Predictions: Winners in gold
Best Musical
“The Band’s Visit”
“Frozen”
“Mean Girls”
“SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical”
As of December, the choice here seemed clear. The Band’s Visit, a beautiful, artistic triumph by distinguished Broadway veterans, was a lock. However, a sudden charge by the box office smash and critical darling Mean Girls may be enough to put it over the edge.
Best Play
“The Children”
“Farinelli and the King”
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
“Junk”
“Latin History for Morons”
This is the year of Hogwarts on Broadway. The only possible challenge could be Farinelli and the King, but that would be an absolute upset. Look for the artistic and commercial triumph to continue.
Best Revival of a Musical
“Carousel”
“My Fair Lady”
“Once on This Island”
With only three contenders, the race may seem easy. However, this is one of the tightest races. Carousel received mixed reception, but leads in the nominations, and has serious shots in two big categories. My Fair Lady is a sterling revival directed by a sterling director with an amazing, stacked cast and creative team, but many feel that My Fair Lady is just competing against Sher’s other works, not necessarily the other two revivals. This leaves once on This Island, the little show that could. With eight nominations, it is a small show, flawlessly produced and beautiful all the way through. It would be hard to beat.
Best Revival of a Play
“Angels in America”
“Lobby Hero”
“Three Tall Women”
“The Iceman Cometh”
“Travesties”
Arguably one of the strongest categories this year, if not the strongest, any of the five could win. However, with just three and five nominations, Lobby Hero and Travesties are two small to get any attention. This leaves Angels, Women and Iceman. Iceman and Women are more showcases for a particular performance (Denzel Washington and Glenda Jackson) and less a fully formed revival. This leaves Angels, a two part, seven hour journey of biblical performances that has left critics on their knees and audiences at the ticket booths.
Best Book of a Musical
“The Band’s Visit,” Itamar Moses
“Frozen,” Jennifer Lee
“Mean Girls,” Tina Fey
“SpongeBob SquarePants,” Kyle Jarrow
The book of Mean Girls, adapted by original screenplay writer Tina Fey is widely considered to be the best part of the show, and with a name like Fey, The Band’s Visit has a serious competitor. This category, however, could be a good chance to recognize Mean Girls, as the original categories are much weaker than others.
Best Original Score
“Angels in America,” Adrian Sutton
“The Band’s Visit,” Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek
“Frozen,” Music and Lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“Mean Girls,” Music: Jeff Richmond; Lyrics: Nell Benjamin
“SpongeBob SquarePants,” Various contributors
Finally, after three tries and one near miss, David Yazbeck will finally get his time in the sun. His score for The Band’s Visit is thrilling, amazing, and thoroughly original on every level. Nothing this seasons comes close.
Best Leading Actor in a Play
Andrew Garfield, “Angels in America”
Tom Hollander, “Travesties”
Jamie Parker, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Mark Rylance, “Farinelli and the King”
Denzel Washington, “The Iceman Cometh”
Another stacked category. Once again, Travesties doesn’t really make much of a dent nomination wise, compared to the rest of the plays, and Tom Hollander is also a relative newcomer to the Broadway stage. Rylance as three tony awards, and they don’t seem to be in the mood to give him another. This leaves previous winner Washington, previous nominee Garfield, and newcomer Parker. Washington’s performance received mixed reviews, alongside the rest of the production. This leaves Garfield and Parker. Look to the precursors to see how they flip.
Best Leading Actress in a Play
Glenda Jackson, “Three Tall Women”
Condola Rashad, “Saint Joan”
Lauren Ridloff, “Children of a Lesser God”
Amy Schumer, “Meteor Shower”
Despite some excellent work from the other ladies in the category, this award has been seized by the hair by Glenda Jackson, who gives the performance of her career in a role custom made for her magnificent return to the stage.
Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Harry Hadden-Paton, “My Fair Lady”
Joshua Henry, “Carousel”
Ethan Slater, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Tony Shalhoub, “The Band’s Visit”
Excellent work all around, but this comes down to two people. Although Hadden-Paton and Shalhoub give excellent work, Hadden-Paton is outshined by the other players in the cast, and Shalhoub doesn’t really sing. Henry and Slater are practically carrying their shows on their might shoulders, and it is going to go done to the wire. Look for the precursors and see how they flip.
Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Lauren Ambrose, “My Fair Lady”
Hailey Kilgore, “Once on This Island”
LaChanze, “summer: The Donna Summer Musical”
Katrina Lenk, “The Band’s Visit”
Taylor Louderman, “Mean Girls”
Jessie Mueller, “Carousel”
The hardest and largest category this year, it will come down between three actresses. LaChanze is a previous winner, who nod was practically a courtesy nod for her solid work in a rough show. Mueller has also won before, and will definitely be around long enough to win at least one more Tony Award. Louderman is a first time nominee, and her nod is a nod to acknowledge her debut. This leaves Kilgore, Lenk, and Ambrose. Lenk has been the front runner for almost a year, and her momentum has suffered with the arrival of Kilgore and Ambrose on the scene. To pick between the other two, Kilgore has the best chance of snagging the prize from Lenk. Both could ride the coattails of their shows, locks in their respective categories. Don’t forget about Ambrose, however.
Best Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Boyle, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Michael Cera, “Lobby Hero”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Lobby Hero”
Nathan Lane, “Angels in America”
David Morse, “The Iceman Cometh”
Nathan Lane should be sending roses and chocolates to whomever decided that Roy Cohn was a featured role, because it has practically guaranteed a third win for the veteran actor. His work as Cohn is devastating and blistering, a complete 180 for the usually comic actor. Although the other actors are strong, they fail to ignite the same fire. However, if the voters hesitate to hand a third win to Lane, look for Boyle to ride the coattails of Potter to a win.
Best Featured Actress in a Play
Susan Brown, “Angels in America”
Noma Dumezweni, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Deborah Findlay, “The Children”
Denise Gough, “Angels in America”
Laurie Metcalf, “Three Tall Women”
The Children came and went with little flair, and is largely forgotten. Dumezweni has an Olivier award behind her, as does Denise Gough. However, vote splitting between Gough and Brown could lead to a smack down between Dumezweni and Metcalf. Since Metcalf won last win for leading actress, Dumezweni can add a Tony Award to her mantle.
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, “My Fair Lady”
Alexander Gemignani, “Carousel”
Grey Henson, “Mean Girls”
Gavin Lee, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Ari’el Stachel, “The Band’s Visit”
A well-ordered category, any of these men could win without much kick-back from the community. However, one does have to win. Henson is a newbie, and his nod is the same as Louderman’s. Stachel has a small role, and he may be too far out of the reach of his show. Gemignani also has a small role, and had much of his material cut during revisions. This leaves Butz and Lee. Butz is a two time previous winner, and they may be hesitant to hand him a third. Lee is a previous nominee with industry appeal, and his one big taptastic solo may be enough to claim him a win.
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Ariana DeBose, “summer: The Donna Summer Musical”
Renée Fleming, “Carousel”
Lindsay Mendez, “Carousel”
Ashley Park, “Mean Girls”
Diana Rigg, “My Fair Lady”
An easier category than others, DeBose’s nomination is her win, coming from a show with trashy reviews and little else at the awards. Rigg, despite her huge name and brilliant turn, doesn’t sing and only shows up in two scenes, so it’s not enough. Fleming got mixed reception, and her name was barely enough to get her on this list. This leaves Park and Mendez. Park gives a smashing and heartening Broadway debut, singing some of the most witty and inventive songs in the score. Mendez is an industry stalwart, whom has been working hard for over decade now, and her turn as Carrie earned the only unanimous raves of Carousel.
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, “Three Tall Women”
Jonathan Fensom, “Farinelli and the King”
Santo Loquasto, “The Iceman Cometh”
Christine Jones, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Ian MacNeil and Edward Pierce, “Angels in America”
This race comes down between Angels and Potter, both huge two part plays with massive and ever changing set pieces. However, the scope of Angels may be enough to win it the prize.
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Dane Laffrey, “Once on this Island”
Scott Pask, “The Band’s Visit”
Scott Pask, Finn Ross and Adam Young, “Mean Girls”
Michael Yeargan, “My Fair Lady”
David Zinn, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
This award stands to be SquarePants best shot at an award. Zinn’s designs for the show are eclectic and original, and many feel the best part of the show. However, Yeargan’s massive and colorful designs for Lady and Laffrey’s intimate and colorful designs for Once may push them over.
