Tony Awards Race - Audra vs. Nicole Edition

[macbeth]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:03pm

I've now seen both performances, and am truly torn. I think overall, Nicole is giving a stronger performance from start to finish but some of Audra's work (especially in Act Two / Rose's Turn) was remarkable. 

Os it there a wildcard I'm missing? 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:06pm

Nicole for the win. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:15pm

I think everyone is being very presumptuous about a season where there haven't really been pans of any leading performances.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:15pm

I thought both leading ladies were fantastic, but Nicole is giving one of those rare "once in a lifetime" performances that will stick with me forever. Therefore, she has the edge in my book.

I do think Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop could *maybe* be wildcard for the win...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:27pm

Wait, Sutton Foster isn’t favored to win? /s

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:39pm

A category including Audra, Nicole, and some combo of Idina Menzel, Adrienne Warren, Helen Shen*, Jasmine Amy, Jen Simard, Megan Hilty, Robyn Hurder, and Sutton Foster is quite a strong year. With the wildcard option of Bernadette Peters or Lea Salonga for Old Friends (if they don't go Featured).  *it would be egrigious category fraud, but I could see the producers attempting to leave Shen in Featured instead of petitioning her to lead, being that she started previews above the title and by opening night was below the title...shady.

Best Actor could be quite strong too.....Jeremy Jordan, Tom Francis, Jonathan Groff, James Monroe Iglehart, and Darren Criss.

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 12:39 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:47pm

Yeah, the season is only half over let’s not count people out yet. Nicole very well could take it but this doesn’t seem like a “Grey Gardens” situation where Ebersole was going to win no matter who else on earth she was up against. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 1:27pm

I’d imagine Nicole has the strong performance, the hype, and “the narrative” going for her — tossed aside by her industry at her age, couldn’t reach her fullest potential, making her Broadway debut…

Also, all eight acting Tonys last year went to first-time winners (and 7/8 in 2023). 

 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 1:34pm

Both are fantastic, but I think Audra is on a whole other level, sorry. Audra for the win.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 1:37pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "Both are fantastic, but I think Audra is on a whole other level, sorry. Audra for the win."

I would agree with you. 

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 01:37 PM

[yyys]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 1:53pm

There's a lot less acting in Sunset...I think Audra for the win.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 1:55pm

Audra gave a masterclass in how to be a singing actress.  Nicole gave me two very belty songs and mugging.

Audra for the win.  She's a legend for good reason.

 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:11pm

I think Audra McDonald is a better actress in a vacuum, but what Scherzinger is doing is Sunset Blvd. is more interesting and successful. 

But big picture, I find it kind of interesting so many people assume this is a two woman race when shows like Redwood, Operation Mincemeat, Smash, Boop!, The Last 5 Years, and Real Women Have Curves haven't even begun previews yet. 

In contrast, actors are rarely even considered for Oscar nominations unless they're in a movie released in the last couple of months of eligibility.  

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:16pm

It's not a two woman race, there are plenty of performances that haven't even happened yet so simma down now.

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:19pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "I thinkAudra McDonald is a better actress in a vacuum, but whatScherzinger is doing is SunsetBlvd. is more interesting and successful."

Respectfully, this isn't even slightly true.

I think Nicole is successful and interesting within that show, but I need us to be so serious here. When those two performances are looked at side by side, it's obvious who is giving the more interesting, layered, complex performance and it's Audra giving the best performance of her illustrious career. There really is no competition for those who have actually seen Audra's performance and not just listened to an audio bootleg from the first preview. She's bringing something entirely new to that role.

Oh and there's not going to be some random third party that wins this award. It's a two person race, unless there's a vote split.

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 02:19 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:31pm

Respectfully, this isn't even slightly true.
 

His opinion simply differs from your own. Shockingly, that's still allowed in America today.

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:32pm

Audra will win but Sunset will win for Best Musical Revival.  There you have it. 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:33pm

Sutton Ross said: "Respectfully, this isn't even slightly true.


His opinion simply differs from your own. Shockingly, that's still allowed in America today."

This adds nothing to the conversation. Go away. Stop opinion policing.

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 02:33 PM

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:34pm

BdwyFan said: "Audra will win but Sunset will win for Best Musical Revival. There you have it."

This is what I'm thinking. I could see Sunset winning direction too.

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 02:34 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:44pm

Lolz. Nah, I'll do what I like as always. You telling people they are wrong for having a different opinion adds nothing to the conversation. Your opinion isn't fact and you dismissing performances that no one has seen yet is laughable, ignorant, and the most predictable thing eva 😘

 

Updated On: 1/11/25 at 02:44 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:46pm

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Nah, I'll do what I like as always. You telling people they are wrong for having a different opinion adds nothing to the conversation. Your opinion isn't fact and you dismissing performances that no one has seen yet is laughable, ignorant, and the most predictable thing eva 😘

 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:52pm

Sutton Ross said: "Lolz. Nah, I'll do what I like as always. You telling people they are wrong for having a different opinion adds nothing to the conversation. Your opinion isn't fact and you dismissing performances that no one has seen yet is laughable, ignorant, and the most predictable thing eva 😘

"

Lay off the sauce, babe.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 3:08pm

Georgeanddot2 said: "Jonathan Cohen said: "I thinkAudra McDonald is a better actress in a vacuum, but whatScherzinger is doing is SunsetBlvd. is more interesting and successful."

Respectfully, this isn't even slightly true.

I think Nicole is successful and interesting within that show, but I need us to be so serious here. When those two performances are looked at side by side, it's obvious who is giving the more interesting, layered, complex performance and it's Audra giving the best performance of her illustrious career. There really is no competition for those who have actually seen Audra's performance and not just listened to an audio bootleg from the first preview. She's bringing something entirely new to that role.

Oh and there's not going to be some random third party that wins this award. It's a two person race, unless there's a vote split."

You're criticizing people for forming opinions of McDonald's performance based on a bootleg, but at the same time dismissing the idea of a third person winning the award for performances you haven't seen. How is that different?  

Here's my problem with McDonald's performance: her operatic style of singing just doesn't work as well for the character as the belting style of singing that's been traditionally been used, given Rose's pugilistic demeanor. While it's worked for some people, I'm far from being alone on an island with that opinion. 

Even with reservations, Gypsy was one of the 10 best shows I saw in 2024 and I thought McDonald was a net positive in the role. I just don't think the performance was successful enough to merit getting an award.  

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 3:16pm

It sounds like you approached Audra's Rose with impenetrable preconceived notions about how that character should be played, instead of engaging with that performance on it's own terms. And yes, people who listened to a bootleg have largely dominated the conversation surrounding this performance. So much so, that the production has told the staff to be really super serious about phones being out during the show. It is IN MY OPINION (apparently we must make that very clear here) that Audra's performance is significantly more successful and interesting than anything going on in that Sunset revival and is worthy of that award.

As for a third name seriously entering this conversation, it just seems unlikely from where we stand now.

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/11/25 at 5:29pm

I’m still Team Hilty!