The 2012 Tony nominations were announced yesterday, and as a 2009 Tony Award Holder, I feel that I am justly qualified to talk about the nominees. So below is your quick and dirty, Tony nominations roundup:
Bravos:
My 2011 musical obsession snagged 8 Tony n
ominations including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Jane Maxwell’s layered and brilliant performance as Phyllis in Follies. After 40 years, Follies is finally getting credit as an American Masterpiece. I expect to see this show on-stage a lot on Tony Night.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Wow, talk about a category with star power: Nina Arianda, Tracie Bennett, Stockard Channing, Linda Lavin and Cynthia Nixon. This is the category I’m most excited for. Each of these women played characters that were multi-faceted, deep and commanding. All of them deserve this award, it’s a tragedy that only one will walk away with it.
Regional Theatre Award – The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. As a Washingtonian, I am so thrilled for them. The Shakespeare Theatre not only does the most imaginative productions, but they also are bringing Shakespeare alive for a new generation of theatergoers. All of DC is in their debt.
The ticked off, I cannot believe they got overlooked category:
(Sorry, but this part of the post is very emotionally charged.)
Funny how a show can bomb with critics and be a smash with audiences, and that’s exactly Evita’s story. The show recieved only 3 nominations, and it’s star Elena Roger was snubbed. Regardless, I thought this production was dazzling and Elena Roger’s Eva was seductive. This is a terrific production, and Roger’s performance is my current show recommendation for anyone going to Broadway. Who cares about Tony Awards, this show is going to be around for a long time, and deservedly so.
Elaine Paige in Follies
Aside from Roger in Evita, Elaine Paige’s Carlotta in Follies was this season’s most overlooked performance. Carlotta is a tough role, because the character has very few lines, and yet her solo song “I’m Still Here” is the message of Follies. Plenty of actresses have sung “I’m Still Here” but Paige nailed it. And that alone deserves a Tony nomination at the very, very, very least!
Best Musical
This was a pathetic year for new musicals. With Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark being the first show to open, the omen’s should have been clear. None of the nominated musicals deserve this award, and yet we have four nominees. I often moan about how new musicals seem to lack quality/character/imagination/risk. Maybe the only way to fix this problem is by not nominating shows unless they are really-truly-deserving. Here’s hoping that the 2013 season brings better shows!
The 2012 Tony Awards will air on CBS on Sunday June 10, 2012.
For more information on the Tony Awards, please visit: http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html
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