Tony Awards Predictions: Who Wins and Who Should've Been Nominated
(PHOTO CREDIT: HELEN MAYBANKS)
On Sunday, Broadway’s biggest and brightest will converge on Radio City Musical Hall for the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. While many may disagree with me and the nomination totals might say otherwise, I don’t see any one show dominating the evening. I think you’re going to see a bunch of different shows take home these awards.
So let’s run down every category and give you my picks of who wins, should win and who was should’ve been included in the nominations, if applicable.
Best Orchestrations
Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose – Hadestown
Simon Hale – Tootsie
Larry Hochman – Kiss Me, Kate
Daniel Kluger – Oklahoma!
Harold Wheeler – Ain’t Too Proud
Will Win: Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose – Hadestown
Should Win: Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose – Hadestown
Missing from Category: Charlie Rosen - Be More Chill
While fans of the show may vehemently disagree, I don’t think Be More Chill was truly snubbed from many categories, but I do think Rosen’s work deserved a nod here.
Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown – Choir Boy
Warren Carlyle – Kiss Me, Kate
Denis Jones – Tootsie
David Neumann – Hadestown
Sergio Trujillo – Ain’t Too Proud
Will Win: Warren Carlyle – Kiss Me, Kate
Should Win: Sergio Trujillo – Ain’t Too Proud
Missing from Category: Christopher Gattelli - The Cher Show
Carlyle has already won multiple awards for Kiss Me Kate and I don’t expect that run to end on Sunday. But Trujillo’s work shouldn’t be overlooked. Gattelli’s omission was a real surprise for me.
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski – King Kong
Peter Hylenski – Beetlejuice
Steve Canyon Kennedy – Ain’t Too Proud
Drew Levy – Oklahoma!
Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz – Hadestown
Will Win: Peter Hylenski – Beetlejuice
Should Win: Peter Hylenski – Beetlejuice
Missing from Category: Ryan Rumery - Be More Chill
Another category I was sure I was going to see Be More Chill included.
Best Sound Design of a Play
Adam Cork – Ink
Scott Lehrer – To Kill a Mockingbird
Fitz Patton – Choir Boy
Nick Powell – The Ferryman
Eric Seichim – Network
Will Win: Eric Seichim – Network
Should Win: Eric Seichim – Network
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams – The Cher Show
Howell Binkley – Ain’t Too Proud
Bradley King – Hadestown
Peter Mumford – King Kong
Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini – Beetlejuice
Will Win: Bradley King – Hadestown
Should Win: Kenneth Posner and Peter Nigrini – Beetlejuice
This is a big year for lighting design and I don’t often say that but any of these six could take home the award and I would be fine with it.
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin – Ink
Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Peter Mumford – The Ferryman
Jennifer Tipton – To Kill a Mockingbird
Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden – Network
Will Win: Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden – Network
Should Win: Jan Versweyveld and Tal Yarden – Network
No controversy here, I think Network is set to take home more than one design award and this is the other one.
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Michael Krass – Hadestown
William Ivey Long – Tootsie
William Ivey Long – Beetlejuice
Bob Mackie – The Cher Show
Paul Tazewell – Ain’t Too Proud
Will Win: Bob Mackie – The Cher Show
Should Win: Bob Mackie – The Cher Show
Missing from Category: Arianne Phillips - Head Over Heels
Mackie has been dominated the awards season, and rightfully so. But Phillips should really have been included given her design for Head Over Heels, at least more than two nods for Long.
Best Costume Design of a Play
Rob Howell – The Ferryman
Toni-Leslie James – Bernhardt/Hamlet
Clint Ramos – Torch Song
Ann Roth – To Kill a Mockingbird
Ann Roth – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Will Win: Toni-Leslie James – Bernhardt/Hamlet
Should Win: Toni-Leslie James – Bernhardt/Hamlet
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini – Ain’t Too Proud
Peter England – King Kong
Rachel Hauck – Hadestown
Laura Jellinek – Oklahoma!
David Korins – Beetlejuice
Will Win: David Korins – Beetlejuice
Should Win: David Korins – Beetlejuice
Korins’ work on Beetlejuice is a live textbook for scenic design. It’s a wonder to behold. He’s been cleaning up the awards season so far.
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether – To Kill a Mockingbird
Bunny Christie – Ink
Rob Howell – The Ferryman
Santo Loquasto – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Jan Versweyveld – Network
Will Win: Rob Howell – The Ferryman
Should Win: Rob Howell – The Ferryman
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Joe Iconis – Be More Chill
Eddie Perfect – Beetlejuice
Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
Chad Beguelin & Matthew Sklar – The Prom
Adam Guettel – To Kill a Mockingbird
David Yazbek – Tootsie
Will Win: Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
Should Win: Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
No contest for me on this one.
Best Book of a Musical
Dominique Morisseau – Ain’t Too Proud
Scott Brown & Anthony King – Beetlejuice
Anaïs Mitchell – Hadestown
Chad Beguelin & Bob Martin – The Prom
Robert Horn – Tootsie
Will Win: Robert Horn – Tootsie
Should Win: Dominique Morisseau – Ain’t Too Proud
Best Direction of a Musical
Rachel Chavkin – Hadestown
Scott Ellis – Tootsie
Daniel Fish – Oklahoma!
Des McAnuff – Ain’t Too Proud
Casey Nicholaw – The Prom
Will Win: Rachel Chavkin – Hadestown
Should Win: Rachel Chavkin – Hadestown
She should have won for Natasha, Pierre… in 2017 but I fully expect Chavkin to take hom the award this time becoming only the fourth woman to do so in this category.
