The 2016 Tony NOMINATIONS Thread — Page 4

Here is the thing re design categories. If you are going to put Walt on the list for Tuck, without a doubt you HAVE to include Gregg Barnes for costume design. Both of them together effortlessly create a world that is magical and truly looks like a storybook. Honestly I think it is one of the most expensive looking shows on Broadway because it demonstrates great technical skill, while remaining simple and concise. Personally I think it is how the design assists in the storytelling that makes a winner.

HenryTDobson said: "Just because Phillipa Soo's role may not be as huge of a part as some of the others, that should not diminish what she is doing."

This is the most succinct way of putting what's been going through my head as I read some of these posts. If Soo's role wasn't big "enough," the Tony committee would have ruled her to be considered as a Featured Actress. Eliza Hamilton is clearly the leading female role of the show, and I resent that people view a subdued, nuanced, and touching performance in this gorgeous role as not flashy enough to be considered as a lead actress nomination/award contender. An element of self-effacement is the whole point of the character of Eliza. I don't understand how to make it any clearer.

Updated On: 4/30/16 at 02:53 PM

Though she wasn't my favorite of the leading ladies I saw (haven't seen Cusack though), I thought she was terrific. I saw the show a month ago and was expecting to see less of her on stage based on what I had been reading here on the boards. I was pleasantly surprised to see her quite often actually (by comparison to what I was expecting), and thought she was wonderful.

This doesn't exactly answer the question, but I think a tie in this category is extremely likely. I'm not sure if we will see a tie in Leading Actor (curious what others think about this), but I feel very confident that there will be 6 nominees, allowing nominations for both Cusack & Soo.

Updated On: 4/30/16 at 04:13 PM

I didn't say I hadn't seen Philippa. I said I had seen it without her. In fact, I saw it without her once (with Alysha) and also saw it with her several times. Alysha was just as mesmerizing and gave just as beautiful a performance. On the other hand I saw it with Oak several times, and then when I saw his understudy I really noticed the difference and appreciated Oak's performance--particularly as Mulligan--a lot more than I had before I saw his understudy.



This isn't to knock Soo. I think she's giving a beautiful, wonderful performance and I truly hope for a tie so all 6 ladies are recognized. It may just be that Alysha is also just incredibly talented which is why I didn't miss Soo. It's just that this year I think there are 5 other performances that to me really are incredibly transforming the roles and shows they're in. It's not the size of the role, but transformative nature of those other performances. (I haven't seen Audra in Shuffle Along so this is based on the reviews as I won't see it until the end of May.). Any other year I think she'd be a shoo-in because I really do think her performance is stunning.

No worries. I was a little bummed when I saw Soo was out but Alysha pleasantly surprised me. Her voice is a little different but not in a bad way. (And it's always hard when you have a cast recording nearly memorized to hear someone else in the role.). But her acting was stunning and she broke my heart in Helpless. (As did Soo.) So maybe it's more to Alysha's credit than anything, but I do think the writing makes this a great role. (To Philippa's further credit, I think based on the book she inspired the writing of the role quite a bit.)



If a year ago you would've asked me if anyone would squeeze Soo out of the nominations, I would've told you you were crazy.



For what it's worth, if I were a nominator, I would probably vote for Soo over Mueller, but I don't foresee Mueller being shut out at all. I do think Mueller transformed Waitress, but that's because I think I would've quite disliked the show without her. I liked it with her, but I do prefer Soo's performance as Eliza. Honestly, my favorite two female lead performances were Erivo and Cusack, followed by Benanti (although it's so hard to compare a comedic role). I haven't seen McDonald but by the glowing nature of the reviews and the fact that it's Audra, I don't see her being left out.



Any of these ladies could be Tony winners in another year. I really do hope they're all recognized. How lucky for us that they've all graced our stages this year!

I think we can all agree that a tie would be the best case scenario and that if one of these ladies doesn't get a nomination it's not because they're not deserving, but because the competition is so intense for this category.

As I've been finalizing my predictions over the course of the last few days, I've been thinking that if there was a 5th nomination, it would go to American Psycho...but now as I think about it, I'm wondering if it may go to Bright Star. I know what a major role nat'l tour potential plays in these nominations. While I absolutely LOVED both shows (and would be pleased if either were nominated), it seems unlikely that it would successfully tour. However, I think Bright Star could do very well on tour. Does anybody else think this could lead Bright Star to getting that 5th slot?

Choreography:

I saw both Hamilton (yes Roxy, that's what the name is) and Shuffle Along and really liked them both. Thought the choreography was outstanding for both. But I think Hamilton stands head and shoulders above Shuffle Along because of the movement throughout the whole show and every scene. It is one of the things that made seeing it so special.

