What performances were not only denied a Tony nomination, but they should have WON that given season?
(Know your season and look at the nominees in the Tony Awards Database:)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawards.cfm
My thoughts on a performance denied a nomination AND a win:
2002 - Best Leading Actor in a Musical
The nominees were (winner in bold):
John Lithgow Sweet Smell of Success
Gavin Creel Thoroughly Modern Millie
John McMartin Into the Woods
Patrick Wilson Oklahoma!
John Cullum Urinetown: The Musical
HUNTER FOSTER was denied a nomination for his brilliant comedic tour de force in the groundbreaking, critically welcomed new musical, Urinetown. Foster's performance was the heart of Urinetown and he not only should have taken John Cullum's nomination (where did THAT come from?) but Mr. Foster should have WON the Tony Award for his performance as Bobby Strong in Urinetown. And had he won, his career would be in a completely different place than it is now.
Michael Hayden in Carousel. None of the other 1994 Best Actor in a Musical nominees gave performances that affected me in the way that Michael's heartbreaking portrayal did.
2004 - Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Beth Fowler, The Boy From Oz
Isabel Keating, The Boy From Oz
*Anika Noni Rose, Caroline, or Change
Jennifer Westfeldt, Wonderful Town
Karen Ziemba, Never Gonna Dance
Carole Shelly (Wicked) and Randy Graff (Fiddler on the Roof) were my two favorites that year and neither one was nominated. I think either one of them could have won if they were nominated.
Maria Friedman in "The Woman in White." Easily my favorite performance of the season.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/05
2005-Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Winner: Dan Fogler
Should have been nominated & won: Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Dan was great, but Jesse was the standout of that show.
Also this year, Cherry Jones could have been Leading Actress in a Play, and would have won.
Updated On: 8/16/06 at 09:26 PM
Wow. I did not even realize Hunter Foster was not nominated. I must have forgotten. But he DEFINATELY deserved to at least be nominated. He was truly outstanding in the role.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/14/05
My mistake, I meant play. I'll change it.
One of the worlds greatest injustices was the loss of Tonya Pinkin for Caroline, or Change.
Yes, I know she was nominated so technically doesn't belong on this thread but, come on. WHAT THE HELL WAS UP WITH THAT!!!??
Piazza should have won over Spamalot.
Spelling Bee should have won over Spamalot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
Funny thing, Cherry Jones was in Imaginary Friends, a play with music by Nora Ephron (music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Craig Carnelia and choreography by Jerry Mitchell), a few seasons ago with Swoosie Kurtz in which she sang and danced. Pretty well, actually. No Tony nomination for that one either.
anne harada for avenue q
maybe raul esparza for rocky horror
1996 Actress (Featured Role--Musical)
Winner - Ann Duquesnay (Bring in 'da Noise)
Nominees: Joohee Choi (The King and I)
Veanne Cox (Company)
Idina Menzel (Rent)
Where was Rachel York's nomination and win?
2004 - Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Beth Fowler, The Boy From Oz
Isabel Keating, The Boy From Oz
*Anika Noni Rose, Caroline, or Change
Jennifer Westfeldt, Wonderful Town
Karen Ziemba, Never Gonna Dance
Carole Shelly (Wicked) and Randy Graff (Fiddler on the Roof) were my two favorites that year and neither one was nominated. I think either one of them could have won if they were nominated.
I would have easily taken away Beth Fowler's nomination (who was just dandy in The Boy From Oz but) I would give that nomination to Stephanie J. Block instead, who gave a hardcore performance as Liza Minelli in The Boy From Oz and handed her the Tony easily.
I would also remove Karen Ziemba's pity nomination and give it (and the Tony) to Natalie Venetia Belcon, who I thought gave the most brilliant performance in AVENUE Q. She was the complete standout for me -- comically, singing-wise, and she had the character of Gary Coleman down to a T. Brilliant, completely underrated performance!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
thats all well and good, but Anika was the clear winner of that award. Like, no matter who you put her up against, she still was the best.
1995 - Best Featured Actress in a Musical
The nominees were (winner in bold):
Gretha Boston Show Boat
Brenda Braxton Smokey Joe's Cafe
B.J. Crosby Smokey Joe's Cafe
DeLee Lively Smokey Joe's Cafe
I saw Smokey Joe's and Show Boat but I still would have handed that Tony to LILLIAS WHITE for her performance that tore up the stage every night as Miss Jones in How To Succeed.... She owned that stage, and for those of you who saw her, and even if you own the Cast Recording, you can easily see that she deserved a Tony win above all of these other performances. I think the reason that all of the Featured performers from H2$ were left out of the nominations was because the focus of this whole production was primarily on Matthew Broderick.
Actress (Musical) Winner - Barbara Harris (The Apple Tree)
Nominees: Lotte Lenya (Cabaret)
Mary Martin (I Do! I Do!)
Louise Troy (Walking Happy)
Should have won and been nominated: Jill Hayworth, Cabaret
This is just judging by recordings, but while I do love Barbara Harris, I think it is remarkable that Jill Hayworth did not get nominated for Sally in Cabaret. To this day she remains my favorite Sally. She brought such a chilling sensation to the finale that Liza could never express (or chose not to).
Updated On: 8/16/06 at 10:04 PM
Nathan Lane - Love, Vaalour, Compassion
I have one more (for now):
Actor (Featured Role--Musical)
Winner - Michael Cerveris, Assassins
Nominees: John Cariani, Fiddler on the Roof
Raul Esparza, Taboo
Michael McElroy, Big River
Denis O'Hare, Assassins
Should have won and been nominated: Marc Kudisch, Assassins
If I had to pick a winner from the nominees that year I would have picked Denis, but he nor Michael Cerveris surpassed Marc in Assassins. Such a smooth and dark interpretation.
Updated On: 8/16/06 at 10:11 PM
jewishboy, in that category I would have nominated and HANDED that Tony to TYRONE GIORDANO for BIG RIVER (he was BRILLIANT!) His facial expressions and signing alone were better than any other spoken and sung performance that season.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
BroadwayBaby18,
I'm with you all the way about Rachel York. The irony is, she is probably better known for NOT getting a Tony for Victor/Victoria than she would be if she had won. Just goes to show - one award does not make or break a career.
lc
Well, there goes my speech. Ditto LC
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
I believe that if Christian Borle had been nominated in 2005 for Spamalot that he would have won. That said, I don't feel as though any actor impressed me that much last year.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/15/04
I believe that if Christian Borle had been nominated in 2005 for Spamalot that he would have won. That said, I don't feel as though any actor impressed me that much last year.
Janine LaManna in Seussical.. maybe not a "win" but she should have def. been nominated..
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