People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#1
Posted: 12/10/23 at 11:38pm
As Katharine Hepburn once said, “The right actors win Oscars, but for the wrong roles.” To this day, I continue to see a number of people on the internet complaining about how actors win for a certain role despite it possibly being their worst nomination. Common examples they’ve used are Paul Newman in The Color of Money and Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman.
However, I’m interested in hearing if anyone thinks there’s a specific performer (or creative individual) who you personally think won a Tony for the wrong project. Are there any? If so, what would you have personally given it to them for instead?
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#2
Posted: 12/11/23 at 12:13am
I think the recent example that people tend to bring up most frequently is Kelli O'Hara. I actually thought her performance in The King & I was fantastic, and fully Tony-worthy, but there was a large contingency of theatre fans that felt that (a) it should've gone to Chenoweth, and (b) O'Hara should've won for Bridges of Madison County instead.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#3
Posted: 12/11/23 at 12:15am
Not that these Tony wins weren’t deserved in their respective years, but some that come to mind are Kelli O’Hara, Danny Burstein, Stephanie J. Block, Brandon Uranowitz, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Bertie Carvel.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#4
Posted: 12/11/23 at 12:20am
Stephanie J Block should have run away with her Tony for Falsettos. Rachel Bay Jones was worthy, but Stephanie was doing some really special work with her Trina.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#5
Posted: 12/11/23 at 1:01am
JoeW4 said: "I think the recent example that people tend to bring up most frequently is Kelli O'Hara. I actually thought her performance in The King & I was fantastic, and fully Tony-worthy, but there was a large contingency of theatre fans that felt that (a) it should've gone to Chenoweth, and (b) O'Hara should've won for Bridges of Madison County instead."
I immediately thought of Kelli O’Hara, because I thought her performance was a little wooden. IMO, she should have won for Piazza and probably Bridges.
i also thought that BP should have won for Sunday rather than Annie Get Your Gun.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#6
Posted: 12/11/23 at 1:16am
Aaron Tveit for almost any role he originated other than Christian.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#7
Posted: 12/11/23 at 5:08am
Definitely agree on the Aaron Tveit situation. Kelli O’Hara as well. Danny Burnstien, Bernadette Should definitely have won for Sunday.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#8
Posted: 12/11/23 at 6:35am
Whoopi Goldberg.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#9
Posted: 12/11/23 at 7:07am
OhHiii said: "Stephanie J Block should have run away with her Tony for Falsettos. Rachel Bay Jones was worthy, but Stephanie was doing some really special work with her Trina."
This is something I have wondered: If Falsettos ran during Tony season in 2018, could Stephanie J. Block have given Lindsay Mendez in Carousel a run for her money?
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#10
Posted: 12/11/23 at 8:10am
emlo99 said: "Aaron Tveit for almost any role he originated other than Christian.
“
I’m not a mega Aaron Tveit stan like some, but I firmly believe that he was egregiously overlooked for NEXT TO NORMAL, which stung especially since everyone else was nominated.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#11
Posted: 12/11/23 at 8:33am
I always found it weird that Bernadette’s best work is probably her various Sondheim roles but she has never been able to snag a single tony for it. I hope if old friends transfers she gets a tony nomination as a bit of recognition for her losses or sometimes even lack of nominations. Her “send in the clowns” and her comedy work in the show is award worthy.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#12
Posted: 12/11/23 at 10:28am
There's a lot. Aaron Tveit should've won for Next to Normal instead of Moulin Rogue
Kristin Chenoweth, while always excellent, I feel she should've won a Tony for Wicked instead of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, though in all honesty her career would've probably been very different if she hadn't gotten that very early Tony win
It really confuses me that James Lapine won a Tony Award for Best Book for Falsettos but not for Sunday or Into the Woods
Falsettos is my favorite musical ever but even I know that it's nowhere near Lapine's best work
Biggest of all
Ethel Merman
We all know her strongest role was Mama Rose
Probably one of the five most iconic performances in all of musical theatre
But she won for Annie Get Your Gun instead
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#13
Posted: 12/11/23 at 10:38am
baritonewithtenortendencies said: "It really confuses me that James Lapine won a Tony Award for Best Book for Falsettos but not for Sunday or Into the Woods"
Lapine did win for Into the Woods.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#14
Posted: 12/11/23 at 10:58am
Burstein was my first thought. Not that he wasn’t wonderful and deserving for MR, but he arguably should’ve already had one or two Tonys by then.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#15
Posted: 12/11/23 at 1:03pm
MemorableUserName said: "baritonewithtenortendencies said: "It really confuses me that James Lapine won a Tony Award for Best Book for Falsettos but not for Sunday or Into the Woods"
Lapine did win for Into the Woods."