Best Direction of a Play
Rupert Goold – Ink
Sam Mendes – The Ferryman
Bartlett Sher – To Kill a Mockingbird
Ivo van Hove – Network
George C. Wolfe – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Will Win: Bartlett Sher – To Kill a Mockingbird
Should Win: Sam Mendes – The Ferryman
Missing from Category: Joe Mantello - The Boys in the Band
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Lilli Cooper – Tootsie as Julie Nichols
Amber Gray – Hadestown as Persephone
Sarah Stiles – Tootsie as Sandy Lester
Ali Stroker – Oklahoma! as Ado Annie Carnes
Mary Testa – Oklahoma! as Aunt Eller
Will Win: Ali Stroker – Oklahoma!
Should Win: Ali Stroker – Oklahoma!
Missing from Category: Bonnie Milligan - Head Over Heels and Angie Schworer - The Prom
We’ve discussed this before, but anyone who saw Milligan in Head Over Heels can’t deny that she should be in this group. The same goes for Schworer who is utterly delightful in The Prom.
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
André De Shields – Hadestown as Hermes
Andy Grotelueschen – Tootsie as Jeff Slater
Patrick Page – Hadestown as Hades
Jeremy Pope – Ain’t Too Proud as Eddie Kendricks
Ephraim Sykes – Ain’t Too Proud as David Ruffin
Will Win: André De Shields – Hadestown as Hermes
Should Win: André De Shields – Hadestown as Hermes
Missing from Category: George Salazar - Be More Chill
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Fionnula Flanagan – The Ferryman as Aunt Maggie Far Away
Celia Keenan-Bolger – To Kill a Mockingbird as Scout Finch
Kristine Nielsen – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus as Janice
Julie White – Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus as Carol
Ruth Wilson – King Lear as Cordelia / Fool
Will Win: Celia Keenan-Bolger – To Kill a Mockingbird as Scout Finch
Should Win: Ruth Wilson – King Lear as Cordelia / Fool
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Bertie Carvel – Ink as Rupert Murdoch
Robin de Jesús – The Boys in the Band as Emory
Gideon Glick – To Kill a Mockingbird as Dill Harris
Brandon Uranowitz – Burn This as Larry
Benjamin Walker – All My Sons as Chris Keller
Will Win: Bertie Carvel – Ink as Rupert Murdoch
Should Win: Robin de Jesús – The Boys in the Band as Emory
Missing from Category: Gbenga Akinnagbe - To Kill a Mockingbird
I would love to see de Jesus take home the award here but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Akinnagbe’s omission is ludicrous.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stephanie J. Block – The Cher Show as Star
Caitlin Kinnunen – The Prom as Emma Nolan
Beth Leavel – The Prom as Dee Dee Allen
Eva Noblezada – Hadestown as Eurydice
Kelli O'Hara – Kiss Me, Kate as Lilli Vanessi / Katharine
Will Win: Stephanie J. Block – The Cher Show as Star
Should Win: Beth Leavel – The Prom as Dee Dee Allen
Missing from Category: Rebecca Naomi Jones - Oklahoma!
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas – The Prom as Barry Glickman
Derrick Baskin – Ain’t Too Proud as Otis Williams
Alex Brightman – Beetlejuice as Betelgeuse
Damon Daunno – Oklahoma! as Curly McLain
Santino Fontana – Tootsie as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
Will Win: Santino Fontana – Tootsie as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
Should Win: Santino Fontana – Tootsie as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
As problematic as Tootsie is at times, that’s not Fontana’s fault. He’s giving a helluva performance, worthy of the award.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Annette Bening – All My Sons as Kate Keller
Laura Donnelly – The Ferryman as Caitlin Carney
Elaine May – The Waverly Gallery as Gladys Green
Janet McTeer – Bernhardt/Hamlet as Sarah Bernhardt
Laurie Metcalf – Hillary and Clinton as Hillary
Heidi Schreck – What the Constitution Means to Me as Heidi Schreck
Will Win: Elaine May – The Waverly Gallery as Gladys Green
Should Win: Janet McTeer – Bernhardt/Hamlet as Sarah Bernhardt
Missing from Category: Glenda Jackson - King Lear
While I was shouting from the rooftops as to why Jackson wasn’t included, I honestly can’t find a name to bump to add her on. This is an incredibly strong category. Smart money is on May’s legendary return but McTeer was my early favorite and that hasn’t changed.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Paddy Considine – The Ferryman as Quinn Carney
Bryan Cranston – Network as Howard Beale
Jeff Daniels – To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch
Adam Driver – Burn This as Pale
Jeremy Pope – Choir Boy as Pharus Jonathan Young
Will Win: Jeff Daniels – To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch
Should Win: Paddy Considine – The Ferryman as Quinn Carney
Many thought Nathan Lane should be here but I didn’t. I loved a lot of these performances but Considine’s was a different level. But I don’t think we’ll see his name called on Sunday.
Best Revival of a Musical
Kiss Me, Kate
Oklahoma!
Will Win: Oklahoma!
Should Win: Oklahoma!
Best Revival of a Play
All My Sons
The Boys in the Band
Burn This
Torch Song
The Waverly Gallery
Will Win: The Waverly Gallery
Should Win: The Boys in the Band
Best Play
Choir Boy
The Ferryman
Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Ink
What the Constitution Means to Me
Will Win: The Ferryman
Should Win: The Ferryman
Scott Rudin shouldn’t be too sore on Sunday night. While Mockingbird was laughingly left off, The Ferryman will make sure he gets a trophy to take home.
Best Musical
Ain’t Too Proud
Beetlejuice
Hadestown
The Prom
Tootsie
Will Win: Hadestown
Should Win: The Prom
Initially, I thought The Cher Show had been robbed but the more I think about it, I like who ended up with nominations. I have no reason to think Hadestown won’t win. I thought it was going to win no matter what season it decided to open on Broadway. But dammit, I love The Prom.