Official Way Too Early 2018 Tony Predictions Thread — Page 21

One of the few good decisions from the Drama Desks! I really want Kenita to get a Tony nom; she is my most-wanted longshot nom this year I think.

Are we thinking perhaps Ashley Park may get a nomination over (or with?) Weed? I can't imagine Kate Rockwell not being recognized, but it seems to me that two of the three ladies will be nominated.

JudyDenmark said: "Seriously... the Actor Who I’m Not A Fan Of Because I Think He Half-Asses His Performance More And More Every Time is considered a frontrunner for Featured Actor... for yelling out one song... and these guys are working their asses off for an entire show and are are not in the conversation??

Gavin Lee should *definitely* be nominated. If the category was bigger, I’d say Danny Skinner should be nominated too.

It’s a shame this show isn’t being taken more seriously, recent critics award noms aside. It’s silly and frivolous and weird (that’s SpongeBob), and I can totally understand how this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but man is there a lot of talent involved here, both on stage and off. They should be given more credit and respect than they’re getting for both the creativity and the delivery.

Ok, carry on."

I agree. I'm pleasantly surprised that SpongeBob is getting the recognition it deserves in the technical categories, and would love to see Gavin Lee nominated for his performance along with that. Danny Skinner wasn't a standout for me because his role is a little underdeveloped. I loved Wesley Taylor a lot but he hasn't even been in the conversation. Ethan Slater is of course brilliant - and considering the reception Hadden-Paton received, it's beginning to look like a race between Slater and Henry. I really hope Tony voters take the show seriously, and appreciate it for its creativity.

I also was not a fan of Newell's performance - what I saw was loud, unintelligible vocals during one song and little else. When the lights weren't on him, he was not in it at all, just looking around aimlessly. You can't hide slip-ups or be lazy in the round. Audience members will notice. But folks seem to be loving him and the category is crowded with no universal standouts. My favorite supporting actor this season was actually John Cariani, but I doubt he'll appear on Tuesday. I suppose we'll see what happens.

Updated On: 4/26/18 at 08:54 PM

Danielle49 said. “I also was not a fan of Newell's performance -what I saw was loud, unintelligible vocals during one song and little else. When the lights weren't on him, he was not in it at all, just looking around aimlessly. You can't hide slip-ups or be lazy in the round. Audience members will notice. But folks seem to be loving him and the category is crowded with no universal standouts. My favorite supporting actor this season was actually John Cariani, but I doubt he'll appear on Tuesday. I suppose we'll see what happens."

Looking around aimlessly is exactly it. I’ve seen OOTI three times (twice in December and then again in March) and it genuinely felt like he gave less of a sh*t each time. The first time I saw it - which was the Saturday night before Sunday opening so everyone should’ve been ON it - in the preshow when everyone’s walking around and completely invested in what they’re doing, he was literally walking aimlessly by himself and vocalizing under his breath. When I saw it again in March, he didn’t even do the money notes at the end of Pray or Mama Will Provide - he took it down the octave. And maybe he was sick, who knows, but when you’re on Broadway it doesn’t matter. (Can you imagine an Elphaba half-assing the end of Defying Gravity?? People would revolt.) And it sticks out like a sore thumb because the entire rest of the cast is LIVING on that stage. Anyway, I guess it just bothers me that so many people are flipping out over his performance when to me it’s pretty lazy. It really doesn’t matter to me who ends up winning at this point, but I want it to go to someone who is absolutely giving it his all, 8 shows a week. And I don’t think he deserves that accolade.

We’ll see what happens on Tuesday! Personally I’m pulling for Etai Benson, but in an overcrowded category I’m not holding my breath. :)

Just hand the Tony to Katrina Lenk. She's magnificent and no one can touch that performance.

HeyMrMusic said: "JudyDenmark said: "When I saw it again in March, he didn’t even do the moneynotes at the end of Pray or Mama Will Provide - he took it down the octave. And maybe he was sick, who knows, but when you’re on Broadway it doesn’t matter. (Canyou imagine an Elphaba half-assing the end of Defying Gravity?? People would revolt.) And it sticks out like a sore thumb because the entire rest of the cast is LIVING on that stage. Anyway, I guess it just bothers me that so many people are flipping out over his performance when to me it’s pretty lazy. It really doesn’t matter to me who ends up winning at this point, but I want it to go to someone who is absolutely giving it hisall, 8 shows a week. And I don’t think he deserves that accolade."

