Riedel mulls over Best Actress in a Musical

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:24pm

http://nypost.com/2014/01/15/beautiful-star-mueller-an-early-tony-favorite/

He says the early favorites to fill the category are

Sutton Foster in VIOLET
Idina Menzel in IF/THEN
Jessie Mueller in BEAUTIFUL
Kelli O'Hara in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY
Michelle Williams in CABARET

He doesn't mention the competitors from JANIS JOPLIN, ROCKY, or BULLETS OVER BROADWAY.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 8:52pm

I don't care if BWW posters want to speculate on nominations that are still six months away, but it strikes me as highly irresponsible for even a pseudo-journalist like Riedel to do so.

If he wants to write about the "best performances so far", fine. But he shouldn't be speculating on performances he has yet to see.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 9:01pm

4 out of those 5 shows haven't had a single performance yet. really not professional at all.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 9:17pm

I never understand why posters here are not fans of predicting the Tonys long in advance or even discussing them, no matter how inappropriate or "off" it seems... TV fans and movie fans are predicting Emmy and Oscar nominations a year in advance, hell, as soon as one Emmy or Oscar ceremony is over, the next year's ceremony's noms are being discussed immediately... What's the big deal?

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 9:20pm

And here we go...

[StickIt]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 9:32pm

My personal opinion is that the race is between Mueller and O'Hara. In a year when voters will have the chance to reward a Broadway favorite who has been denied four times or a star-making new performance from an up-and-comer, I don't see them giving Idina Menzel or Sutton Foster another one for the mantle. The thing is, when we're talking about actresses of this caliber being given very demanding material, the quality of performance for most of them will probably be considered "award-worthy" and possibly Tony-worthy in a different crop of nominees, there is a fair share of politics that will probably play out in this category, and that's worth discussing.

Of course, Michelle Williams would be the huge unknown quantity/spoiler. I definitely agree that there is no way to predict how she'll affect the race. Mazzie, IMO, is similarly confusing simply because Helen Sinclair's part in the movie was very solidly featured and it remains to be seen how significantly the role has been expanded to justify her as a contender in this category. It could be another Bertie Carvel situation of perhaps he was giving the better performance but was simply stuck in the wrong category.

Updated On: 1/15/14 at 09:32 PM

[BobNC]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 10:56pm

I've never read such raves as I have Read for Jessie Mueller. She's a shoo in.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 10:58pm

So who do we think will win the Tonys next year? Any guesses?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 11:46pm

I think discounting Mazzie is stupid.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/15/14 at 11:53pm

"... but it strikes me as highly irresponsible for even a pseudo-journalist like Riedel to do so."

When has Riedel EVER been responsible? He has actively tried to get shows to close for no real reason. The only way he'd have a responsible bone in his body would be if the guy topping him was wearing a condom.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 12:26am

He's a gossip columnist. He's not a news reporter. I don't know why people expect so much of him.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 12:39am

For all intents and purposes, I'm placing Mazzie for Featured, lest there be another Bertie Carvel situation.

Updated On: 1/16/14 at 12:39 AM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 12:45am

Courtney Reed could come and blow everyone away for Aladdin. It's to early to predict.

[StickIt]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 12:48am

She'd have to improve quite a bit. Wasn't she one of the worst reviewed parts of the show out of town?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 1:07am

Off topic but a first glance I thought this said "Richard Mull's over Best Actress in a musical" and I was instantly interested.

[broadwaybabe1234]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 1:07am

Absolutely hated Courtney Reed in Aladdin.

I think this list is about right except i would replace Michelle Williams with Marin Mazzie. If Mazzie is in featured then i think Williams is the most suitable alternate.

I think the real race this year is going to be best actor. The field is not as clear cut as it is for actress in a musical.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 2:13am

However, Best Actor in a musical is less exciting, as it is most years.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 6:45am

"A lot of people think she’s the one to beat, though a few say she’ll have to overcome the hurdle of starring in a jukebox musical that may not find favor with the Tony nominators."

John Lloyd Young & Christian Hoff both won for Jersey Boys, same for Levi Kreis in Million Dollar Quartet.

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 8:08am

Stick It, for you to even say its only between Jesse and Kelli is ludacris. What would make you think for 1 second they wouldn't give it to those other ladies? They didn't seem to have a problem giving them to Audra and Angela Lansbury.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 8:27am

I can totally see Menzel getting her second Tony... It's a perfect amount of time since winning her first one; and a good role to win for too... I can see a lot of voters swing her way

[newintown]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 9:00am

Who is this "Tony" people won't stop referencing?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 10:02am

However, Best Actor in a musical is less exciting, as it is most years.

But Best Actor in a Play promises to be the most exciting category BY FAR.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 10:33am

Perhaps it might be better to wait until the performances have been seen to seriously discuss their tony potential (and yes I'm aware of websites like awardscircuit, which are fun, which speculate the day after this years oscars on who and what will get nominated next year, and all in good fun, but that hardly qualifies as serious debate). Have to agree for Reidel to engage in this is ludicrous even for him.

Updated On: 1/16/14 at 10:33 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 10:44am

Oscar? Don't you mean Tony?

I think Bryan Cranston or Zachary Quinto has a great shot at leading actor. I think Mark Rylance will take featured actor for Twelfth Night. Those are my early predictions.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/16/14 at 10:51am

I can't believe I'm about to defend him...but here goes.

Three of the five performances have been seen. Foster received acclaim for her Violet, If/Then has opened out of town and has been reviewed, and Beautiful has officially opened on Broadway. Even with the two actresses that have yet to perform their roles, Bridges ran last summer and everyone knows the general take on Sally in the Mendes/Marshall Cabaret. It's not totally absurd to mull these things over.

Yes...changes will happen. Many changes. And perhaps Kelly O'Hara is truly miscast in Bridges (doubtful). And maybe Michelle Williams will tank as Sally (probably not). The newer shows are being revised. Foster will have a full rehearsal period. So things will obviously be different. But still...I don't see this as the height of irresponsibility in journalism (theater or otherwise).