AND THE TONY GOES TO... OUR PICKS!
Ah, the Tony Awards. Our yearly reminder of all of the fantastic theatre we’ve had in NYC and beyond this year, from the wonder that was Lysistrata Jones to the glory of Chinglish. Did we ever expect them to close? Of course not, because we didn’t expect them to open. Oh, remember falling asleep any number of times during Man and Boy or staring blankly at the stage of Relatively Speaking and reminding yourself that theatre isn’t supposed to be a punishment? And who can forget Godspell? Everyone. Yes, this year has been full of some beautiful disasters, but it’s also been filled with some wonderful plays and a couple really good musicals. Two of TheArtswire’s newest writers, Ricky Jones and Matthew Cody Lang, are joining me here to predict (and debate) who we think SHOULD and WILL win the coveted Tony Awards of 2012.
BEST PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. It’s the most original and beautiful play not only nominated but out on Broadway this year.
WILL WIN: Clybourne Park. It’s a fine piece of theatre, but that’s it. Fine. Overrated and not nearly as edgy as it thinks it is.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Other Desert Cities. In a season of wonderful plays, Desert Cities remains to be my favorite. I'm a sucker for a good ol' disfunctionial family drama and this one is brilliantly acted. The last 15 mins of this play I was on the edge of my seat.
WILL WIN: Clybourne Park. Any of these nominees deserve the win. I thoroughly enjoyed Clybourne Park. It may not be as controversial as it wants to be but the ensemble of actors make it work. Clyboune has been getting more and more buzz going into the award season. That combined with its Pulitzer win make this play the front runner.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Venus In Fur. This was the show of the year and had me enthralled from start to finish. I think it’s a brilliant piece of work based on power, sex, and mythology. I haven’t been so engulfed by a piece of theater since I have lived here. My other favorite play of the year was definitely Peter and the Starcatcher. I love any theatre that plays with your mind and makes you think deeper than people usually do.
WILL WIN: Clybourne Park. This was definitely not the biting/edgy piece of theater I was hoping for and that people were playing it up to be. I feel that the language in the 2nd act really helped shock Tony voters into thinking this was something new. One of my least favorites of the year but it will definitely win. I also didn’t think Other Desert Cities was phenomenal but would rather that win over C.P.
BEST MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Leap of Faith. Kidding. Once is beautiful, simple, and manages to capture all of the magic of the film, which I wasn’t sure it could do.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Once. Really how can you compare Newsies and Once? They are both wonderful Broadway shows in very different ways. I can remember seeing the movie with my dad when I was nine years old and am loving that families are going to take thier kids to see this as a Broadway show. Once was a poetic and stunning production that just made me feel more artistically satisfied.
WILL WIN: Newsies. It’s gonna be a very close race. My only guess is that Once will win a lot of the creative awards while Newsies will take home the big prize (very much like the Urinetown and Millie year). I don’t care who wins. Wish they could tie.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Newsies. I had the most fun during this show and enjoyed everything about it. I am not a Disney person at all so I was skeptical but ended up enjoying it more than most shows I’ve seen since I’ve lived here. It is definitely not a perfect show but the audiences come in droves and leave with ensured happiness.
WILL WIN: Once. This is the artistic dark horse musical of the year that will sweep the awards. It is based on a film that was about 90 minutes and stretched into a bigger musical. People have had trouble sitting through the movie and the show because it moves slowly. I am a huge fan of the film and I am sure that it has transferred well to stage but the length of the show may be a bit much for audiences considering the material. I know we’re all hoping for Leap of Faith to make the surprise award grab.
