Who do you think will win Best Actor and Best Featured Actor in a Musical?- Page 3

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 7:29pm

IMHO it is WAY more challenging and thereby more satisfying to play. In Shrek he's just doing Mike Myers on a 2 dimensional character.

MTVMann, I wonder about that as well.


Really CPD? He can't do what he does without them, he is part of a whole. ANY nod is a bit for everyone involved.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 7:35pm

Don't tell Ms. LuPone that.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 7:49pm

I think it will be The Billy Boys and Sieber

My preference would be D'Arcy James or Spencer for Lead actor and Sieber or Swenson for featured

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 7:59pm

The Billy boys will and should win Best Actor. I saw all three and loved them all.

I guess I'm the only one in this thread so far who wants Greg Jbara to win Best Featured Actor...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:02pm

The Billy boys will and should win Best Actor. I saw all three and loved them all.

But the voters aren't going to see them all. They may not even see any of them.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:08pm

Then they should make me a Tony voter...

I do think it is strange that the voters did not see all three boys and will technically be voting for the one that they saw, but they did this in London and Australia without any issues (and the boys won both times)...why are we making such a big deal out of it here?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:10pm

Because the voters are being asked to give a Tony Award to two or three people whose performances they never saw. That's a pretty big deal.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:12pm

Why wasn't it a big deal with the Olivier Awards? Or the theater awards given out in Australia? Are the Tony Awards the most prestigious in comparison to the other two?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:14pm

I'm not familiar with those awards. Only the Tonys. For all I know, the voters of those awards were invited to watch every nominee's performance.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:20pm

I do agree with you, Foster, that it is very strange and unorthodox for the Tony voters to vote for two performances that they have not seen. A special award for all three boys probably would have been more appropriate.

I guess I am not as vocal about bashing the ruling about the three of them being nominated together since I have seen all three of their performances and since it has been done twice before in other countries.

Just my opinion...

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 8:23pm

I absolutely think that Gavin was amazing in Hair. If it wasn't for the fact that I was just blown away by all three Billys. I do like the idea of having a special tony for them.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 10:38pm

"I can't see how they can give it to the Billys.
I didn't see Shrek.
Constantine has it over Gavin- IMO "

OMG LIKE YEAH!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 10:48pm

I guess I am not as vocal about bashing the ruling about the three of them being nominated together since I have seen all three of their performances and since it has been done twice before in other countries.
You're not a Tony voter and just because it's been done in other countries doesn't make it right.


Then they should make me a Tony voter...
God help us all.

Updated On: 5/10/09 at 10:48 PM

[AbbyNormal13]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 10:56pm

I'm thinking the Billys and Chris Sieber, but it would be great if Brian won

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:00pm

I thought the "boys" got a special achievment award at the Oliviers', not a best actor? Checking....


Nope they won. Oy.

Updated On: 5/10/09 at 11:00 PM

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:13pm

ok lets try some hypothetical..

say the Billy boys got a special acheivement award. who do you guys think would/should win best leading actor in a musical.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:15pm

Gavin. Hands down.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:37pm

The "Billys" will be voted on which actor they see and how much they are moved by him and the show. or if they think it will somehow make them money.
I feel assured they will win, and as much as people think this is another weak musical year all the Lead Actor Musical Noms have their merits.
Brian D'Arcy James is wonderful in SHREK, he acts and sings and makes that Character, comic and touching under all that green funk.
Gavin Creel is giving a free, loving, amazingly sung pitch perfect hippie performance.
J Robert Spencer tackles a difficult disturbing role and shows his place as a wonderful addition to Broadway's Sterling Actors/Singers.
Conatantine has obvious talent and raw energy in the Rock/Idol/Mode, which this role called for.

In another year I would opt for James with Creel so close, but the Billys are unbeatible this season.
I still wouldn't mind a James upset.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:51pm

I didn't see HAIR so I cant comment as to who really deserves this, but i thought Sieber was fantastic in the role. He wasnt just some stupid cartoon character- he really came to life on stage, sounded great, brought the house down, etc.

