Final TONY Decisions Revealed on PRISCILLA, MORMON, WONDERLAND, SISTER ACT & More- Page 2

[theatreguy]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:03pm

Yes, the producers must submit in writing where they would like their actors to be placed (if it contradicts their billing). The Committee can choose to deny their request OR they can move performers to a different category even if the producers didn't request it (which rarely happens, though it did last year with Sondheim on Sondheim).

Here's a link to the Tony Rules, the relevant info is on pages 6 and 7: http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/about/Rules-2010-2011FINAL.pdf

[uptowndowntown]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:04pm

Now that Elizabeth Rodriguez and Edie Falco are both officially in Featured Category that really changes things for Lead Actress. I would have thought the 5 lead nominations were going to be McDormand, Arianda, Rabe, and then 2 slots left for Redgrave, Rodriguez, Falco.

Now I guess the 5 Lead Noms will be: Arianda, McDormand, Rabe, Redgrave and I'll guess Cherry Jones, over Kathleen turner.

In Featured:
Edie Falco
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Ellen Barkin
Estelle Parsons
Judith Light

I don't really see anyone else breaking into that group.

Lead Actor:
Rylance
Cannavalle
Pacino
Mantello
and the 5th slot to R.Williams, Bedford or Dan Lauria. Or maybe Seth Numrich, but I think he should have stayed in featured category. Or maybe even Leguizamo gets the 5th slot.

Featured Actor:

John .Benjamin Hickey
Lee Pace
Jim Parsons
Yul Vazquez
5th slot to Tate Donovan, Kiefer Sutherland or Mackenzie Crook.

What do you all think?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:16pm

Now I guess the 5 Lead Noms will be: Arianda, McDormand, Rabe, Redgrave and I'll guess Cherry Jones, over Kathleen turner.
I wouldn't be surprised if the last slot went to Hannah Yellend for Brief Encounter (it might be the only nomination it gets). But I would expect Turner over Jones for sure otherwise.

In Featured:
Edie Falco
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Ellen Barkin
Estelle Parsons I think Renee Ellis Goldsberry or Lia Williams could actually take this spot.
Judith Light
Mostly agreed.

Lead Actor:
Rylance
Cannavalle
Pacino
Mantello
and the 5th slot to R.Williams, Bedford or Dan Lauria. Or maybe Seth Numrich, but I think he should have stayed in featured category. Or maybe even Leguizamo gets the 5th slot. I think the 5th slot goes to Williams or Bedford, with Williams as the slight favorite. Bedford is NOT a leading role. They really screwed him over.

Featured Actor:

John Benjamin Hickey Yes.
Lee Pace Yes.
Jim Parsons No. Probably Chris Rock. Womp.
Yul Vazquez Sadly, yes.
5th slot to Tate Donovan, Kiefer Sutherland or Mackenzie Crook.
The 5th spot is either Mackenzie or Robert Sean Leonard. Sutherland has ZERO chance, and Tate's chances aren't great either.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:18pm

Also, Arian Moayed could squeeze into the featured category for Bengal Tiger.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:24pm

I think there's a good chance that Rylance could take two of those slots. I personally thought his performance in LA BETE was even more impressive than JERUSALEM, but the latter is still running and fresher in people's minds.

I'd replace Cannavale with Rylance again, and go with either Robin Williams or Brian Bedford as the 5th nomination. It's a really tough category to call this year, though. So many great performances.

Does anyone think Pacino might get left out simply because it's a role he's played before and it was at the beginning of the season?

[Anakela]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:25pm

...OR they can move performers to a different category even if the producers didn't request it...

Ooh, now that's interesting. And thanks for the link!

[Kad]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 3:28pm

"Definitely WAY too many people in Leading Actor/Musical. Donnell had a good chance of a nom in featured, and Sheldon, Butz or Gad could've won there. Shame. Aaron will be lost in the shuffle, unfortunately."

Except Donnell IS the male lead in Anything Goes, and no matter how unconventional a leading man Gad is, his role is undeniably leading.

"Meanwhile, the award for featured actor in a musical goes to Rory O'Malley..."

And rightfully so, because his role is truly a FEATURED role.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 4:44pm

Thanks for the info.

So what happened to Joel Grey the year of CHICAGO?
Do the producers submit everyone or just who they feel worthy?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 4:45pm

I was just reading through the rules and found this interesting tidbit at the top of page 6:

"There shall be no more than four nominees in each category; provided, that if there are at least seven eligible candidates for nomination in a Best Performance category, then there shall be five nominees in that category."

So there may be only 4 nominees for Best Actress in a Musical.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 4:56pm

Oh interesting. Yah, there are only 6 eligible women in that category. I wonder if they narrow it down to four, who gets the snub... Sherie or Beth? I think Patina, Donna, and Sutton are the locks right now.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 5:11pm

I'm guessing that the only time the committee would move somebody on their own is if it is a clear case of a leading role that wasn't petitioned to be moved above the billing. For example, if the producers of Sister Act had not submitted the petition for Patina Miller to be nominated as Best Actress I can not imagine any way the nominating committee would not have chosen to move her on their own.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 5:11pm

CurtainPullDowner--
Someone at the Weisslers' office forgot to petition Joel Grey for Featured the year of Chicago, so he was automatically considered Leading (since he was above the title). Because of this, he got lost in the shuffle (presumably, many Tony voters nominated him for Featured Actor, accidentally sending in ineligible votes). He was subsequently not even nominated for the award which he most assuredly would have won. Grey publically expressed his sadness about it, stating, "You know that part where Amos asks the orchestra to play his exit music and it doesn't come? That's how I feel."

Obviously, his career went on longer than he thought and he would still go on to do Wicked and Anything Goes and co-direct The Normal Heart. If he gets nominated for the latter two on Tuesday maybe that will be a nice way to make up for it...fifteen years later.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/29/11 at 5:22pm

It's too bad they couldn't get Hemingway up to lead.

And I would be very happy to see O'Malley take featured. I was just saying he has very little real competition now, at least to me. I can't imagine Grey getting a nomination in that category unless they want to honor his career. He deserves director of a play, though, to be sure.