MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "@Wayman But the Tonys made a point to end that precedent after industry backlash to the Billy Elliot actors win. There is now an official Tony rule that forbids joint acting nominations. So again, the Lehman Trilogy actors will have to compete individually. Producers could petition otherwise I suppose, but they would be petitioning for the administration to scrap one of their rules, and I highly doubt they want to deal with the whole joint nomination thing again. If they weren't willing to do it for Erin Davie and Emily Padgett who were literally joined at the hip in Side Show, there is no way they would consider it for actors playing different roles.
As for Take Me Out, I think there is a strong chance producers will ask for Jesse Williams to be in Lead. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J Adams, and even Michael Oberholtzer are all viable featured candidates. True, the original cast was deemed featured, but back then the Tonys did not change category placement from billing that much. The Drama Desks nominated Sunjata in their Lead category. Taking Williams out of Featured could mean more overall acting nominations for the production.
I also don't think Betrayal will fare as well as folks here seem to be predicting. The play has really never done well at the Tonys. Lead Actor is so stacked this year, that I don't think Cox and Hiddleston stand a chance, especially if voters are divided as to which one to support. I suppose there is wiggle room in Lead Actress for Zawe Ashton, but we have no idea yet how Debra Messing and Sarah Jessica Parker will be in their plays. And if nominators are really looking back at all the closed shows this season, Audra got better notices for Frankie and Johnny. And while I don't expect Grand Horizons to be a Best Play nominee, Jane Alexander has a great chance of making it in. She's fascinating in the role.
Mary Louise Parker, The Sound Inside
Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
Laurie Metcalf, Virginia Woolf
Laura Linney, My Name is Lucy Barton
Jane Alexander, Grand Horizons
Messing, SJP, or MLP (How I Learned to Drive) could take out Linney or Alexander. As of now I cant find anything that says MLP cant be nominated twice. Unless they come up with a late in the game rule against it (not out of the question considering the shoot-from-the-hip approach of the administration) she will probably get in for both of her performances.
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I honestly don't see Betrayal getting that much in terms of nominations, but I'd be thrilled to see Cox and Ashton nominated haha. Their performances (along with Hiddleston) were haunting, even months later. It was truly a great production overall. If the nominations were up to me, it'd be recognized haha.
I have a feeling Williams will be pushed for Leading Actor. I feel like there are so many possibilities for Featured Actor nominations in that cast that separating him in to Leading would make the most sense.
