Michael Musto's Tony Predictions- Page 5

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 11:06am

REGRETS ONLY is an Off-Broadway play.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:05pm

That is what I thought. Although the MTC is a muddy water for me as far as Tony eligibility is concerned.
I guess my question is why is Jackie Huffman being discussed in a thread about nominees for Lead Actress in a Musical Tony?

[mikem]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:48pm

I agree with munkustrap that John McMartin is the frontrunner for Featured Actor in a Musical, although that could easily change when other shows open. McMartin has been nominated 5 times in the past but has never won, he is 77 years old, and he is excellent in a critically acclaimed show. His only minus is that his part is fairly small, but until someone else gets the kind of notices that scream Tony, he is the frontrunner.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:55pm

Hey, where did you find an age for McMartin? He has always kept his DOB a secret and I've always wondered how old he was. I figured he was about 75, 76, but I've never been able to find a DOB for him.

The Tony voters have tended not to give lifetime-achievement type consolation Tonys. McMartin might turn out to be an exception, and I do think that he makes a lot of a fairly thankless role.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 12:58pm

Hon, I know enough about it to know it's not the next-Rent. That doesn't mean it can't be good, but why does everything w/ rock music have to be the "next-Rent"? Wasn't BARE the next Rent? I mean they each have four letters in the title, and have catchy scores, so I guess that's it, huh?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:01pm

RentBoy86, what makes you think that the only reason people deem SPRING AWAKENING the next RENT is because it has rock music? If you knew something more about the actual show, you'd understand why I make my comparison. You're making assumptions based on a show you have not seen.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:12pm

Edward Hibbert has a real scenery-chomping role in CURTAINS. He could be a major contender in the Featured Actor category.

[mikem]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:21pm

Nobodyhome, I got his birth year off of imdb.com, although who knows if it's accurate. There's plenty of misinformation on that site.

It's interesting that, even though there are 14 shows that have opened this season, the only performers who have gotten Tony-type reviews are Christine Ebersole, Mary Louise Wilson, and Julie White. There are other performers like Gemignani or Lazar who might make the cut, but overall, performers haven't been as strongly reviewed as one might hope. Of Musto's 5 leading lady picks, only Ebersole has actually opened. (I imagine that multiple Coast of Utopia actors will eventually be nominated, but we won't know which ones until all 3 parts are out. I also imagine that we will be adding Raul Esparza to the list after tonight, based on the reaction from this board to his preview performances.)

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:34pm

Thanks, mikem. That info on imdb is new. It was just a few weeks ago that I checked there and there was still nothing. McMartin has always kept his age secret, going way back to old Theatre World volumes, where most everyone else had DOBs and he didn't.

imdb sometimes seems to try hard to find these things. Davis Gaines used to lie about his age and then finally imdb came up with a DOB for him that sounds plausible.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 1:54pm

Brotha, I know enough about it.

So then let me ask, why do you think it's the next Rent?

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 2:22pm

I love Karen Ziemba and think she is one of the most talented ladies going but unless they do some rethinking of Curtains I don't think she should be nominated. She's completely wasted in the show. Her part is underwritten, they don't dramatize her relationship with the Daniely character effectively, she has no good songs and in her big number they dress her like all the other chorus girls so she doesn't stand out. The only people in the show who get a chance to stand out are Munk, Pierce and Hibbert. Hopefully by the time it gets to New York it will be a better show but unless they do I can't see any reason for anyone to be seriously considered for Tonys.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 3:13pm

I actually believe Edward Hibbert has a much bigger chance of winning the Tony this season than John McMartin does.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:29pm

DanielM, I saw Curtains twice in L.A., and they did change Karen Ziemba's dress for the Act One finale. First time, she was in the same red costume as the other girls, but on second visit, it was changed to a fuchia, so she did indeed stand out. I also think she's in three of the best songs in the show ("Show People," "What Kind of Man" and "Thataway"), and her solo ballad, "Thinking of Him" has Kander's trademark sweet and sour sound that makes his lyrical work so distinctive. In general, I think the Curtains score is really underrated around these parts. That probably won't change until it becomes more familiar, or a cast album comes out.

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:38pm

Thanks for letting me know Smaxie. I still don't care much for the score. While I liked "Show People" and "What Kind of Man" the only song that really resonated for me was "Lunch Counter Days and Coffee Shop Nights". Of course I only saw it the once and some scores take more listens for me to really like them (though this isn't usually the case with Kander & Ebb).

[Katecab99]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:50pm

i can't imagine ebersole not winning, but as we all know, no one can really predict the outcome - after last year, i'll never think i have a clue about anything related to the tonys ever again.

but, on a seperate note, i think one of my favorite comments i have ever read was written about her performance (not by michael musto), and it's absolutle truth:

"watching this performance is the best argument i can think of for the survival of the american musical".

that must feel *really* good. i can't wait to (hopefully) see her accept that tony!

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 4:57pm

I agree with you Katecab, no matter who else is nominated Ebersole should win.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 5:09pm

Smaxie, I agree that the score for Curtains is highly underrated by people on this board. I actually thought one of the most powerful moments in the show was Karen Ziemba standing next to that piano and performing "Thinking Of Him" with her on-stage ex-husband playing for her; it was such an emotionally raw and delicate moment in the show.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:48pm

"I agree with you Katecab, no matter who else is nominated Ebersole should win."

So you've seen all the eligible performances then?

[Katecab99]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:54pm

well, obviously rath, no i haven't...

all i'm saying is that i can't imagine a performance and a role coming along that will exceed ebersole's. i'm not saying there WONT be one, i'm just saying, well, that "i can't imagine".

but i also couldn't imagine "the pajama game" winning over "sweeney" last year. SO...who knows, right?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:05pm

it's like the year Rainman came out. you just knew the best actor oscar race was done.

the possibility that ebersole could have won over most of the winners of the last few years is why it's an easy prediction so early.

the fact is that if a second performance arrives of this level of brilliance, praise, and buzz, it will be a magnificent year indeed. it's not that it can't happen, it's just so unlikely.

but that's just the opinion of a bunch of us. no harm done.

[jv92]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:35pm

Ebersole will win. What performance this year is as nuanced, well sung and heartbreaking (and funny)? Mr. Musto should have predicted the winner as well.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:48pm

I don't think anyone has a lock on the Tony this year. While I thought Ebersole was absolutely increbile in "Grey Gardens," she will face stiff competition from Chenoweth, Monk, Murphy, and Macdonald, who will get nominated unless they are truly awful (which is impossible).

Updated On: 11/29/06 at 07:48 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:50pm

"it's like the year Rainman came out. you just knew the best actor oscar race was done." ??

As great as Ebersole's performance is, "nuanced" is not the strong point.

And Ruth, don't forget Monk!

Updated On: 11/29/06 at 07:50 PM

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 7:56pm

Sorry Raith, but Monk's roll in the show--even assuming they put her in lead rather than featured--is just not the kind of thing that will displace Ebersole.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 8:01pm

It's Rath. And I haven't seen CURTAINS, you have - I will give you that - but what about Murphy, Chenoweth, and McDonald? How can you discount them?