I also think HAIR is a shoo-in for Revival, and Shrek isnt a shoo-in for anything else, so I am sure some Tony voter will throw Sieber the award as a nod to Shrek.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 1:28am

WithoutATrace, I wouldn't mind seeing Greg Jbara win! He gives a great performance in the show and of the five nominated, I would think he's the seasoned veteran who never got his chance to shine. It would be nice to see him win. I was really moved by Greg's performance. I honestly didn't care for Will Swenson when I saw Hair in the Park, but I thought he was terrific when I saw it at the Hirschfeld. Sieber was funny, but I thought his costume was funnier. So my vote would be between Jbara and Swenson, but Jbara has it for me.

I will admit that I have not seen all three Billys, but I saw Trent and was blown away, and not nearly just because of his dancing. He's a terrific young actor. Sure, Gavin and Brian are wonderful in their roles, but Trent really did carry that show. He was just so simple, raw, real. Now if I were a Tony voter, I would choose to vote for the Billys even if I hadn't seen the other two boys (yet). If that's unfair, take it up with the Tony committee because that was their decision to do place the three actors like that.

I think the Tonys will go to the Billys and Jbara, and I do think Haydn Gwynne will take Featured Actress, meaning Billy will sweep the acting awards, minus Leading Actress clearly. Similar to The Producers...

~Steven

~Steven

[srg129]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 4:09am

In the actor category hopefully it will go to either Gavin Creel, Brian D'Arcy James or J. Robert Spencer and in the support category hopefully to Will Swenson.

It would be a huge shame to see the actor award go to the 3 actors for Billy Elliot. They are good dancers for their age but rather mediocre in the acting and especially singing department. Clearly they needed boys who can dance the role as the top priority over acting and singing since Billy Elliot is only a dance oriented show. How else can you explain the horrific score? And that's to be perfectly expected since it is their first role. It would be a win for the role only since they can only do an exceptional job in the dancing that is required for the role. They should have been given an honorary award only for sharing the role.

And even with dancing you can see the obvious flaws especially in the scene where the mature Billy enters the scene to dance with the young Billy and it becomes something straight out of Peter Pan. The older dancer took the focus in that scene just because of the obvious and glaring difference in experience and it would have much more effective to leave it as a dance solo for Billy. Unfortunately the creative team decided to pander to the audience and tourists for the "wow look at us, we can fly" mentality.

It's a shame that they are even nominated for the actor category since they only do 2 or 3 performances in a week and other child actors have had equally demanding roles and did 8 performances a week (considering when Daisy Egan as a support gave a performance that was 100 times superior to any of the Billys in the acting and singing criteria). They are exceptional dancers for their age and should be given an honorary award for their dance work only.

If Brian D'Arcy James would have been in the Broadway cast of Next to Normal he would be a lock for the leading actor award. No questions about that whatsoever.

And if bellowing, shouting, overacting, and playing the stereotypical "hard edge blue collar worker dad with a closed mind" is in fashion then I guess Jbara would take it in a Billy Smelliot sweep. Although that would be a rather empty and embarassing award to accept under those circumstances.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 4:14am

I have only seen one Billy and was so much more captivated by his performance than any of the other actors I saw in the category.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 9:06am

I was captivated by his DANCING...not his entire performance.

To each his own.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 9:21am

I think the Billys SO deserve this award. I have seen all three and think they are giving hands down the best male performance(s).

I also have to show a little love for Greg Jbara. His extremely layered and subtle performance may be overlooked by some as not showy enough, but I found it to be incredibly moving. I suppose if Greg doesn't win I would go with Will Swenson, as he was the heart of Hair for me, but still not giving quite the performance Greg is.

People are laughing more at Sieber's costume than his performance. I hope the voters are able to see through that.

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 9:24am

I strongly recommend to anyone who only saw Billy Elliot early in the run to GO BACK and see it again. The boys have really developed into fine actors. The first time I saw the show, in previews, Kiril K. played Billy and I'd honestly agree with everything said here about the acting and singing, as well as the dancing. The last time I saw him, in mid February, he brought me to tears with his acting and the singing was wonderful. I saw Trent in March and David in April and they all had improved tremendously in the acting department. So please - before being quite so critical, try seeing them again.

And while I'm here - BRAVO to all the performers and creators who won awards last night. A special congratulations to all involved in my (0bvious) favorite - Billy Elliot. I couldn't be happier about the wins!