Who Deserves the Next Lifetime Achievement Tony Award?

John Kander or John Guare. Or Tom Jones— the FANTASTICKS/110 IN THE SHADE one. Not the silver throated pop singer.

The only person on that list I’d give it to is Julie Andrews.

Updated On: 3/18/23 at 08:19 PM

jv92 said: "John Kander or John Guare. Or Tom Jones— the FANTASTICKS/110 IN THE SHADE one. Not the silver throated pop singer."

I actually do have a second poll focused on behind the scenes talent coming. Kander is definitely an option on it.

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "In my latest piece for Gold Derby, I’ve provided a poll asking people which veteran Broadway performer deserves the next Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. Among the options are…


Julie Andrews
Betty Buckley
John Cullum
Sandy Duncan
Joel Grey
George Hearn
Estelle Parsons
Leslie Uggams
Ben Vereen

https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/tonys-lifetime-achievement-award-poll/

Who do you think deserves this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award? If you have ideas of your own, feel free to mention them in your replies to this thread."

Some of those names are preposterous: why does Alan Alda deserve an award…I may be forgetting, but I can’t think of anything besides The Apple Tree (which was Barbara’s Harris’ show, and Jake’s Women, a mediocre Neil Simon comedy.

Same argument for most of them. As much as I love Julie Andrews, a Lifetime Achiwvemwnt award for 4 shows?

Ben Vereen— what does he really have besides Pippin? Grind was a disaster. Even Joel Grey…besides Cabaret and possible George M, how many shows of merit has be been in that was not a smallish supporting role.

To me most of these people really have limited credentials of note. I would expect a Lifetime Achievement reflect a certain volume of appearances of note.

Of the names you provided, maybe John Cullum. I do not think LuPone or Peters have this and if Kander (and Ebb) have not received on, that seems appropriate. Nathan Lane is more deserving that anyone on your list. Does ALW have one? Based on Phanton, Evita, JC Superstar, Joseph, Sunset Blvd, Cats (which ai hated, but it did run 15 years), he would also seem like a no-brainer serious candidate.

I know people love Buckley, but how many shows has she opened? Lifetime achievement for replacing others?

Sorry, but other than possibly Cullum, I think the list is ridiculous?

Updated On: 3/18/23 at 10:43 PM

Same argument for most of them. As much as I love Julie Andrews, a Lifetime Achiwvemwnt award for 4 shows?

One was a cultural phenomenon— one of the most artistically and commercially successful musicals of all time. Another is an acknowledged classic, however flawed some find it. Her screen performances also introduced many to the magic of telling stories through songs. So, yes. She has never won. Mea culpa Judy Holliday and Elizabeth Seal, but she should have won twice. The Victor/Victoria brouhaha was nonsense (and smart for business), and she would have won then, too, but I think all parties have moved on and made up.


So for four shows? Yes. And she isn’t getting any younger.

Does ALW have one? Based on Phanton, Evita, JC Superstar, Joseph, Sunset Blvd, he would also seem like a no-brained.

He has one. 2018.

Updated On: 3/18/23 at 10:52 PM

I actually think Menken does deserve one. For the same reasons as Julie Andrews. So many people of my generation and the one right before tell me that they either, don't like musicals except for the Disney output, or were primed for their love of theatre by the Disney output. Ashman gets tons of credit for it but Menken is just as essential to that. Those are some of the most iconic theatre scores of all-time even if they were for films.

As for the rest of the list I think judging it by "how many roles they've opened" is ridiculous. Especially for Black performers who just aren't given the same opportunities. Of course Leslie Uggams hasn't had the stage career of a Patti LuPone but she's had the best a Black woman could have who debuted when she did.

"I know people love Buckley, but how many shows has she opened? Lifetime achievement for replacing others?"

At least four which were "1776", "Cats", "Triumph of Love" and "Carrie". She received two Tony award nominations (Cats & Triumph of Love) for best actress and won the award for "Cats". While she did not originate the role of "Norma Desmond" in "Sunset Blvd", it was a pretty big deal at the time that she was replacement in the show.

Updated On: 3/19/23 at 10:39 AM

I would be delighted to see Estelle Parsons receive a Lifetime Achievement Tony. She is 95 and has had a long and productive theatre career. She has been in numerous stage productions (Broadway; Off-Broadway; Regional) and has also directed shows. She has received 5 Tony nominations and was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. I think she definitely qualifies for the award.

Updated On: 5/4/23 at 11:20 AM

The sublime Betty Buckley.

I’ve now got a second poll up asking people which veteran Broadway creative deserves the next Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. Among the options are…

Lynn Ahrens
John Kander
James Lapine
Cameron Mackintosh
Marsha Norman
Jack O’Brien
Ann Roth
Julie Taymor
Paula Vogel
Jerry Zaks

https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/tony-awards-lifetime-achievement-poll/

Adding to the performer list, I feel like John Lithgow has at least warranted consideration for it. 25 Broadway credits spanning almost 50 years, multiple Tony wins and he keeps coming back whenever he takes a break for TV or film. That's all not even factoring in his early start in regional theatres like Great Lakes Shakespeare. So I'd definitely put him on the list.

For the creatives, I'd agree with all of your list except Julie Taymor. Just doing Lion King is not enough to warrant a lifetime achieved award, especially when she's also responsible for things such as Spider Man.

Updated On: 3/21/23 at 03:32 PM

Impeach2017 said: "Sandy Duncan?"



YES !! SANDY DUNCAN !!