Patti LuPone compared to Sutton Foster in this year's Tony Awards

Sutton Foster The Drowsy Chaperone- Sutton Foster got her big break in Millie being 'plucked from the chorus' recieveing and winning her first tony nomination and award. In The Drowsy Chaperone, Sutton Foster portrays Janet Van De Graff, a famous showgirl who is quitting showbiz to get married. After seeing her in both Millie and Little Women, this role is very different from the two. Millie is a young woman destined for life in the big city of Manhattan. In Little Women, she plays Jo March, a young aspring writer living with three sisters who she loves dearly as well as Marmee. Both of these roles, she is dreaming of something huge, which makes Janet very different, because she has already achived in her field. Sutton's portrayal of Janet has so many layers, which were hard to achieve, after playing past roles that were so simple in my opinion.

Patti LuPone Sweeney Todd- This was a tough show for me to see for two reasons. I had not seen the original production of the show, nor had I listened to the cast recording. However, I did watch the video with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. It was great to see how much Doyle had artistically changed the show (and achieved it in my opinion), but that is not the point of what I am trying to say. To me, the role of Ms. Lovett is a very hard role to play and Patti achieved it...with a twist. I think that one quality that Patti had in that character was her snide and blunt behavior behind closed doors, and her caring front that she puts on to certain people with an underlying tone of greed (that was a horrible way to put it).

It is very hard to compare the two roles. Foster displays a bright, yet somewhat emotional feeling to the role, and Patti develops a dark and nearly dysfunctional Ms. Lovett. I can't say who I think would win the Tony. Although part of me wants to pull for Sutton to win the award, the other part thinks that Patti has gone somewhere no one has gone before with Ms. Lovett and deserves to be recognized with the award for her achievement.

But who knows? There is still LaChanze, Chita, and of course Kelli O'Hara...you never know. I mean think about Crash winning the Oscar over Brokeback Mountain...but that's a whole different argument.

I feel that I am destined for people who disagree with me on this comparison. It was really hard to do so, because I adore them both.

EDIT: I think there are spelling errors in here. Lots. I will fix them. Don't worry.

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 04:13 PM

Mainly the reason I didn't do LaChanze is because I have not seen The Color Purple, and I don't want to try and say that I have seen it when I haven't. Saw Chita and Kelli, and thought that the performance wasn't as strong enough.

I disagree with your Sutton assessment.

Her roles in both LITTLE WOMEN and MILLIE were and are far more challenging than her current spin in DROWSY. All of the characters, with the exception of The Man in the Chair, are basically 1-2 dimensional. Deliberately so - but it's much harder to make a badly uneven show like LITTLE WOMEN work, and a criminially flimsy show like MILLIE work - and Sutton (with some possible help from McGovern) was and is the reason for both shows' successes.

I don't see how you can say that her performance as Janet in DROWSY is layered. It is, just like her character, 1-dimensional and practically see-through. I'm not saying it's an easy task, but to say that Janet is a huge challenge - bigger than that of MILLIE or LITTLE WOMEN, is a vastly unfounded statement.

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Personally,
I am rooting for Patti and LaChanze. I loved both of them.
If they tied, I would be thrilled.
And I love Sutton. And her SHOW OFF number is adorable but I don't think she will win this year.

PS In addition I wish they would give Chita a Lifetime achievement Tony instead of a nomination in the regular category.
I did not love her show but I loved her performance. I went 5 times. Shh. Don't tell.
I went to:
The Color Purple- Twice
Drowsy- Twice
Jersey Boys- Twice
Chita- Five times
Sweeney- Once

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 08:29 PM

I was thinking that about Lauren Molina, too. She was fabulous, and so much fun to watch. I was really glad that Manoel was nominated, though.

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Having seen all of the tony nominated actresses its a given for LuPone. She did so much in this role, one of which was reinventing the character. While I think LaChanze is a powerhouse, that in-it of itself doesn't make her tony worthy...nomination yes. FOr Chita, it was unfortunate that she was nominated in this specific category and Sutton while phenomenal in the role was 1-D(what Munk said)

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Out of all the nominees, O'Hara is the only one who hasn't one before, but I don't think this the role that will win her a Tony. As for LaChanze, I think she's more than a powerhouse. If you listen to her scream "nettie" on the OBC you'll understand why I think she should win. It's just such a great performance. Where did she go to school?

And I agree, I think Molina's performance was better than Mano's but that's just my opinion. They were both fabulous though. They were the highlights of the show for me. I was wowed by Patti, but I don't know, it didn't scream "amazing" to me. I guess, compared to the people that went before her, she has done a lot with the role, but then again, she's played it before.

Cool. Did she go by one name then too? lol.

Yeah! Where's the recognition for Molina? She was the best Johanna I have ever seen. I guess Johanna isn't a meaty enough role.

And by the way...La Chanze has never won a Tony. She was nominated in 1991 for her performance in Once On This Island but she lost to 11-year-old Daisy Eagan from The Secret Garden.

There's no way Kelli O'Hara will win. The award will go to either Patti or La Chanze.

Updated On: 6/3/06 at 09:57 PM

Sorry, it seems like this thread is turning into another Patti versus La Chanze thread...but, I wanted to add one more thought...

Hadn't thought of this before but both La Chanze and Patti are playing characters made famous by other actresses so, in a way they're both revival performances. Which leads to the "what should a good revival be?" debate. Just like the debate over which revival, Pajama Game or Sweeney Todd, should win the best revival Tony. (An excellent rehashing-The Pajama Game, La Chanze's Celie or an excellent reinvention-Sweeney Todd, Patti's Mrs. Lovett?) I'm not sure if any of that make sense...I'm very tired. Never type when tired!

True rentboy...I say Go La Chanze! Go! :)

You guys know you stuff. I agree with many assessments and believe LuPone will take it. However, I agree Chita might be an upset because the people who are voting are very familiar with her work. In order of most likely winning to least likely, I think it's as follows.
1) Patti LuPone
2) LaChanze
3) Chita Rivera
4) Sutton Foster
5) Kelli O'Hara

Is it bad that I think it'd be interesting (for award show history) if The Color Purple gets completely shut out like the film did 10 years ago?

Updated On: 6/4/06 at 02:10 AM

You think? Perhaps, she's never won before and was nominated last year. I just think Sutton has the star status.