Coast of Utopia seems like one of those shows that's more widely praised than widely enjoyed (if even watched all the way through). Is there a chance something more basic, like Frost/Nixon, could upset?
I was wondering that. But the play itself has surmounted Angels in America and Indiscretions for most nominations for a play ever (10, beating them by one... and before you say that the new split makes that easier, I think it would've done it anyway. The production itself got nothing but raves). That said, it lost the Olivier Award.
Josie Hogan also got Wendy Hiller a nod in the original production, fwiw.
I was very confident in Still getting nominated based on the fact that her production is huge... but the director being nominated without a play/revival nod corresponding with it is rare. Oh well.
--Mister Tee wrote:When will Damien weigh in with his glee about supporting actor in a play?
Couldn't be happier, especially since Ethan -- like co-nominee Billy Crudup -- is one of the few film stars who regularly comes back to the theatre. I suspect they will split votes and the award will go to Stark Sands.
I only wish John McMartin had received the nomination he deserved for Featured Actor in a Musica, and then Grey Gardens would have been tied with Spring Awakening for the lead.
Tee, I hadn't gone to the theatre all that much in recent years, but theatremania.com, playbill.com and a few other sites have really god discounts on just about every show other than Wicked and Coast of Utopia. I recently saw FrostNixon and LoveMusik for 60 bucks, and this Friday it's Coram Boy.
Edited By Big Magilla on 1244142865
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
Soaring Broadway prices have made this into a distant spectator sport for me, but my based-on-no-insider-knowledge observations:
The tendency in recent years has been for the critically acclaimed art-sical (Urinetown, Light in the Piazza) to dominate lower categories, but for a more populist show to win best musical. Here, though, both of the likely winners -- Spring Awakening and Grey Gardens -- fall into the more esoteric category. Where will those touring company voters go?
Coast of Utopia seems like one of those shows that's more widely praised than widely enjoyed (if even watched all the way through). Is there a chance something more basic, like Frost/Nixon, could upset?
The leading actor/actress tandems each feature one seeming sure shot (Langella in play, Ebersole in musical -- though Audra McDonald is never to be completely ruled out), and one toss-up. Actress in a play could go to Eve Best (though Josie is often touted as the Tony-likely performance -- Kate Nelligan '84, Cherry Jones a few years back -- and only Colleen Dewhurst has triumphed in the role), or Lansbury on sentiment, or Redgrave on one-woman-show-ness. Actor in a musical might go to Cerveris, or Esparza -- or maybe even to David Hyde Pierce, for his recent dedication to Broadway.
When will Damien weigh in with his glee about supporting actor in a play?
--dws1982 wrote:I doubt they'll feel obligated to give Lansbury the Tony just because she's never lost before.
Of course not, but the sentiment for her and for Audra McDonald in the musical category is for them to tie Julie Harris' five wins.
I don't think there's much chance for McDonald this year - she'll undoubtedly have many more opportunities, but for Lansbury,, this is likely her last hurrah.
In the musical categories, I got 4 out of 4 for best musical and musicalrRevival, 5 out of 5 for lead actor, 4 out of 5 for featured actress, but only 3 out of 5 for lead actress and 2 out of 5 for featured actor.
The biggest surprsie for me was Laura Bell Bundy for best actress in Legally Blonde over Ashley Brown in Mary Poppins and Kritin Chenoweth in The Apple Tree. I refuse to call it Legally Blonde The Musical. Isn't it obvious it's a musical? I had the same problem with Superman. To me, the 1978 film will always be Superman, not Superman The Movie.
I doubt they'll feel obligated to give Lansbury the Tony just because she's never lost before. That she's nominated for a play no one likes (there was even talk of closing it in previews and reopening it after they made some major changes) won't help any.
OscarGuy wrote:Here's the big problem with Lansbury getting a nomination:
Marian Seldes has gotten as many good reviews as Lansbury from what I've heard, so they'd likely have to be nominated together.
But that's not the worst of it. Lansbury has NEVER lost a Tony. Since the play failed miserably (unless Tony voters really loved it), she wouldn't be a favorite to win. So, since her record is untarnished, I doubt she would be nominated unless she had a strong chance of winning.
