Tony Awards Decide Eligibility for 14 Productions Including CYRANO, ANNIE, DROOD

[jacobsnchz14]

UPDATE FROM PLAYBILL.COM

Playbill.com has learned that the short-lived comedy The Performers, which co-starred Cheyenne Jackson and Henry Winkler, did not run long enough to be eligible for nomination; however, both the new musical Scandalous and the two-person David Mamet drama The Anarchist, which are also both closed, are eligible for nomination. None of three solo shows — Running On Empty, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and Manilow On Broadway — sought eligibility. The brief holiday run of Elf The Musical, which had previously been seen on Broadway, is not eligible for a Best Revival of a Musical nomination; however, the limited holiday engagement of A Christmas Story The Musical is eligible for a Best New Musical nomination.

[Jordan Catalano]

It's a crime that Ari Graynor won't be eligible for an award.

[TalkinLoud]

That sucks about The Performers. I'd vote for Ari Graynor!

[goldenboy]

I love Chita Rivera and Katie Finneran. I am a huge fan of both.

IF there is a theatre God--neither will be nominated because they were each
blatantly miscast and were not up to their normal excellent performances.

They can each stay home this year but I do hope they perform on the telecast in other capacities than Drood or Annie.

[Chicago Star]

I'm hoping Annaleigh Ashford gets a featured nomination. She stole the show during her number in Kinky Boots.

[jetts7]

I wonder why they haven't talked about nominations for Bring It On and Chaplin? Rob McClure WILL win the tony! I also think Ryann Redmond should be nominated for featured actress.

[mikey2573]

Didn't Joel Grey win the Tony for Featured Actor in CABARET? Then, years later, Cummings won for Best Actor in the same role (though I believe the show had a lot of new material).

[OKBroadwayFan]

They met late last year on the eligibility for Chaplin, Harvey and others.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/171544-Tony-Rulings-Eligibility-Discussed-for-Harvey-Bring-It-On-Chaplin-Enemy-of-the-People

[wicked1492]

Also, let's get one thing straight: Kerry O'Malley was NOT nominated for a Tony for her "work" in INTO THE WOODS. The nominees were Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Spencer Kayden, Andrea Martin and Harriet Harris, Harris being the eventual winner.

[AEA AGMA SM]

"How on earth is The Anarchist eligible?"

I know that they made performances available for Tony voters to attend because I saw it with one of the voters.

I have since said that she owes me a really good show for sitting through that one with her.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Lead Actress could get competitive: Maltildas, Crawford, Block, Carmello, Miller (Most likely), Osnes... I'm not really familiar with Kink Boots, but maybe that? I'm very excited to see what happens with that.

[bjh2114]

Kinky Boots does not have a leading actress. And I'd hardly call that list competitive.

[mikem]

Presumably, Deborah Cox from Jekyll and Hyde and Valisia LeKae (did she get divorced or something?) from Motown will also be in lead, but I would agree that's not a great list of candidates. Either Laura Osnes or Patina Miller will probably take it (I have a feeling the Matildas are going to be ruled ineligible for a group nomination. Three Billys was bad enough, but four Matildas, each only performing twice a week?)

[Kelly2]

If Laura Osnes wins a Tony, I'll be a bit disappointed. Not that the Tonys are oh-so-prestigious and only legends and goddesses win, but that girl is less interesting than watching paint dry.

Interested to see Patina's performance though, for sure. Sadly, I think Stephanie J. Block will be passed over for the win, but I do think her performance is impressive and her voice speaks for itself.

[SFFrontRow]

To AEA AGMA SM (what a name LOL)...

I think you clarified some confusion on show eligibility for the Tonys. Even though the Anarchist ran 14 post opening days and The Performers only 4, is The Performers not eligible because it was not made available to voters?

As for the lead vs featured in different productions of the same show, I think that is mostly related to billing and then to stage time/size of role. It seemed rather odd to me that Dorothy Loudon was considered lead in Annie, but I was young and stupid at the time.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Withe The Performers that is most likely the case. To be eligible the producers must send an invitation to all Tony voters for eight paid performances (the tickets are comped). Producers can invite voters to previews, but I'm sure no producer wants to risk a voter seeing something that may not be ready and nobody wants to assume that they'll only run long enough that they would have to use previews to get the voters in. So if a producer is feeling really brave, or really knows there is no chance the show will run, they can invite voters to eight previews, open, close two days after opening, and still be eligible for awards. Of course, the odds of a show that closes that quickly actually being good enough to score a nomination is next to impossible, but, in theory, it could happen the way I've just laid out.

