Winning the "Best" Production Tony But Nothing Else?

Jitney last year comes to mind, having won best revival of a play, but nothing else.

Best Play:
Clybourne Park
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Best Revival of a Musical:
Company
Hair

Best Revival of a Play:
Journey's End
The Norman Conquests
Skylight
Jitney

dramamama611 said: "Can't answer that question, but to add to it: How does a show get nominated as "best" with NO other nominations?



Leap of Faith (2012) is always a head scratcher for me."

This has happened a lot. Was the last time Annie in 2013?

Elegance101 said: "dramamama611 said: "Can't answer that question, but to add to it: How does a show get nominated as "best" with NO other nominations?



Leap of Faith (2012) is always a head scratcher for me."

The 2007 revival of Grease only received a Best Revival of a Musical nomination.

Elegance101 said: "dramamama611 said: "Can't answer that question, but to add to it: How does a show get nominated as "best" with NO other nominations?



Leap of Faith (2012) is always a head scratcher for me."

This has happened a lot. Was the last time Annie in 2013?"

It has happened a lot when slots had to be filled in seasons which were either or low in quality and / or low in number of productions. Leap of Faith as example was only nominated to fill a needed slot. The Tonys IMO have a long history of really mediocre shows receiving unjustified nominations in order to fill a minimum number of slots.

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I think the Best Play category is different, as it is mostly awarding the script, whereas Best Musical is more about all of the elements combined.

Also, I get the impression that OOTI won mostly because the other two revivals are very white and some believe, misogynistic. It was a political move, as were many of the awards this year."

I think it's more that the other 2 cancel each other out as the same type of voters would vote for each one. Let's say, just for instance, that 60% of the voters like big classic revivals and 40% like more modern shows that are remagined. That means 30% vote for Carousel, 30% for My Fair Lady and 40% for Once on this Island (Not at all saying these percentages are accurate, but just an example of how the vote splitting very well may have happened)

Other shows that won the top prize but nothing else:

THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? (2002)

THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO (1997)

THE SHADOW BOX (1977)

I wonder what the fewest number of nominations has been for a Best Play or Best Musical winner? If I recall, All the Way only got 2 nominations (Best Play and Brian Cranston for Best Actor) and it won both of them.

''Leap of Faith (2012) is always a head scratcher for me.''

Sometimes, the Tonys don't nominate FOR something; they nominate against the alternatives. To me, the lackluster ''Leap of Faith'' got the fourth slot for Best Musical simply by default.

They could have nominated ''Bonnie and Clyde,'' which was up for Best Actress and Score, or ''Ghost,'' nominated for Featured Actress, Sets and Lighting, and ''Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,'' nominated for Costumes and Sets. I really thought that fourth slot should've gone to ''Bonnie and Clyde,'' but maybe they decided to throw a bone to ''Leap of Faith''' since it was still running. Ironically, ''Leap'' would announce its closing shortly after the nominations.

Updated On: 6/13/18 at 05:08 PM

1970 Best Play: Borstal Boy

Yet "Child's Play" won 5:

Best Actor Fritz Weaver

Featured Actor Ken Howard

Director Joseph Hardy

Scenery +

Lighting (the first year this category was awarded) both won by Jo Mielziner



Go figure.

I like the tradition of 4 slots for Best Musical. If only 4 new musicals had opened this season, I'd be willing to go down to 3. But the Tony nominators did have 7 new musicals to choose from.