so they did nominate her after all. And no Marian Seldes...sounds to me like a fifth Tony may be in the offing for Lansbury. She's never lost...and she's getting up there. She's the real toast of Broadway (as opposed to the melba toast Patti Lupone)
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
Best Play
The Coast of Utopia Author: Tom Stoppard
Frost/Nixon Author: Peter Morgan
The Little Dog Laughed Author: Douglas Carter Beane
Radio Golf Author: August Wilson
Best Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
Best Book of a Musical
Curtains Rupert Holmes & Peter Stone
Grey Gardens Doug Wright
Legally Blonde The Musical Heather Hach
Spring Awakening Steven Sater
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Curtains Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb, John Kander & Rupert Holmes
Grey Gardens Music: Scott Frankel
Lyrics: Michael Korie
Legally Blonde The Musical Music & Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Spring Awakening Music: Duncan Sheik
Lyrics: Steven Sater
Best Revival of a Play
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
Translations
Best Revival of a Musical
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade
Best Special Theatrical Event
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only
Kiki & Herb Alive on Broadway
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Boyd Gaines Journey's End
Frank Langella Frost/Nixon
Brían F. O’Byrne The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber Talk Radio
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best A Moon for the Misbegotten
Swoozie Kurtz Heartbreak House
Angela Lansbury Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave The Year of Magical Thinking
Julie White The Little Dog Laughed
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris LoveMusik
Raúl Esparza Company
Jonathan Groff Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce Curtains
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Laura Bell Bundy Legally Blonde The Musical
Christine Ebersole Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk Curtains
Donna Murphy LoveMusik
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Chisholm Radio Golf
Billy Crudup The Coast of Utopia
Ethan Hawke The Coast of Utopia
John Earl Jelks Radio Golf
Stark Sands Journey's End
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Jennifer Ehle The Coast of Utopia
Xanthe Elbrick Coram Boy
Dana Ivey Butley
Jan Maxwell Coram Boy
Martha Plimpton The Coast of Utopia
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle Legally Blonde The Musical
John Cullum 110 in the Shade
John Gallagher, Jr. Spring Awakening
David Pittu LoveMusik
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Charlotte d’Amboise A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker Mary Poppins
Orfeh Legally Blonde The Musical
Mary Louise Wilson Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba Curtains
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage Frost/Nixon
David Grindley Journey's End
Jack O'Brien The Coast of Utopia
Melly Still Coram Boy
Best Direction of a Musical
John Doyle Company
Scott Ellis Curtains
Michael Greif Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer Spring Awakening
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford Curtains
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell Legally Blonde The Musical
Best Orchestrations
Bruce Coughlin Grey Gardens
Duncan Sheik Spring Awakening
Jonathan Tunick LoveMusik
Jonathan Tunick 110 in the Shade
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Bob Crowley & Scott Pask The Coast of Utopia
Jonathan Fensom Journey's End
David Gallo Radio Golf
Ti Green and Melly Still Coram Boy
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley Mary Poppins
Christine Jones Spring Awakening
Anna Louizos High Fidelity
Allen Moyer Grey Gardens
Best Costume Design of a Play
Ti Green and Melly Still Coram Boy
Jane Greenwood Heartbreak House
Santo Loquasto Inherit the Wind
Catherine Zuber The Coast of Utopia
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes Legally Blonde The Musical
Bob Crowley Mary Poppins
Susan Hilferty Spring Awakening
William Ivey Long Grey Gardens
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable Coram Boy
Brian MacDevitt Inherit the Wind
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, and Natasha Katz The Coast of Utopia
Jason Taylor Journey's End
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams Spring Awakening
Christopher Akerlind 110 in the Shade
Howard Harrison Mary Poppins
Peter Kaczorowski Grey Gardens
Regional Theatre Tony Award®
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA
Here's the big problem with Lansbury getting a nomination:
Marian Seldes has gotten as many good reviews as Lansbury from what I've heard, so they'd likely have to be nominated together.
But that's not the worst of it. Lansbury has NEVER lost a Tony. Since the play failed miserably (unless Tony voters really loved it), she wouldn't be a favorite to win. So, since her record is untarnished, I doubt she would be nominated unless she had a strong chance of winning.
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
BEST PLAY
The Coast of Utopia
Frost/Nixon
Radio Golf
The Year of Magical Thinking
BEST MUSICAL
Curtains
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Spring Awakening
BEST REVIVAL - PLAY
Heartbreak House
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
BEST REVIVAL - MUSICAL
110 in the Shade
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
BEST ACTOR - PLAY
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brian O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio
Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon
BEST ACTRESS - PLAY
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Swoosie Kurtz, Heartbreak House
Angela Lansbury, Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed
BEST ACTOR - MUSICAL
Michael Ceveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparaza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains
Martin Short, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
BEST ACTRESS - MUSICAL
Kristen Chenoweth, The Apple Tree
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
BEST FEATURED ACTOR - PLAY
Niall Buggy, Translations
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Ethan Hawke, The Coast of Utopia
John Mahoney, Prelude to a Kiss
Jefferson Mays, Journey's End
BEST FEATURED ACTRESS - PLAY
Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Tonya Pinkens, Radio Golf
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia
Lily Rabe, Heartbreak House
BEST FEATURED ACTOR - MUSICAL
John Cullum, 110 in the Shade
Jason Danieley, Curtains
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
Daniel Jenkins, Mary Poppins
John McMartin, Grey Gardens
BEST FEATURED ACTRESS - MUSICAL
Charlotte D'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Celia Keenan-Bulger, Les Miserables
Barbara Walsh, Company
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains
BEST DIRECTOR - PLAY
Robert Falls, Talk Radio
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grandley, Journey's End
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
BEST DIRECTOR - MUSICAL
John Doyle, Company
Michael Grief, Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening
Hal Prince, Curtains
BEST SCORE
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Legally Blonde
Spring Awakening
BEST BOOK
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Legally Blonde
LoveMusik
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Legally Blonde
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
The Times, They Are A-Changing
BEST SETS - PLAY
The Coast of Utopia
Heartbreak House
Journey's End
Radio Golf
BEST SETS - MUSICAL
Company
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
BEST COSTUMES - PLAY
The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Heartbreak House
Journey's End
BEST COSTUMES - MUSICAL
Curtains
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN - PLAY
The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Frost/Nixon
Journey's End
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN - MUSICAL
Curtains
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Mary Poppins
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS
Company
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Spring Awakening
"Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good."
