Way too early 2017 Tony predictions — Page 17

Just for fun, these are my current guesses...

Best Actor in a Musical
Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon)
Josh Groban (The Great Comet)
Andy Karl (Groundhog Day)
David Hyde Pierce (Hello, Dolly!)
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)

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
John Bolton (Anastasia)
Gavin Creel (Hello, Dolly!)
Fred Johanson (Sunset Boulevard)
Lucas Steele (The Great Comet)
Brandon Uranowitz (Falsettos)

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen)
Stephanie J. Block (Falsettos)
Jenn Colella (Come from Away)
Amber Grey (The Great Comet)
Caroline O'Connor (Anastasia) OR Mary Beth Peil (Anastasia)

BroadwayConcierge-- curious as to why Brittain Ashford was omitted from your list? All I hear about from people who go see Comet, whether they loved or disliked it, is how breathtaking Brittain is- especially "Sonya Alone", which stops the show. She also has such a remarkable story, similar to Alex Sharp's in Curious Incident-- she wasn't even an actress before Comet (she led a band!), but learned how to act through this role and this show. I think a lot of people in the community are rooting for her.

Yes, Featured Actress is full of possible contenders this year and sad that some will not be nominated.  I did think Brittain had more of an impact on me than Amber. And as much I love Stephanie, I still am predicting Rachel Bay Jones for the win. But I wouldn't be hurt if any of these deserving actresses were took home the Tony

Condsidering the disappointing responses to the sets, we can all rule out Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.

I know this puts me in the minority but I actually didn't enjoy Brittain Ashford at all in Great Comet.  I thought it was tragically underplayed and her voice affectation is over-the-top the point of total distraction.  

That being said, I didn't like much about Great Comet.  It was an Artistic dream, but I thought the score was just meh and the storyline was unnecessarily convoluted.  

Personally I liked it a TON less than CFA (my fave) and DEH (a close second) - and I didn't even like it as much as I liked Amelie.  It was a distant fourth for me.

Then again, I hated Sunset Boulevard more than anything I have seen on Broadway...so...

Jennifer Ehle

Allison Janney

Laura Linney/Cynthia Nixon

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Laura Linney/Cynthia Nixon"

I've also been meaning to clarify this. It's been confirmed that on opening night of The Little Foxes, Linney will play Regina and and Nixon will play Birdie. Are Regina and Birdie both lead roles, or is one leading and the other featured? Sorry to say I'm not familiar with the show at all!

Butter Broadway said: "Christian Borle has gotten good reviews so far in Chocolate Factory. I think he would be a real contender for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

 

"HA HA...not happening.

Best Actor in a Musical

• Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen)
• David Hyde Pierce (Hello, Dolly!)
• Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon)
• Josh Groban (The Great Comet)
• Andy Karl (Groundhog Day)

Butter Broadway said: "Why not? He's not good? I can't imagine Groban is giving a better performance than him.

 

"Imagine yes Butter

 

Because Borle is a really good actor.

BroadwayConcierge said: "Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Laura Linney/Cynthia Nixon"

I've also been meaning to clarify this. It's been confirmed that on opening night of The Little Foxes, Linney will play Regina and and Nixon will play Birdie. Are Regina and Birdie both lead roles, or is one leading and the other featured? Sorry to say I'm not familiar with the show at all!"

I'm not familiar with the play either, but from what I'm aware of, Regina is the lead while Birdie is supporting.

Butter Broadway said: "Why not? He's not good? I can't imagine Groban is giving a better performance than him."

I'm far from being Comet's greatest fan, but Groban is giving an extraordinary performance acting-wise as well as vocally. I had no idea he had it in him. 

Totally agree re: Groban.

By the way, I know I've mentioned this in another thread, but advocating for Denee's performance-- having seen Comet once right after previews and then again very recently, it was astonishing to me how well Denee has grown into the part, acting-wise and vocally. As it stands right now, it is a very competitive performance. I think if Tony nominators/voters return to the show, she will definitely get a nomination.

See this video from the recording to hear what I'm talking about! https://youtu.be/OL6GLr3k_Vo

And this interview- go to the end, and you'll see footage of her "Don't call him bad" moment, which was just as heartbreaking as when I last saw it. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-Exclusive-Follow-THE-GREAT-COMET-Into-the-Recording-Studio-with-Denee-Benton-20170330

Also, it had occurred to me... The OOBC recording we're all so used to with Pippa had been recorded 1-2 years after the show's initial run at Ars (I believe?). So what we keep hearing is a version of someone who had been doing this challenging role for quite some time, and had time to grow into it vocally and emotionally.  Seeing Denee at the beginning of her run and comparing her to that Pippa performance was kind of unfair, IMO. Just my two cents!