The only thing I based the Ben Platt point on is that he seems to be the pinpoint of most of the DEH reviews, whereas in the Comet reviews, "the show" is the thing. As seen recently with Color Purple's grosses dipping severely when Cynthia took a vacation, I would also argue that Platt is a draw for many people who have bought tickets. Again, I yield- because there's really no way of knowing either point to be true until we see the grosses for each after their respective "stars" have left.
PaulWom said: "The only thing I based the Ben Platt point on is that he seems to be the pinpoint of most of the DEH reviews, whereas in the Comet reviews, "the show" is the thing."
Yes, but that is the true nature of both shows, though. DEH has a very specific lead role, and Comet is an ensemble. Ben is more unknown and has a lot of show to carry, and Josh is very well known and is making his theater debut, so both are credited for doing well with their respective burdens. Ben will get more credit for standing out, as an unknown, and Josh will get more credit for fitting in, as a celebrity.
The fact that two original musicals (unless we really think 70-odd pages of War and Peace were an obvious adaptation waiting to be plucked) are making $1M+ for delivering amazing nights in the theater is a pretty good state of things... and, of course, the ticket selling abilities of either should have no weight on who is delivering a better Tony-worthy performance in any case.
I'm actually really hoping to have a rare Fiorello!/Sound of Music situation this year. Comet and Hansen are both great shows that are so different from each other and both deserve best musical.
icecreambenjamin said: "I'm actually really hoping to have a rare Fiorello!/Sound of Music situation this year. Comet and Hansen are both great shows that are so different from each other and both deserve best musical.
"
That would be amazing. Truly, I cannot think of a season in recent memory in which two new, original musicals that were so different and yet so brilliant in opposite ways competed against each other. They both advance the theater in their own unique way! We are incredibly lucky to have both this season.
If Miss Saigon awards record in the West End revival is anything to go by then it's possible only Jon Jon will get the nomination as both Eva and Rachelle were missed however Rachelle won in all the other UK theatre awards for Gigi.
Best Musical – Confirmed Amélie Anastasia Bandstand A Bronx Tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Come From Away Dear Evan Hansen Groundhog Day Holiday Inn In Transit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Paramour War Paint
Best Play – Confirmed A Doll's House, Part 2 The Encounter Heisenberg Indecent Oh, Hello Oslo The Play That Goes Wrong Significant Other Sweat
Best Revival of a Musical – Confirmed Cats Falsettos Hello, Dolly! Miss Saigon Sunday in the Park with George Sunset Boulevard
Best Revival of a Play – Confirmed The Cherry Orchard The Front Page The Glass Menagerie Jitney Les Liaisons Dangereuses The Little Foxes Present Laughter The Price Six Degrees of Separation
Confirmed, Ruling TBD The Present (play: new or revival?)
Not Yet Announced Half Time (new musical) The Master Builder (play revival) Ride the Cyclone (new musical) Smokey Joe's Café (musical revival) SpongeBob: The Musical (new musical) Sweet Charity (musical revival) To Kill a Mockingbird (play: new or revival?) Whorehouse (musical revival) The Wiz (musical revival)
GreasedLightning said: "Just adding my two cents: I'd really like to see Ben take home Best Actor, but I'd really like to see Natasha, Pierre take home Best Musical."
This is shaping up to be one hell of an icon-filled Leading Actress in a Musical race. Bette, Patti, Glenn, Christine...!
Not that any of them are a lock (well, besides Bette), but who else? Philippa Soo? Laura Osnes? Annaleigh Ashford? Denee Benton? Eva Noblezada? Christy Altomare?
LesWickedly said: "These are who I think will be nominated for Best Actress Annaleigh Ashford Denée Benton Christine Ebersole Patti LuPone Bette Midler and at this point, I see Bette taking it, but without any knowledge of what her performance is like."
I agree with all of that, though I could also see Laura Osnes sneaking in there. Based on the through-the-roof rave press quotes on the marquee/front of house for Dolly, not to mention her buzz and the (deserved) icon status, I'd be pretty surprised if Bette didn't win. Though it's early in the season yet, so who knows.
(And thanks, Broadwayguy91, for the reminder about Glenn Close's eligibility!)
I was really unimpressed with Benton's performance. If I were a Tony voter and I would vote for Josh Groban, Lucas Steele, Brittain Ashford and maybe Amber Gray. Given that we still have to wait for Eva Noblezada, Christy Altomare and Phillipa Soo, today I would bet the four other ladies (Ashford, Ebersole, LuPone and Midler) and Soo.
