The TONY Award Nominations Are In--And Beanie Is Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Girls, I am really not surprised.  The failure of Beanie Feldstein to land a Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Musical Role for "Funny Girl" sends out several clear messages.

                                           The first being that hers was not an exceptional enough performance to gain a nod.   The second that Broadway forever loves BARBRA, and would not think of disgracing her by even giving Beanie a chance to win the award.  Had she been selected, I don't think she would have won, but I know Miss This-Is-My-Broadway Dream thought she would just come to town and swoop up a TONY Award.  Wrong again, Beanie!  Not only has your parade been rained on, but this is telling you in no uncertain terms you are not wanted on Broadway.  So get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             But there are selections of special interest.

                                             Like "Hangmen,"  "The Lehman Trilogy," and "The Minutes" for Best Play.

                                              And ""Girl From The North Country,"  "Paradise Square," "SIX: The Musical," and "A Strange Loop," for Best Musical.  I have seen none, would not mind seeing all, and, in these highly politicized times, my bet is on "A Strange Loop" to win the prize. But, from what I hear, it has much merit.

                                                With the exception of "Trouble In Mind," by Alice Childress, all the Best Revival Of A Play nominees are classics--"American Buffalo," "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf," How I Learned To Drive," and "Take Me Out."  This is one of the strongest categories and toughest to choose.  I have a feeling "How I Learned To Drive" will take it.  Like the previous category, I am happy for all!

                                                    Now, as to Best Revival Of A Musical--"Caroline Or Change," "COMPANY" and "The Music Man."  Notice something missing, darlings?  That's right!  Not only was Beanie left out, but so was "Funny Girl," except in one case, which I shall get to, later.  My money is on "COMPANY."  Which should also have landed a nomination for Katrina Lenk!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                              As you can see, I am ecstatic over this decision.   But there are others I am equally ecstatic about.

                                              Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Musical--No one interesting here, except he who is a shoo-in--Hugh Jackman, in "The Music Man."  

                                                Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Musical--Sharon D. Clarke in "Caroline, Or Change," Carmen Cusack in "Flying Over Sunset," Sutton Foster, in "The Music Man," Joaquina Kalukango in "Paradise Square," and Mare Winningham in "Girl From The North Country."  My money is either on Carmen or Sutton.  But this is a strong category and the other two ladies may be strong enough to upset these Broadway favorites.

                                                 Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Musical--This is where "Funny Girl" landed its only nomination, with its only Broadway level performer, and that was Jared Grimes as Eddie Ryan.   My money is on him, but not to overlook Matt Doyle's showstopping delivery of one of musical theater's most difficult songs--"Getting Married Today"--in "COMPANY." Again, this is a strong category, and "Paradise Square" and "A Strange Loop" could be dark horses in their respective categories, so don't yet count out John-Andrew Morrison in "A Strange Loop," and A.J. Shively in "Paradise Square."

                                                  Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Play--Gabby Beans, "The Skin Of Our Teeth," LaChanze, "Trouble In Mind," Rutha Nega, "Macbeth," Deirdre O'Connell in "Dana H.,"  Mary-Louise Parker in "How I Learned To Drive."--Again, Dana who?  And after Frances McDormand's Lady M on film, Nega does not stand a chance.  I don't see how Mary-Louise Parker can be overlooked, the rest do not even approach her level.  I could be wrong, but I am going with the always reliable Mary-Louise Parker.

                                                 Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Play--Three of these gentlemen--Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester--are from "The Lehman Trilogy," so they should be a shutout.  That leaves David Morse in "How I Learned To Drive," Sam Rockwell in "American Buffalo," Ruben Santiago-Hudson in "Lackawanna Blues," and David Threlfall in "Hangmen."  My money is on either Morse or Rockwell. But anyone who saw "The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby" back in the day, are unlikely to forget David Threlfall's performance as Smike.  And that just might land him a TONY for "Hangmen."

                                                   Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play--Here there is another Triple Crown, from "Take Me Out--" Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael Oberholtzer, and Jesse Williams.  That leaves Alfine Allen in "Hangmen," Ron Cephas Jones in "Clyde's," and Chuck Cooper, "Trouble In Mind."  My money is on Jesse Tyler Ferguson, whom, if I am correct, will win for playing the same role Denis O'Hare, in the original production.  Time will tell, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play--Two sets of actresses from two different plays--Rachel Dratch and Julie White in "POTUS, Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven More Trying To Keep Him Alive," and Uzo Abula and Karin Young in "Clyde's." Not to forget Kenita R. Miller in "For Colored Girls...."  Which leaves Phylicia Rashad in "Skeleton Crew."  She and the play are another dark horse, and may just win, though I personally would love to see Rachel Dratch get it.

                                                      Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical--Patti LuPone in what is essentially a SUPPORTING role?  How dare they?  And Jennifer Simard can't hold a candle to Patti in "COMPANY," so why is she even nominated?  Her Jenny wasn't much.  Shoshanna Bean is in a crappy show, so she is out,  no one has heard of Jeanette Bayardell for "Girl From The North Country," so this is a tough category.  Everything shouts PATTI, but if Jayne Houdyshell were to sneak in for "The Music Man" I wouldn't be as upset as PATTI!!!!!!!!!!!!  I think these two Broadway favorites will battle it out.

                                                           Best Direction Of A Play--Lilena Blain-Cruuz, "The Skin Of Our Teeth," Camille A. Brown, "For Colored Girls....," Sam Mendes "The Lehman Trilogy," Neil Pepe, "American Buffalo," Les Waters, "Dana H."  Dana who?  Really, the only possible choice I can see here is Sam Mendes.  Which just might tip "The Lehman Trilogy" to other awards, namely Best Play.  This is a category to watch.

                                                              Best Direction Of A Musical--I am so happy Michael Mayer is missing; he's to blame for putting disastrous Beanie Feldstein on stage in "Funny Girl."  But I am appalled that Broadway veteran Jerry Zaks was not nominated for "The Music Man."  You can just forget Lucy Mass and Jamie Armitage for "SIX, The Musical," and Christopher Wheelen, for "M.J."  I mean, who cares?  By the way, M.J. were my father's first initials, and he would have made for a more interesting show than Michael Jackson.  Especially the parts when I arrived onto the scene!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My money is on Marianne Elliot, who found some interesting ways to stage "COMPANY," but Stephen Brackett is a dark horse for "A Strange Loop," as is that show.  As for Conor McPherson, and "Girl From The North Country," Conor, hon, it's just not your time!

                                                                So that is my take on the TONY Awards.  Of course, we will all be tuning in on June 12--even Baby Gojira, Pippin, and Kerwyn--to see the outcome.

                                                                  Now, since this post began with Beanie Feldstein, it is fitting that it end with her.

                               Pay no attention to dyed Jonah in the upper left.  Now, you have to admit this IS cute.  But if what happened today does not tell Beanie she is unwanted on Broadway, nor that what was cute a quarter century ago need not be now, especially when one has no vocal chops, then she is more of a spoiled brat than I thought she was.

                                       Happy TONYS, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       An addendum:  Jennifer Simard, nominated for "COMPANY," does not play Jenny. She plays the part of Sarah, originated by Barbara Barrie in 1970--who also got a TONY nod for the part--and then Martha Plimpton in the 2011 concert version.

                                          Daniel Craig was also left out for this titular turn as "Macbeth."