Tonys: Spamalot Men all considered Leading, Gleason/Jbara are Featured- Page 3

[Madame X]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:10pm

You know, we all knew lead actress in a play would be tough this year, but I was just taking inventory, and the men have it pretty tough too.

Brian F. O'Byrne*
Bill Irwin*
James Earl Jones*
Philip Bosco
Boyd Gaines
John C O'Reilly
Adam Arkin
Ben Shenkman
Denzel Washington
Billy Crudup?
Jeff Goldblum?
Glengarry boys

Whatta year!

* = Nomination; I haven't seen Pillowman, Glengarry, or Streetcar yet to figure out where the last 2 nods go...

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 06:10 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:10pm

It's because Slater is billed below the title (only Lange is above) and the producers apparently didn't petition for him to be considered Lead.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:10pm

blah blah blah. It just so happens this year that who I WANT to win is who SHOULD win.


So there. :)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:11pm

I would consider Bosco and Gaines as featured.

[musicman117]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:12pm

yeah.... its been a long week an im a little slow on the uptake.

im back with it now.

about the "canceling out" theory.... not only do the Wicked Ladies prove this wrong, but Nathan Lane did win for the Producers. I know there probably wasnt as much talk aobut those tow cancelling each other out, but they certainly could have.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:14pm

Lead Actor also includes Richard Thomas, James Naughton, Peter Krause, and Matt Lescher (The Rivals).

The Tony committee already ruled that Bosco and Gaines will be considered Lead.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:14pm

Well, I'm jumping in a bit late here....
I don't think that all three men will be nominated for Spamalot, I really hope that Hank will not lose out when it comes to the nominations.

And I agree with Matt (who is SO predicatble ) Raul has no chance this year, even if it's just a nomination.

QM

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 06:14 PM

[Madame X]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:21pm

It's because Slater is billed below the title (only Lange is above) and the producers apparently didn't petition for him to be considered Lead.

Wait, I thought when Slater came on, everyone went above the title? (whereas before only Lange was above) I'm almost positive I've seen it that way?

[musicman117]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:21pm

After seeing Both DRS and SPAMalot, if John Lithgow and David Hyde Pierce (and Curry, but i think hes got a nomination... i mean, hes Tim Curry..) get the nominations, it will honestly be because of thier name. IMO, none of those three gave the best performance of the year... not even in the top 5.

My Picks would be:
Norbert Leo Butz
Cheyenne Jackson
Hank Azaria
Gary Beach
and probably Tim Curry.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:23pm

I'm pretty sure John Lithgow will get nominated.

QM

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:24pm

QM, I hope so, but I fear for his chances.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:27pm

I don't think Spam should get any leading actor Tony's. But they should win both featured in a musical catagory. Christian Borle and Sara Ramirez, had better win! They aren't big names and they just blow me away with their performances.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 6:28pm

John deserves to be nominated... but now that all three Spamalot men are fighting for five positions his chances have certainly decreased.

QM

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 06:28 PM

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:06pm

I am HAPPY that Azaria and Pierce are joining the expected Curry in the leading category - this opens things way up for Christian Borle and Michael McGrath in the featured category! I think Curry will be nominated because he has the largest role, and being Tim Curry won't hurt him either, but Azaria may very well sneak into the nominations as well since he has the showiest of the three starring roles. Although Pierce is wonderful in his second act showstopper, I don't think his role will be considered large enough to nominate for leading actor.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:08pm

EponineThenardier: Don't worry. Sara Ramirez is *definitely* winning the Tony for featured actress this year. She just has no competition.

[NBC]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:17pm

While I really enjoyed Sara Ramirez, Maureen McGovern could sneak in there. Or one of the women from Spelling Bee...my vote would go to Sarah Saltzberg, I think.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:19pm

If Sara Ramirez wins a Tony, I will buy Michael Reidel lunch.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:44pm

don't know if this was mentioned yet but does this mean sarah gettlefinger is considered leading? I know her part is small but she is listed above the title and it specifically listed jbara and gleason as featured but not her

[mikem]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:50pm

I am very puzzled by the designation of David Hyde Pierce and Hank Azaria as leads -- they are on stage a fair amount of the time, but they each play the same character for only about 10 minutes at a time and have just one song. If they weren't "names," no one would consider them to be leads. Christian Borle has more impact and more songs (and possibly more lines) than either of them, but no one thinks he should be in the lead category.

My personal prediction: only one of the two of them will be nominated. Lithgow, Pierce, and Azaria are all extremely good actors, but none of them are strong singers (I don't think Azaria even had an entire song to himself -- I think he only sang about half of the Lancelot song) and none of them can dance AT ALL. I can't see the Tony committee giving 3 of the 5 lead musical actor noms to folks who are neither strong singers nor strong dancers. It would be an interesting comment on what chops you need to get nominated for a Tony for Best Actor in a Musical. That, plus the fact that one would want to spread the wealth, means that I think a DRS/Spamalot strangehold on lead actor is unlikely.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 7:57pm

But... but... Hank plays Lancelot who likes to dance a lot.

QM

Updated On: 4/14/05 at 07:57 PM

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 8:05pm

Does the line go "we're knights of the Round Table. We dance as well as we're able" ?? Pardons that I haven't memorized the song word for word.

Heehee. Doesn't mean anything, just thought I'd chuck that out.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 8:07pm

I don't know if you were talking to me, Eponine but the line I was refering to is from the Lancelot song ('his name is Lancelot, he likes to dance a lot').

QM

[theatreguy]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 8:12pm

jonart, Sara Gettlefinger is billed below the title (though her name is the same size as Gleason's and Jbara's) so I guess it's just assumed that she is in the featured category. And even though she's only onstage for maybe 15-20 minutes, I would love to see her get a nomination. She does a great job.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 8:23pm

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I ADORE David Hyde Pierce. YESSSSS

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/14/05 at 9:15pm

One of the things in Norbert's favour ( other than his being the outstanding performer lol) is that he toured w Cabaret & may actually have some connection to the non New York members of the guild as opposed to the "name" recognition performers. Hope so! Anything that stacks the deck in favour of Norb is a good thing to me!