I loved the dance sequences in Shuffle Along and can't wait to drag my husband to NYC to see the tap dancing, but the movement in every scene for Hamilton just sticks with me.

Don't know if I expressed that in any way that made sense, but I'll be surprised if Hamilton doesn't win choreography.

Mark nails it I bet. Except Audra out; Carmen Cusak in.

Glad to have cleared that up.

BEST MUSICAL

Bright Star

Hamilton

Shuffle Along

Waitress

(If 5th: American Psycho)



BEST PLAY

Eclipsed

The Humans

King Charles III

Therese Raquin

(If 5th: The Father)



BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

The Color Purple

Fiddler on the Roof

She Loves Me

(If 4th: Spring Awakening)



BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

The Crucible

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Noises Off

A View From The Bridge

(If 5th: Blackbird)



BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

Gabriel Byrne, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Frank Langella, The Father

Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III

Mark Strong, A View From The Bridge

Ben Whishaw, The Crucible

(If 6th: Jeff Daniels, Blackbird; If 7th: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fully Committed)



BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Linda Lavin, Our Mother’s Brief Affair

Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed

Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible

Michelle Williams, Blackbird

(if 6th: Nicola Walker, A View From The Bridge; If 7th: Annaleigh Ashford, Sylvia)



BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Reed Birney, The Humans

David Furr, Noises Off

Richard Goulding, King Charles III

Ciaran Hinds, The Crucible

Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey Into Night

(If 6th: John Gallagher, Jr., Long Day’s Journey Into Night; If 7th: Russell Tovey, A View From The Bridge)



BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Megan Hilty, Noises Off

Jane Houdyshell, The Humans

Lauren Klein, The Humans

Saoirse Ronan, The Crucible

Saycon Sengbloh, Eclipsed

(If 6th: Zainab Jah, Eclipsed; If 7th: Phoebe Fox, A View From The Bridge)



BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Alex Brightman, School of Rock

Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton

Leslie Odom, Jr., Hamilton

Benjamin Walker, American Psycho

(If 6th: Zachary Levi, She Loves Me; If 7th: Telly Leung, Allegiance)



BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Laura Benanti, She Loves Me

Carmen Cusack, Bright Star

Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple

Audra McDonald, Shuffle Along

Jessie Mueller, Waitress

(If 6th: Philippa Soo, Hamilton; If 7th: Ana Villafane, On Your Feet)



BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Daveed Diggs, Hamilton

Christopher Fitzgerald, Waitress

Jonathan Groff, Hamilton

Christopher Jackson, Hamilton

Billy Porter, Shuffle Along

(If 6th: Terrance Mann, Tuck Everlasting; If 7th: Nicholas Barasch, She Loves Me)



BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple

Renee Elise Goldsberry, Hamilton

Jennifer Hudson, The Color Purple

Jane Krakowski, She Loves Me

Jennifer Simard, Disaster

(If 6th: Keala Settle, Waitress; If 7th: Jessica Hecht, Fiddler on the Roof)







BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

John Doyle, The Color Purple

Scott Ellis, She Loves Me

Thomas Kail, Hamilton

Diane Paulus, Waitress

George C. Wolfe, Shuffle Along



BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Rupert Goold, King Charles III

Joe Mantello, The Humans

Leisl Tommy, Eclipsed

Ivo van Hove, The Crucible

Ivo van Hove, A View From The Bridge



BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Andy Blankenbuehler, Hamilton

Savion Glover, Shuffle Along

Casey Nicholaw, Tuck Everlasting

Hofesh Schechter, Fiddler on the Roof

Sergio Trujillo, On Your Feet



BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Bright Star

Hamilton

School of Rock

Waitress



BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

American Psycho

Bright Star

Hamilton

Waitress



BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Bright Star

The Color Purple

Hamilton

Shuffle Along



BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

Fully Committed

The Humans

Noises Off

Therese Raquin







BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

The Crucible

King Charles III

Noises Off

Therese Raquin



BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

The Crucible

Eclipsed

The Humans

Long Day’s Journey Into Night



BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

American Psycho

Hamilton

She Loves Me

Tuck Everlasting



BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Bright Star

Hamilton

She Loves Me

Shuffle Along



BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

American Psycho

Hamilton

On Your Feet

She Loves Me

Shuffle Along is indeed quite an ensemble piece, but Lottie Gee, as the only female lead and the character diva of the story, hers is, IMO, not only significant but showy. With Audra in the role she is front and center quite a bit. At least as much if not more than Soo. It will be up to the voters I guess, but I'd be shocked to see AM left out.