WAY TOO EARLY 2023 Tony Award Predictions — Page 6

The leading acting categories this year are very full so here are my thoughts



Best Leading Actor (Musical)

• Will Swenson - A Beautiful Noise
• Brian D'Arcy James - Into The Woods
• Christian Borle - Some Like It Hot
• J Harrison Ghee - Some Like It Hot
• Josh Groban - Sweeney Todd

Best Leading Actor (Play)

• Wendall Pierce - Death of a Salesman
• Corey Hawkins - Topdog/Underdog
• Jefferson Mays - A Christmas Carol
• Sean Hayes - Good Night, Oscar
• Whoever plays Pi Patel - Life of Pi

Best Leading Actress (Musical)

• Lorna Courtney - & Juliet
• Sara Bareilles - Into The Woods
• Victoria Clark - Kimberly Akimbo
• Adrianna Hicks - Some Like It Hot
• Annaleigh Ashford - Sweeney Todd

Best Leading Actress (Play)

• Katy Sullivan - Cost of Living
• Sharon D Clarke - Death of a Salesman
• Audra McDonald - Ohio State Murders
• Laura Linney - Summer, 1976
• Jodie Comer - Prima Facie

Thoughts??

broadwayfan_7214 said: "The leading acting categories this year are very full so here are my thoughts



Best Leading Actor (Musical)

• Will Swenson - A Beautiful Noise
• Brian D'Arcy James - Into The Woods
• Christian Borle - Some Like It Hot
• J Harrison Ghee - Some Like It Hot
• Josh Groban - Sweeney Todd

I would definitely include Justin Cooley of Kimberly Akimbo.

I'll never understand how and why so many people on this site are obsessed with the Tony Awards.

Dollypop said: "I'll never understand how and why so many people on this site are obsessed with the Tony Awards."

Well, I'm obsessed with the Tony awards because in addition to being a theatre nerd I'm also an Oscar buff, and media awards are addictive.

But seriously, not only is it fun to see artists you admire get recognized for their accomplishments, they also serve as a good historical benchmark for the art form. What is or isn't recognized tells you a lot about where the awards and society are at any given point, and how well they age tells you a lot about how society progresses.

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Updated On: 10/30/22 at 02:12 PM

Collingswood said: "broadwayfan_7214 said: “ I would definitely include Justin Cooley of Kimberly Akimbo."

I would definitely consider Justin Cooley as featured and the only lead in Kimberly Akimbo is Victoria

Call_me_jorge said: "I feel like Betsy Wolfe is a strong contender for featured actress. It would definitely be a career win for her and she finally deserves the recognition."

I think Featured Actress will come down to Wolfe and Milligan. Having seen both performances, I would solidly cast a ballot for Wolfe who I think is just utterly sensational as Anne Hathaway. But I do think it'll end up being a tight race between those two fabulous actresses.

I think it's inevitable that Betsy and Bonnie will be the end point for Featured Actress in a Musical, maybe whoever plays the Stepmother also has a chance?

Phillipa Soo is a likely contender for a nom, but don't think for a win. There's Robyn Hurder, Solea Pfeiffer.

I think with the reception it's getting, ''& Juliet'' seems a sure fire contender for ''Best Musical'' alongside ''Kimberly Akimbo''.

God I hope Sara gets nominated!

As for the & Juliet/Kimberly Akimbo for Best Musical? It can go either way. There could be an upset. & Juliet is a London import with a big fanbase. Akimbo is a new musical that no one outside NYC knows much about. Kinda like the Wicked/Avenue Q

I haven't seen the Broadway production yet, but after what I "saw" overseas, as of right now I think & Juliet has no chance to take home top honors. Jukebox musicals seem to be at an instant disadvantage for Best Musical (Moulin Rouge! had the benefit of a truncated season, and Jersey Boys was a fluke win in a weak season), and I just don't think Juliet lives up to the hype. Again, this opinion may change if I see this live in NY.

A Best Musical nom is a victory for this show. Give them noms for Costume Design, Orchestrations, Choreography, and maybe Set Design, and I'll say it was well-deserved.

Kimberly Akimbo just has to hold on to awards season and they should be fine. Easier said than done, though, especially in this current Broadway climate.

Updated On: 10/31/22 at 12:04 PM

hearthemsing22 said: "Do we think Sara Bareilles has a chance? ITW will have closed at the beginning of the year so I don't know..."

I think Sara, Gavin and Phillipa are very very likely to get noms, and then Patina also has a shot. People really loved Lester, but I don't see this happening.

Dylan Smith4 said: "God I hope Sara gets nominated!

As for the & Juliet/Kimberly Akimbo for Best Musical? It can go either way. There could be an upset. & Juliet is a London import with a big fanbase. Akimbo is a new musical that no one outside NYC knows much about. Kinda like the Wicked/Avenue Q"

I liked KA much more than Avenue Q, which I actually didn't like. I think your analogy goes a little far, however...I cannot believe that KA will ever have the pull / cachet that resulted in a lot of younger, non-theatregoers purchasing tickets, nor will it have the out-of-towner Tony voters thinking a vote for KA instead of X will result in two big revenue generators being on the road instead of 1, which was in play with Wicked/Avenue (and, if I remember correctly, ended up being bogus when the producers went with a Las Vegas run rather than an immediate tour).

I am certainly anxious to see the Some Like it Hot and NYNY reviews, and always hope that something will be announced for late in the season. I cannot imagine that A Beautiful Noise or Almost famous will be in contention for best musical, and KA may be the 'little show that could.' entry, but it would have to be a really bad season for it to be a serious contender...it is just too slight. I wasn't able to see &Juliet; but, if it is half as good as the feedback on this board, I would imagine it could be a serious contender (unless, of course, SKIH or NYNY end up becoming the next Wicked / BOM / Hamilton at the box office.

I've said my thoughts on leading categories and hear are my thoughts on the featured.



Best Featured Actor (Musical)

• Paul Szot - & Juliet
• Whoever Plays Lancelot - Camelot
• Gavin Creel - Into The Woods
• Justin Cooley - Kimberly Akimbo
• Whoever Plays Turpin or Tobias - Sweeney Todd

Best Featured Actor (Play)

• David Krumholtz - Leopoldstadt
• Gregg Mozgala - Cost of Living
• Andre De Sheilds - Death of a Salesman
• Samuel L Jackson - The Piano Lesson
• Common - Between Riverside and Crazy

Best Featured Actress (Musical)

• Betsy Wolfe - & Juliet
• Patrena Murray - 1776
• Bonnie Milligan - Kimberly Akimbo
• Phillipa Soo - Into The Woods
• Julia Lester - Into The Woods

Best Featured Actress (Play)

• Azita Ghanizada - The Kite Runner
• Cassie Levy - Leopoldstadt
• Katy Sullivan - Cost of Living
• Crystal Lucas Perry - Ain't No Mo
• Some From - Summer, 1776

Thoughts??