Featured Actor Joined: 9/26/15
I think we can all agree that Cynthia deserved the Tony last year (I do, having seen all the nominees for Best Leading Actress), but beyond her, it was a pretty tight season. So who would have won if she wasn't in the race?
The nominees would have definitely been:
Phillipa Soo - Hamilton
Jessie Mueller - Waitress
Carmen Cusack - Bright Star
Laura Benanti - She Loves Me
(and replacing Cynthia) Audra McDonald - Shuffle Along
I think Jessie or Phillipa would have won, but what do you guys think?
I think it would've been either Phillipa Soo or Laura Benanti.
Carmen, no doubt
Leading Actor Joined: 12/17/15
we've run out of things to talk about.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/08
It would have either been Carmen or Jessie for sure.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
Jessie. she and Cynthia were the only 2 nominees I felt who really connected with the material and gave honest, heartfelt performances.
Updated On: 2/4/17 at 10:35 AMBroadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
I think they would have given it to Phillipa to be honest.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/22/14
Any of the other nominees except Jessie or Audra, who just won in the last 5 years. Tony like other award shows like to share the wealth, unless Jessie or Audra just blew them away. I don't think they did that. I saw Waitress, Jessie was good but not blow me away great. Also I'm sure in the minority who thought this show was not all that great either! lol I didn't feel compelled to watch Shuffle Along in the 2 trips to NYC that I could have watched the show.
Carmen, without question.
broadwayguy91 said: "Jessie. she and Cynthia were the only 2 nominees I felt who really connected with the material and gave honest, heartfelt performances.
"
Carmen Cusack didn't???????
I think they DID mean Carmen (she).
I'd have voted for Carmen. With little hesitation.
dramamama611 said: "I think they DID mean Carmen (she).
I'd have voted for Carmen. With little hesitation.
"
They said "Jessie. she and Cynthia..." so I took it as they meant Jessie Mueller.
I think we can all agree that Cynthia deserved the Tony last year
The nominees would have definitely been
"All agree"? "Definitely"? Have you ever read these boards?
GreasedLightning said: "dramamama611 said: "I think they DID mean Carmen (she).
I'd have voted for Carmen. With little hesitation.
"
They said "Jessie. she and Cynthia..." so I took it as they meant Jessie Mueller.
"
Ahhhh....I originally read the period after Jessie as a comma.
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/15
I think Jessie or Carmen would have won and I think it's possible that Anna Villafane would have gotten the last nod instead of Audra
Cusack or Benanti. SHE LOVES ME was one of the only shows able to break-through the HAMILTON Tony sweep. I think it would've been a tough fight between those two.
I think Benanti would have- She Loves Me was acclaimed and the role fit her like an absolute glove.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/2/14
Carmen or Jessie for sure. Both AMAZING performances. I probably lean toward Carmen a little more though.
Of the other nominees that could've won with Erivo out of the way, Laura Benanti did deliver very well in She Loves Me, but I'm not sure if her role had the gravitas of what the other nominees had. Jessie Mueller already won the award two years earlier for Beautiful, so I doubt Tony voters would've wanted to give her another one so soon for Waitress (especially since the Tonys aren’t the Emmys). Plus, as great as the buzz was for that performance, I’m not sure if it really was as strong as it was for her performance as Carole King. Phillipa Soo probably could've gotten on the Hamilton ticket. Though the one person I could've seen winning was Carmen Cusack. After having performed in London’s West End for over a decade, she came back to the United States in 2006 to star in the national touring productions of Wicked and South Pacific. But it wasn’t until last season when she made her long-awaited Broadway debut. It also probably would've been the best place to have awarded Bright Star.
Whoever campaigned the most.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
Cupid Boy2 said: "Whoever campaigned the most.
"
HAHAHAH!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/15
Carmen! Bright Star did not get any love or attention it seems, but I thought it was just brilliant. The other nominees were good not great, IMO. I think everyone knew Cynthia had it, and if you had witnessed her live, you definitely knew without a doubt.
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