Tony Award for Leading Actress In a Musical...- Page 6

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:34am

I agree, though there is also Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary. I can see either Molaskey or Sayre--if they turn out to be any good--taking Andrea Martin's or Sutton Foster's spot if the committee decides to snub YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Also, Yvonne and Bloody Mary are juicier roles than Frau Bruscher and Inga.
I'm sure Powers will be snubbed in this overstuffed category, not her fault, but I expect a GREASE snub a la PIRATE QUEEN last year.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:41am

Oh ray I would agree with you 100% about Powers and GREASE. Total snub coming her way. Also, based on quality of performance, Sutton can pretty much kiss a nomination goodbye. Though she is a Tony favorite, so who knows. They might have sympathy. I think its a pretty safe bet to say that Benanti and Scott are guaranteed nominations this year. Those last 3 spots will be some combination of the Xanadu, In the Heights, Sunday, and South Pacific ladies. I think Andrea Martin has a decent shot at a nomination if Ables Sayre and Molaskey aren't impressive, or if Hoffman and Testa share a nomination. Otherwise, I think Young Frankenstein is pretty much going to get the shaft.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 2:45am

I know the category is VERY crowded. But it looks like Benanti could walk away with it this year. Her reviews are going to be STELLAR (just as they were at Encores!)

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 3:03am

I honestly wouldn't count out Leigh Ann Larkin for a nomination. She gives such a fresh performance and makes such unexpected choices as June, I would have a hard time not nominating her (why am I not part of the committee? )
I think it's too early to tell but Benanti seems to be the one to beat so far, has she ever been this good? It is probably her best role to date.
Scott is much overdue for a Tony (more than Benanti, IMO) but the fact that she is in a show that's subpar will hurt her chances.
Unfortunately Powers has yet to find the right vehicle for her on Broadway. She was great in FOLLIES.
Sutton Foster IS a Tony favorite, but I think she has deserved every nod she has gotten so far. This year where there are so many promising performances, I'm not sure Foster should be nominated. Though she may get the "congratulations for rising above the material" nomination.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 7:30am

Sherie Rene Scott will be lucky to get a nomination, and personally I think it would be a shame to waste a nomination slot on such a garbage performance in a garbage show over a real Tony worthy performance in a worthwhile show.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 8:34am

We'll know more about Scott's chances once reviews are out. I think it could go either way, unlike others, I don't find her "long overdue," so I would not be surprised if she were omitted from the final list.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/2/08 at 3:04pm

Also, if I remember correctly Brantley does not like Sherie Rene Scott all that much. He did not give her a favorable review in both DRS (I think he actually preferred Rachel York) and Last 5 Years, I forget about his Aida review. On the other hand Brantley has always been more than favorable to Laura Benanti (I think she was just as good in Into The Woods as she is in Gypsy, though Louise is a more flashier role).

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 1:13am

Sherie Rene is a lock for that nomination. There is no way that she WON'T get it. I think the other two that you can call locks are Laura Benanti and Ali Mauzey. Both were singled out and praised for their work.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 1:14am

Have you seen MERMAID, neddy?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 1:16am

No, and I don't plan on seeing it either (esspecially after all those clips on Youtube). Sherie was the only part of those clips that impressed me, other than that the show looked like a piece of trash with glitter and pretty glass.

But, I did read all the out of town reviews which trashed the show and praised Sherie.

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:48am

They "owe" Scott a nod from when she was wrongfully snubbed in Aida, that being said, she's still the best thing about Mermaid so I'm not sure why you're so set on her not getting one Wanna Be. As for lead, I'm sure O'Hara will get a nod, but she's definitely going to be overpowered once again. She's one of the "golden girls" who they LOVE to nominate because she's completely non threatening. I've never gotten the hype and certainly am not "excited" about her playing Nellie in SP.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 11:01am

I disagree WBAF. I think Sherie was outstanding in Mermaid. I don't just mean in comparison to the rest of the show either. She brought the house down singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and brought a dry wit to Ursula that gives her an edge. Otherwise, she (Ursula) would be sooooo boring. I know you don't think she is deserving of a nomination since she is in like 3 scenes, but she is stellar in those 3 scenes. WBAF, meet Adriane Lenox.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 11:41am

I met her. She's a very nice person.

