Tony Awards Decides Eligibility for Billy Elliot Boys, Dividing the Estate, The American Plan, Liza, Shrek & More- Page 2

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:45pm

No, those are what I THINK they SHOULD get nominated for. I didn't say I wanted them to have ALL of those nods. I didn't mean three leading nominations. I meant that all three of them DESERVE to be nominated. Hence the term I SEE....

Other shows like In The Heights, Hairspray, Wicked, and Cats have had a ton of nods as well, more than half won, and I didn't hear anyone else complain. I obviously haven't seen these shows, but I have seen plenty of b-roll footage and heard demos and stuff on iTunes and the rest of the web; so I have a right to say what I THINK they should be nominated for.

Almost everybody's literal here!
Updated On: 2/12/09 at 09:45 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:51pm

Well, in all fairness you DID say "I see 9 TO 5 getting nominated for" and nothing about what you'd like to see happening. That was why I responded the way I did.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:52pm

Oh, well, I apologize. That wasn't my original intention (obviously).

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 9:56pm

I know this has been brought up on BWW before, but now that it is official, what are your thoughts of the three Billy Elliot boys being eligible to be nominated jointly for Best Leading Actor?

Though I feel they should be recognized for their work, I do agree with those who said that that is nominating the role not the performers... I don't think the three of them being nominated together would diminish other's nominations to show that it was the character they played that deserved praise, not their performances!

What do you think?
Updated On: 2/12/09 at 09:56 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 10:07pm

If the Billys win, do they have to share the Tonys?

Or does each one get a little Toinette of his own?

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 10:09pm

on the subject of 9to5 nods I think it'll shake down roughly like so;

Best Musical
Leading Actress (Janey, maybe Block)
Featured Actor (Kudisch)
Featured Actress (Hilty)
Scenic Design

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 10:17pm

I think the idea of all Billys being nominated in the Best Actor category stems from the fact that they're all just so good that the other two's being snubbed would be unfair. In this case, I don't really have a problem with it. I'd feel differently if one or two of them were mediocre in the role and one was exceptional. But they're all giving deserving performances.

[EvanK]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 11:08pm

for 9 to 5 I see these nominations

Best Musical
Set Design
Lighting Design
Choreography
Best Actress (Steph and Janney)
Best Direction
Best Score

[sgv123]

Posted: 2/12/09 at 11:58pm

If the Billys do win, they each get their own award.

[EveHarrington]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 12:33am

If 9 to 5 is smart, they'll put Block in featured, she'll easily win the category, and Janney will have great chances to take leading. Two awards is definitely better than one, for this show! :)

I could see them being nominated for:
Best Score (which they should win)
Best Book
Best Scenic Design
Best Choreography
Best Actress
Best Featured Actress
Best Actor/Featured Actor (depending on where they place Kudisch)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 1:49am

I don't see why 9 to 5 wouldn't get a nomination in almost every category. It's going to be one of the big contenders this year in a field of pretty weak original musicals. Things like [tos], 13, White Christmas, and Story of My Life aren't going to get nominated for design awards (maybe lighting for the Story). Maybe Tale of Two Cities will pull in a design nomination or two. Primarily design nominations will come down between Billy Elliot, Shrek, 9 to 5, and the revivals. I say 9 to 5 has each design nomination in the bag. As for acting, they might not get all 3 women, but they will surely get at least 2 leading, possibly 1 featured, and probably featured actor for Kudisch. They probs won't get director or orchestrations, but they will definitely get score, book, and choreography. Clearly they will get a Best Musical nod. I can see them easily walking away with 11 or 12 nominations.
Updated On: 2/13/09 at 01:49 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:29am

9 to 5 is smart, they'll put Block in featured, she'll easily win the category,


- Um. Karen Olivo?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 2:52am

This also means that the fabulous Haydn Gwynne has been correctly placed in the Featured Actress category. I say she is the one to beat. She is simply wonderful in BILLY ELLIOT, and I think that the casting of non-dancer Karen Olivo might just be a bit too controversial to get her the win over Gwynne.

[sking]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 4:50am

Theres never been a mediocre Billy...the role is too darn hard. I cant name another role that takes so much training, so even a less then great Billy just wont slip thru ever. The casting directors for this musical everywhere need an award! Also explains why its more then a bit expensive to run.

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 5:04am

While I do agree that Haydn Gwynne is the one to beat in the featured actress category, the Karen Olivo non-dancer argument is getting old. Was she formally trained? No. Does she work it and command the stage? Yes she does. She makes a great Anita, and everyone who hasn't even seen the show yet needs to refrain from judgements until you see her perform. I have seen Billy Elliot four times and West Side Story three times out of town, and like I said, while Ms. Gwynne is most definitely the one to beat (based on what I have seen this season), the whole non-dancing argument is trivial in my opinion.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 5:18am

I don't think I agree with the belief that the "billy's" can never be "mediocre".

IMHO I think they have to be able to DANCE incredibly, but only be able to act and sing moderately. I have only seen the show once, but didn't think the boy I saw was either a terrific singer or actor. Decent, yes, but not amazing. I've heard all three of the Billy's sing: none are fabulous. It's the dance, and the story that truly sells the part.

And I still don't like that they will be considered together: as so many have stated that's awarding the ROLE not the actor. In all honesty, I didn't like the idea of a special Tony either...then I think you are awarding them for being kids in a demanding role.

[nmartin]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 6:06am

"Or does each one get a little Toinette of his own?'
I love that 'Toinette' business.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 7:31am

Don't count out 9 to 5. It's technically stunning, has a great cast, and let's face it, what else are they going to nominate this season?

That being said:
Best Musical
Best Book
Best Score
Best Actress - Janney
Best Feat. Actor - Kudisch
Best Feat. Actress - Block
Best Direction
Best Scenic Design
Best Costumes
Best Lighting
Best Sound

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 8:26am

the whole non-dancing argument is trivial in my opinion.

That's just what Arthur said!

Updated On: 2/13/09 at 08:26 AM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/13/09 at 6:47pm

What about the boys playing Michael? Which is eligible? Just wondering...

Just because you don't sing or dance well doesn't mean you shouldn't be eligible for a Tony. It's about the performance. It's about the acting. There have been plenty of nominations/wins for people who don't sing well or at all. Ditto about the dancing.

I think the Billy ruling for the boys is fair. I think the Side Show ruling was less fair. In that case, they were playing two different roles but still got a joint nomination. If the three lighting designers could win for The Coast of Utopia where each lighting designer pretty much designed a different play, then the three boys playing Billy (same role, same number of performances each, etc.) should be eligible to be at least nominated together.

~Steven