Role of Billy Bigelow never Tony nominated?

Even with the recent negative response from the production, it seems highly unlikely that Henry would get shut out for a nomination, given the meager competition.

JBroadway said: "Even with the recent negative response from the production, it seems highly unlikely that Henry would get shut out for a nomination, given the meager competition."

Speaking of that competition, do we think it possible that Tony might consider Norbert Leo Butz as a lead in MY FAIR LADY.
Consider:
1) Alfred, besides being a great role, has not one but two typically showstopping production numbers, one in each act of the show
2) It is Norbert Leo Butz! A beloved two time leading man Tony winner
3) This production boasts Allan Corduner as Pickering, a venerable actor likely to charm audiences and Tony voters. He well might be seen as a plum candidate for a featured Tony nod (of course that doesn't mean that Butz couldn't be featured as well... but just saying)
4) In the 1976 revival of the show, Ian Charleson (Higgins) and George Rose (Doolittle) competed for best lead Tonys. Rose won.

I have no clude if Henry will be nominated or not, but I wouldn't put too much into the fact that Billy has never been a nominated role. CAROUSEL's first production was pre-Tony. And isn't this only the second Broadway revival? No nod for Michael Hayden's Billy in the first revival might be regarded on one hand as a surprising omission, on the other hand not surprising at all given that for many Hayden was audaciously counter-cast against the standard conception of the character (physically, vocally). Also the year of the last CAROUSEL revival, there were only four (as there then typically were) nominees in the category, whereas now there ARE typically five, and Tony nominated four quite popular and acclaimed performances (from Boyd Gaines (SHE LOVES ME, winner), Victor Garber (DAMN YANKEES), Terrance Mann (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) and Jere Shea (PASSION)).

Updated On: 3/13/18 at 07:23 AM

Thanks Newintown. I wasn't sure if City Center productions were considered Tony eligible ("Broadway" productions at the time. Do you know if they were?

Research always rewards - looking at some casting of earlier Carousel revivals, I saw that the Carnival Boy in the first revival (national tour) was one Kenneth MacKenzie. I'd never heard of him, but found this:

"A native of Chicago, Mr. MacKenzie was a member of the Ballets Russes from 1940 to 1947. An attractive and muscular dancer, he created a sensation in 1946 as Cain in David Lichine's ''Cain and Abel." The ballet raised eyebrows because the choreography required the men to wrestle in skimpy trunks and to dance erotically with flimsily clad women symbolizing Good and Evil.

After the Ballets Russes, Mr. MacKenzie appeared in summer theaters and in a City Center revival of ''Carousel'' in 1949. Then, having injured his Achilles' tendon, he worked on a pipeline and in a General Motors factory in Ewing, N.J. He bought property in New Hope during the 50's and opened a coffeehouse there."

There's a good storyline for a musical.

It's not "star status" that I was suggesting (and I take no position on that question). It was simply the possibility (merely that, I wasn't suggesting it was more likely than not) of Butz being put forward in the lead category instead of featured, especially if, as was suggested, there won't be a great many other potential nominees in the lead musical actor category.

Who would probably be eligible? Tony Shaloub, Isaac Powell, Tony Yazbek, Brandon Uranowitz, Ethan Slater, Paul Nolan, J Henry & Mr. Haden-Patton? Not really a stellar season for male musical theatre performances, is it?

adamgreer said: "Will Shalhoub win the award by default?"

I know it sounds crazy, but I think Slater's SpongeBob has a better shot at the award than Shalhoub. He has much more to do in his role.

EllieRose2 said: "If it had been a Broadway production, Nathan Gunn would have won for his portrayal."

I don’t know if I’ve ever disagreed with something more - besides, like, racism.