Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?
Stand-by Joined: 10/3/22
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#1
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:44am
Caissie seems to be frontrunner. Could there be a surprise win from Marla? or, anyone else in the category?
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#2
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:49am
I think it's Levy's to take with a very slim chance of a Marla upset. Everybody else has the nomination as their reward.
Broadway Star Joined: 10/13/06
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#4
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:56am
As certain as it can be with these things that this is Caissie's. I just hope she honors the late, great Marin Mazzie in her acceptance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#5
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:57am
I honestly think the only thing that could kill Caissie’s chance of winning is the murmurs that Next to Normal is planning to transfer and the thought that Diana is a showier role and she’d likely win next year.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/13
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#6
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:58am
While I personally do not think it's a performance that really works, I don't know how it's not Levy.
Stand-by Joined: 10/3/22
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#7
Posted: 5/14/26 at 11:58am
BroadwayGirl107 said: "I honestly think the only thing that could kill Caissie’s chance of winning is the murmurs that Next to Normal is planning to transfer and the thought that Diana is a showier role and she’d likely win next year.
"
Maybe? But, also voters know Rachel is coming in with Evita...
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#8
Posted: 5/14/26 at 12:07pm
BroadwayGirl107 said: "I honestly think the only thing that could kill Caissie’s chance of winning is the murmurs that Next to Normal is planning to transfer and the thought that Diana is a showier role and she’d likely win next year.
"
They're keeping this super tight to their chest if it's actually happening. All the people who tend to know about things have heard nothing about this coming back (in my experience). Without an actual announcement or any solid intel, I doubt any voters will be thinking about this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#9
Posted: 5/14/26 at 12:08pm
Ah, yeah, I forgot about Evita.
As much as I would have loved to see an absolutely silly comedic performance like Marla Mindelle’s win, it’s gotta be Caissie.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#11
Posted: 5/14/26 at 12:16pm
BroadwayGirl107 said: "I honestly think the only thing that could kill Caissie’s chance of winning is the murmurs that Next to Normal is planning to transfer and the thought that Diana is a showier role and she’d likely win next year.
"
I highly doubt anyone is going to not vote for Caissie on that basis, if they truly thought she gave the best performance this year. The fact that Rachel is coming in with Evita makes me actually think the opposite - that voters are more likely to give it to Caissie now so that they don't have to make a tough choice between her and Rachel next year.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#12
Posted: 5/14/26 at 12:53pm
I personally would prefer Christiana Pitts or Marla Mindelle. I did not care for Cassie Levy's performance. As a Ragtime fan, I felt Cassie played Mother too "new age" from the beginning, and it made it hard for me to believe she actually changed her views after Our Children and Back to Before. In my opinion, Mother is meant to be played obedient at the beginning, and she comes to the realization through the show but specifically Our Children and Back to before that she can lead a life of her own and not simply be known as Father's wife/Mother. I felt Cassie was slightly defiant from the very beginning, making it hard for me to see a real change Mother's character. Though I must admit... she sang the songs beautifully.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#13
Posted: 5/14/26 at 1:08pm
I really loved Caissie when I saw her and I'll be thrilled if/when she does win, but I can't help but root for Christiani. She's been an underdog this entire season and I love what she brings to the character of Robin. The video of her reacting to her nomination and the subsequent video of her school director reacting to her nomination have absolutely hit me in the feels.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#14
Posted: 5/14/26 at 1:16pm
I think this is Levy’s to lose and it’s not even close.
I personally think her performance is great, very ground, such a beautiful presence and her barefoot ‘’Back to Before’’ brought me to tears.
I would rank:
1. Caissie Levy, Ragtime
2. Marla Mindelle, Titanique
3. Stephanie Hsu, The Rocky Horror Show
4. Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!
5. Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers
Overall, I liked this category very Much, not a dull performance to me at all.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#15
Posted: 5/14/26 at 1:18pm
I agree it will (unfortunately) be the thoroughly mediocre Levy. None of the others or their shows seem well-regarded enough to pull ahead, though there are several, if not all, I would choose before her. But she's in the best received show, and will be carried along in its acclaim.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#16
Posted: 5/14/26 at 1:27pm
It will be Levy and I think a well deserved win.
Mindelle is probably the only person who has a chance to pull off an upset. Especially since it looks less and less likely that Titanique will be able to win Book, so some voters who are fans may reward her here. But I still think Ragtime is just so popular and Levy is singing the hell out of the score. It feels like an easy call for Mother.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#18
Posted: 5/14/26 at 2:02pm
MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "Itwill be Levy and I think a well deserved win.
Mindelle is probably the only person who has a chance to pull off an upset. Especially since it looks less and less likely that Titanique will be able to win Book, so some voters who are fans may reward her here. But I still think Ragtime is just so popular and Levy is singing the hell out of the score. It feels like an easy call for Mother."
Levy is also a veteran of stage.
She has opened productions of Hair, Les Mis, Frozen, Caroline or Change, Leopoldstadt, Ghost and was in Wicked and Hairspray. It's also a carreer win even if it's only a slight part of this win.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#19
Posted: 5/14/26 at 2:09pm
With the caveat that I haven’t seen Stephanie Hsu in Rocky Horror yet, I think Marla Mindelle is the only one in the category giving a real star turn. I’d personally give it to her, although I suppose the smart money is probably on Caissie Levy.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/6/16
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#20
Posted: 5/14/26 at 2:23pm
This is why I previously mentioned chalamet. Just because someone seems like the right person right show to win right now doesn't make it certain.
Stand-by Joined: 10/3/22
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#21
Posted: 5/14/26 at 2:29pm
rg7759 said: "This is why I previously mentioned chalamet. Just because someone seems like the right person right show to win right now doesn't make it certain."
Not following how Chalamet is at all comparable to Levy?
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#22
Posted: 5/14/26 at 2:39pm
Levy feels like a very safe lock at this point. However, I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that either Cristiana Pitts or Sara Chase ride a huge surprising Tony wave of support for their shows (not saying that will happen with either of their shows, but think of how when Band's Visit surprised with 10 wins and swept up Ariel Stachel with it, or Once surprising with 8 and Steve Kazee surprisingly being a part of that). Again, smart money clearly on Levy, but I could envision a big upset like this.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#23
Posted: 5/14/26 at 3:19pm
goodtimes123 said: "Caissie seems to be frontrunner. Could there be a surprise win from Marla? or, anyone else in the category?"
Yeah I have predicted Caissie Levy, and she seems like a lock at this point, however I wouldn't be shocked to see either Marla or Sarah Chase pull an upset
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#24
Posted: 5/14/26 at 3:27pm
I hate this way of viewing these things, but knowing how revered she is in the industry, it's Levy's "turn" while it may not be the runaway best performance.
Count me among those quietly holding a sliver of space for a Marla upset.
Who's taking Leading Actress in a Musical this year?#25
Posted: 5/14/26 at 3:40pm
Similar to SpongeBob, I could see Tony voters hesitating to give away too many trophies that say "Titanique" on them.
Ethan Slater was absolutely phenomenal that year.
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