It may just be my opinion, but I totally though Felicia Fields deserved it much more than Beth Leavel. Both gave great performances, but Sofia was realistic and made me feel for her, whereas Chaperone is an over the top alcoholic.
Fields's Sofia was everything but realistic. Her performance was overrated, to say the least. I would have given the award to Elisabeth Withers-Mendes in heartbeat. She was 'the' standout in that show. But Beth Leavel does give a fantastic performance as the Chaperone in DROWSY.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
You pretty much just confirmed that Beth Leavel deserved her Tony. That's all that the Chaperone is, and Leavel played it perfectly. You're not supposed to feel for the Chaperone at all. She's a shallow character in a shallow show. Leavel played the role the way it was meant to be played brilliantly and THAT is why she has a Tony Award.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
1. Felicia Fields for the Color Purple. HELL YES! Also, she was robbed of a much deserved supporting Drama Desk. 2. John Tags- Avenue Q 3. Stephanie D'Abruzzo- Q
PS I thought all of the JB deserved nominations but don't kill me, my favorite performance was by Daniel. He should have at least been nominated and he should have won! Daniel's performance was perfection! Updated On: 3/12/07 at 12:29 AM
Bernadette in Gypsy and Sunday Sunday for Best Musical Sunday for Best Score. Kelli O'Hara over Sara Ramirez (Although I still loved Sara, Kelli's role was more difficult and she deserved it more) Patti Lupone for Sweeney Piazza as Best Musical Anyone besides Idina (Donna Murphy or Kristin deserved it, But it was Tonya's Tony) West Side Story over the Music Man Carolee for Parade Antonio Banderas for Nine or BSM for Man of La Mancha over Harvey Tammy Blanchard or Mary Stuart Masterson over Jane Krakowski
I definitely think Joanna Gleason deserved her Tony over Patti. While I have never seen Patti in Anything Goes (Although I ADORE her Tony performance) Joanna Gleason was spot on perfect in Moments in the Woods and her performance was legendary
You guys do realize, Bernadette doesn't deserve repeated Tony Awards just for stepping onto a stage and breathing.
You don't win a Tony just for being Bernadette.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
And we must also realize that the Tony's actually reward comedic performances (i.e. Beth Leavel) unlike the Oscars. Remember: Dying is easy, Comedy is hard.
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
as much as i love tonya pinkins...and i do...but that tony performance was very hard to watch.
in fact the only person that year on the tonys who was up for best actress who performed well was donna murphy.
pinkins was good in caroline or change, but i think there was too much rigamaroll regarding the connection between her personal life and the role she was playing. i would have preferred not to have known about it becuase sometimes it seemed like she was wallowing in emotion...
skingdom, d'Abruzzo's Tony performance, while less showy than others, was performed beautifully.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Then make an argument right here and now as to why she deserved it over the other four nominees that season, leaving out the fact that
a) She is Bernadette
and
b) The role itself, as compared to the other roles in her category, is just so much more Tony worthy;
Because the woman who created Rose in the first place, Ethel Merman, lost the award to the actress who created Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, while today in 2007 - Rose is much more considered the ultimate musical theatre woman's role, as Maria is tossed off as fluff, so that argument holds no water either.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Avenue Q pulled out an amazing campaign for that Tony. They had luncheons where they courted the touring bookers, and they had that very savy "vote your heart" slogan. I recall there were a lot of pissed off tour bookers who felt totally betrayed when Ave.Q announced that they were going to Vegas instead of touring after they won. Marx and Lopez, although perhaps not their decision, will probably pay for that next time around. Politics!