With the “quasi-Tonys” coming later on this fall, I thought it would be a good time to start a new series of columns where we take a look back at some past ceremonies and rethink how the awards were handed out. Let’s start with last year’s ceremony.

Sometime in the not-too-distant future, there is going to be an incredible performance on Broadway that everyone will be talking about. Obviously, this quality of performance will be looked at as an awards favorite. And this is where this performer and performance will break the Tony Awards. Because this performer identifies as non-binary and they’re playing a non-binary role. And the Tonys have no idea how to recognize that.

Reaction to the news that CBS will air a ‘Grease’ sing-a-long version hasn’t gone over well with theatre fans. Many were hoping the network would replace the delayed award ceremony with something that celebrates the theatre industry better than Grease. Thankfully, there are other ways we can celebrate what would have been Broadway’s biggest night and a New York-based choreographer has put together something quite unique.

This Sunday marks the 73rd Annual Tony Awards, broadcast live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall. And while the Tonys is theatre’s biggest night for a myriad of celebratory reasons, the real woman and inspiration behind the ceremony is often overlooked and forgotten. 

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.

The 2019 Broadway season has been filled with theatre that speaks directly to the culturally relevant shifts shaping our world.  From diversity and inclusion to feminism and politics, this season’s shows have tackled some tough subjects telling the stories that need to be told.  I had the pleasure of speaking with a few of the Tony award nominees on June 3rd at the 2019 Honors for Excellence in the Theater and 2019 Special Awards recipients about the power of theatre to affect change, both personally and culturally.

Selecting a “best” of creative work is about as futile as picking the “best” Beatle.

Yet we are here at awards season for Broadway and off-Broadway, and most lovers of this art form are paying close attention to who gets nominated and who wins.

As with most shows that close early on, months before the award season starts, they are typically forgotten by award voters. I certainly hope that isn’t the case for Head Over Heels.

While I don’t expect it to break into the Top 4 for a Best Musical nod, I do think it will get some love in the design categories. But most of all, I’m hoping Tony voters don’t forget about Bonnie Milligan’s incredible performance as Princess Pamela. Because it was one of the best performances I’ve seen in recent years.