Most Legendary Tony Categories of All Time?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 3:50pm

Some Thursday pondering: what's the most impressive group of people in a year's Tony category?

A few that came to mind:

2012 Best Actor in a Play (James Corden, James Earl Jones, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Frank Langella, John Lithgow)

1960 Best Actress in a Musical (Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Carol Burnett, Dolores Grey, Eileen Herlie)

1966 Best Score (Man of La Mancha, Mame, On A Clear Day, Sweet Charity)

1982 Best Score (Nine, Dreamgirls, Joseph/Dreamcoat, Merrily)

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 7:56pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Some Thursday pondering:what's the most impressive group of people in a year's Tony category?

A fewthat came to mind:

2012 Best Actor in a Play (James Corden, James Earl Jones, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Frank Langella, John Lithgow)

1960 Best Actress in a Musical(Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Carol Burnett,Dolores Grey, Eileen Herlie)

1966 Best Score (Man of La Mancha, Mame, On A Clear Day, Sweet Charity)

1982 Best Score (Nine, Dreamgirls, Joseph/Dreamcoat, Merrily)"

I would agree with your last two, although Merrily is in retrospect.  At the time, it would not have been held such esteem.  They needed it to fill the category. 

Don't agree with the other two...Dolores Grey and Eileen Herlie were filler, although the other three would have justified it if there were only three nods; other than Corden and Hoffman, the remainder are about the names rather than great performances performances in great plays, but i did debate that one.

-- Best Actress in  Play (1960) -- Anne Bancroft (Miracle Worker), Claudia McNeil (Raisin in the Sun), Margaret Leighton (Much Ado About Nothing), Maureen Stapleton (Toys in the Attic), Irene Worth (Toys in the Attic) (saw none)

-- Best Actress in a Play (196 -- Zoe Caldwell (Jean Brodie), Colleen Dewhurst (More Stately Mansions), Maureen Stapleton (Plaza Suite), Dorothy Tutin (Portrait of a Queen) (saw all)

-- Best Actor in a Play (1964) -- Richard Burton (Hamlet), Albert Finney (Luther), Alec Guiness (Dylan), Jason Robards (After the Fall)

-- Best Actor in a Play (2019) -- Brian Cranston (Network), Jeff Daniels(TKAM), Paddy Considine (The Ferryman), Adam Driver (Burn This), Jeremy Pope (Choir Boys) (saw all)

-- Best Actress in a Musical (1964) -- Carol Channing (Hello Dolly), Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl), Beatrice Lillie (High Spirits), Inga Swenson (110 in the Shade). Swenson was not famous, but it was a great performance (saw all)

-- Best Actress in a Musical) (1966) -- Angela Lansbury (Mame), Gwen Verdon (Sweet Charity), Barbara Harris (On a Clear Day).  Julie Harris was the fourth (undeserved nominee -- Joan Diener was not nominated for Man of la Mancha and should have been) (saw all)

-- Best Actress in a Musical (2004) -- Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth (Wicked), Donna Murphy (Wonderful Town), Tonya Pinkins (Caroline or Change).  5th nominee doesn't meet that title IMO.  (saw all)

-- Best Musical (1964): Hello Dolly, Funny Girl, High Spirits, She Loves Me (saw all)

Updated On: 7/18/19 at 07:56 PM