Welcome to the 2024-25 Tony Awards season, one which saw 21 musicals and 21 plays opening on Broadway, along with one "special event," Ben Platt's concert residency at the Palace Theatre.
Who will win? We all will find out on June 8. Meanwhile, here Is Part II of my predictions -- Acting and Directing
For what it's worth, I am not a Tony voter, but I am an Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk voter, as well as the lead Broadway critic for Talkin' Broadway (talkinbroadway.com).
Of course, as a voter, I rely on my personal taste. That's not the case when it comes to predicting the Tony winners, a skill that requires guesswork with respect to how the votes will fall. Typically, my success rate lands at about 60%.
For this entry, I take a look at the awards for acting and directing.
Acting: The Musicals
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
The nominees are:
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
My Tony Prediction:
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending. This show has become "the little engine that could," and I think it will carry through to help Criss rise above the other excellent performers in this category.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
The nominees are:
Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
My Tony prediction:
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd. This unique rendition of Sunset Blvd. would not work without its star, and her performances of the show's two big numbers are definite high points, enough to tap her for the Tony.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
The nominees are:
Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins
My Tony prediction:
Danny Burstein, Gypsy. Audra McDonald clearly owns this revival, but Burstein turns in a wonderfully three-dimensional "Herbie" here.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
The nominees are:
Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves
Joy Woods, Gypsy
My Tony prediction:
Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club. A resplendent performance in a resplendent show. Tony time.
Acting: The Plays
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
The nominees are:
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
My Tony prediction:
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary! Escola nailed this Off Broadway and now on Broadway. It's a perfect farce, and they are perfect in it.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
The nominees are:
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
My Tony prediction:
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray. One actress, 26 roles. And even if many of them are pre-recorded, it's still quite a feat, and performed with perfection.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
The nominees are:
Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
My Tony Prediction:
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary! A perfect Abe for our Mary. Can't have one without the other, so it's Tony time for the pair.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
The nominees are:
Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young, Purpose
My Tony prediction:
Kara Young, Purpose. It looks like this outstanding actress, who received a Tony last year for her performance in Purlie Victorious, is primed to win her second one.
Best Direction of a Musical
The nominees are:
Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd.
My Tony Prediction:
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd. There is nothing subtle about Lloyd's direction of this most eccentric production, but he certainly should be commended and Tony-ed for staying true to a singular vision from start to end.
Best Direction of a Play
The nominees are:
Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
My Tony Prediction:
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain. Taymor's direction is the polar opposite of Jamie Lloyd's bombastic look-at-me one. The performances feel as if the director used a velvet glove to guide the cast into a glorious ensemble. Thumbs up here!
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NEXT UP: Best play, best musical, and final comments.
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