.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:29pm

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.  

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:31pm

Tony Shaloub will likely get nominated for The Band’s Visit. He’s great in the role, but there is no way he will win as he only sings one short song. Unless, they try to nominate him in a supporting role, instead. Do you think that’s possible?

[HBBrock]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:31pm

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

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:36pm

I can't help thinking that Bartlett Sher, who is clearly not perfect, would have selected Harry whoever if he didn't think he'd be a great Higgins.  I would not dismiss him; God knows it's a great role.  I agree that Joshua Henry will be very stiff competition if the show is well received.  He is extremely talented and is building a pretty impressive portfolio for himself.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:38pm

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

[HBBrock]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:39pm

Spongebob word of mouth is very strong as more and more people are seeing it. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:53pm

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.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:48pm

SpongeBob winning over Billy Bigelow or Henry Higgins? Not so sure about that. Joshua Henry and Harry Hadden-Patton would probably have to fall flat on their faces for Ethan Slater to become the clear frontrunner. It'll probably be a tight race, especially with Tony Shalhoub in the mix, but I'm not so sure Ethan Slater will win because his performance is basically just an imitation of someone else's (Tom Kenny's) performance.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:55pm

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.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:56pm

GeorgeandDot said: "his performance is basically just an imitation of someone else's (Tom Kenny's) performance."

Sorry, George, but I have to call you out on this one. Yes, Kenny created the character, and yes, voice acting is a craft in itself, but he hasn't done anything close to what Slater is doing on stage 8 times a week at the Palace.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:13am

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?"

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:17am

HBBrock, based on how vigorously you’re discounting anyone who even suggests that Ethan is anything but a lock for a Best Actor win it appears that your question was a rhetorical question. It was really just a statement you wanted us all to agree with. So I’ve taken the liberty of helping you out by slightly altering your subject heading to better reflect your intent.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:21am

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.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:39am

Oh God, I hate Ethan Slater

That's right I said it

I do, I hate Ethan Slater

I just don't get it

How a mediocre actor in a stupid children's play

Will win cause all the other actors will simply get out of his way....

Updated On: 12/19/17 at 12:39 AM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:43am

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.

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 2:10am

there will be a lot of competition for best actor
this year josh and tony are two of the best in the business, for example

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 7:28am

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?

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 7:56am

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

As did Andy Karl in Groundhog Day.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 8:31am

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.

[thebookofwhizzer]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 8:33am

I honestly can not see anyone but Josh Henry taking this. Don't get me wrong, Ethan is giving a great performance and will most likely be nominated, but Henry is an immense talent in one of the best male roles. I see no competition. 

[markypoo]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 9:24am

I'm reminded of a previously-posted, classic comment:

He's up there doing his gay, Jewish-boy act.

Period. End of conversation.