my predictions for 2015 Tony Awards — Page 2

"There's so much love for Bob Crowley's AiP set, which I found really clunky and cold... I'd much rather see a nod for Fun Home...; to me it's one of the very best set designs in recent memory."

I'm really interested in your take on both sets, given that I feel exactly the opposite. I wonder if you saw FUN HOME down at the Public previously. As a new viewer to the show, that furniture bobbing up and down from the trap room in different arrangements each time thoroughly confused me. I assumed the funeral home and domestic home were in the same building as a result. I assumed the house was finished at the start of the story since the pieces were all there at the top, as best I could follow. I was very confused when people on the boards described a reveal of the finished home, since I'd been watching the same pieces roll around the stage the whole evening by then. The two looks that worked perfectly for me were the revolve for the car scenes, and the open traps that made up the old house Bruce was planning to renovate. The absence of floor was the best look of the night.

I agree that that stage space is a tricky one to make work, but I've seen gorgeous evocative productions there so it is possible. (Richard Hoover's brilliant prison set for NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES leaps to mind.)

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS? I found the sets there the opposite of clunky and cold-- I found them transcendent views of a city I love, that was perhaps never portrayed onstage so beautifully before. The lighting, the projections, the perspectives, the telling details that informed each built set piece, it was all of a piece and all brand new to me. And even though it was an enormous big-budget production, some of the most beautiful effects were the most simple-- 6 sloped mirror panels forming a dance studio, a backdrop of shimmering scribbles and 2 floating boats in space creating a view of the Seine, 3 curved counter units joining in infinite varieties to create all the corners of the Galleries Laffayette shopping floor. Without anyone dancing a step on that stage, we were already tearing up at the sheer beauty of it all.

Here's My Predictions

My guesses (asterisks next to nominees I think could be displaced by the listed spoilers):

Best Play

Hand To God, by Robert Askins

The Audience, by Peter Morgan*

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, by Simon Stephens

Wolf Hall Parts One & Two, by Hilary Mantel and Mike Poulton

If 5 nominees: Disgraced, by Ayad Akhtar*

*Potential displacer: Airline Highway, by Lisa D'Amour

Best Musical

An American In Paris

Fun Home

Something Rotten

The Visit*

If 5 nominees: It Shoulda Been You*

*Potential displacer: Honeymoon In Vegas

Best Revival of a Play

Skylight

The Elephant Man

The Heidi Chronicles*

You Can't Take It With You

If 5 nominees: It's Only A Play*

*Potential displacer: This Is Our Youth

Best Revival of a Musical

On The Town

On The Twentieth Century

The King And I

If 4 nominees: Side Show*

*Potential displacer: Gigi

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

Stephen Boyer, Hand To God

Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man

Ben Miles, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Bill Nighy, Skylight*

Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

*Potential displacers: Jake Gyllenhaal, Constellations

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

Geneva Carr, Hand To God

Helen Mirren, The Audience

Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles*

Carey Mulligan, Skylight

Ruth Wilson, Constellations

*Potential displacer: Renée Fleming, Living On Love

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Brian d'Arcy James, Something Rotten

Robert Fairchild, An American In Paris

Ken Watanabe, The King And I

Tony Yazbek, On The Town*

*Potential displacer: Matthew Morrison, Finding Neverland

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Kristin Chenoweth, On The Twentieth Century

Leanne Cope, An American In Paris*

Beth Malone, Fun Home

Kelli O'Hara, The King And I

Chita Rivera, The Visit

*Potential displacer/6th nominee: Lisa Howard, It Shoulda Been You

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway

Richard McCabe, The Audience*

Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man*

Nathanial Parker, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Bryce Pinkham, The Heidi Chronicles

*Potential displacers: Matthew Beard, Skylight; Marc Kudisch, Hand To God

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man

Francesca Faridany, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time*

Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Sarah Stiles, Hand To God*

Julie White, Airline Highway

*Potential displacer: Annaleigh Ashford, You Can't Take It With You; Judith Ivey, The Audience

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Christian Borle, Something Rotten

Kelsey Grammer, Finding Neverland*

Josh Grisetti, It Shoulda Been You*

Brad Oscar, Something Rotten

Max von Essen, An American In Paris

*Potential displacer: Andy Karl, On The Twentieth Century; Paul Alexander Nolan, Doctor Zhivago

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (a.k.a. the most packed category, now two years in a row!)

