Why wasn’t Alex Newell nominated for Once On This Island?- Page 2

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 11:52am

Jordan Catalano said: "I really enjoyed Alex in that show and remember thinking he probably would be nominated, in fact I’m almost positive I had him listed in my predictions. I had to go back and look at who the nominees for that year were, which were Ari'el Stachel (Band's Visit), Gavin Lee (Spongebob Squarepants),Grey Hanson (Mean Girls), Norbert Leo Butz (My Fair Lady) &Alexander Gemignani (Carousel)."

Looking back, it seems likely it was between Newell and Henson for the last spot. Butz was a lock and the frontrunner to win. Lee was highly acclaimed for his turn in SpongeBob. Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before. And Stachel obviously won and with all the love for Band's Visit was certainly not going to be left out. 

The nominating committee clearly loved Mean Girls, giving it 12 nominations, so it makes sense that Henson got in over Newell, who was starring in a Ken Davenport mixed-reviewed revival. Not at all to say that he SHOULDN'T have gotten the spot, but it makes sense that it turned out this way.

Updated On: 4/10/23 at 11:52 AM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:02pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Sorry, was this discussion for people on the voting committee only or a discussion about that particular category in that particular year? Because if it’s the latter, than varying thoughts and opinions on the subject are going to appear."

I'm not starting something that will turn into an argument. The OP asked a question- I answered. It doesn't have to turn into an argument whenever I comment (and no, I don't turn it into one)"

That isnt what happened. Various answers were offered, and you responded to one answer by suggesting that only those on the voting committee can answer. That is, of course, nonsensical given the very question posed by this thread."

Thank you. I'm so glad you took the opportunity to point that out. Really makes you happy to do so instead of just scrolling on by my comment. You had to make a comment that mine is "nonsensical" when no, it isn't. 

[binau]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:03pm

"Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before."

I don't see how this is a good reason to be nominated. How was he in the role?

[A.J.]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:07pm

I remember there being chatter on this board about Newell looking bored and disengaged in the show when not performing their big number. Perhaps nomination committee members noticed as well. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:41pm

binau said: ""Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before."

I don't see how this is a good reason to be nominated. How was he in the role?"

Honestly, I forgot he was nominated or even in the show. It wasn’t a flashy role or performance. I guess neither was the performance that won, but at least it was somewhat memorable. This is not to say Alex Gemignani was bad, but his scene partner clearly stole the show (and won a Tony for doing so).

All of the other shows nominated in Featured Actor had big nomination hauls. OOTI was a dark horse, so it sort of makes sense why Alex Newell was left out. Hailey was nominated because of the limited options, but ironically there was a tie in the category that year, giving us six leading actresses. I remember crossing my fingers for Kenita to be nominated for Featured Actress; I thought she was the standout of the show.

Ultimately, I still hear people talking about OOTI and not Carousel or My Fair Lady. I’m glad it nabbed the Best Revival Tony.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:53pm

binau said: ""Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before."

I don't see how this is a good reason to be nominated. How was he in the role?"

Not at all saying it was worthy. Just that having had a nearly 20-year Broadway career at that point with several people thinking he was overdue for a nod after his performances in Assassins, Sweeney or even Les Mis, and now being back in an acclaimed revival--it makes sense that he had the momentum to get that spot over the relatively unknown Alex Newell at that point.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:58pm

binau said: ""Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before."

I don't see how this is a good reason to be nominated. How was he in the role?"


Surely you know by now most award nominations and wins are based on far more than just performance.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 12:59pm

A.J. said: "I remember there being chatter on this board about Newell looking bored and disengaged in the show when not performing their big number. Perhaps nomination committee members noticed as well."

Wasn't there also a lot of absences? I remember seeing the show several times, and never seeing Alex. Always an understudy. I mean, I doubt that affects this...I just remembered 

[JP2]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 1:06pm

dramamama611 said: "THIS exactly. It was like he sang a song and disappeared for the rest of the show. I remember NOTHING else about his performance."

