Tony Award Nominations — Page 2

It really seems that things would need to change considerable for anything to be a clear frontrunner, except SWEENEY.
At this time last year NONE of the major TONY contenders were even open.

---

Saw JERSEY BOYS tonight. It was amazing. Having now seen every musical this season up until now...

New 2006 Tony Predictions by Wanna Be A Foster as of 1/19:

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: LaChanze

Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Elisabeth Withers-Mendes

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: John Lloyd Young

Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Daniel Reichard

Best Book: Jersey Boys

Best Score: The Color Purple

Best Orchestrations: Jersey Boys

Best Direction of a Musical: Sweeney Todd

Best Musical: Jersey Boys

Best Revival of a Musical: Sweeney Todd

---

Absoultely LuPone. She received nearly unanimous raves, while La Chanze's performance - while good - just isn't up to par with LuPone's. And I blame that partly on the construction, book, and direction of THE COLOR PURPLE.

Do you think TARZAN's score will be eligible?

---

There is no denying that Michael Cerveris is brilliant as Sweeney Todd. Pitch perfect, flawless. But different than past Sweeneys?

What John Lloyd Young brings is a new piece of material, a new character to Broadway, a fresh actor making an astonishing, special Broadway debut. And that voice is so unique. He's also creating a role that so many people identify with. I can see voters thinking SWEENEY will get its due by winning Best Director and Revival, amongst a slew of nominations, and perhaps even design awards.

---

Updated On: 1/19/06 at 03:03 AM

I think you guys are forgetting... In my life. I am just teasing, I just wanted to send a smile out there!!!

Jersey Boys in my opinion, has a great chance of winning, but it is in the tony voters hands. They have pulled some doozies on us in the past. I can't wait!

---

supporting actor in a play will be tough this season. Rabbit Hole, Festen, Shining City, Awake and Sing, History Boys, Caine Mutiny...there are a lot of plays with great parts for men this year...

Predictions

Best Actress Musical--LaChanze
Best Supporting Actress Musical--Felicia Fields
Best Actor Musical--Michael Cerveris
Best Supporting Actor--Daniel Reichard
Best Book--Jersey Boys
Best Score--Color Purple
Musical--Jersey Boys
Best Direction, Musical--John Doyle
Best Revival--Sweeney Todd
Best Orch--Color Purple
Set Design--Tarzan
Costume Design--Color Purple/Tarzan*
Lighting Design--Color Purple/Tarzan*
*Suspecting that most voters think Disney designs are automatically "the best", even though this isn't the case!!!

I think it's interesting how many people are suggesting Daniel Reichard for Featured Actor. I thought John Lloyd Young was getting all the press for Jersey Boys.

Best supporting actor? Michael Ball.

His Fosco is just wonderful.

I think this year all the acting categories are going to be very competitive unlike last year. I hope Manoel Feliciano wins, but he has Jersey Boys and Michael Ball to compete against. The Best Actor competition will probably come down to Ceveris and John Lloyd Young, perhaps Young will win because of his newcomer status and his surprisingly great performance, Steve Lynch could always pull a Marissa Jaret Winokur which I think would be as unfair as it was in 2003. The Best Actress in a Musical competition is going to be extremely exciting, Maria Friedman deserves props not only for her now famous backstage story but for making Woman in White somewhat enjoyable, also I can imagine Tony voters that have seen her in her marvelous parts in London can't wait to give her a Tony. LaChanze's role is not very well-written but it is time she gets a Tony already, her performance is ok, but I don't think it is the best of the season. LuPone had the most difficult job in my opinion, she completely created a new Mrs.Lovett and doubled as musician, to me she's the one that is in the proper show, the proper role, and giving the proper performance this season, therefore she should win the Tony but perhaps she won't. Laura Benanti is a theater favorite but not sure this is the role that will finally land her a Tony. Kelli O'Hara probably has no chances of getting the Tony unless she pulls a LuPone and completely reinvents Babe.

Rivera will be ineligible for any of the individual acting categories and can only compete in the Special Event category. But, if the show wins, she'll get to take home a Tony (along with the producers).

---

You can't see THE WOMAN IN WHITE and not think that Maria and Michael should be awarded the TONYs for their exceptional acting and singing performances. And if there is such a thing as an award for "best leads together", they do have such great chemistry onstage

Updated On: 1/20/06 at 09:06 PM