Is revival the only real Tony race this year? — Page 2

perfectlymarvelous said: "I don't know if it was the same off Broadway, but the bottom part of the stage as well as the lip were made to look like concrete, and just as we are shown the apartment building sliced in half, we also see the inside of the concrete all the way down to the theatre floor. I was in the front row so it was literally in front of my face, I don't know if that particular detail is visible further back and in the mezzanine."

This video describes the set http://youtu.be/l4kDiZXkt20

What an incredible year for revivals. When The Color Purple was your least favorite, you know its been a great year. Hoping Spring Awakening somehow makes the cut, instead of what, I'm unsure.

With the exception of maybe Kelli O'Hara winning over Kristin Chenoweth, all of those people you cite didn't really have any kind of stiff competition in their respective categories, at least not the kind of competition to override an overdue narrative. I'm sure Danny Burstein's performance in Fiddler is great, but the revival didn't get raves and hasn't become a smash hit, especially in comparison to the juggernaut that is Hamilton. Yes, he could still win, but I don't think he's a frontruner. The overdue factor certainly didn't help his Follies co-star Jan Maxwell back in 2012 against Audra.

The revival didn't get raves and hasn't become a smash hit.

What are you talking about? The current production of Fiddler on the Roof has been very well-received by critics and is doing pretty well at the box office. And are Tony voters really going to decide on a winner just by what is and isn't doing well at the box office?

That's not exactly what I said. Yes, I'm aware that it received good reviews, but more than a few had issues with certain aspects of the production, especially the direction. And yes, the show is selling well- but that doesn't mean it's a sell-out smash hit.

Obviously Tony voters don't vote solely based on box office. But Hamilton is an extraordinary hit, both critically and financially. It's not really a crazy argument to see how one of their leading actors will get swept up by the hype surrounding the show and win, even if a fellow nominee is well-liked and overdue, especially since Burr has the arguable show-stopper of the night. I'm not arguing that Danny Burstein has zero chance, but I think it's fair that Leslie Odom Jr. has a lot more going for him in this category than Burstein does.

I think it's fair that Leslie Odom Jr. has a lot more going for him in this category than Burstein does.

How exactly? Because if you ask me, I think Burstein has a lot more going for him than Kelli O'Hara last year. He's been working on Broadway for over 20 years. First starting off in the ensemble while also understudying some roles. Then he earned his very first major role (and Tony nomination) in The Drowsy Chaperone back in 2006. Since then, he's earned four more nominations for his performances in South Pacific, Follies, Golden Boy, and Cabaret. Now it's his first time ever leading a Broadway show (especially in a role he never would've thought he'd be playing). Talk about someone who has really paid his dues.

I'm just saying that Burstein's narrative could play in his favor.

I'm curious as to whether some voters ultimately feel they want to share the wealth a little bit. Hamilton is so obviously winning (at least) musical, score, book, direction, choreography, lighting, orchestrations--- straight out of the hat, that I would think when it comes to the acting catagories, some voters are going to want to check another box outside of Hamilton.



I know The Producers won everything in its year, but that production opened a lot closer to the Tony Awards. People have lived with the Hamilton hysteria for a while now and may even be a little fatigued of it. and it really doesn't need to win 12 Tony Awards. It's already sold out until forever.

Updated On: 3/18/16 at 08:02 PM

QueenAlice said: "I'm curious as to whether some voters ultimately feel they want to share the wealth a little bit. Hamilton is so obviously winning musical, score, book, direction, choreography, lighting, orchestrations--- straight out of the hat, that I would think when it comes to the acting catagories, some voters are going to want to check another box outside of Hamilton.

I know The Producers won everything in its year, but that production opened a lot closer to the Tony Awards. People have lived with the Hamilton hysteria for a while now and may even be a little fatigued of it. and it really doesn't need to win 12 Tony Awards. It's already sold out until forever."

You could be right although don't forget that leading actress is almost certainly going to Cynthia Erivo. Also, as other people have mentioned in other threads, how lovely it would be to see the acting in a musical awards all go to people of color: Erivo, Odom, Diggs & Goldsberry. Especially this year with all the Oscars controversy.

It doesn't need to win 12 Tonys but it would be nice for the show to get a substantial amount so that the awards match up to the praise it has been given and to the commercial success. I can understand getting fatigued by the hype but it's not often a show with this type of hype comes along and I think it's nice to celebrate it and enjoy it while it lasts.

It would be shameful for voters to vote for actors of color to try to "fix" the Oscar situation. And it is completely unnecessary as most of the best plays and musicals this season have heavily featured minority actors. This has been an incredibly diverse season on Broadway and the Tony nominations are going to reflect that without resorting to trying to make a statement on the Oscars.



I personally think the 8 or so easy wins (including Goldsberry) that Hamilton is likely to snag is plenty. I hope it doesn't win everything it's nominated for- and frankly don't think it will. Keep in mind too that many of the voters are people in the industry who are involved with the other productions nominated. Tony wins will mean nothing for Hamilton's box office but a Tony win for Cythia or Danny could be very meaningful to the finances of their productions.

Updated On: 3/18/16 at 08:16 PM

The Oscars not nominating any POC's this year doesn't even start with the Oscars. POC actors aren't getting roles in Oscar-worthy movies. Of course, the Oscars can nominate whatever they want, so that's a huge factor, but it isn't just them. When was the last time you saw a blockbuster film starring a POC that had Oscar buzz surrounding it?

Keep in mind too that many of the voters are people in the industry who are involved with the other productions nominated.

Plus, you do sometimes tend to hear voters say "Well, that's gonna win, but I'm gonna vote for something else".

wonderfulwizard11 said: "But you could just as easily apply that kind of logic to Jan Maxwell back in 2012, and she still lost to Audra McDonald. Yes, Burstein is well-loved and had a great career. But that narrative alone doesn't mean he will win. Maybe it helped O'Hara last year (which I think is a foolish argument anyway, since she received pretty rapturous reviews), but On the 20th Century didn't have anywhere close to the hype and buzz that Hamilton has. Just because one narrative works in one year doesn't mean it can equally apply to different years.

I am boggled everytime someone talks about Jan Maxwell's performance as being deprived of a Tony. I have seen Alexis Smith, Diana Rigg, Blythe Danner, Dee Hoty, Donna Murphy and Jan Maxwell play Phyllis; and, IMO at least three of them gave far superior performances than she did. Her Lucy and Jessie was positively awful...it was as if she had two left feet. While her acting was fine, it was no better than any of the other ladies. I do agree that she did a strong job with How Could I leave You, but she certainly did not command the stage the way Smith, Hoty and Murphy did.

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