Rank the 2022 Tony Performances

Tribute to Angela Lansbury: F

My favorites were MJ, Mr. Saturday Night, A Strange Loop, and The Music Man as I thought they were most effective at selling tickets to the casual theater goer.

SIX was effective but something was off with the sound and I felt like the stage was a bit too big for them. I'm sure this came off better in person but it didn't on tv.

Paradise Square and GFTNC were great performances but didn't really tell me what the show was about.

Bernadette's tribute was lovely.

I did not care for the opening acts of either broadcast.

Ranking is a bit annoying so I'll just write my notes and grade them

Darren & Julianne's Opening Number ("Set The Stage" - For two people who have never hosted any award shows before, this number shows how fun it can be and showcased their natural talents - Darren with singing/songwriting, and Julianne with dancing. (God, I hope she gets another Broadway show soon). A good way to kick off the night and put a smile on my face. A-

Ariana's Opening Number ("Round Of Applause" - This was my personal winner of the night. Ariana just exploded onto the stage and made it clear that, as a Broadway baby, she has ONE job, and she was going to do the damn thing! She's got smooth vocals (almost a little like Janelle Monae), expert dancing, a cheeky sense of humor, and the ability to make an audience of Broadway luminaries young and old leap to their feet. The tears in her eyes at the end of the number made me root for her even harder and I knew we were in good hands. She, hands down, gets my "round of applause". A+

Spring Awakening - Why did this even need to be a thing? It was a fan service performance that probably would've been better served in the first hour. Not for the unconverted for sure - I thought it was an energy suck that brought the show to a halt. D

A Strange Loop - What a GREAT job they did with being able to blend two songs together and create an FCC-friendly version of the score that still was able to demonstrate the show's spark and heart simultaneously. If anything, how well this number was done kind of rub salt in my wound that "SIX" winning Best Score opened up. And Jaquel is just so damn adorable. A

MJ - Like that they did the "Smooth Criminal" inspiration sequence because it allowed the bridge to be built from the theatre world to MJ's world, but the energy seemed a bit lacking - though that really bolsters the case that this should be seen live (since TV doesn't do it justice) and no doubt sold quite a few tickets. C+

SIX - Same old tried and true number that they always do, but I did like that the design enhanced the "concert" experience of it all, and the little tribute to Mallory Maedke for swinging in last minute was heartwarming - enough to temporarily override my seething dislike of this show. B

Girl From the North Country - Was a bit confused at first because they re-orchestrated "Like A Rolling Stone" back to the original Dylan style and Mare looked lost for a hot second, but then it all came together, and then Jeanette Bayardelle came is and SLAYED THE HOUSE DOWN. She would've been my MVP for the night if not for Kalukango. A-

Company - Nothing I haven't seen a hundred times before, and I wish they did more to highlight the actual nominees. Plus, that box apartment was SWALLOWED up on the stage. C+

Paradise Square - Admittedly, I do not like this show and I could see that this Tony performance was carefully curated to highlight the only two halfway-good things about it. The dancing was great for sure (although I don't know if the unaware theatregoer will enjoy it when it goes on endlessly). Meanwhile, Kalukango, I think, just had her own Jennifer Holliday moment - and I know that's a hefty comparison, considering how weak the song is, but damn if she didn't deliver it on a silver platter with gold dust on top. B+

In Memoriam - Rather pedestrian with an odd choice of song, though I appreciated that Billy Porter also kept it simple and didn't resort to vocal histrionics. B.

Sondheim Tribute - I definitely thought they could've done a little more, but sometimes simplicity is key and any time we get to enjoy the eternal youth of Bernadette Peters singing on TV is a damn good day in America. A-

Mr Saturday Night - It was a very bizarre Tony number, but yet somehow managed to work in all of what they needed to do. When Crystal was going into his "Spread A Little Joy" schtick, I admittedly cringed because this isn't material that generally works for a crowd of thousands and yet, somehow, I feel like Crystal landed it. Points at the end for "...and if you didn't like it, my name is Hugh Jackman". B-

The Music Man - While a step up from the "Penny In My Pocket" fiasco from a few years ago, I still found it as bland and flavorless as I did in the theatre. The camerawork was atrocious (that Hugh closeup gives me nightmares), the instrument miming seemed amateurish, and they also criminally underused Sutton Foster, as if she was just an afterthought. F

Updated On: 6/14/22 at 09:44 PM

1. Paradise Square,

2, Everything else, some better than others.


Did you notice how the entire Music Hall audience leapt to their feet at the end of the performance?


You only asked to rate the performances, not the show.