[bjh2114]

Sadly, I think Stephanie J. Block will be passed over for the win, but I do think her performance is impressive and her voice speaks for itself.

The thing is, Kelly, that Drood REALLY isn't a leading role. Even though he/she is the title character, he/she doesn't really have that much stage time. It's a very similar situation to the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Drood is never going to win Best Actress in a Musical, despite being ruled into that category, when other women have parts that are so much larger. But yes, Stephanie's talent is deserving.

I have a feeling the Matildas are going to be ruled ineligible for a group nomination. Three Billys was bad enough, but four Matildas, each only performing twice a week?

I'm not so sure. These Matildas are a lot younger than the Billys and the part is even more of a behemoth, if that's possible. She's on stage for almost every single scene, and the book scenes are way more intense than the ones the Billys had to deal with. Also (and I know this isn't a guarantee), they collectively won the Olivier, so there's a bit of precedent there. At this point, I definitely think they'll be eligible and will be the frontrunners. They might NOT, however, be eligible for the Drama Desk, as was the case with the Billys.

[Kelly2]

"The thing is, Kelly, that Drood REALLY isn't a leading role. Even though he/she is the title character, he/she doesn't really have that much stage time. It's a very similar situation to the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Drood is never going to win Best Actress in a Musical, despite being ruled into that category, when other women have parts that are so much larger. But yes, Stephanie's talent is deserving."

Oh I completely agree with you about that. I don't think her part is large enough to warrant a Best Actress win, I just meant that I've seen Stephanie in a few shows over the years and I do hope one day she finds the right part so she can take home a Tony. I'd be happy to see her nominated for Drood though, all the same.

[mc1227]

Kelly2, Imo, Chase should be thrilled to be set up for featured since he wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell to be nominated vs Norton, who is the very best thing about Drood.

[Kelly2]

mc1227, I agree with you 100% that he has a much better chance to be nominated in featured, I was simply saying that to me, his part of very sizable compared to Gregg Edelman's, who is also eligible in featured for Drood.

[defyingravity11]

I still can't believe that Bundy was nominated for Legally Blonde over Block in The Pirate Queen. I saw both multiple times and Laura Bell could barely make it through the show. Block continues to surprise me in her roles (Wicked, Pirate Queen, Vera Stark, Anything Goes, Drood). Love to see her get some recognition from the Wing.

[bdn223]

I don't think the Matilda's have a shot to win, especially since Crawford is doing 8 performances a week. There was a ton of baxklasg when the Billys won since voters only had to see one performance(one billy perform) before they cast their vote. Unless Matilda's producers offer voters tickets to 4 performances each, I think they won't win, or will be ruled inelligble flat out.

Also the Billys were deemed elligle for the award due to the "rule of 3", which states if 3 actors play one unified character they will be deemed elligible jointly as the one persona. Shrek used the same rule to get "the 3 little pigs" and "3 blind mice" deemed elligible for best featured actor and actress repectfully despite the actors ensemble billing.

[Up In One]

Supporting actress in a musical will be between Ashford in Kinky Boots and Martin in Pippin. While many fine supporting performances have been given this season the momentum of having these two show stopping performances at the end of the season will be hard to overcome. If the Kinky writers did their job the rewrites after Chicago should ensure Ashford a win. No matter how good a performance, Martin's role is a five minute cameo and not original. Irene Ryan stopped the show in the original Pippin with the same role and song, was nominated and did not win. I think Kinky will put Ashford on the map.

[AEA AGMA SM]

We also don't know where Lauren Ward will be placed for Matilda, and I wouldn't count Lesli Margherita out for Mrs. Wormwood (who will definitely be eligible as featured actress).

Miss Honey may not be as flashy a role as some of the others eligible for featured actress, but the character itself can be quite heartbreaking and does go through quite the journey herself in the show.

And Mrs. Wormwood could also steal some thunder from some of the others as well. I don't think it's as easy as saying it's between Annaleigh Ashford and Andrea Martin.

[Musicaldudepeter]

So will Finneran be nominated for Hannigan in featured? Does she have a shot at winning? Would she not have had a better shot at winning/being nominated for Leading actress? Featured seems like a tough year this year... I'm assuming Bertie Carvel will go featured and win for Trunchbull.

[Kelly2]

I agree that Bertie will likely be nominated and certainly does stand a chance, but I really think everyone here will be surprised by Matilda's mediocrity. The performances are strong but people here talk like it will be the runaway hit of the spring. Having seen it, I highly doubt that.