Oh wait you're right
I got it mixed up with it not winning Best Musical
Oh also Andrew Lloyd Weber shoulda won Best Score for Jesus Christ Superstar instead of freaking Cats
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#16
Posted: 12/11/23 at 1:25pm
I was perplexed by Christine Ebersole's Best Actress/Musical Tony in 2001 for "42nd St.". I thought Marla Schaffel gave a much better performance in "Jane Eyre," and I really thought Ebersole's role was more in line with the featured actress category. Ebersole was much more deserving of her win for "Grey Gardens," although Audra's work in "110 in the Shade" that same season was equally deserving.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#17
Posted: 12/11/23 at 2:30pm
Merman didn't win for AGYG - she won for Call Me Madam.
The Tonys really didn't warm to Gypsy originally. It lost best musical and best actress to Sound of Music.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#18
Posted: 12/11/23 at 2:47pm
Musicaldudepeter said: "Merman didn't win for AGYG - she won for Call Me Madam.
The Tonys really didn't warm to Gypsy originally. It lost best musical and best actress to Sound of Music."
"Gypsy" actually lost to "The Sound of Music" AND "Fiorello!" as both those shows tied for Best Musical that season.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#19
Posted: 12/11/23 at 3:42pm
While Kelli should have won in 2014 for The Bridges of Madison County, I also think her performance as Anna in The King and I was also very worthy of a win.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#20
Posted: 12/11/23 at 3:53pm
I just think it's silly and insulting to say one person should have won over another. I did think Denny Burstein as Tevye was something incredibly special, but him not winning that year doesn't keep me up at night.
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#21
Posted: 12/11/23 at 8:29pm
hearthemsing22 said: "I just think it's silly and insulting to say one person should have won over another. I did think Denny Burstein as Tevye was something incredibly special, but him not winning that year doesn't keep me up at night."
I kind of agree, though I don't think all performances are created equal
Like I think Phantom deserved Best Score way more than Cats
Now do I think it deserved more than Into the Woods...?
This thread isn't actually about people who deserved to win over others
It's about people who deserved to win for something different than what they actually won for>
I do wanna say though
There are definitely some times when a winner is baffling
However, to your point, I am pretty sure somebody always agrees
For example, I think Torch Song Trilogy absolutely deserved Best Play
Most people think that was disgraceful
But it's like my favorite play ever
Stand-by Joined: 9/18/17
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#22
Posted: 12/12/23 at 4:28am
baritonewithtenortendencies said: "There's a lot. Aaron Tveit should've won for Next to Normal instead of Moulin Rogue
Kristin Chenoweth, while always excellent, I feel she should've won a Tony for Wicked instead of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, though in all honesty her career would've probably been very different if she hadn't gotten that very early Tony win
It really confuses me that James Lapine won a Tony Award for Best Book for Falsettos but not for Sunday or Into the Woods
Falsettos is my favorite musical ever but even I know that it's nowhere near Lapine's best work
Biggest of all
Ethel Merman
We all know her strongest role was Mama Rose
Probably one of the five most iconic performances in all of musical theatre
But she won for Annie Get Your Gun instead"
Kristin got Wicked bc of her performance and win in Charlie Brown - it cemented her as a musical theater star.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#23
Posted: 12/12/23 at 7:07am
jagman1062 said: "Musicaldudepeter said: "Merman didn't win for AGYG - she won for Call Me Madam.
The Tonys really didn't warm to Gypsy originally. It lost best musical and best actress to Sound of Music."
"Gypsy" actually lost to "The Sound of Music" AND "Fiorello!" as both those shows tied for Best Musical that season.
"
Gypsy lost to Sound of Music and Fiorello! actually
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#24
Posted: 12/12/23 at 8:15am
OMG U Guyz said: "Kristin got Wicked bc of her performance and win in Charlie Brown - it cemented her as a musical theater star."
Yes, that is very true
I think that I'm just a bit salty about that one not necessarily because it would've been better for her career but just because the person she lost to was Idina Menzel
Like, I love Idina Menzel sort of
But
Like
She really mistreated her voice
And she substituted emotional vocals for loud and strained vocals
Those can work sometimes, my favorite Broadway Actor is freaking Harvey Fierstein
But there's a difference between having a weak voice and making the best of it and having a very strong voice and destroying it
Any other year, Idina Menzel's performance would be absolutely Tony worthy
And honestly she deserved it jsut because it made her entire career in this century
Me liking Kristin better is mostly just preference because I'm obsessed with her so don't take me too seriously
People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects#25
Posted: 12/12/23 at 9:13am
So you’re saying Idina is someone else who won a Tony for the wrong role. 😜
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