The Drama
Desk today became the second major theater organization (following Monday’s
announcement by the Outer Critics Circle) to release its list of nominees for
the best of Broadway and Off-Broadway. Taking a look at where they overlap
might provide a glimpse into the crystal ball regarding the lead-up to the Tony
Awards – though do remember that the Tonys are presented only for Broadway
productions.
Things definitely will be colored by eliminating such powerhouses as Off Broadway’s Hamilton from the Tony race and Fun Home from Drama Desk and Outer
Critics Circle consideration (its Off Broadway production was eligible last
year, was nominated by both organizations, and won the OCC Award for best
musical).
So, with these caveats in place, let’s take that look. And if you want to see my discussion of the Outer Critics Circle nominations, LINK HERE.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING PLAY
Outer Critics Circle (OCC) nominated eight plays in all - three Broadway
and five Off Broadway. Drama Desk (DD) nominated seven – two Broadway and five
Off Broadway. Here’s where they overlap:
Between
Riverside and Crazy
The City
of Conversation
The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Implications
for the Tonys : The only
Tony-eligible play that received nominations from both OCC and DD is The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This play has been heralded as
the one to beat from the outset, and there is no reason to think anything has
changed.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
OCC nominated ten musicals – five Broadway and five Off Broadway. DD
nominated six. Here is where they
overlap:
An American
in Paris
Hamilton
Something
Rotten
The Visit
Implications
for the Tonys: Everyone’s
favorite, Hamilton, is considered by
many to be the lead horse for the 2016 race, but since it played Off Broadway this
year, it is not in the mix. Each of the remaining has its champions, but for
different reasons. An American in Paris, based on
the 1951 film, is garnering accolades for its choreography and the dancing by
its two leads, both recruited from the
top ranks of professional ballet stars. The
Visit, which has been kicking around for years, is a sentimental favorite
for its significance as the final Kander and Ebb musical to make its Broadway
debut, and the final musical to star the legendary Chita Rivera. That leaves Something Rotten, truly the new kid on
the block, which has been drawing both high praise and snubs. Still, with
twelve Outer Critics Circle nominations and nine Drama Desk nominations, let’s
not brush this one off too lightly. It might just nab the big one.
Except – there is that matter of Fun
Home, the little show that could, that did, and maybe that will.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING PLAY REVIVAL
OCC nominated five – four Broadway, and one Off Broadway. DD nominated six – one Broadway and five Off
Broadway. Here is where they overlap:
The
Elephant Man
Fashions
for Men
Implications for the Tonys: Of these two, only Broadway’s The Elephant Man is eligible
for Tony consideration. While the production, which starred Hollywood superstar
Bradley Cooper, is certainly a strong contender, it’s too soon to write off The
Heidi Chronicles, Skylight, or You
Can’t Take It With You.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL REVIVAL
OCC nominated five – four of which were Broadway productions. DD nominated six – four of them Broadway
productions. Here is where they overlap:
Into the
Woods
The King
and I
On the
Town
On the
Twentieth Century
Side Show
Implications
for the Tonys: Eliminate the
Off Broadway revival of Into
the Woods, and consider Side Show as an also-ran among this list. Each of the others will have its supporters,
but despite its many strengths, On the Town is likely to be overrun by
what looks to be a battle between The King and I and On The Twentieth
Century.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
OCC nominated five – two for Broadway productions, three Off
Broadway. DD nominated six – three
Broadway, and three Off Broadway. Here
is where they overlap:
Reed
Birney I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard
Bradley
Cooper The Elephant Man
Stephen
McKinley Henderson Between Riverside and Crazy
Ben
Miles Wolf Hall
Alex
Sharp The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time
Implications
for the Tonys: This is one
category where the two organizations agreed, though Drama Desk added a
well-deserved nomination for Bill Pullman’s excellent performance in the Off
Broadway production of the revival of David Rabe’s Sticks and Bones. For the
Tonys, it is likely to be a head-to-head between Bradley Cooper and Alex Sharp.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
OCC nominated five – two Broadway and three Off Broadway. DD nominated seven, only two of which were
for Broadway productions. Here is where
they overlap:
Jan
Maxwell The City of Conversation
Helen
Mirren The Audience
Tonya
Pinkins Rasheeda Speaking
Implications
for the Tonys: Helen Mirren
is the only one on the overlapping lists who is starring in a Broadway
production. She generally is considered
to be the frontrunner for the Tony, though she may see some competition from
Elizabeth Moss (The Heidi Chronicles),
Carey Mulligan (Skylight), and Ruth
Wilson (Constellations).
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
OCC nominated five, all for Broadway productions. DD nominated six, three for Broadway
productions. Here is where they overlap:
Brian d’Arcy
James Something Rotten!
Robert
Fairchild An American in Paris
Implications
for the Tonys: A win for
Brian d’Arcy James would cap off a great year for him, with this nomination
plus his acclaimed performance (and an OCC nomination) as King George III in Hamilton. For the Tony, his competition,
other than Robert Fairchild, will probably be Peter Gallagher (On The Twentieth Century) and Tony Yazbeck
(On The Town).
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
OCC nominated five, all for Broadway productions. DD nominated six, five of them for Broadway
shows. Here is where they overlap:
Kristin
Chenoweth On the Twentieth Century
Leanne
Cope An American in Paris
Chita
Rivera The Visit
Implications
for the Tonys: Kristin Chenoweth leads the pack here, but where, oh
where, is Kelli O’Hara (The King and I)?
She was nominated by OCC, but not by DD, but if anyone makes it a race for Ms.
Chenoweth, it has to be she.
Nominees
for OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Let’s set aside the other
categories (directors, featured performers, set and costume design, score) for
another time. I would, however, like to
take a look at a category for which there are many strong entries this year,
and that is for choreographer.
OCC nominated five, of
which four were for Broadway productions.
These were:
Joshua
Bergasse On the Town
Warren
Carlyle On the Twentieth Century
Casey
Nicholaw Something Rotten!
Christopher
Wheeldon An American in Paris
DD nominated six, of which five were for Broadway productions. These
were:
Joshua
Bergasse On the Town
Warren
Carlyle On the Twentieth Century
Steven Hoggett The
Last Ship
Casey
Nicholaw Something Rotten!
Christopher
Wheeldon An American in Paris
Implications
for the Tonys: Notice that,
with the exception of The Last Ship,
both organizations nominated the same four choreographers. All of them bring something special to
the productions they are associated with. At the moment, it does seem that Mr.
Wheeldon, a renowned modern ballet master, has the upper hand, but what a great
year this has been for dance on Broadway!
Stay tuned for more. The Tony
nominations will be announced on April 28.
We’ll take another look then.
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