Laura Osnes or Patina Miller for the Tony

I haven't been able to see either Pippin or Cinderella, but it seems like the majority of people believe the Lead Actress in a musical tony will go to either Laura or Patina. Who do you think will win?

I'm just curious. Why do you say her over Laura?

Stronger Part, street cred, Vocally challenging etc etc

"street cred"

Are you kidding me? WHO is this guy? (the answer better not be "broadway")

I think it will go to Patina. Laura has a very loyal and vocal fan base and the closer it gets to the Tony's the louder they become.

It's a tight race, but I give Osnes the edge.
Patina has the Vereen thing against her,

It's a tight race, but I give Osnes the edge.
Patina has the Vereen thing against her,

I'm really hoping for Patina Miller. I absolutely love Laura Osnes, but I was more blown away by Patina's performance than Laura's (maybe that's just because I prefer Pippin to Cinderella, but still). Patina is a triple threat, and practically carries the show. I'll be pretty disappointed if she doesn't get the Tony.

I personally like Laura but don't think this is her Tony-making role. The show is ok at best and while Laura is good in the role, she doesn't do anything that elevates the show or make it brilliant and worthwhile.

Patina on the other hand is giving a breakout, star making performance. Brantley's comments notwithstanding, she takes the unconventional concept of the female leading player and makes it work perfectly. Perhaps some people still have Vereen on their minds, but Patina is perhaps as close as we're ever going to get. Brilliant past performances in Gypsy didn't mean Patti Lupone was overlooked for her performance as Madame Rose. It seems silly to suggest someone giving a phenomenal performance shouldn't win solely because someone 40 years ago may have been better (and for the relative few who have seen both live, I do think it would be quite hard to remember and be able to sufficiently a compare an experience you had 40 years ago with one you had today, rose-colored glasses and all.)

While Cinderella plods and has a few moments of promise, Pippin is brilliant all the way through. Sure there are other factors like the rest of the cast, director, etc. but invariably to sustain a brilliant production, you need a phenomenal performance from the female lead, and Patina does just that.

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"God, ever since the Matilda's dropped out of the race people thought that Laura had a chance. That award is still Patina's. There is no race."

This. exactly. There has never been a race people. Once it got out that The Matildas weren't eligible it became clear that it was Patina for the win. There isn't a race..

I'm going to have to be on the ones who support Osnes because she fully embodies the role she originated and while I still support Miller, she has Ben Vereen's legendary performance hanging on her shoulders and people have said that her performance was to slick. But I wish both ladies the best.

^ Count me among them. Tough to compare anyone to Ben Vereen, but the show unfortunately invites us to. And Vereen's performance for all its virtuosity had a very light touch-- softly seductive, human and coy and even a little sweaty-- so when the iron fist shows up in the second Act it comes as a shock to both Pippin and us. With Patina, there's a dangerous hard as nails bitch on wheels up there from the first entrance -- where's the surprise?

On the other hand, I've absolutely no doubt Patina's got the tony in the bag. (the one she borrowed from Jan Maxwell)