Role of Billy Bigelow never Tony nominated?

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 2:30am

With the past actors in the role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel never being Tony nominated. Will this change for Josh Henry?  Thoughts? 

Updated On: 3/13/18 at 02:30 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 2:34am

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. 

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 2:56am

If it had been a Broadway production, Nathan Gunn would have won for his portrayal.  I believe Joshua Henry has secured a nomination, he is great in the part and his gorgeous "Soliloquy" is breathtaking.  

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 7:23am

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

[newintown]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 8:02am

henrik asked "And isn't this only the second Broadway revival?"

Technically the fifth, although the first one was the national tour trying to make a comeback, and the 2nd and 3rd were City Center limited runs (which still count as revivals, per ibdb).

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 8:29am

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?

[newintown]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 8:37am

IBDB states "The only City Center shows that are included in IBDB were Tony-eligible shows." And both Carousel productions (1954 and 1957) are included there. The 1957 was nominated for a Scenic Design Tony.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 8:48am

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.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:16am

henrikegerman said: "JBroadway said: "Speaking of that competition, do we think it possible that Tony might consider Norbert Leo Butz as a lead in MY FAIR LADY.
Consider:
4) In the 1976 revival of the show, Ian Charleson (Higgins) and George Rose (Doolittle) competed for best lead Tonys."

George Rose competing (and winning) as a Lead Actor really had to have been a question of billing. I'd be surprised if Norbert Leo Butz doesn't end up being eligible as a Featured Actor.

[Lindsay is a goddess]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:21am

Bart Sher won’t have Butz billed as a lead. He’s been hyping Ambrose and Hadden-Paton so hard there’s no way he won’t give them top billing.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:26am

Interesting that people think of Butz as a "star" - the only hit show in which he originated a (supporting) role was Wicked, and he departed that show after less than two months (nominated for no awards). All his other gigs have been as a replacement, or in flops. He does have two Tony awards, but they're both for flops. And his TV work has all been one episode appearances, or short-lived series. Interesting that someone can now be a star more by volume of work rather than creating hits.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:41am

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. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:46am

Butz left after two months due to injury in Wicked. He returned in January 2004 and played the role another six months.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:50am

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]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:53am

Will Shalhoub win the award by default?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:55am

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.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 9:57am

IIRC, Hailey Kilgore was the only Island cast member to be considered Lead at the last administration meeting. Everyone else will be Featured, so that excludes Powell.

Yes, not an especially strong season. But then we've been spoiled by the last two years.

Updated On: 3/13/18 at 09:57 AM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/13/18 at 10:23am

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.