That's a healthy percentage, and it reinforces the conventional wisdom. Bette Midler and Hello, Dolly are locks, and Ben Platt is a very safe bet, as is Kevin Kline. These are not surprises.
The closest, high-profile competition is for Best Musical, and it's a two-horse race between Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away. That's been anticipated for a while, and the Times story only confirms it. Great Comet, to my chagrin but not to my surprise, is not a factor. (These sorts of contests tend to narrow to binary choices.)
To me, the biggest question is whether the Hello, Dolly wave lifts other nominees from the revival in close races, and whether Great Comet underperforms in terms of awards. It will certainly collect some technical awards, but it could easily lose in every major category, especially if voters are focused on Dolly, DEH, and Come From Away.
I still think Tony voters will spread the wealth, giving shows credit for their unique strengths, but the field of winning shows in significant categories may be pretty small. A win by Come From Away for Book would not surprise me at all; at this point, it seems likely. Dear Evan Hansen seems like a solid favorite for Score. I like Gavin Creel's chances more over Lucas Steele if Dolly is going to dominate. And Best Director? Rachel Chavkin may have a tough time, despite her extraordinary work. But if her show is an afterthought for Best Musical, that may not bode well for her. I still think she will win, but I'm a lot less certain now. It's a tough category.
Updated On: 6/9/17 at 09:51 PM