People Who Won Tonys for the Wrong Projects

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?

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.

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.

Updated On: 12/11/23 at 01:01 AM

Definitely agree on the Aaron Tveit situation. Kelli O’Hara as well. Danny Burnstien, Bernadette Should definitely have won for Sunday.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

So you’re saying Idina is someone else who won a Tony for the wrong role. 😜