May Madness begins on Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM with the announcement of this year's Tony nominations.
There are a few places to watch this year so tune in to either:
- CBS's The Early Show (which promises to show "some" of the categories).
- NY1. This is Roma Torre's favorite time of year.
- In the middle of Times Square on the JumboTron (someone please go and tweet a pic to me)
Below are my predictions (plus a few 'type bytes') on the nominations in the two big money categories (Best Musical and Best Play), enumerated in order of my confidence:
BEST MUSICAL
1. Billy Elliot
Billy had us at hello. Billy was a shoe-in for a nom (and a possible win) when it was first announced that the show was happening, and he won't disappoint.
2. Next To Normal
N2N is the Passing Strange of 2009 – the gutsy, artistic, "non-commercial" choice, that took a strange but courageous path to Broadway. Nominators (and voters who like to look really smart) love these types of shows.
3. 9 to 5
Many shows like to open late in the season, in order to use the Tonys as free publicity at a time when they need the boost. Unfortunately, if you're not reviewed well, those reviews are fresh in the nominators minds when they head to the Edison cafe to pick the nominees. That's what happened to 9 to 5. Nevertheless, Dolly's charm beats Ben Brantley's any day of the week, so expect a nom.
4. Title of Show
The fourth spot is the tough choice. It's the wild card. You've got TOS, Rock of Ages, 13, Story of My Life, Tale of 2 Cities, and the big one . . . that twenty million dollar monster known as Shrek.
I think Shrek and Dreamworks will get Disney-fied (3 out of 6 Disney shows have not been nominated for Best Musical: Aida, Tarzan and Little Mermaid). And as much as I'm pulling for what I call a "Marisa Tomei" for 13 (Marisa shocked the world when she was nominated, and then won an Oscar for My Cousin Vinny), I think the fourth spot is a cage match between the scrappy and you-tubey Title of Show and the jukeboxy, and surprisingly well-reviewed shock of the year . . . Rock of Ages.
When it comes down to it, the insidery nominators will choose a show about their own industry that tells the story of how hard it can be to put on a show, over a show that just wants you to rock . . . hard.
BEST PLAY
1. God of Carnage
This year has made a lot of people sick to their stomach. God of Carnage is this season's Pepto. Comedy is back, and that makes Carnage a cinch to lead the category.
2. Reasons to be Pretty
Neil Labute made his debut on Broadway and he'll make his debut in this category as well. The real question is whether this solid play can compete in this market and stay around until the ceremony?
3. Dividing The Estate
This transfer from Primary Stages had an all too short 10 week run on Broadway. A possible extension was in the works, but the theater was booked (with the even shorter run of Story of My Life). Hartford Stage did its part to keep the play in the minds of the nominators. There's a strong emotional movement 'a foot' to give Mr. Foote the Tony Award that eluded him (he passed away in March of this year at 92, which was too short of a run as well, if you ask me), and that will help secure the 3rd spot.
4. The American Plan
The fourth Play spot is a tricky one with two major contenders: Plan and Irena's Vow. While the subject matter and pure emotion of Vow is much more gripping than Plan, expect the nominators to give this spot to Mr. Greenberg, whom they know and love, rather than the Hollywood outsider, Dan Gordon. Personally, I'd like to give Gordon kudos for taking a break from Hollywood and giving the stage a shot (If only more writers would do that). Tovah will get a nom to make up for it.
Do you agree? Disagree? Have your own picks for tomorrow's nominations? Comment away!
Read tomorrow's blog (or watch one of the viewing options mentioned above) to see how I did.
And make sure you continue to read throughout this awards season. Our annual 'Producer's Perspective Tony Pool' is coming up (prizes, prizes, PRIZES), and of course, I'll be tweeting from The Tonys as the awards are given out.
So stay Tw-uned.
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2 Responses to Tony Nominations are Tomorrow. My picks for the big ones.
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I saw Billy in London. The only surprise was why it took so long to get to B’way! Great show.
Agree completely with you on Next to Normal and reasons to be pretty- both are really excellent. You remarked about Passing Strange- I think N2N reminded me more of Spring Awakening- dealing with tough subject matters, especially for a musical. But it works- so well!
Such a strong season for straight plays- r2bp’s weakness is the names on the marquee are not as strong as some of the others. But the play sure is!
Didn’t see title of show but your logic is sound. I saw Rock of Ages. Pretty straight forward- if you like the headbanger music you will like the show. Still, some depth would have helped there (in both script and choice of music…Night Ranger? Styx? Ugh!).
HOw are you leaving off 33 Variations? It’s got to be at least a contender for the 4th slot I would think… and it seems to me like American Plan is going to have backlash from not really being a new play. no?