Victoria Clark, Gigi*

Tyne Daly, It Shoulda Been You*

Judy Kuhn, Fun Home

Sydney Lucas, Fun Home

Ruthie Ann Miles, The King And I

*Potential displacers: Ashley Park, The King And I; Mary Louise Wilson, On The Twentieth Century; not to mention all of the ladies from An American In Paris and On The Town, Dee Hoty from Gigi, Nancy Opel from Honeymoon in Vegas, and the other two ladies from Fun Home

Best Director of a Play

Stephen Daldry, The Audience*

Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

Scott Ellis, The Elephant Man

Jeremy Herrin, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Moritz von Stuelpnagel, Hand To God

*Potential displacer: Scott Ellis, You Can't Take It With You

Best Director of a Musical

Scott Ellis, On The Twentieth Century*

Sam Gold, Fun Home

Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten

Bartlett Sher, The King And I

Christopher Wheeldon, An American In Paris

*Potential displacer: John Rando, On The Town

Best Choreography

Joshua Bergasse, On The Town

Warren Carlyle, On The Twentieth Century*

Christopher Gattelli, The King And I

Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten

Christopher Wheeldon, An American In Paris

*Potential displacer: Graciela Daniele, The Visit

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)

Fun Home; Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Lisa Kron

It Shoulda Been You; Music by Barbara Anselmi, Lyrics by Brian Hargrove*

Something Rotten!; Music and Lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick

The Visit; Music by John Kander, and Lyrics by Fred Ebb

*Potential displacer: The Last Ship; Music and Lyrics by Sting

Best Book of a Musical

Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, Something Rotten!

Lisa Kron, Fun Home

Craig Lucas, An American In Paris*

Terrence McNally, The Visit

*Potential displacer: Brian Hargrove, It Shoulda Been You

Best Orchestrations

Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky, and Bill Elliott, An American In Paris

John Clancy, Fun Home*

Larry Hochman, On The Twentieth Century

Larry Hochman, Something Rotten!

*Potential displacer: Larry Hochman, The Visit

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Beowulf Borritt, Hand To God

Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Scott Pask, Airline Highway*

*Potential displacer: Bob Crowley, Skylight

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Bob Crowley and 59 Productions, An American In Paris

Scott Pask, The Visit*

Michael Yeargan, The King And I

David Zinn, Fun Home

*Potential displacer: Scott Pask, Something Rotten!

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Paule Constable, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

Paule Constable and David Platter, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Jason Lyons, Hand To God

Philip S. Rosenberg, The Elephant Man*

*Potential displacer: Rick Fisher, The Audience

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Donald Holder, The King And I

Natasha Katz, An American In Paris

Ben Stanton, Fun Home*

Japhy Weideman, The Visit

*Potential displacers: Kenneth Posner, Finding Neverland

Best Costume Design of a Play

Bob Crowley, The Audience

Christopher Oram, Wolf Hall Parts One & Two

Clint Ramos, The Elephant Man

David Zinn, Airline Highway*

*Potential displacer: Jane Greenwood, You Can't Take It With You

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Something Rotten!

Bob Crowley, An American In Paris

William Ivey Long, On The Twentieth Century*

Catherine Zuber, The King And I

*Potential displacer: Ann Hould-Ward, The Visit

I find it interesting that so many are predicting a nomination for Megan Fairchild. I think she's wonderful, but out of the three On the Town ladies, I felt she was the most lackluster.

I am also surprised people were saying Megan Fairchild too. her dancing is obviously amazing, but her acting was not the best IMO. Looking forward to seeing these nominations tomorrow.