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Newsies. Harvey Fierstein did the almost impossible and turned the script of a beloved but definitely flawed script to the 1992 film and made it charming, funny, and dare I say it… better.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Once. Ok....Really Mateo?! Newsies? As I said before, I am a fan of Newsies but I have to say I think the book is really weak. Filled with corny jokes and was never able to make the villain Joseph Pulitzer into more than just a cheesy bad guy. Once is touching, romantic, and honest. The scene on the cliff was beautiful. The Tony voters will agree with everything I just said.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Once. The others don’t really stand a chance.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Newsies. It’s definitely the Goliath here, but it’s a well deserved Goliath. Purists have complained about the lyrical changes to songs like Santa Fe but honestly they’re changes for the better, and the new songs (Watch What Happens for instance) are pretty stellar.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Newsies. Not much competition this year, but even so Newsies deserves the award. The score from the movie has always been classic and the new songs are very good. I have "Brooklyn's Here" stuck in my head at least once a week. My only complaint is that they changed alot of the original lyrics from the movie songs when I dont think they needed to at all. Still, the Newsies score is one of Menken's best.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. I’m going for the plays this year. They are the only ones who have been entirely impressive throughout the season. All the musicals were based off of films. Well Bonnie & Clyde is…well…a flop with bad reviews so that will not be happening.
WILL WIN: Newsies. Some new songs that were added to the production will help them win.
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Death of a Salesman. Honestly, Wit is the only other show in this category that has some of the emotional impact that Arthur Miller’s classic brings. But at the end of the day, Salesman is just brilliant, while Wit was very good.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Death of a Salesman. Not even close. This revival was inspirational. The actors may have all been a bit too young for their roles but I got over that real fast. Especially with the choice to use the original set design, watching this revival was like watching a piece of art in a museum. Revivals don;t get much better than this and attention will be paid.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Death of a Salesman. I was unable to see this production but the praise alone will help it get the win. Gore Vidal’s The Best Man was great but a bit simple and to the point.
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies. Though it’s a very uneven Sondheim musical, it was a truly fantastic production with incredible acting. Surely something the Tony committee hasn’t forgotten about.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies. I don’t think Follies is a perfect production. Its way too long and the pacing of this revival was an issue. With that being said, Follies is still great Sondheim. It lost the Tony in the original run to Two Gentlemen of Verona and will final get the Tony love it deserves.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies. Why? Stephen Sondheim. If any show takes this away, it will be The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess but that seems to be a long shot.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: James Corden.
WILL WIN: Philip Seymour Hoffman. Though it would be great to see Corden win, Hoffman has the emotional punch of Wily Lowman behind him, and he does a beautiful job.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Philip Seymour Hoffman. While it would be fun to Corden win, Hoffman has this. His emotional journey as Will Lowman was a performance I will always remember.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Phillip Seymour Hoffman. James Corden could surprise everyone and take it home but Hoffman was in a great production of an American classic and that won’t be forgotten.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Tracie Bennett. Yes Nina and Linda were incredible, but this is the year of Tracie. Her Judy Garland is simply breathtaking and demands you to watch her. I had to literally remind myself that I wasn’t actually watching Judy Garland.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Tracie Bennett. First off, a huge congrats to all these women for their work this year. It could go to any of them. Bennett gives a performance that goes way beyong a good impression of Judy Garland. You wonder how she does it 8 times a week.
WILL WIN: Nina Arianda. It will be close but I think Nina will win in the end. Here's why: Both Bennett and Lavin are in shows that did not get a Best Play Nom. Channing left the show for a while to go shoot a pilot and that wont be forgotten. And Nixon is sadly not even in the running. Nina is a rising starring and everyone loves her.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Nina Arianda. Now this is the most intense category of the year in my opinion. It is really anyone’s game. I was able to see all of the performances and can definitely say that Nina Arianda’s performance was my favorite of the year. The way she handles the script is like no other. This is her second Broadway show and her second Tony nomination. She is an incredibly talented, hot star on the rising.
WILL WIN: Tracie Bennett. Though I have been rooting for Arianda, I still think Bennett’s performance has left the most impact with audiences. There will be tons of raging queens who will be picketing the day after the Tony’s if she does not win. Honestly, as long as Linda Lavin doesn’t win on account of the “old” vote, I’ll be happy. Though she was great she does not deserve a Tony for that performance.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: Danny Burstein.
