Friday, June 05, 2009

Tony Awards To Be Presented This Sunday

The votes are in and now it's time to hand out the trophies for this years Tony Awards. Here are my predictions for all the major awards. Take them for what they will. After all it is just one man's opinion.

Best Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next To Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical

Let's be honest. It is a two show race between Billy Elliot and Next To Normal. Billy has been the show to beat since it opened last year but Normal could pull an upset. Too close to call.

Best Play
Dividing The Estate
God of Carnage
Reasons To Be Pretty
33 Variations

Those of you who read my blogs know that Pretty is my favorite show of the year but it will be Carnage who will win the big prize this Sunday.

Best Book of a Musical
Billy Elliot,The Musical
Next To Normal
Shrek The Musical
Title of Show

Everybody knows that without a strong book a musical is bound to fail. These are all strong contenders but if there is a Billy sweep then I expect Billy to win again.

Best Original Score
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next To Normal
9 to 5:The Musical
Shrek The Musical

Who would have thought we would see a year with both Elton John and Dolly Parton? The score for Next To Normal is the heart and soul of that show and I hope it wins.

Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot

The British will win.

Best Revival of a Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Hair!Hair!Hair!Enough said.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage
Raúl Esparza, Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini, God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski, Reasons to Be Pretty

My hope is the Tony's acknowledge the brilliant performance by Thomas Sadoski but Rush has won every other award and will probably win this one as well.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Hope Davis, God of Carnage
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart

Marcia Gay Harden or Jane Fonda? I can't decide.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish ‚ Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal

Billy Elliot wins again. 2nd Runner Up: Robert J. Spencer

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story

This is Alice Ripley's to lose.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
John Glover, Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier, 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan, The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter, The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner's Come and Gone

All worthy performances but there can only be one winner. John Glover.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Hallie Foote, Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes, The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland, Reasons to Be Pretty
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root, The Norman Conquests

Angela Lansbury wins her fifth Tony Award and her first in the Play category.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair

Three way race between Jbara,Sieber,and Swenson. My pick is Sieber for his brillant performance in Shrek.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical

Karen Olivo has been a personal favorite of mine since In The Heights but don't be surprised if Billy wins again.

Best Direction of a Play
Phyllida Lloyd, Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests

Warchus vs. Warchus.

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair

Diane Paulus deserves to win but once again Billy will probably take it.

Best Choreography
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin's White Christmas

Billy Elliot again. Anyone seeing a pattern?

Well there you are. Who will win? Who will lose? We will find out on June 7th. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service,Inc.
311 W. 43rd Street
Suite 601
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com

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