Hard to believe that another Broadway season has come and gone, but this Sunday, the theater community once again gathers to honor its best and brightest at the Tony Awards. USA TODAY’s Elysa Gardner offers her predictions, and preferences.
Best play
“The Assembled Parties” (Richard Greenberg); “Lucky Guy” (Nora Ephron); “The Testament of Mary” (Colm Toibin); “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (Christopher Durang)
Should/will win: The wacky, whimsical, ultimately poignant Chekhov mashup “Vanya and Sonia” has already earned several awards for Durang, a beloved vet whose time has clearly arrived.
Best musical
“Bring It On: The Musical;” “A Christmas Story, The Musical;” “Matilda The Musical;” “Kinky Boots”
Should/will win: For all its predictable aspects, “Kinky Boots” is more emotionally authentic – and flat-out fun – than the critically adored “Matilda,” a wonderful production of a show that’s a little too self-conscious and smug to be a great musical.
Will win: “Matilda,” probably – though it’ll be close.
Best revival of a play
“Golden Boy;” “Orphans;” “The Trip to Bountiful”; “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Should/will win: Lincoln Center Theater’s shattering “Golden Boy” is just as deserving as the Steppenwolf-based “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?:” but the latter brought a new, bracing perspective to a more frequently performed 20th century classic, and will be rewarded for that.
Best revival of a musical
“Annie;” “The Mystery of Edwin Drood;” “Pippin;” “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Should/will win: All were thoroughly charming, but “Pippin” was magical, reimagining a duly loved show (that had never been revived on Broadway) with both reverence and exhilarating imagination.
Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play
Tom Hanks, “Lucky Guy;” Nathan Lane, “The Nance;” Tracy Letts, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?;” David Hyde Pierce, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike;” Tom Sturridge, “Orphans”
Should win: Lane gave one of the richest performances of his formidable career, and the prize would have been an easy favorite – had it not been for Letts, who with his ferocious take on George in “Virginia Woolf” made a role played by many great actors completely his own.
Will win: Letts, most likely – though don’t discount Hanks; Tony loves movie stars when they’re game and credible.
Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play
Laurie Metcalf, “The Other Place;” Amy Morton, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?;” Kristine Nielsen, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike;” Holland Taylor, “Ann;” Cicely Tyson, “The Trip to Bountiful”
Should win: Like her co-star, Morton took an iconic character and put her own stamp on it; her witheringly dry, palpably needy Martha was a revelation.
Will win: In arguably the tightest race of any high-profile category, Tyson, a showbiz legend who made a delightful return to Broadway after a three-decade absence, is the likeliest victor.
Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical
Bertie Carvel, “Matilda The Musical;” Santino Fontana, “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella;” Rob McClure, “Chaplin;” Billy Porter, “Kinky Boots;” Stark Sands, “Kinky Boots”
Should/will win: Porter was entirely convincing, and captivating, as a fabulous drag queen and a haunted, insecure young man – who happened to be the same person.
Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical
Stephanie J. Block, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood;” Carolee Carmello, “Scandalous;” Valisia LeKae, “Motown The Musical;” Patina Miller, “Pippin;” Laura Osnes, “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Should/will win: Each was enchanting in her own way, but Miller faced the greatest challenge: re-creating a role that would forever be associated with one of musical theater’s great male performers, Ben Vereen. She pulled it off with both class and sass.
Best direction of a play
Pam MacKinnon, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?;” Nicholas Martin, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike;” Bartlett Sher, “Golden Boy;” George C. Wolfe, “Lucky Guy”
Should/will win: Bartlett’s gorgeous Boy and Wolfe’s smart, likable Guy make them strong contenders, but MacKinnon’s fearless Virginia Woolf gives her the edge.
Best direction of a musical
Scott Ellis, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood;” Jerry Mitchell, “Kinky Boots”; Diane Paulus, “Pippin;” Matthew Warchus, “Matilda The Musical”
Should/will win: Warchus and Mitchell did splendidly with original work, but Paulus’ revitalization of “Pippin” has been singled out by many musical fans and critics.
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