I am also a strong believer in less is more.

But I don't think Lenox deserved a Tony Award for that scene.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 12:24pm

Maybe Sherrie's nod can compensate for AIDA?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:14pm

Was her nod for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels not good enough compensation?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:46am

I think the only people who believe she was snubbed for AIDA are those who post on this board. It was a terribly uneven role in a rather uneven show, not to mention that the nominees in the Featured Actress category were pretty much all deserving that season.

They were:

Karen Ziemba - CONTACT (winner)
Laura Benanti - SWING!
Ann Hampton Callaway - SWING!
Eartha Kitt - THE WILD PARTY
Deborah Yates - CONTACT*

AIDA soared because of its score, the chemistry between its two lead actors, and the show's gorgeous costume and lighting design. While Amneris plays a strong role in the main storyline, she is really just scenery throughout the show, popping in here and there with a few numbers that don't really balance well with the rest of the show's style.

*Edited

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 12:46 AM

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:03am

Foster.

Deb Yates was nominated for her role as the girl in the yellow dress in CONTACT.

That was a great category that season.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:11am

Oops. The BroadwayWorld Tony Awards Database made a mistake. They listed her as being in THE WILD PARTY.

I'll edit my post above.

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:24am

Even if it hasn't opened, out-of-town reviewers pretty much were orgasming over Faith Prince and not so much about the rest of the show. My guess is that she'll take it.

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 01:24 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:28am

Yeah back to the Subject
Faith Prince is Killer in
A CATERED AFFAIR

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 1:45am

I do think Sherie Rene Scott was deserving of a nomination for AIDA (it's Heather Headley's win I don't get--along with the score). The beauty of Scott's acting and charm on stage is that she can create layers in unworthy material where there seem to be none (she makes THE LAST FIVE YEARS a pleasant cast recording regardless of the one-note, boring Jason Robert Brown score). She was able to do this with Amneris who is indeed a one-note character, yet Scott managed to do more with the role.
I don't know about Brantley, but Ken Mandelbaum (whose opinion I respect A LOT more than Brantley's) continuously raves about her, in his comments about Rachel York in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDREL he said something to the effect of: "York was good as Christine Colgate although there is only one Sherie Rene Scott."
Either way, I'd be surprised if she didn't get a nod though I guess it's possible.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:18am

I 100% agree Ray with what you said about Ms. Scott. Question, didn't Sherie receive rave reviews in AIDA even after the show was panned?

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:30am

"That is why I think he won't win, and they will give him the award in the other category he is nominated in. Like Bob Martin for Drowsy Chaperone"

I agree with you completly. They will give Lin-Manuel Miranda the awards for his writing but the performance goes to Evans in SITPWG

"I love how everyone can declare who will and definitely won't be nominated. It's nice to speculate, but who knows what will definitely happen. Remember how Raul was a "lock" for Best Actor in Company? Look how that turned out."

Please lets not think about that terrible Tragedy. However does that get him a tony for his performance in the homecoming?


As of now I think the leading awards are as follows:

Actress
Patti Lupone for Gypsy (Winner)
Jenna Russell for SITPWG
Faith Prince for A Catered Affair
Kerry Butler for Xanadu
Kelli O'Hara for South Pacific

Actor
Daniel Evans for SITPWG (Winner)
Lin-Manuel Miranda for In the Heights
James Snyder for Cry Baby
Paulo Szot for South Pacific
And I dont really know who takes the 5th spot

Im not going to take a guess on the maddness of featured actress. But im wondering what featured actor is looking like. Christopher Fitzgerald and Matthew Morrison are the two names kind of sticking with me right now.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:38am

Theatreboy, I am guessing the 5th leading actor spot will go to Cheyenne Jackson for Xanadu. It could go to Roger Bart, but I doubt it.

Featured actresses is going to be nuts.

For featured actors, I would venture the following guesses:
Christopher Fitzgerald in Young Frankenstein
Boyd Gaines in Gypsy
Shuler Hensley in Young Frankenstein
Matthew Morrison in South Pacific
Tom Wopat in Catered Affair

Danny Burstein could also be a possible for South Pacific.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 2:44am

Robin De Jesus has a VERY good shot at a Featured Actor nomination for IN THE HEIGHTS.

Wopat will likely be placed in the Leading category, which will open that slot up.