Best Costume Design of a Play
Jonathan Fensom, “Farinelli and the King”
Nicky Gillibrand, “Angels in America”
Katrina Lindsay, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Ann Roth, “Three Tall Women”
Ann Roth, “The Iceman Cometh”
Roth has two nominations, so she’ll cancel herself out. Farinelli is too small of a show, although the costumes are gorgeous, which leaves Angels and Potter once again. Go for period and pick Potter.
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, “Mean Girls”
Clint Ramos, “Once on This Island”
Ann Roth, “Carousel”
David Zinn, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Catherine Zuber, “My Fair Lady”
Roth has three nominations, so she’s out. Zuber has been nominated 13 times, so she’s out. Barnes’ costumes are overall normal, everyday clothes, so he’s out. This leaves Ramos and Zinn. If Zinn wins for set, he’ll be out here, but if he doesn’t, look for him to sneak in. If he does, than Ramos will win.
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Paule Constable, “Angels in America”
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “The Iceman Cometh”
Paul Russell, “Farinelli and the King”
Ben Stanton, “Junk”
Stanton is out because Junk only has one other nomination. Fisher and Eisenhauer need no more awards, having been nominated some 20 times since 1972. Russell is hindered by his show’s closure and small stature, and this once again, leaves Angels and Potter. Austin’s atmospheric and witty light tricks should be enough to triumph over Constable’s gritty and tantalizing sweeps.
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, “Once on This Island”
Donald Holder, “My Fair Lady”
Brian MacDevitt, “Carousel”
Tyler Micoleau, “The Band’s Visit”
Another of this show’s better chances at an award, turning the Broadway Theater into Bikini Bottom deserves something. If not, The Band’s Visit.
Best Direction of a Play
Marianne Elliott, “Angels in America”
Joe Mantello, “Three Tall Women”
Patrick Marber, “Travesties”
John Tiffany, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
George C. Wolfe, “The Iceman Cometh”
This again comes down between Angels and Potter. Elliott has industry appeal and two tony awards for crazy and inventive shows behind her, so she could be the favorite. However, Tiffany has an Olivier Award behind him, and a show with massive scope.
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, “Once on This Island”
David Cromer, “The Band’s Visit”
Tina Landau, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Casey Nicholaw, “Mean Girls”
Bartlett Sher, “My Fair Lady”
Sher is out because he has won before, and will win again. Nicholaw is nominated twice, and he got mixed reviews overall. Landau, although she gave a thoroughly imaginative spin on her show, is out because her show won’t win anywhere else. This leaves Arden, whose beautiful and innovative direction made Island a thrilling experience. Also, Cromer, who may ride his shows weight to a win.
Best Choreography
Christopher Gattelli, “My Fair Lady”
Christopher Gattelli, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
Steven Hoggett, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Casey Nicholaw, “Mean Girls”
Justin Peck, “Carousel”
This award will undoubtedly go to Peck. This is because Gattelli will cancel himself out, Hoggett won’t win because Potter is a play, and Nicholaw will vote split with himself in the director category.
Best Orchestrations
John Clancy, “Mean Girls”
Tom Kitt, “SpongeBob SquarePants”
AnnMarie Milazzo and Michael Starobin, “Once on This Island”
Jamshied Sharifi, “The Band’s Visit”
Jonathan Tunick, “Carousel”
Milazzo and Starobin earn points for using some unusual instruments to create beautiful sound, and Kitt deserves points for combining some 17 different styles of composing into one strong score, this award is between Sharifi, for accentuating Yazbeck’s beautiful score to stunning heights, and Tunick, and industry veteran whom has been orchestrating shows since the 60’s and has only claimed one tony award. Watch out for Tunick to slide by on career merit.
Sound Design in a Play
Adam Cork, “Travesties”
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, “Angels in America”
Gareth Fry, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Tom Gibbons, “1984”
Dan Moses Schreier, “The Iceman Cometh”
Although I know little about sound design, a show with magic has got to have some pretty solid sound tricks. Angels is a close second.
Sound Design in a Musical
Kai Harada, “The Band’s Visit”
Peter Hylenski, “Once on This Island”
Scott Lehrer, “Carousel”
Brian Ronan, “Mean Girls”
Walter Trarbach and Mike Dobson, “SpongeBob SquarePants
Same as above. Look for Mean Girls to sneak in if they want to give the show something.