BEST MUSICAL

An American In Paris

Fun Home

Something Rotten

The Visit

(If there’s a 5^th: Finding Neverland)

BEST PLAY

The Audience

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Hand To God

Wolf Hall

(5^th: Disgraced)

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

On The Town

On The 20^th Century

The King and I

(4^th: Side Show)

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

The Elephant Man

It’s Only A Play

Skylight

You Can’t Take It With You

(5^th: A Delicate Balance)

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Kristin Chenoweth (On The 20^th Century)

Lisa Howard (It Shoulda Been You)

Beth Malone (Fun Home)

Kelli O’Hara (The King And I)

Chita Rivera (The Visit)

(6^th: Veanne Cope (An American In Paris), 7^th: Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland))

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Michael Cerveris (Fun Home)
Robert Fairchild (An American In Paris)

Brian D’arcy James (Something Rotten)

Ken Watanabe (The King and I)

Tony Yazbeck (On The Town)

(6^th: Rob McClure (Honeymoon in Vegas), 7^th: Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland))

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Tyne Daly (It Shoulda Been You)

Judy Kuhn (Fun Home)

Sydney Lucas (Fun Home)

Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I)

Alysha Umphress (On The Town)

(6^th: Emily Skeggs (Fun Home), 7^th: Nancy Opel (Honeymoon in Vegas))

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Fred Applegate (The Last Ship)

Christian Borle (Something Rotten)

Max von Essen (An American In Paris)

Andy Karl (On the 20^th Century)

Brad Oscar (Something Rotten)

(6^th: Tony Danza (Honeymoon in Vegas), 7^th: Kelsey Grammar (Finding Neverland))

BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Geneva Carr (Hand To God)

Lindsey Duncan (A Delicate Balance)
Helen Mirren (The Audience)
Cary Mulligan (Skylight)

Ruth Wilson (Constellations)

(6^th: Elisabeth Moss (The Heidi Chronicles), Glenn Close (A Delicate Balance))

BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY

Stephen Boyer (Hand To God)

Bradley Cooper (The Elephant Man)

Ben Miles (Wolf Hall)

Bill Nighy (Skylight)

Alex Sharp (Curious Incident)

(6^th: Larry David (Fish in the Dark), 7^th: Harhi Dillon (Disgraced))

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Analeigh Ashford (You Can’t Take It With You)

Francis Faridany (Curious Incident)

Judith Ivey (The Audience)

Lydia Leonard (Wolf Hall)

Julie White (Airline Highway)

(6^th: Kristine Nielsen (You Can’t Take It With You), 7^th: Enid Graham (Curious Incident))

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Ian Barford (Curious Incident)

Richard McCabe (The Audience)

Alessandro Nivola (The Elephant Man)

Nathaniel Parker (Wolf Hall)

Bryce Pinkham (The Heidi Chronicles)

(6^th: F. Murray Abraham (It’s Only A Play), James Earl Jones (You Can’t Take It With You))

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL

Sam Gold (Fun Home)

Casey Nicholaw (Something Rotten)

Bartlett Sher (The King and I)

Christopher Wheeldon (An American In Paris)

(5^th: Scott Ellis (On The 20^th Century))

BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Stephen Daldry (Skylight)

Marianne Elliot (Curious Incident)

Scott Ellis (You Can’t Take It With You)

Jeremy Herrin (Wolf Hall)

(5^th: Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Hand To God))

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Joshua Bergasse (On The Town)

Warren Carlyle (On The 20^th Century)

Casey Nicholaw (Something Rotten)

Christopher Wheeldon (An American In Paris)
(5^th: Mia Michaels (Finding Neverland))

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Fun Home

The Last Ship

Something Rotten

The Visit

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

An American In Paris

Fun Home

Something Rotten

The Visit

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

An American In Paris

Honeymoon In Vegas

On The Town

Something Rotten

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

The King and I

The Last Ship

Something Rotten

The Visit

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

An American In Paris

Fun Home

The King and I

The Visit

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

An American In Paris

Gigi

The King and I

Something Rotten

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

Curious Incident

Hand To God

Wolf Hall

You Can’t Take It With You

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

Constellations

Curious Incident

The Elephant Man

Wolf Hall

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

The Audience

The Heidi Chronicles

Wolf Hall

You Can’t Take It With You