And since this is my first post in this thread, here's my mini-list:
Musical: Dear Evan Hansen Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 Groundhog Day War Paint Come From Away
Revival: Hello, Dolly! Sunday in the Park with George Sunset Boulevard Miss Saigon
Lead Actor: Ben Platt Josh Groban Jake Gyllenhaal Andy Karl Jon Jon Briones
Lead Actress: Bette Midler Annaleigh Ashford Christine Ebersole Patti LuPone Phillipa Soo
Featured Actor: Lucas Steele Gavin Creel Michael Xavier Brandon Uranowitz Corbin Bleu
Featured Actress: Laura Bay Jones Jennifer Laura Thompson Brittain Ashford Barrett Doss Jenn Colella
That's a great idea, smidge. Is that a real possibility, or does PBS always broadcast Live from Lincoln Center in the fall? I have limited experience, but if I remember correctly Act One premiered in the fall almost a year and a half after filming.
Bumping this now that we know that The Present will officially be ruled as an original play.
Best Musical – Confirmed Amélie Anastasia Bandstand A Bronx Tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Come From Away Dear Evan Hansen Groundhog Day Holiday Inn In Transit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Paramour War Paint
Best Play – Confirmed A Doll's House, Part 2 The Encounter Heisenberg Indecent Oh, Hello Oslo The Play That Goes Wrong The Present Significant Other Sweat
Best Revival of a Musical – Confirmed Cats Falsettos Hello, Dolly! Miss Saigon Sunday in the Park with George Sunset Boulevard
Best Revival of a Play – Confirmed The Cherry Orchard The Front Page The Glass Menagerie Jitney Les Liaisons Dangereuses The Little Foxes Present Laughter The Price Six Degrees of Separation
Not Yet Announced Half Time (new musical) The Master Builder (play revival) Ride the Cyclone (new musical) Smokey Joe's Café (musical revival) SpongeBob: The Musical (new musical) Sweet Charity (musical revival) To Kill a Mockingbird (play: new or revival?) Whorehouse (musical revival) The Wiz (musical revival)
Bumping this now that Sunday in the Park with George has removed itself from Revival considerations.
Best Musical – Confirmed Amélie Anastasia Bandstand A Bronx Tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Come From Away Dear Evan Hansen Groundhog Day Holiday Inn In Transit Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Paramour War Paint
Best Play – Confirmed A Doll's House, Part 2 The Encounter Heisenberg Indecent Oh, Hello Oslo The Play That Goes Wrong The Present Significant Other Sweat
Best Revival of a Musical – Confirmed Cats Falsettos Hello, Dolly! Miss Saigon Sunset Boulevard
Best Revival of a Play – Confirmed The Cherry Orchard The Front Page The Glass Menagerie Jitney Les Liaisons Dangereuses The Little Foxes Present Laughter The Price Six Degrees of Separation
My current (and of course, meaningless, just-for-funzies) predictions, now that Sunday is out of the mix:
Best Musical Anastasia Come From Away Dear Evan Hansen Groundhog Day Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Potential Swaps:War Paint, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Best Revival of a Musical Falsettos Hello, Dolly! Miss Saigon Sunset Boulevard Potential Swap:Cats
Best Actor in a Musical Christian Borle – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Jon-Jon Briones – Miss Saigon Josh Groban – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Andy Karl – Groundhog Day Ben Platt – Dear Evan Hansen
Best Actress in a Musical Christy Altomare – Anastasia Christine Ebersole – War Paint Patti LuPone – War Paint Bette Midler – Hello, Dolly! Phillipa Soo – Amélie Potential Swaps: Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon), and Denée Benton (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812)
Best Featured Actor in a Musical Gavin Creel – Hello, Dolly! Ramin Karimloo – Anastasia Andrew Rannells – Falsettos Lucas Steele – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Brandon Uranowitz – Falsettos
Best Featured Actress in a Musical Stephanie J. Block – Falsettos Jenn Colella – Come From Away Amber Gray – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Rachel Bay Jones – Dear Evan Hansen Caroline O’Connor – Anastasia OR Mary Beth Peil – Anastasia Potential Swap: Brittain Ashford – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Please keep in mind that now there's 5 eligible contenders for Best Revival of a Musical. Meaning that the nominators will only be given 3 slots to fill in that category when determining the nominations. A fourth slot is still possible, but only if there's a close race between 2 shows in the nominating process within 3 votes or less.