Leading Actor Tony nominees... Cheyenne?

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:08am

So I just read something that I had never really thought of. Wayman Wong (who writes THE LEADING MEN on Playbill.com) recently described Cheyenne's performance in All Shook Up as "a Tony-worthy tour de force." I had never really put him in that category before, but what do you all think?

I'm not looking for man-hungry posters that think Cheyenne's hot. I want honest opinions. I love the guy, he's incredibly sweet and talented. But with this being his leading-man debut, and in a show that's not necessarilly the height of the musical theatre art-form, do you think that he'll be able to be up there with John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Raul Esparza, Daniel Davis, Denis O'Hare and Gary Beach, who are all front-runners (in some respects)? I'm very interested to see what happens.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:10am

Cheyenne's incredibly talented, and if he doesn't get a nomination, I don't think it's going to be by any fault of his own. There's a huge number of talented leading men this year who could be up for the nomination, and someone perfectly deserving is going to get screwed out. Also, the kind of show he's in may also hurt him; I'm not betting on the Tony nominations to look too fondly upon the jukebox material.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:11am

This show is blah, but Cheyenne is an amazing guy. Competition is going to be fierce this year, though.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:15am

i'm fairly sure denis o'hare will be featured, as all previous oscars have been. i think cheyenne obviously has a chance, but will probably lose out to norbert leo butz, john lithgow, raul esparza, daniel davis, gary beach, tim curry... any of them i think would/should come before cheyenne. we'll see i'm sure.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:16am

Would Tim Curry be considered leading? I just assumed that all the men in Spamalot would be considered supporting.

Denis O'Hare should do The Producers...

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:18am

My predictions:

Cheyenne Jackson
John Lithgow
Norbert Leo Butz (who will win)
Tim Curry
Gary Beach (despite the mixed reviews)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:20am

If the SPAMALOT men are all considered supporting, which I highly highly doubt, then Cheyenne has a very good chance. If not, I can't see a nomination for him.

I thought Cheyenne was fine in ALL SHOOK UP - not bad in any respects, but not amazing - but that's the material's fault, not his. Many great actors have been able to rise above their terrible material and shine, but Cheyenne just doesn't command the stage like I had hoped. I would nominate him over Daniel Davis, Gary Beach, and Tim Curry in a heartbeat - but certainly not over John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Hanz Azaria, or even B.D. Wong.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:21am

Tim Curry is the only one from Spamalot who has any chance of being considered a lead. He is definitely the show's lead, and I think he'll probably get that nomination.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:25am

"or even B.D. Wong"

Do you think B.D. has any legitimate shot at a nomination?
I personally loved him as the Reciter once I got used to his interpretation.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:26am

He always seems to be forgotten when we have this discussion. I think he's got a fair chance.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:47am

I don't think he'll be remembered.

Emcee, why wouldn't Azaria and Pierce be leading?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 1:51am

Just a guess, but I kind of figured King Arthur was the definite lead. Azaria's and Pierce's characters are kind of... sidekicks. Plus, they play more than one part each - I'm not sure what that means in terms of leading roles versus supporting ones.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 2:00am

D'Abruzzo and Tartaglia got lead nominations for playing multiple characters last year. I think if they only played Kate and Princeton, respectively, the parts wouldn't have qualified for lead as easily. Adding in Lucy and Rod fleshed out the amount of work they had to do.

As for Wong- he didn't really blow me away, but I don't think this is quite as strong a year as last year for leading men. So maybe he'll get a nom.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 3:09am

When shows have ensemble casts like Spelling Bee or Spamalot, most of the performers will be considered as supporting.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 3:14am

I disagree. I think Curry, Azaria, and Pierce will all be recognized as Leading. It's uneniable that they're leading.

[Plum]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 3:16am

Whose name is above the title? Unless the producers try to submit someone else, that's who counts as leading, I'm pretty sure.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 4:16am

That's not always true. Just because you're above the title doesn't make you a leading character. It's more based on the work, not the billing, though sometimes it can differ.

