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2018 TONY AWARD NOMINEES 

This morning, Tony-winner Leslie Odom, Jr. and Waitress star Katharine McPhee, announced the 2018 Tony Award nominees. 

Mean Girls and Spongebob Squarepants Broadway lead with the most nominations. 

 

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast live on June 10th at 8/7c on CBS.  To see the complete list of nominees, visit Broadway Direct. 

Read on for thoughts on some of the nominees from SoundBeacon Entertainment's executive producer, Glenna Bowman, and Broadway alum, Tommy Martinez (Newsies, Broadway; Hairspray Live! NBC; Kinky Boots, 1st National Tour).

 

Best Musical 

The Band’s Visit 

Frozen 

Mean Girls 

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 

These four shows are SO different. Mean Girls is very smart and funny and, with Tina Fey at the helm, is a good bet to win. Then, again, SpongeBob, is a surprising competitor in this category, so maybe all bets are off.  Even with the big budget Disney offering, Frozen,  Glenna and Tommy are rooting for The Band's Visit to win.  The show is unlike most other musicals currently running on Broadway.  It is funny, poignant, and beautifully told. 

 

Best Play 

The Children 

Farinelli and The King 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 

Junk 

Latin History for Morons 

Glenna and Tommy don't see a lot of plays, but Tommy saw Harry Potter in April and was blown away, saying it is "something special that hasn't been seen on Broadway."  It will be interesting to see if the other shows in this category can rise above this behemoth 5-hour, two-part production.

 

Best Revival of a Musical 

My Fair Lady 

Once On This Island 

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 

Sadly, neither Glenna, nor Tommy, has seen My Fair Lady, but they have heard great things about the show.  Once On This Island is also a strong contender.  Glenna and Tommy are both fans of Carousel in the featured actor and actress categories (see below), but, perhaps, not for the overall musical.  Carousel is a beautiful, visual show, with outstanding dancers. but the story may be a little outdated for today's audiences, even as it offers loads of nostalgia for fans of the original production (1945) or past revivals (1954 and 1957).
 

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre 

Angels in America 
Music: Adrian Sutton 

The Band’s Visit 
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek 

Frozen 
Music & Lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez 

Mean Girls 
Music: Jeff Richmond 
Lyrics: Nell Benjamin 

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 
Music & Lyrics: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., Domani & Lil’C 

No guesses for the winner in this category. They are all very different, and Sponge Bob brings a whole new dynamic to this category with the many hit writers contributing music to the show.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical 

Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady 
Joshua Henry, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 
Tony Shalhoub, The Band’s Visit 
Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 

No guesses here, either.  These shows are so different and all the performers gifted in their own amazing way.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical 

Lauren Ambrose, My Fair Lady 
Hailey Kilgore, Once On This Island 
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical 
Katrina Lenk, The Band’s Visit 
Taylor Louderman, Mean Girls 
Jessie Mueller, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 

Any of these talented women could win this category.  Glenna and Tommy are pulling for Katrina Lenk.  She is a powerful presence on the stage, both witty and charming.  Then, again, Lauren Ambrose is one to watch for - all the buzz is that she is spectacular as Liza Doolittle. 

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play 

Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 
Michael Cera, Lobby Hero 
Brian Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero 
Nathan Lane, Angels in America 
David Morse, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh 

No bets on this category, but Anthony Boyle is deserving for his role in Harry Potter.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play 

Susan Brown, Angels in America 
Noma Dumezweni, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 
Deborah Findlay, The Children 
Denise Gough, Angels in America 
Laurie Metcalf, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women 

Noma Dumezweni is deserving, but might be hard-pressed to beat out Laurie Metcalf or the other talented women in this category.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical 

Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady 
Alexander Gemignani, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 
Grey Henson, Mean Girls 
Gavin Lee, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 
Ari’el Stachel, The Band’s Visit 

These roles are all so different - all good - but Glenna and Tommy are hoping the win goes to Alexander Gemignani who is a fantastic singer and very funny.  He and Lindsay Mendez own the stage in Carousel.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical 

Ariana DeBose, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical 
Renée Fleming, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 
Lindsay Mendez, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 
Ashley Park, Mean Girls 
Diana Rigg, My Fair Lady 

Lindsay Mendez is Glenna and Tommy's pick.  Just like her featured partner, Alexander Gemignani, Lindsay is very funny and an amazing singer. 

 

Best Scenic Design of a Play 

Miriam Buether, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women 
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King 
Christine Jones, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 
Santo Loquasto, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh 
Ian MacNeil and Edward Pierce, Angels in America 

Tommy says, "I just don't know if anyone can compete with Harry Potter in this category. The show is visually stunning."

 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical 

Dane Laffrey, Once On This Island 
Scott Pask, The Band’s Visit 
Scott Pask, Finn Ross & Adam Young, Mean Girls 
Michael Yeargan, My Fair Lady 
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 

It's hard to say.  Again, the shows are all very different.  Mean Girls is all projection.  The Band's Visit is well done, but probably can't compete with Sponge Bob or My Fair Lady.

 

Best Costume Design of a Play 

Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King 
Nicky Gillibrand, Angels in America 
Katrina Lindsay, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 
Ann Roth, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women 
Ann Roth, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh 

Tommy thinks the winner could be Harry Potter.  "They have some pretty amazing costumes." 

 

Best Choreography 

Christopher Gattelli, My Fair Lady 
Christopher Gattelli, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical 
Steven Hoggett, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two 
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls 
Justin Peck, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel 

The choreography in Carousel is one of its best features, so it is a good bet to win.  But Harry Potter also has some outstanding choreography.

 

If you have thoughts on the nominees or your own picks to win, leave a comment below. We would love to hear your opinions.

05/01/2018

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