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Let's get to the important stuff, right away. All the trio from 'Merrily' were nominated, and Celia Keenan-Bolger was nominated for her performance in "Mother Play."
The biggest and most surprising snub was Chip Zien for his award-caliber, heartwarming performance in "Harmony." Not only did he miss out, but so did, the show, Julie Benko, Sierra Borges, and the talented gentlemen making up the sextet.
"Merrily' was also recognized for Maria Friedman's direction and was nominated for "Best Revival Of A Musical."
As for the others, let us take a look--
Best Play "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" "Mary Jane" "Mother Play" "Prayer For The French Republic" "Stereophonic"
Really, now, 'Jaja'? It barely ran a month or so it seems. Who saw it, who had a chance to?
"Mary Jane--" Is it really a play, or a one-person exercise for Rachel McAdams? I would not mind seeing it, and I admire Amy Herzog, but is this the best the season had to offer?
"Mother Play--" I confess, this one surprised me. While I could not be happier for the stars, and my former coworker, Paula Vogel, this may be the case of a playwright being nominated for her body of work, for, despite Celia's magic, this was not one Paula's best.
"Prayer For The French Republic--" I had heard a lot about this one, and was intrigued, but it vanished before I could even consider going.
"Stereophonic--" The buzz on this one is really good. I would like to see it, and I think this will be the one to take home the award, as time will tell.
Best Musical " Hell's Kitchen" "Illinoise" "The Outsiders" "Suffs" "Water For Elephants"
"Hell's Kitchen--" A successful transfer from the Public, this looks like Alicia Keyes' "In The Heights." It looks and sounds interesting, but blends in with so many musicals--"Rent," 'Heights' and others, that can it really distinguish itself?
"Illinoise"--Based on a famous album that I have yet to hear, but plan to, this Justin Peck dance piece, which I am interested in seeing, could take home the prize. I am expecting it to, but we shall see, as time goes on.
"The Outsiders--" Oh, come now. They make a musical of anything these days. Wait till you hear my fabulous idea, in an upcoming post. On the other hand, the ads act like this is a "West Side Story" for our times. Is it groundbreaking at all? I doubt it.
"Suffs--" This is interesting. Depending on how good the score is, this may be the next "RAGS." Meaning it may have a spectacular afterlife. If it loses it is sure to close, so I hope a cast recording of some kind exists to allow me to evaluate the score.
"Water For Elephants--" People who read remember Sara Gruen's book, but does anyone else? And what the hell has she written since? The movie went nowhere, and while the show has great visual potential, it is the score that is the determining factor. Will people be singing songs from this at auditions years from now? I have my doubts.
Best Play Revival "Appropriate" "An Enemy Of The People" "Purlie Victorious"
Only three nods here. Interesting.
"Appropriate--" I knew it had it to be here somewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"An Enemy Of The People--" I have my ticket and I am going on June 5. This is the one to beat! I want to see it win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Purlie Victorious"--Set in the South, and with sharecroppers, how did the PC police let this one get through? Why not revive its better incarnation, the musical "Purlie," and let some rising star get their chance with "I Got Love?"
Best Musical Revival "Cabaret" "Guttenberg! The Musical" "Merrily We Roll Along" "The Who's Tommy"
The hell with everything else. Just give it to "Merrily We Roll Along!!!!!!!!!!"
Best Leading Actor In A Play" William Jackson Harper, "Uncle Vanya" Leslie Odom, Jr., "Purlie Victorious" Liev Schriber, "Doubt" Jeremy Strong, "An Enemy Of The People" Michael Stuhlbarg, "Patriots."
All good actors, some fine plays. But just give it to Jeremy Strong, and get it over with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Leading Actress In A Play Betsy Aidem, "Prayer For The French Republic" Jessica Lange, "Mother Play" Rachel McAdams, "Mary Jane" Sarah Paulson, "Appropriate" Amy Ryan, "Doubt" Again, all good actresses, but, really a TONY for Regina George? That is, like, so fetch! Jessica Lange is unworthy; her performance is not transcendent, unlike Celia's, which is. Amy Ryan is fine, but should "Doubt" really have been revived? I say, even if Sarah Paulson has a TONY, which I am not sure she has, give her another, anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Leading Actor In A Musical Brody Grant, "The Outsiders" Jonathan Groff, "Merrily We Roll Along" Dorian Harewood, "The Notebook" Brian D'Arcy James, "Days Of Wine And Roses" Eddie Redmayne, "Cabaret"
A strong category, and strong shows. But hell, just give it to Jonathan Groff, who is the most deserving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Leading Actress In A Musical Eden Espinosa, "Lempicka" Maleh Joi Moon, "Hell's Kitchen" Mary Ann Plunkett, "The Notebook" Kelli O'Hara, "Days Of Wine And Roses" Gayle Rankin, "Cabaret"
Kelli is already an icon; it's not like she needs another TONY. Gayle Rankin, playing Sally Bowles as Bette Davis's "Baby Jane?" Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mary Ann Plunkett has been kicking around the theater community for decades. I say it is time she received a TONY Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Featured Actor In A Play Will Brill, "Stereophonic" Eli Gelb, "Stereophonic" Jim Parsons, "Mother Play" Tom Peckina, "Stereophonic " Corey Stoll, "Appropriate"
Too many "Stereophonics" in one slot. That leaves it between Parsons and Stoll. I don't agree with the decision, but Parsons will probably win.
Best Featured Actor In A Musical Roger Bart, "Back To The Future" Joshua Boone, "The Outsiders" Brandon Victor Dixon, "Hell's Kitchen" Sky Lakota-Lynch, "The Outsiders" Daniel Radcliffe, "Merrily We Roll Along" Steve Skybell, "Cabaret"
I have only two words to say about this category--Daniel Radcliffe. Enough said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Featured Actress In A Play Quincy Tyler Bernstine, "Doubt" Juliana Canfield, "Stereophonic" Celia Keenan-Bolger, "Mother Play" Sarah Pidgeon, "Stereophonic" Kara Young, "Purlie Victorious"
There is room for only one here--Celia Keenan-Bolger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Featured Actress In A Musical Shoshana Bean, "Hell's Kitchen" Amber Iman, "Lempicka" Nikki M. James, "Suffs" Leslie Rodrigeuz Kritzer, "Spamalot" Kecia Lewis, "Hell's Kitchen" Lindsay Mendez, "Merrily We Roll Along" Bebe Neuwirth, "Cabaret"
There is only one here, and that is Lindsay Mendez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Direction Of A Play Daniel Auskin, "Stereophonic" Anne Kauffman, "Mary Jane" Kenny Leon, "Purlie Victorious" Lila Neuberger, "Appropriate" Whitney White, "Jaja's African Hair Braiding"
It is anyone's guess here. But if there is a "Stereophonic" sweep, then Daniel Auskin will be sure to win.
Best Direction Of A Musical Maria Friedman, "Merrily We Roll Along" Michael Greif, "Hell's Kitchen" Leigh Silverman, "Suffs" Jessica Stone, "Water For Elephants" Danya Taymor, "The Outsiders"
Just hand the award to Maria Friedman and get it over with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There, darlings, you have the TONY nominees for 2024. Congratulations to all and may my selections all win. Hey, Steve Carrell, why left out? Guess you are not ready for classical theater, yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ariana De Bose will be hosting again. At what venue?. When will she be wearing off as Flavor Of The Month? Soon she will be eating burgers with Beyonce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tune in June 16, which is also my niece's birthday, and Bloomsday, to see how the nominees do.
See you then, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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