And I'm at a disadvantage, since I haven't seen the show, but from what I've heard it makes sense that Curry is a lead, but that the others are supporting.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 4:20am

I thought Curry was leading. I saw it three weeks ago and loved all three but I think the producers or whoever decides will put Curry in lead and the other two as supporting. Gives 'em a great chance for more awards. B/c is Azaria were in leading he'd be beaten out by Butz. But supporting he's very forceful. Who knows tho.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 5:43am

NO - Pierce and Azaria ABSOLUTELY have just as much stage time as Curry. It may not seem like that only because Curry plays one part, but because Pierce and Azaria play so many different parts it's so easy to forget how leading they really are. There is NO WAY they will be considered supporting - and if they are, that's absolutely terrible judgement.

Posted: 4/6/05 at 5:55am

I dont remember looking at the marquee, but on the website they have the three names on an even plane.

"starring
david hyde pierce, tim curry, hank azaria"

I thought they were all leads, they could certainly try to get Azaria and Pierce into supporting but I dont know if it would work. They might do something completely strange like push two of them as lead and one as supporting and youd all be wrong!

also when you go to bios on the website, they have the three names and FEATURED CAST as a button below it, but thats just being nitpicky...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 10:04am

I don't see Cheyenne being nominated for this one. I think he's talented, but it just wasn't a strong enough role or show to pull him out for a Tony nom with all the other more memorable and more buzzed performances out there. I'm sure we'll see more of Cheyenne in the future. Maybe a show that doesn't cop out about homosexuality in the end.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 10:20am

First of all, it IS all about billing. If your name is above the title, you are automatically considered for the leading categories, unless the producers petition within two weeks of opening night to have you considered for a featured slot (witness the Joel Grey debacle with CHICAGO. The best supporting performance of the year and he gets no nomination because the producers didn't petition for him to be in supporting).

Secondly, I would't be surprised to see the wonderfully talented Cheyenne Jackson be nominated.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 10:25am

I doubt he'll get a nomination as the tony voters haven't been to kind to jukebox musicals or those in them. But perhaps his good looks will let him coast by again, but he definitely won't win-competition is too tough in the lead male category. I'm pretty sure that award has already been engraved for Norbert.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 11:18am

When I wrote that Cheyenne Jackson gives 'a Tony-worthy performance,' that's my opinion. To me, he commands the stage and the show (he's in about 17 of the numbers); he acts, sings and dances up a storm. And without being an Elvis clone, Jackson has created his own comic creation. Even if the reviews were mixed for 'All Shook Up,' he got his share of raves.

Whether or not, Jackson will get a Tony nomination is trickier to predict. As it's been pointed out, he is a newcomer and he's in a 'jukebox musical.' Best Actor is a VERY competitive category with loads of terrific veterans, and since there are only 5 slots, it'll depend on factors like Tony eligibility. 'Spamalot' lists Tim Curry, Hank Azaria and David Hyde-Pierce all BELOW the title; will all of them be bumped up to Best Actor? Or will just Curry be eligible for Best Actor, thereby leaving Azaria and Hyde-Pierce up for Featured Actor?

For the record, the month before, I also wrote that Norbert Leo Butz gives a 'Tony-worthy tour de force.' That's the tough thing about awards; there are a number of extraordinary performances, but there are only so many slots. Getting any nomination is a mix of talent, name recognition, competition and luck. 'Tony-worthy tour de force' is not a phrase I toss around lightly; the last time I used it was for Hugh Jackman.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 11:24am

This will all just boil down to where the SPAMALOT folks place Azaria and/or Pierce. If I were playing producer, I would put AZARIA in supporting and Pierce & Curry in lead. Although, that could garuntee no wins for any of the men. Putting Pierce in Supporting Could garner him the actual award. So who knows...as of now, I think this should be the top 5.

JOHN LITHGOW
NORBERT LEO BUTZ***Winner
TIM CURRY
DAVID HYDE PIERCE
GARY BEACH (he is a Tony winner already, and Davis' firing (and probably slight because of his firing) should lead Beach the nominating chair)