There's nothing wrong with a comedic performance winning, but the idea of Kerry Butler beating LuPone (or Russell, or O'Hara, for that matter) is deeply disturbing. I enjoyed Xanadu for what it was, but Butler's performance was not even in the same league as LuPone's, or Russell's.
I still think Patti will win, but if she doesn't, it will go to Jenna Russell, unless Faith Prince is doing something revolutionary in Catered Affair.
JakeB:
Thats probably because Martine McCutcheon was never onstage! She must surley have one of the worst track records for absences. Kerry Ellis was probably the hardest worked understudy Pryce had ever seen.
winston:
You are incorrect. When accepting his Tony Award 2 years ago for THE HISTORY BOYS, he said something about "I should have gotten it for the other one" - being TARZAN.
I LOVED Jenna Russell and know Faith Prince will give an amazing performance in ACA, but I honestly can't see anyone winning this year but Patti. I think she fully deserves it based on just her performance, but I think her just being Patti LuPone will give her the boost over her [extremely talented] competition. she's widely considered one of the best musical theater actresses in the business and she won her only Tony almost 30 years ago?
but I know I will react poorly if she loses.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/05
Oh, man... if Patti doesn't win...
It will totally be like the last ten minutes of "Sleeping Beauty". She will explode in a rage of purple and fire and transform into a dragon and devour the Tony committee.
Having seen SUNDAY, I wouldn't give the Tony to Russell. Like I've said elsewhere, Peters on the OBCR gives more of a performance in two dimensions than Russell does onstage in three.
And BDRisch, your scenario would be the only thing that would make a LuPone loss tolerable!
So far the only real competition to Patti's performance that I see is Faith Prince, who is supposed to be giving the performance of her career in A CATERED AFFAIR. Russell doesn't deserve the Tony, especially over LuPone. I can't imagine someone like O'Hara winning either. Butler will be lucky to be nominated, XANADU is not the kind of show made to win awards, but to entertain the audience.
"Oh, man... if Patti doesn't win...
It will totally be like the last ten minutes of "Sleeping Beauty". She will explode in a rage of purple and fire and transform into a dragon and devour the Tony committee."
This is exactly what I forsee taking place.
As for Russell, I saw her and enjoyed her, but I don't think she should win over Patti. However, others (including the Times) have been raving about her, so it is not outside the realm of possibility that she wins.
I guess we'll just have to wait for Faith Prince to see how it will shape up. However, Prince's show is wrapping up by the time Patti's is just getting to the intermission. I can see that being a factor, too.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/07
I want Patti to win so bad, but if she doesn't, she best pull a Faith Hill or a Kathy Griffin so it won't soon be forgotten!
I will die if Patti or Jenna don't win. I honestly think it will go to Patti and that's who it should.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/12/05
If I recall correctly Rebecca Luker's face didn't look too pleased after losing to Daisy Eagan.
Concerning Patti's Tony chances: it surprises me that no one is taking into account that some voters might not vote for Patti simply because two Rose's have won in the past.
It's a stupid, shallow reason not to vote for someone, but it could happen.
Then again, they could pull a "every actor who played Pseudolus in FORUM has won" (that's four people) and give it to Patti. Who knows?
If I recall correctly Rebecca Luker's face didn't look too pleased after losing to Daisy Eagan.
I don't think Rebecca was nominated that year, or not in the same category as Daisy.
Keep in mind when talking about Martine McCutcheon. She gave the minimum number of performances in order to be considered for the award. That is one of the major reasons as to why pryce was not happy at all.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
Patti has to be nominated first. If she is, but doesn't win, will her fans riot?
What show did McCutcheon win for?
And Rebecca Luker wasn't nominated for a Tony for THE SECRET GARDEN.
Then again, they could pull a "every actor who played Pseudolus in FORUM has won" (that's four people) and give it to Patti
That's three, actually, there hasn't been four productions of FORUM on Broadway. All three actors have won though.
McCutcheon won for My Fair Lady. and apparently had a terrible attendance record, so Jonathan Pryce was less than pleased to see her win.
[I believe I read somewhere that the clip of Pryce's reaction has been shown to actors so they know how NOT to react to unfavorable award wins]
Patti turning into a dragon a la Maleficent WOULD be the only good thing to come of her loss.
Then again, they could pull a "every actor who played Pseudolus in FORUM has won" (that's four people) and give it to Patti
That's three, actually, there hasn't been four productions of FORUM on Broadway. All three actors have won though.
Actually, it was four:
1. Zero Mostel - Original Production
2. Phil Silvers - 1972 Revival
3. Jason Alexander - Jerome Robbin's Broadway
4. Nathan Lane - 1996 Revival
Well, Pryce was in his right to react as he pleased, it's not like he was a co-star nominated in the same category or another nominee that lost to her.
And Jason Alexander shouldn't count, he played like twenty other roles in JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY :-P
Like many posters on this thread, I used to think Patti had it in the bag... but now I think Kelli O'Hara has a real shot... Come Tony night, I might bet on O'Hara.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
If I recall correctly Rebecca Luker's face didn't look too pleased after losing to Daisy Eagan.
No, that was a pissed off Alison Fraser.
Faith Prince will win this year.
Please please please can we hear about some reactions that actually have video clips to go along with them? Or even links to interviews, like the Schwartz one mentioned at the beginning? These secondhand stories are just teasing us if we can't actually find a few of these reactions anywhere.
Alison Fraser didn't look too pissed off to me. Actually, Daisy Eagan specifically thanked her and she looked quite pleased.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=iM-DUBtDBDY
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
I didn't think she looked mad but I am pretty sure that is who the original poster was talking about.
I also remember afterwards her talking about how she really wanted to win it.
Omigod, that Daisy Eagan clip will make me cry every time I see it. Wow.
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