I also saw the show in March and I know that when I saw it, he alsooptioned down. He said on social media that he had laryngitis or something. He was calling out several times around that time. Those producers also work him hard making him do appearances everywhere, so I bet he wasn’t getting much rest. They also don’t want him calling out a lot because Tony season etc. I’m not giving excuses for him appearing lazy in the show, but I do know he said he was having vocal issues in March. I personally thought he still sold his number, but maybe we saw different nights. I think he’d be a great representative of the ensemble if he were nominated. (And please let Kenita get a nod for her beautiful work.)"

Kenita and Hailey are the folks I will be crushed about if they don't receive nominations. Alex also tempered the songs when I saw them perform. Again, not a stage vet with the training. Might not be used to 8 shows a week. Also, Lea is out a lot. She's been out when I have been there and many friends. Not sure whats going on for her. I prefer Darlesia's voice and take on the role anyhow.

I’m just rooting hard for Once On This Island in general. I hope it takes Revival. (To be fair, I haven’t seen MFL yet, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it, but OOTI has easily been in my top three favorite shows since I saw the original when I was 11, I know that score backwards and forwards, and this production was more than I could’ve hoped for in a revival. It’s like they consulted the dreams I didn’t even know I had when writing the new vocal arrangements.)

Anyway, if Alex Newell ends up being the representative who wins, then so be it. I’ll be happy for the show. But I’d be disappointed because I’d want to see pretty much anyone else honored. I loved Isaac Powell’s take on Daniel. Quentin Earl Darrington gave me actual goosebumps throughout Rain. Phillip Boykin I think made me audibly weep when he came in with that resonant “Oh, Ti Moune” in A Part of Us. (...In my dream world, he’s a surprise nomination.) Lea’s Human Heart is perfection. Merle Dandridge’s new interpretation of Papa Ge was badass and so interesting. Hailey Kilgore nailed it and will get a well-deserved nomination. Kenita Miller was so heartbreakingly beautiful as Mama Euralie but maybe even more as an ensemble member watching Ti Moune in the second half. I hope that she is recognized on Tuesday.

I’ll stop gushing now. But yeah... there are a whole lot of names from that beautiful production that I’d like to see before Newell’s textbook take on Asaka.

Updated On: 4/26/18 at 11:21 PM

Bettyboy72 said: "HeyMrMusic said: "JudyDenmark said: "When I saw it again in March, he didn’t even do the moneynotes at the end of Pray or Mama Will Provide - he took it down the octave. And maybe he was sick, who knows, but when you’re on Broadway it doesn’t matter. (Canyou imagine an Elphaba half-assing the end of Defying Gravity?? People would revolt.) And it sticks out like a sore thumb because the entire rest of the cast is LIVING on that stage. Anyway, I guess it just bothers me that so many people are flipping out over his performance when to me it’s pretty lazy. It really doesn’t matter to me who ends up winning at this point, but I want it to go to someone who is absolutely giving it hisall, 8 shows a week. And I don’t think he deserves that accolade."

I also saw the show in March and I know that when I saw it, he alsooptioned down. He said on social media that he had laryngitis or something. He was calling out several times around that time. Those producers also work him hard making him do appearances everywhere, so I bet he wasn’t getting much rest. They also don’t want him calling out a lot because Tony season etc. I’m not giving excuses for him appearing lazy in the show, but I do know he said he was having vocal issues in March. I personally thought he still sold his number, but maybe we saw different nights. I think he’d be a great representative of the ensemble if he were nominated. (And please let Kenita get a nod for her beautiful work.)"

Kenita and Hailey are the folks I will be crushed about if they don't receive nominations. Alex also tempered the songs when I saw them perform. Again, not a stage vet with the training. Might not be used to 8 shows a week. Also, Lea is out a lot. She's been out when I have been thereand many friends. Not sure whats going on for her. I prefer Darlesia's voice and take on the role anyhow.

"

The first time I saw the show, Alex was on and he didn't sound healthy for sure. Lea was out both times (first for vacation and the 2nd was strep). Loren went on for Alex the second time I saw the show and I was impressed with her, especially since it was the 2nd time she'd gone on. I agree with you about Kenita and Hailey.

Could Ashley Park end up our eventual winner? With 2 great performances in 1 season, she really has the right momentum for this kind of thing. She is the most stable thing about all of the precursor awards.

Shh_413 said: "Has there been any word if Imogen Heap's score in Cursed Child is eligible for Best Original Score or not? Because if a play is getting nominated in that thinly-spread category, it's gonna be this one."

I don’t think the tony committee met on HP yet, but they will soon!!! Maybe even today hopefully!!! I really hope it is eligible but idk if it will be since a good chunk of the music was imogen heaps old music