"Be More Chill is not an original musical, it was based on a book by authorNed Vizzini"
It's original enough. I'm not saying I particularly like it, but there isn't a whole lot of sci-fi on Broadway. It's a unique version of lots of the stereotypical overwashed high school musicals we're seeing nowadays, Mean Girls and Heathers and Dear Evan Hansen and etc...
It's certainly a bit more unique than Ain't Too Proud is, and even though it's not a smashing success, I think most people have come to respect that.
That's just my interpretation of the situation though.
My Humble Tony predictions (obviously I haven’t seen productions that haven’t opened yet plus I haven’t seen all productions that are already open):
Best Musical: Tootsie
Best Revival - Musical: Oklahoma!
Best Play: The Ferryman
Best Revival: The Waverly Gallery
Lead Actress - Musical: Stephanie J. Block
Lead Actor - Musical: Santino Fontana
Lead Actress - Play: Elaine May
Lead Actor - Play: Bryan Cranston
Featured Actress - Musical: Stephanie Styles
Not sure about most supporting or director categories.
Question: Will Laura Donnelly be eligible in the lead or featured actress category for The Ferryman? If in Featured, I could see her taking the prize. She was the best thing about The Ferryman for me.
Miles2Go2 said: "My Humble Tony predictions (obviously I haven’t seen productions that haven’t opened yet plus I haven’t seen all productions that are already open):
Best Musical: Tootsie
Best Revival - Musical: Oklahoma!
Best Play: The Ferryman
Best Revival: The Waverly Gallery
Lead Actress - Musical: Stephanie J. Block
Lead Actor - Musical: Santino Fontana
Lead Actress - Play: Elaine May
Lead Actor - Play: Bryan Cranston
Featured Actress - Musical: Stephanie Styles
Not sure about most supporting or director categories.
Question: Will Laura Donnelly be eligible in the lead or featured actress category for The Ferryman? If in Featured, I could see her taking the prize. She was the best thing about The Ferryman for me. "
You are overlooking the fact that Hadestown is by far the most critically acclaimed musical coming to Broadway this spring and will likely win Best Musical, as well as many other major awards. I would also say Featured Actress as well (Amber Gray).
I wouldn’t hand the Best Play Tony to THE FERRYMAN or TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. While both grand by the nature of their material, neither was exemplary in transcending their storytelling to the point of Best Play. I saw INK in 2017 in London and if the American production is 2/3 as good as its British version, I believe the play will resonate with audiences better here than across the pond. Very infrequently do I feel the productions than open here strike 1/2 the chord they do in their Brit runs. Color me cockeyed, ,but INK is an exemplary play that could run as long as either of the previously mentioned works. There’s no way Bertie Carvel doesn’t collect his TonyAward this time. All that said, CHOIR BOY, with its pulse on the beat of America in 2019, is a homegrown thoroughbred that could also garner strong support from voters. I wasn’t a fan of NETWORK at all, but I see it rounding out the category of 5 for Best New Play with no clear front runner. I’ll save my prediction until after I’ve seen the American production of INk.
Miles2Go2 said: "Question: Will Laura Donnelly be eligible in the lead or featured actress category for The Ferryman? If in Featured, I could see her taking the prize. She was the best thing about The Ferryman for me."
Do we know if Celia Keenan Bolger is lead or supporting? I'd say Supporting and a win for her if she is, might be more difficult for a win if she's in the lead though. Either way, she was utterly fantastic in TKAM. What a gifted performer.
Most people who saw tootsie in Chicago say Lilli Cooper’s role isn’t big enough to be a lead. I’m hoping they beef up her role either way because I think for tootsie to succeed it has to have more than Santino.
Hamilfan2 said: "These would be my picks personally:
Anyone else just happy that there probably don’t be a sweep this year? Like I think hadestown will win best musical but not lead actor or actress, or best book.
Rogerdellibovi said: "Anyone else just happy that there probably don’t be a sweep this year?Like I think hadestown will win best musical but not lead actor or actress, or best book."
Depends what you'd call a sweep, I think they'll take the lion's share of the awards and the momentum of that may get them awards someone else deserved more.
Ever since Kiss Me Kate opened I haven’t read any buzz about Kelli’s performance being worthy of a Tony win. Last year they say it was a two way race but now do you guys believe that Stephanie would be a lock for the win? There are only 3 more musicals opening with Noblezada for Hadestown, Caruso for Beetlejuice and Cooper for Tootsie and I don’t think their roles are big enough to threaten Stephanie’s critically acclaimed performance.
Personally while I believe Stephanie did a really good job singing and capturing Cher’s nuances, I though that the character itself was weak (mainly because of the book). Very unlike her character in Falsettos where she brought so much depth and substance to the role (and a showstopping number that constantly brings the house down!). Do you think this would matter or this may be a very weak year overall for lead actresses that Stephanie would overcome that?
While I actually do think that Jason Tam gives the most interesting, and most underrated performance in Be More Chill, the much more likely contender from that show would be George Salazar. And neither of them have a chance in hell (no pun intended) of beating Patrick Page.
Y'all are forgetting about Mary Testa in Oklahoma. One of my favorite performances of last year, not to mention that's she's been a treasure on NY stages for years but hasn't been nominated for a Tony Award since 2001 (!!). I wonder if voters will think it's her time.
I mean, I'm an Amber Grey stan. But I'm also a realist.
For those of you predicting Revival of a Musical. From the 2018 Rules:
Each year the Tony Awards Administration Committee shall determine whether there shall exist in quality and quantity a sufficient number of Revivals to merit the granting of an Award for Best Revival of a Play or Musical and, if so, the Tony Awards Administration Committee shall also determine whether there shall be a separate Play and Musical Revival category; provided, however, that if there are at least three such plays and three such musicals, there shall automatically be separate Play and Musical Revival categories.
Will there be a separate category for Musical Revival? Only two this year: Kiss Me Kate and Oklahoma!
I have the feeling best musical is either going to go to Cher Show or Be More Chill. I would love tp see The Prom get in there, but I have my doubts. Stephanie J. Block will likely win if she is nominated.
I would say in terms of plays, Gideon Glick is locked in. He absolutely fabulous as Dill and stole the show! Celia Keenan Bolger is also likely to be nominated. While Jeff Daniels is giving a stellar performance, I doubt he will win, however he will be nominated. Sorkin willb e nominated and I firmly believe Bartlett Sher should be nominated as well.i feel like he doesn't get enough credit for Mockingbird, that it all goes straight to Sorkin.
If Fiddler transfers, I would love to see it make a showing. It's such a simple yet beautiful show. Joel Gray has done FANTASTIC work with it!
The Prom is basically a lock for a nomination, lol. It got very good reviews compared to The Cher Show which were mostly negative and BMC which were decidedly mixed off broadway.
I agree that SJB has very little competition at this point. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of passion behind Kelli. I honk her biggest competition is probably Beth Leavel, who already has a Tony.
With Kiss Me, Kate’s consensus being “good but not great”, I think Oklahoma has a great chance of revival of a musical. It seems like the kind of production that critics will adore even if it’s divisive for audiences.