My Tony Predictions - 2015

I'm getting ready for Sunday's Tony Award broadcast, are you?  To recap, yes, again, my Tony nomination guesses were TERRIBLE.  Even if I had seen more of the productions, I probably still would've gotten everything wrong.  Oh well.  But without begrudging any of the actual nominees, I'm still highly upset that Honeymoon in Vegas was completely shut out, I was sure Jason's terrific score would've been remembered.  And I'm still displeased that Douglas Sills' hilarious performance in Living on Love was passed by.  Grrrrrrr. 

Looking at the people who are actually nominated for awards, I offer below some of my predictions.  Since I haven't seen quite a few of the most-nominated works, I may just go with who I want to win, as opposed to who I think will win.  Or...I'll just make something up.  Or I'll just pick people with whom I've been photographed.  I won't do every category, especially those where I haven't seen many of the nominees.


BEST PLAY

My prediction:  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
My hope:  Disgraced

I haven't seen Curious Incident, though I really want to.  I did see Disgraced and I found it to be a provocative play on a topic not often seen on a Broadway stage.  I realize it has NO chance to win, even with its Pulitzer pedigree.  Side note: I admit I'm still surprised Constellations wasn't one of the nominees...

BEST MUSICAL

My prediction:  Fun Home
My hope:  Fun Home AND The Visit (bring back the tie!)

I know, people are saying An American in Paris will most likely win, and I do want to see it someday, but I just think Fun Home and The Visit, both original, both daring, should be rewarded in this category.

BEST SCORE

My prediction:  Fun Home
My hope:  Fun Home AND The Visit (omg, another tie!  it could happen!  not really.)

Again with the tie!  But I can't help it, I love them both.  I think "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home and "You, You, You" from The Visit are two of the most beautiful theater songs I've heard.  Ever.  And I've heard a lot.

BEST BOOK

My prediction:  Fun Home
My hope:  Fun Home (though I love me some Craig Lucas and he wrote the book for An American in Paris)

I just think what Lisa Kron did to adapt a comic/graphic novel into a cohesive musical was so smart and skilled.  She must win.  Plus, she's awesome.



BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY

My prediction:  Helen Mirren, The Audience
My hope:  Carey Mulligan, Skylight

OK, I haven't seen The Audience, but hello, she's Helen Mirren.  Helen Mirren must always win.  But I loved loved loved Carey Mulligan, so I'm rooting for her.  I'm also sort of rooting for Elisabeth Moss from The Heidi Chronicles because I played Heidi once, so it would be like I won a Tony.  Ish.

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

My prediction and (biggest) hope:  Michael Cerveris, Fun Home

Yes, I know, I'm constitutionally unable to vote against Michael Cerveris.  But he is so tortured, so poignant and so...GREAT, that he should win, hands down.  If Roger Rees had also been nominated, this would've been a harder choice for me.



BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

My prediction:  Kristin Chenoweth, On the Twentieth Century
My hope:  Chita Rivera, The Visit

I thought all of these women were amazing and I would happy if any one of them would win.  But Chita is...Chita.  And Chita should always win.  I also am rooting hard for Kelli O'Hara, since she's so consistently brilliant.  But it seems to me that Kristin is doing what only she can seemingly do, which makes for a winning performance, IMHO.

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

My prediction:  K Todd Freeman, Airline Highway
My hope:  Matthew Beard, Skylight

Freeman has the flashier role, and was terrific, but Beard caught a lot of layers as the goofy teenager who is just looking for someone to love him.

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

My prediction and hope:  Annaleigh Ashford, You Can't Take It With You

This performance has stayed with me for months after seeing the show.  She was inspired.  That's all I can say.

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

My prediction and hope:  Judy Kuhn, Fun Home

She is seriously due.  But a part of me is wishing for a three-way tie with all the Fun Home ladies.  They're all fantastic.

BEST SCENIC DESIGN, PLAY

My prediction:  Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
My hope:  David Rockwell, You Can't Take It With You

That house in You Can't Take it With You was a marvel.  I wanted to walk around and see all the fabulous nooks and crannies.  But I think Curious Incident is going to sweep most of the play awards...

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN, MUSICAL

My prediction:  Natasha Katz, An American in Paris
My hope:  Japhy Weideman, The Visit

Again, I think An American in Paris will probably sweep the design awards (though I guess The King and I is also gloriously beautiful, but I haven't seen it either), but the lighting in The Visit was almost like a character in the play.  It was like a work of art.  I liked that.


Looking forward to the broadcast Sunday.  I hope for once in holy hell they show some of the writing awards on the air and I hope Alan Cumming & Kristin Chenoweth's sense of fun comes through when they're hosting.  I also hope they don't make poor Kelli O'Hara sit in the back again if she's not going to win.  That's just wrong.