Anyone who would call this a "pity Tony" is being disrespectful of both Kelli and her marvelous performance, and the process itself
Im sure the vote between her and Kristin was very close
I saw and loved both performances and they were as different a roles as you could possibly imagine.
one was understated, refined and brilliantly executed
one was exuberant over the top and brilliantly executed
If anything nudged Kelli over the top, its that Anna is an iconic role singing some of the most beloved songs in broadway history, and On the 20th was a niche show revival that most voters were probably not that familiar with
I loved Kristins performance, and I REMEMBERED Kelli's performance and believe that may have been the difference that made the difference....
Way to go Kelli, and thanks Kristin for a fantastic performance (while battling a virus!)