Hey guys! I tried to see every new Broadway musical this season, but failed miserably because of how many shows have been part of this season. As for the Best Musical category I have only seen Suffs and Water For Elephants, but I'm planning a trip to New York City right before the Tony's, so I'm hoping to at least see The Outsiders. Anyways here are my Tony predictions as of now.
I used the ballot on the Tony award website that can be found: here
Yellow Highlight = Who/what I hope to win
I didn't put many highlights because a lot of the shows this season I feel indifferent about or simply haven't seen.
Check = Who/what I think will win.
Best Play
We all know that the critics loved Stereophonic and they got a bunch of nominations. The show intrigues me as I'm in love with the 70's. I think it will be no surprise when Stereophonic wins Best Play and likely sweeps at the Tony awards this year.
Best Musical
Similarly to Best Play, I don't think the Best Musical winner will be much of a surprise either. Not only critics, but fans are in love with The Outsiders musical. I'll be interested to see why once I see it.
Best Revival of a Musical
There is no doubt in my mind Merrily We Roll Along will win and that is because it didn't get so much love on its initial run in 1981. The critics took a problem with the new and young faces that were cast in the original run. But now the show has been cast with three well- known actors (Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Danielle Radcliffe) who are all seasoned and it has recieved great acclaim. I also think because of Sondheim's fairly recent passing, Tony voters will want to celebrate his work. As much as I enjoyed Merrily We Roll Along, I loved Tommy even more. I loved the way Des McAnuff stripped down Tommy and truly revitalized it, giving audiences a lot to think about. I found everything about Tommy so cohesive. From the costumes, to scenic design, down to the marketing, everything fit so well together. I wish the musical got more recognition in this year's nominations. It was by far my favorite I saw this season.
Leading Actress & Leading Actor in a Play
I don't tend to see many plays, so I asked my friend who is an expert on plays to advise me on these categories and this is what they came up with. (Shoutout to Eva!) Sarah Paulson for Appropriate and Jeremy Strong for An Enemy of the People.
Leading Actor in a Musical
Jonathan Groff has yet to get his Tony, which I would argue was deserved after playing King George in Hamilton, but I think voters will finally reward Groff for his dedication to theatre with the success of Merrily We Roll Along. As for Brody Grant, I think most have likely enjoyed his performance, however I think Tony voters will feel that he is too young to win such a big award, being that this is his Broadway debut as well. Dorian Harewood has a good chance of winning as well and if Groff doesn't win Harewood would be next likely to. Although Brian d'Arcy has yet to win a Tony, I don't think he will win one for Days of Wine and Roses as it had a short-lived run on Broadway.
Featured Actor in a Musical
I am hoping Sky Lakota-Lynch will win this award because I've been a fan of him since he was in Dear Evan Hansen. However, I think Danielle Radcliffe will be given the award (again, because of the acclaim Merrily got). Being that Joshua Boone is also nominated for The Outsiders it will be likely that Lakota-Lynch's and Boone's votes will be split anyways. If you know me, I love both Brandon Victor Dixon and Roger Bart. Although Bart is a legendary comedic actor, he's already received a Tony. Unfortunately I doubt Tony voters will take his portrayal of Doc very seriously. And Dixon is a great actor, but from what I understand Hell's Kitchen is trying to mix some heavy themes with upbeat pop music. I predict that Tony voters will be underwhelmed by it, therefore Dixon may go unrecognized. I'm not very familiar with the Cabaret cast, so I can't vouch for Steven Skybell. This is certainly a tough category.
Featured Actress in a Musical
I am a fan of Nikki M. James, so I hope she wins another Tony as her performance in Suffs really tugged on my heartstrings. On the other hand, I think Leslie Kritzer did a fantastic job as the Lady of the Lake. She had to hit very high notes and on top of that she had to improvise each night in Spamalot. I think people will notice this.
Best Book of a Musical
I have a feeling The Outsiders will take this cateogory because I believe it stays true to the novel. Although, I really hope Suffs will win this category because the musical had such a big job in summarizing history while still staying true to it. I think Shaina Taub does a great job of this, not only in her book, but in her score too.
Best Score
Even though I've only heard a bit The Outsiders music, I can already tell it will hit home for most audiences. In my opinion most of the music this season was just alright, but I think my favorite score in this category is Suffs. Taub's work just amazes me because of how she is able to put such complex emotions into words. Words that are simple, but powerful. I felt the rage and the heartbreak alongside the women in the show.
