CLOSE LOOK at Tony Nominees for Best Performance in a Musical. Who Will Win Among The Guys?

Who will take home the Tony for Best Actor and Best Featured Actor in a musical?  Let's take a look. 



The Nominees for Best Actor in a Musical

THE PROM is a hoot-and-a-half, and Brooks Ashmanskas contributes mightily to what makes it such a pleasure. But I think no Tony.  Keep reading. 

Derrick Baskin as Otis Williams serves as the anchor for Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations. The show itself is a glorious trip down memory lane for Temptations and Motown fans, but no Tony for Mr. Baskin.  Keep reading. 

Few on Broadway are working so hard at selling a show as Alex Brightman in the title role of Beetlejuice, and while the musical will surely sell tickets to fans, both of Brightman from his School of Rock days, and of the movie on which this musical has been adapted), I foresee no Tony this time.  Read on. 

If you could package sexy, adorable charm, it would look exactly like Damon Daunno as Curly in the Broadway revival of Oklahoma!  He also originated the role of Orpheus in the Off Broadway production of Hadestown, so double wow for his taking the risk of starting up with a new part instead of sticking with familiar territory.  Nevertheless, I do not think he'll win the Tony. So let's keep moving on.

Santino Fontana makes for an unlikely bearer of the title role of the musical adaption of the film, Tootsie. He is generally regarded as one of the nicest guys working in theater, not at all the image of the abrasive Michael Dorsey, who disguises himself as a woman in order to land an acting job. Fontana has the good fortune of being surrounded by one of the best supporting casts appearing in any one show these days, and collaboratively, it seems, everyone pitches in to make this role Tony worthy.  And so I predict it will come to pass.  

Nominees for Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Andy Grotelueschen is just terrific as the closest friend and roommate of Santino Fontana's character, Michael, in Tootsie -- well deserving of this nomination.  But no Tony this time.  Keep on reading. 

There could be no Hadestown without Mr. Hades himself, Patrick Page, whose booming bass sounds as if it were rising from the very depths of the Underworld.  Another truly worthy nominee, to be sure, but, I think, no Tony.  Read on. 

Jeremy Pope has accomplished a most amazing feat by being nominated for Best Actor in a Play for Choir Boy, and for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations. But because this is such an ensemble piece, and because it is so difficult to separate out the performances of the individual members of the singing group being depicted, I do not think this will be Mr. Pope's Tony winner. Keep reading. 

The same is true for Ephraim Sykes, who is also doing outstanding work in Ain't Too Proud. I think the Tony will go elsewhere this time. Read on.

André De Shields is the glue that holds Hadestown together. He is the storyteller who keeps us enthralled with the tale of Orpheus and Euridice, and of Persephone and Hades. I predict the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical will go to this masterful performer.  

___________________

Feel free to share this blog with your friends, and to offer up your own theater stories by posting a comment. I also invite you to check out the website Show-Score.Com, where you will find capsule reviews of current plays from Yours Truly and many other New York critics. I saw and reviewed all of plays featuring these nominees, so if you want more information, you know where to go.