Tony Musings - Best Revival of a Musical & Best Musical

IT’S TONY TIME!

The Tony Award ceremony is this Sunday, June 11.  This is the last of my pithy views on the musical nominations.  Let’s see if you agree or not.  Send me your thoughts.  I always love to hear from you.  

The schedule will be:

May 3 - Best Scenic Design of a Musical & Best Costume Design of a Musical

May 10 - Best Direction of a Musical & Best Choreography

May 17 - Best Book of a Musical & Best Original Score

May 24 - Best Performance by an Actor/Actress  in a Featured Role in a Musical

May 31 - Best Performance by an Actor/Actress  in a Leading Role in a Musical

June 7 - Best Revival of a Musical & Best Musical

Best Revival of a Musical
Into the Woods
Lerner & Loewe's Camelot
Parade
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Four shows that, depending on the year, could easily win this category.  I’m dropping Camelot from this year’s running.  Aaron Sorkin gave it a good try reworking the book, but it still doesn’t work.

The other three?  Flip a coin.  Draw a card.  Go Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.  I could make a case for any of them, but I do need to select a winner.

Sweeney Todd - not that impressed with Josh Groban even though Annaleigh Ashford was superb.  Nix this.

Into the Woods - I was very taken with this all-star production.  The acting was magnificent, the minimal set worked, the cow was fabulous, and I’ve never heard Sondheim’s score sound better.  Everything was so right, but…

Parade - I think the show has more weightiness with its themes and it is grand theater in the most positive sense.  Excellent staging lead performers buoyed by a superior featured cast.  My choice for Best Revival.

Best Musical
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot

As with Best Revival, any of these shows, depending on the year, could win Best Musical.

& Juliet - such a funny, feel-good show with a creative take on the Romeo & Juliet story, but this is not the year for a jukebox musical.

New York, New York - the best production numbers this season from a new musical.  However, the book fails the show.  Out.

Shucked - I’ve seen it twice and laughed throughout both times.  But with the competition, it’s not the year for a yuck-a-minute musical.

Some Like It Hot - throwback to the big, brassy, musical comedies of yore.  Great performances and choreography, but I found the score…disappointing. Sure many of the numbers work within the show like “You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather” and “Let’s Be Bad,” but they are not going to be that memorable.  So…

Kimberly Akimbo - my pick for Best Musical.  Smaller and quieter in scale than Some Like It Hot, but a well-defined story with deeply etched characters.  Victoria Clark gives a bravo performance.  Justin Cooley, a marvelous debut.  The score is full of beautifully crafted songs that are spirited, winsome and heartfelt.

Enjoy the Tony Awards!