When are Tony Nominations Annouced?

[ps27b]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 2:13pm

And what musicals do you think will be nominated?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 2:20pm

The nominations will be out sometime in early May.

My guess is that Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Light In The Piazza will get three of the four slots for Best Musical. If Spelling Bee moves it'll likely get the fourth slot. If not, then the last slot will probably go to either Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Little Women (with All Shook Up a possible long-shot, if it gets surprisingly good reviews).

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 02:20 PM

[Tom1071]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 2:27pm

Have they ever had more than four slots for best musical? Would five slots be so bad?

[Joshua488]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 2:37pm

Does these upcoming Tony Awards seem a little disappointing? Last year, there was all of the hype with the WICKED vs. AVENUE Q debacle, but this year, I have yet to hear anything really outstanding about any musicals. Is it just me being silly?

[magruder]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:08pm

How have you missed the Spamalot buzz? And there's a lot of excitement over Piazza in the egghead quarters as well. If Putnam County Spelling Bee moves to Broadway before this year's cut-off, it could be a very interesting Best Musical race this year.

The best play category is not overwhelmed in quantity, but there are excellent candidates with Democracy, Gem of the Ocean, Doubt, The Pillowman and Brooklyn Boy.

Revival of a Play is simply swarming with potential nominees, including Twelve Angry Men, Streetcar Named Desire, Glengarry Glen Ross, Glass Menagerie, Virginia Woolf, among many others.

Best Actress in a Play is going to be a helluva category this year: Natasha Richardson, Jessica Lange, Kathleen Turner, Cherry Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Laura Linney, Mary-Louise Parker

I have to say, I'm more intrigued by the races in this year's Tony Awards than in many past years.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:33pm

At the moment, quite a few people thing the musical side of this years Tonys is going to be another The Producers vs. The Full Monty year with Spamalot sweeping out over Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

*Grunt*

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:34pm

They are usually announced on the first Monday in May.

Posted: 2/8/05 at 3:44pm

Joshua I think the Spamalot vs Scoundrels battle will make last year look like a pillow fight. And if Bee transfers? Whoo boy are we going to have fun!

On top of just the sheer quality of all three shows, last year Avenue Q re-wrote the rule book on exactly how one goes about winning a Tony award. I predict we're going to see some hard core campaigning-- lots of TV time, full-page ads, flyers, personal appearances, bribes....

Vote your heart, theatre wing, vote your heart!

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:17pm

leading actor/supporting actor in a musical should be interesting too. In Spamalot the three- Curry, Azaria and Pierce- all seem billed equally. They may want to push Tim Curry as leading and move the other two to supporting?

And the Lincoln Center website has the cast of Piazza listed alphabetically, not really distinguishing the "stars" which I think is interesting since the rule of thumb used to be above the title billing meant leads. I dont know if thats normal for Lincoln Center? Broadway.com on the other hand lists it as Starring Victoria Clark and Kelli O'Hara, and then *also starring* Matt Morrison, Patti Cohenour, Michael Berresse, etc.

[LouW95]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:28pm

No matter what the outcome of the Tony Awards, I am certain that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be the long term champion ticket seller and remain on Bway long after Spamalot and DRS have gone. Remember Passion vs Beauty and The Beast? The sinking ratings for the Tony Awards telecast is a clear message that fewer people are really into the kind of entertainment being rewarded and awarded by the Tony judges. Look at the numbers folks! That also translates into lost jobs. Chitty might be just what the telecast and Bway needs-- a traditional, multi-generation musical unlike Assassains, Ave. Q or most of the other recent offerings. We need to expand the base of our ticket buyers. This can easily be done by including one or two traditional, family musicals and Chitty is a great way to start. Updated On: 2/8/05 at 04:28 PM

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:32pm

I think this year is the most exciting year in recent history!!!... I mean, there are more possibilities for Best New Musical than I can remember there EVER being...
Spamalot
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dracula
Brooklyn
Good Vibrations
All Shook Up
Light in the Piazza
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (maybe... hopefully... probably)
Little Women
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Lennon

THATS A FREAKING LOT!

Yes, I know, some of them have no chance. But isn't that great there are this many attempts, this many possibilities? YES!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:33pm

Yeah, I guess SPAMALOT has been getting a lot of buzz lately.

But, for some reason, I'm just not as interested in the Best Musical categories this year. I'm more excited about the Best Play and Best Play Revival categories... Now THOSE have got my attention!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:34pm

The most competitive category of all will be Best Actor in a Play. Some of those eligible:

Phillip Bosco, 12 Angry Men
Boyd Gaines, 12 Angry Men
Richard Thomas, Democracy
Adam Arkin, Brooklyn Boy
James Earl Jones, On Golden Pond
Denzel Washington, Julius Caesar
Bill Irwin, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
John C. Reilly, Streetcar
Billy Crudup, Pillowman
Jeff Goldblum, Pillowman
Peter Krause, After the Fall
Matt Lescher, The Rivals
Ben Schenkman, Sight Unseen
Dallas Roberts, The Glass Menagerie (though he may be Featured)
The male lead of Passion Play

And if Hurlyburly transfers, Ethan Hawke will also be eligible

With only five slots, at least 10 of those names will be left out.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 04:34 PM

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:34pm

I think supporting actress in a musical is gonna be interesting: Maureen McGovern, Sara Ramniez (spell?) Sherie Renee Scott (if she's supporting)

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:35pm

Do you think "Passion Play" will make the deadline?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:40pm

Roundabout is opening Passion Play on May 4th, the day of the Tony cutoff, at its American Airlines Theatre. Previews begin April 15th. No casting announced yet, but it definitely WILL make the deadline.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 4:48pm

Good to know. It's one of my favorite plays.