I've seen folks win Tonys for less.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 1:17pm

He’s a fantastic singer no doubt, but a whole performer/actor? Not yet. He was fine in Island. His big song was fantastic but other then that eh. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 1:42pm

I remember the consensus being that Newell brought the house down with Mama Will Provide, but then otherwise seemed totally bored/disinterested in the rest of the proceedings. I sort of found that to be the case when I saw the show, and there were rumblings of a less-than-complete performance.

I thought of this when I saw Shucked, because it felt like thats where Newell was headed in Act 1 (a big crowd pleading beltfest, nothing else) but Newell's Act 2 put that worry to rest. Funny and moving performance. (And this year, I'm betting Newell will be recognized well ahead of Henson).

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 2:53pm

Jeff Tupolski said: "Newell was good when I saw them, but I remember a lot of people saying they didn’t care for Alex and that they got worse in the role over time.

And as others have said, their part is really just belting out the one number. Personally I think Merle Dandridge’s performance was the show’s supporting standout and should’ve been recognized. Though in her case, she left the show early, which probably hurt her shot at a nomination."

They really were awful at some point. Yawning throughout the show and looking like they couldn't wait for their number so they could get back to snoozing. The laziest performance I have memory of.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 3:04pm

Wow. I guess I’m glad to have seen Alex early on and then the understudy a couple times. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 3:08pm

HeyMrMusic said:

"Hailey was nominated because of the limited options, but ironically there was a tie in the category that year, giving us six leading actresses."

Isn't this kind of a contradictory statement? "Limited options" would be like the 2011 Tonys where there were only 5 Leading Actresses the whole season and only Sherie Rene Scott was shut out for WOTV.

In a year with 6 nominees, other eligible actresses who could've been theoretically nominated in her place that year were Erika Henningsen, Patti Murin, Caissie Levy, and Alison Luff, so not exactly limited.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 3:13pm

Limited in the sense that there’s a finite list of people eligible for the same number of slots.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 5:07pm

hearthemsing22 said: “You had to make a comment that mine is "nonsensical" when no, it isn't.”

Ok, if you’re really gonna double down on this argument, then lay it out for us, because as of now it IS nonsensical.

What was the point of asking “but are you on the voting committee?” to someone who just offered one of the many answers in this thread? What were you trying to say? 

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 11:50pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Wow. I guess I’m glad to have seen Alex early on and then the understudy a couple times."

Yes, never seen a performer go through a  Broadway show like it was completely beneath them.

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 5:44am

hearthemsing22 said: "A.J. said: "I remember there being chatter on this board about Newell looking bored and disengaged in the show when not performing their big number. Perhaps nomination committee members noticed as well."

Wasn't there also a lot of absences? I remember seeing the show several times, and never seeing Alex. Always an understudy. I mean, I doubt that affects this...I just remembered"

I actually had the opposite. I saw OOTI 7 times and each time Alex was there. Never an understudy! One other role I saw 6 of 7 times. The rest of the cast was unpredictable. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 6:18am

show-stopping == the performance is nuanced and well-crafted enough to outshine other no less show-stopping performances

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 8:00am

binau said: ""Gemignani is the son of a Broadway legend making his own career who had never been nominated before."

I don't see how this is a good reason to be nominated. How was he in the role?"

I am in the minority here as I loved this revival, but Alexander was out the night I saw it.  His understudy was excellent, though.  

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/11/23 at 8:28am

perfectpenguin said: "hearthemsing22 said: "A.J. said: "I remember there being chatter on this board about Newell looking bored and disengaged in the show when not performing their big number. Perhaps nomination committee members noticed as well."

Wasn't there also a lot of absences? I remember seeing the show several times, and never seeing Alex. Always an understudy. I mean, I doubt that affects this...I just remembered"

I actually had the opposite. I saw OOTI 7 times and each time Alex was there. Never an understudy! One other role I saw 6 of 7 times. The rest of the cast was unpredictable."

Lucky!! Their understudy was great don't get me wrong but I would have loved to see Alex too.