WILL WIN: Jeremy Jordan. I’m giving the slight edge to Jordan due to all of the praise he and the show has got. Plus his show is still playing right now and accessible to all Tony voters at any time.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Jeremy Jordan. The only actor I would like not to see win is Steve Kazee. He did a nice job but out of all the other nominees I feel he is the least worthy. Norm Lewis in a long career on the Broadway stage finally got a nom and would love to see him win. Danny Burstein is wonderful in every show he is in and would love him finally to win. Raines was great as well but the nomination is his award. Jordan is my choice though. His Jack Kelly is a star making performance. He brings such power and charisma that he is so believable as the leader of the strike. Between that and his short lived Bonnie and Clyde, I hope he gets the award.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Norm Lewis. He is overdue and gave an amazing performance in Porgy and Bess.
WILL WIN: Steve Kazee. They have to at least have an actor win with the Best Musical win.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: Jan Maxwell.
WILL WIN: Audra McDonald. Both are deserving, but I think McDonald will take a small lead ahead.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Cristin Milioti. For some reason, her performance really got me. First of all, she's cute as all hell and her voice is angelic. Her role is the less showier of the rest of the nominees in her category, but she is the heart of Once. Wish she had a chance to win.
WILL WIN: Audra McDonald. For my tastes, I think McDonald is slightly overrated. Of course she's wonderful but she gives pretty much the same performance every time I see her. I also had trouble understanding her lyrics when she sang many of the Gershwin songs I'm not that familiar with. Hopefully, there will be an upset and Jan Maxwell will win....I don’t see that happening though.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Jan Maxwell. She gave one of my favorite performances I have seen this season. She definitely deserves this win especially since she has been nominated numerous times and has yet to win.
WILL WIN: Audra McDonald. I still don’t understand this but it will happen. She was wonderful but not even my favorite part of the show. She will win and I won’t be angry but I still think Jan Maxwell deserves it more.
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Christian Borle. This one’s a done deal. He’s phenomenal in the show. Moving on.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Andrew Garfield. Though Christian Borle deserves it as well, my pick would be Garfield. His Biff was such a pleasant surprise. That final breakdown scene between him and Hoffman was just incredible.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Tom Edden. I LOVED this role and he was absolutely perfect. I have never laughed harder at a performer on stage or film.
WILL WIN: Andrew Garfield. Though I can see it going to Christian Borle, I think Andrew Garfield (the movie star) will take this prize.
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: Condola Rashad.
WILL WIN: Spencer Kayden. Kayden is the only reason to see the horrendous Don’t Dress for Dinner but Rashad truly pulled a “star in the making turn” with her beautiful performance in Stick Fly.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Judith Light. Again....really Mateo?!? Spender Kayden was fine but its the only nom the show got. Judith Light was perfect last year in Lombardi and again this year in Other Desert Cities. One of the best things of Sunday night will be watching her take home her well deserved award.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Judith Light. She was the best part of Other Desert Cities. No contest.
MATEO UPDATE: Okay Ricky… I’ll admit I forgot about Judith Light and since it is still the day before the Tony’s I’d like to revisit my vote and say I think it’ll be Judith Light. Though Kayden was very funny. Just saying.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: Phillip Boykin/Michael Ceveris.
WILL WIN: Michael Ceveris. I do think Josh Young could pull an upset, and he's got the vocal chops to pull that off. But Ceveris's strong supporting turn shows once again that he can shine no matter how large the role.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: David Alan Grier.
WILL WIN: Micheal Cerveris. I'm sorry. But I will be pretty upset if Josh Young wins. I just didn’t think he acted it well as all. Sure, voice is impressive but I thought he did the impossible of overacting and underacting at the same time. His vocals were too legit and I got no sense of the internal struggle of Judas betraying his best friend. In the long run, the two Porgy actors will cancel each other out and Cerveris will win.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Phillip Boykin. He was my favorite part of Porgy and Bess and I think he deserves this more than anyone. This category is a tough one as well and could easily go to anyone. I hope it doesn’t go to Josh Young though. You can sing your ass off but you are dead behind the eyes.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Judy Kaye. I feel like she’s got an extra dose of momentum in the last few weeks. Expect that to surge her ahead of the pack.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Judy Kaye.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Jayne Houdyshell. She was bright and bubbly and perfect in her role. She was not on stage long but audiences left the show with her stuck in the brain.