Scenic Design of a Play
I already said I think Stereophonic will sweep. But maybe something like Jaja's African Hair Braiding should win because it has a more complex set and it seems to be very true to life.
Lighting Design of a Play
As I have only seen one play this season (Doubt), I guess Stereophonic will win. Although, I can't imagine they did anything mind-blowing with their lighting. If anyone did anything shocking with lighting I would expect it to be Grey House because it deals with ghosts, but I think it has sort of been forgotten since it closed so early on in the season.
Lighting Design of a Musical
Obviously this is just a guess, but I think Cabaret likely had to master lighting for the immersive club experience. I'd say maybe Illinoise would win the award just based on what I've seen in pictures, though I think it will go unnoticed being such a small show.
Sound Design of a Play
I mean it must be Sterophonic, right? I would hope that a play that relies on music has a good sound design! Then again, many musicals don't have great sound designs...
Sound Design of a Musical
I am going to give it to Here Lies Love (partly to please my boyfriend who is a massive David Byrne fan) but I think it deserves at least one award for how experimental it was. It was certainly loud, in that sense it made me feel like I was really in a club. None of the musicals I saw this season had particularly impressive sound designs, except Tommy and it was not even nominated in this category.
Direction of a Play
Stereophonic. 🤷🏻♀️
Direction of a Musical
I enjoyed Merrily and I think it is most worthy of this award and I think Tony voters will agree with me.
Leading Actress in a Musical
I've loved Eden Espinosa ever since seeing her performance in the (proshot) closing cast of Rent. I also loved her in the Falsettos tour. As a fan, I'm rooting for her. However, I think Maryann Plunkett has a good chance to win this category too because of her heartbreaking performance in The Notebook, which had people sobbing by the end of the show.
Featured Actor in a Play
This is strictly just a guess from someone who hasn't seen Stereophonic yet, so take this prediction with a grain of salt. My guess is Tom Pecinka will take this award, despite there being multiple nominees from the play in this category. As far as I can tell Pecinka is the most standout in this ensemble, but that's a guess based on their marketing alone.
Scenic Design of a Musical
Back To The Future had the most work cut out for them in this case because they had to make a car move through time and space, replicate iconic scenes from the movie, and reflect different time periods: the 50's and the 80's. I will be shocked if they don't win this award. As a big David Korins fan, I wish I could say I loved his set in Here Lies Love. It was certainly extravagant and functional. Sadly, it wasn't the most ideal considering the audience had to be standing around it while it moved. It felt like a distraction more than anything else. The rest of these sets were fairly minimal and nothing about them was particularly interesting to me.
Costume Design of a Play
It's hard to say what will win because most of these costumes had to look as though they were from an earlier time period. Jaja's African Hair Braiding is the only one that takes place in current day and I think it is simple, but reflective of today. It serves its purpose. Perhaps Stereophonic is the most detailed of these costumes, but I think it will win based on popularity alone.
Costume Design of a Musical
I think Cabaret will win simply because it has the most interesting clothing out of all these musicals. To be honest I think Tommy had the best costuming, though not nominated here. The yellow and black was used throughout the whole show and costumes, representing light and darkness, representing not only Tommy's vision, but the good and bad in his life. I loved Tommy's golden-yellow coat, Cousin Kevin's bright red suit, and the different shades of gray used for the fans and reporters in Act 2. All very eye-catching!
Best Choreography
Illinoise has got to be a shoo-in for this because it is the most dance heavy. I like Justin Peck's work in the new West Side Story ('21) movie. Peck already has a Tony for the most recent revival of Carousel, but I don't think that means he can't win another.
Best Orchestrations
Tom Kitt, nobody can make me hate you. I will always be a fan of Kitt and he's great at re-orchestrating pre-existing music as we have seen from the Almost Famous musical, American Idiot, and Jagged Little Pill. It only makes sense that he will take the win for orchestrations. Although Merrily has received some intense love, rarely does anyone change Sondheim's orchestrations because they are already masterful. Kitt could have some competition with Illinoise, which is also a jukebox musical or The Outsiders could steal it based on popularity. I'll be curious to see how this one turns out.
Perhaps I'll change my mind after my trip to New York in a couple weeks. Either way I feel like this has been such an "eh" year in terms of shows. It feels like its quantity over quality. Right now Broadway feels unsustainable and it feels impossible for a new and completely original show to create a life on Broadway. And it makes me sad that many shows were not nominated at all, like How To Dance in Ohio. Here's to the next season!
Comments