- Minor Myers, Jr.
Best Play Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Frost/Nixon
Radio Golf
Best Musical Curtains
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Spring Awakening
Best Revival, Play Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
A Moon for the Misbegotten
Translations
Best Revival, Musical 110 in the Shade
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
Best Director, Play
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grindley, Journey's End
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Melly Still, Coram Boy
Best Director, Musical
John Doyle, Company
Scott Ellis, Curtains
Michael Grief, Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening
Best Leading Actor, Play
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brian F. O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio
Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon
Best Leading Actor, Musical
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains
Best Leading Actress, Musical
Kristin Chenowith, The Apple Tree
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
Best Leading Actress, Play
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Angela Lansbury Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Marian Seldes, Deuce
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed
Best Featured Actress, Play
Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia
Amy Irving, The Coast of Utopia
Dana Ivey, Butley
Tonya Pinkins, Radio Golf
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia
Best Featured Actress, Musical
Charlotte D'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Capathia JEnkins, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Mary-Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains
Best Featured Actor, Musical
Jason Danielly, Curtains
John Gallagher Jr., Spring Awakening
Edward Hibbert, Curtains
John McMartin, Grey Gardens
David Pittu, LoveMusik
Best Featured Actor, Play
Anthony Chisolm, Radio Golf
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Richard Easton, The Coast of Utopia
John Mahoney, Prelude to a Kiss
Denis O'Hare, Inherit the Wind
----
Best Score, Musical Coram Boy
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Spring Awakening
Best Book of a Musical Curtains
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Spring Awakening
Best Orchestrations Company
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Spring Awakening
Best Set Design, Play The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Journey's End
Translations
Best Set Design, Musical Curtains
High Fidelity
Mary Poppins
The Pirate Queen
Best Costume Design, Play The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Heartbreak House
Inherit the Wind
Best Costume Design, Musical Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
The Pirate Queen
Best Lighting Design, Play The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Journey's End
Translations
Best Lighting Design, Musical Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
Best Choreography Curtains
Legally Blonde
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
Big Magilla wrote:I haven't seen anything and I don't follow the straight plays that closely so I'll defer to Damien's predicitons there, though I think Hugh Dancy is considered lead in Journey's End. If he isn't, he should be.
I think you're probably right, Big, so I replaced him with Stark Sands.
As I write this, the Tony nominating committee is meeting at the Hotel Edison, two blocks from my apartment.
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
I haven't seen anything and I don't follow the straight plays that closely so I'll defer to Damien's predicitons there, though I think Hugh Dancy is considered lead in Journey's End. If he isn't, he should be.
For musicals, these are my predictions:
Best Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
Outside chance: LoveMusik
I personally don’t get Spring Awakening, which is little more than an ode to teen sex and suicide, but that’s what sells so it’s a sure bet to be nominated and likely to win unless there’s a surge of commercial support for Mary Poppins.
Best Revival of a Musical
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade
Outside chance: Les Miserables, which is really more of a return engagement than a true revival. They really should limit the category to three and deny both Les Miserabels and A Chorus Line which are carbon copies of the originals instead of productions that attempt something new.
Best Actor
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
Outside chance: Martin Short, Fame Becomes Me
Best Actress
Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins
Kristen Chenoweth, The Apple Tree
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik
Outside chance: Debra Monk, Curtains (though she would be a shoo-in in support)
Best Featured Actor
Jason Danieley, Curtains
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
Daniel Jenkins, Mary Poppins
John McMartin, Grey Gardens
David Pittu, LoveMusik
Outside chance: Matt Cavenaugh, Grey Gardens; Bobby Steggert, 110 in the Shade
Best Featured Actress
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Barbara Walsh, Company
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains
Outside chance: Charlotte d’Amboise, A Chorus Line
Best Score
Curtains (John Kander, Fred Ebb, Rupert Holmes)
Grey Gardens (Scott Frankel, Michel Corie)
Legally Blonde (Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin)
Spring Awakening (Duncan Sheik, Steven Slater)
Sonic Youth wrote:My mother saw this. She said the leads were extraordinary, the songs are extraordinary... shame about the book.
Michael Cerveris singing the extraordinarily beautiful song "It Never Was You" is one of those theatrical moments I will cheerish for the rest of my life (and the performance is completely unadorned).
"Y'know, that's one of the things I like about Mitt Romney. He's been consistent since he changed his mind." -- Christine O'Donnell