WILL WIN: Judy Kaye, the highlight of the show.
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WIN WIN: Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. They’re director of Peter and the Starcatcher is exactly what risk taking is all about. It’s brave and daring, and though Mike Nichols does a beautiful job with Salesman, it’s more or less a recreation.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. Damn I wish they had a chance to win this! Their work was some of most imaginative and genius staging I've seen on Broadway.
WILL WIN: Mike Nichols. I don’t see any way that he doesn’t win.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Roger Rees and Alex Timbers. They really should win because it was some of the most impressive staging I have ever seen.
WILL WIN: Mike Nichols. He will. Blah.
BEST DIRECTON OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD WIN: John Tiffany/Jeff Calhoun.
WILL WIN: Jeff Calhoun. The scale of Newsies is just impressive. But the delicate simplicity of Once really deserves recognition as well.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN:
WILL WIN John Tiffany. His staging of Once was stunning!
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: John Tiffany. Bringing Once to the stage seemed difficult to me but he pulled it off.
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Newsies. Next.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Newsies. Once's Steven Hoggett will get his Tony one day but this is not his year. Newsies simply has the best dancing I have ever seen on a Broadway stage. I have never seen an audience give a standing ovation in the middle of Act 1 they way they did after “Seize The Day.” Bravo!
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Newsies. I never saw a standing ovation in the middle of a show until this one. Incredible.
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. Peter’s magical set will be recognized here.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Other Desert Cities.
WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. Other Desert Cities has a chance but I think Peter will rack up a lot of the minor awards.
BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WIN: Newsies. George Tsypin has a slight chance of edging out the Newsies crew with his Spider-Man sets, but I would expect the boys in black and blue to seize the day.
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Ghost. There is gonna be some serious Ghost hate at the Tonys but I thought it was visually the coolest thing I've seen in a while.
WILL WIN: Spiderman. While I hope Newsies will sneak in and take this, I think the Tony voters will want to give it to Spiderman.
WILL WIN
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Ghost. This was all the show really had going for it.
WILL WIN: Spiderman. I hope they don’t win a single award for that piece of garbage but some may give that annual county fair ride equivalent of a set an award.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher
BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
SHOULD AND WIN WILL: Eiko Ishioka, Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. Think what you want of the production, but the costumes are pretty gorgeous.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies. Spider Man had some good costumes but some were atrocious. Let’s not forget that terrible Lizard.
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD & WILL WILL: Jeff Croiter, Peter and the Starcatcher. Well deserved indeed. The design of this show is full of Star Stuff.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. Totally deserves it!
WILL WIN
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher
WILL WIN: Death of a Salesman
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
RICKY
SHOULD WIN: Ghost. Again, won’t happen for all the Ghost hate but wish it could win.
WILL WIN: Once.
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Follies. I can see Ghost winning but Follies is just better.
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
MATEO
SHOULD WIN & WILL WIN: Scott Lehrer, Death of a Salesman. Literally haunting is how I felt with this sound design. It’s one of the main things that helped transport me back in time, feeling like I was watching this show premiere on Broadway for the first time many, many years ago.
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher. I think the race is between Starcatcher and End of the Rainbow. In the end, Starcatcher will be the winner.
CODY
SHOULD WIN: End of the Rainbow
WILL WIN: Peter and the Starcatcher
BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
MATEO
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Once
CODY
SHOULD WIN: Follies
WILL WIN: Once.
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
MATEO
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Once
RICKY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: Once
CODY
SHOULD AND WILL WIN: I actually left this off of Cody’s ballet, so let’s just say he says Once too.