First of all, congratulations to all the 2012 Tony Award nominees!
The Tony Awards are my absolute favorite of all the award shows so getting up this morning to see who had been nominated was the very first thing I did. What, you didn’t think I’d actually get up at 5:30am LA time, did you?
Since I didn’t make my regular April trek to New York to see the shows, I can only rely on what I saw this past December, my love of the actors in the shows and all the buzz surrounding them. Will I know what the hell I’m talking about?
Absolutely not.
And with that, let’s begin!
Best Play: I’ve seen Peter and The Starcatcher (at the La Jolla Playhouse), Other Desert Cities and Venus in Fur and read Clybourne Park. They were all excellent and each so different that there is no way I could or even want to choose my favorite. Each one is absolutely deserving of their nominations.
Best Musical: Leap of Faith, Newsies, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Once
- Like I said, since I didn’t make my April trip (WHY!!!), I unfortunately haven’t seen any of these. But, I will say that I think Newsies will walk away with the award simply because of the fact that the nominating committee is made up of theatres all over the country who usually choose the show with the best touring potential. Memphis anyone? But, that being said, Once did get 11 nominations… I would personally love Once to win but I think it’ll be Newsies.
Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, Master Class, Wit
- It’s probably between Death of a Salesman and The Best Man with Salesman having the edge.
Best Revival of a Musical: Evita, Follies, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Jesus Christ Superstar
- I think it’s Superstar… or Follies.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; James Earl Jones, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man; Frank Langella, Man and Boy; John Lithgow, The Columnist
- I think it’s between Corden, Hoffman and Jones with the edge to Hoffman.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur; Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow; Stockard Channing, Other Desert Cities; Linda Lavin, The Lyons, Cynthia Nixon, Wit
- Nina Arianda, Nina Arianda, Nina Arianda. She’s phenominal in the role.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Danny Burstein, Follies; Jeremy Jordan, Newsies; Steve Kazee, Once; Norm Lewis, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Ron Raines, Follies
- I love Danny Burstein. ’nuff said.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Jan Maxwell, Follies; Audra McDonald, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Cristin Milioti, Once; Kelli O’Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Laura Osnes, Bonnie & Clyde
- I really like Laura Osnes but Bonnie & Clyde stunk. Cristin Milioti gets my vote. If, you know, I voted.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher; Michael Cumpsty, End of the Rainbow; Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors; Andrew Garfield, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; Jeremy Shamos, Clybourne Park
- This is the hardest category for me. I have Christian Borle, Andrew Garfield and Jeremy Shamos. I know, it’s a cop-out. Ok, I’ll toss out Garfield. It’s between Borle and Shamos.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Linda Emond, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; Spencer Kayden, Don’t Dress for Dinner; Celia Keenan-Bolger, Peter and the Starcatcher; Judith Light, Other Desert Cities; Condola Rashad, Stick Fly
- Judith Light was wonderful in Other Desert Cities. This is a hard one too but yeah, I’m gonna go with her.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Michael Cerveris, Evita; David Alan Grier, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Josh Young, Jesus Christ Superstar
- Josh Young. He’s a perfect Judas, has an incredible voice and he’s outstanding in the role.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Elizabeth A. Davis, Once; Jayne Houdyshell, Follies; Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It; Jessie Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ghost the Musical
- Judy Kaye for Nice Work. Or, Da’Vine Joy Randolph. They may throw Ghost a bone for shutting them out of Best Musical
