We are now about halfway through the 2015-16 Broadway season, meaning we are now about halfway to this year's Tony Awards. To celebrate, let's go over the shows that have opened in the season so far that may have some chances of nominated on May 3rd.
I won't be covering every show for a variety of reasons. One, there's just a little show that's obviously going to be receiving a boatload of nominations (Hamilton). Two, there were a couple of revivals this season that were critically acclaimed, but didn't really catch on with the industry (Fool for Love, The Gin Game). Three, there were some shows that weren't really well received at all (Amazing Grace, Old Times, Allegiance, China Doll). So in alphabetical order, let's get on with the other shows...
The Color Purple-It may have only been a decade since the original production opened on Broadway, but this pared down production of the musical adaptation of Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name is currently looking like a strong contender. Expect nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Lead Actress for Cynthia Erivo, Featured Actress for Danielle Brooks and/or Jennifer Hudson, and Direction of a Musical for John Doyle. I could also see it getting nominated for Orchestrations as well as in the design awards.
Dames at Sea-Considering it's mixed critical response as well as the fact that it closed prematurely, it may be a long shot for Dames at Sea to be remembered come Tony time. Though what may have a shot are Lesli Margherita's featured performance as Mona Kent and Randy Skinner's choreography.
Fiddler on the Roof-Yes, it's a musical we see a lot of, but this current revival of the 1964 timeless classic did garner some critical acclaim and is so far off to a great start at the box office. Expect nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Lead Actor for Danny Burstein, Direction of a Musical for Bartlett Sher, Choreography for Hofesh Shechter, and in the design awards.
King Charles III-While this transfer of Mike Bartlett's Olivier Award Winning future history play hasn't been doing well at the box office, it still has garner some major critical praises. At this point, expect it to get nominated for Best Play, Lead Actor for Tim Pigott-Smith, Featured Actor for Richard Goulding, Featured Actress for Lydia Wilson, Direction of a Play for Rupert Goold, Lighting Design for Jon Clark, and/or Scenic Design for Tom Scutt.
Misery-Considering its lukewarm response, this stage adaptation of the 1987 Stephen King novel of the same name doesn't seem like much of a contender. The most that could be remembered come Tony time are Laurie Metcalfe's performance as Annie Wilkes (the role that won Kathy Bates the Oscar in the 1990 film adaptation) and David Korins' rotating set.
On Your Feet!-The new jukebox/biomusical about Gloria & Emilio Estefan did get some decent critical reviews, and is also currently making over a million dollars a week. If nominators wind up enjoying it as much as audiences, I could see it getting nominated for Best Musical, Lead Actress for Ana Villafane, Book for Alexander Dinelaris, Choreography for Sergio Trujillo, Lighting Design for Kenneth Posner, and/or Costume Design for Esosa.
School of Rock-It seems 'The Lord' of musical theatre is back with a bang. Expect this musical adaptation of the 2003 Richard Linklater film of the same name to be nominated for Best Musical, Lead Actor for Alex Brightman, Book for Julian Fellows, and Score for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater. It could also be possible for School of Rock to be nominated for Direction of a Musical for Laurence Connor, Choreography for JoAnn M. Hunter, Orchestrations for Andrew Lloyd Webber, and/or Lighting Design for Natasha Katz.
Sylvia-Considering that this production of the 1995 A.R. Gurney comedy hasn't really been catching on within the industry, the most that may be remembered come Tony time is last year's Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford for her performance as the title character.
Spring Awakening-With all of the critical praises surrounding this deaf-infused revival of the 2007 Tony-Winning musical, It's likely gonna be remembered with a nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. As for other categories, I could see director Michael Arden getting nominated for his re-imaging of the musical as well as Spencer Liff for his inventive choreography. As for the cast, I think the American Theatre Wing may acknowledge them the same way the cast of Deaf West Theatre's production of Big River was back in 2004 by receiving special Tony Awards.
Therese Raquin-Considering it's mixed response, this stage adaptation of the 1867 Emile Zola novel of the same name may best be remembered in the design awards.
A View From the Bridge-While the transfer of this Olivier Award-Winning revival of Arthur Miller's 1955 drama hasn't been a hit at the box office, it has still garner some major critical praises. At this point, expect it to get nominated for Best Revival of a Play, Lead Actor for Mark Strong, Featured Actress for Phoebe Fox and/or Nicola Walker, and Direction of a Play for Ivo van Hove. Even though it's a pared down production, it could still get nominated for Lighting and/or Scenic Design.
I won't be covering every show for a variety of reasons. One, there's just a little show that's obviously going to be receiving a boatload of nominations (Hamilton). Two, there were a couple of revivals this season that were critically acclaimed, but didn't really catch on with the industry (Fool for Love, The Gin Game). Three, there were some shows that weren't really well received at all (Amazing Grace, Old Times, Allegiance, China Doll). So in alphabetical order, let's get on with the other shows...
The Color Purple-It may have only been a decade since the original production opened on Broadway, but this pared down production of the musical adaptation of Alice Walker's 1982 novel of the same name is currently looking like a strong contender. Expect nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Lead Actress for Cynthia Erivo, Featured Actress for Danielle Brooks and/or Jennifer Hudson, and Direction of a Musical for John Doyle. I could also see it getting nominated for Orchestrations as well as in the design awards.
Dames at Sea-Considering it's mixed critical response as well as the fact that it closed prematurely, it may be a long shot for Dames at Sea to be remembered come Tony time. Though what may have a shot are Lesli Margherita's featured performance as Mona Kent and Randy Skinner's choreography.
Fiddler on the Roof-Yes, it's a musical we see a lot of, but this current revival of the 1964 timeless classic did garner some critical acclaim and is so far off to a great start at the box office. Expect nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Lead Actor for Danny Burstein, Direction of a Musical for Bartlett Sher, Choreography for Hofesh Shechter, and in the design awards.
King Charles III-While this transfer of Mike Bartlett's Olivier Award Winning future history play hasn't been doing well at the box office, it still has garner some major critical praises. At this point, expect it to get nominated for Best Play, Lead Actor for Tim Pigott-Smith, Featured Actor for Richard Goulding, Featured Actress for Lydia Wilson, Direction of a Play for Rupert Goold, Lighting Design for Jon Clark, and/or Scenic Design for Tom Scutt.
Misery-Considering its lukewarm response, this stage adaptation of the 1987 Stephen King novel of the same name doesn't seem like much of a contender. The most that could be remembered come Tony time are Laurie Metcalfe's performance as Annie Wilkes (the role that won Kathy Bates the Oscar in the 1990 film adaptation) and David Korins' rotating set.
On Your Feet!-The new jukebox/biomusical about Gloria & Emilio Estefan did get some decent critical reviews, and is also currently making over a million dollars a week. If nominators wind up enjoying it as much as audiences, I could see it getting nominated for Best Musical, Lead Actress for Ana Villafane, Book for Alexander Dinelaris, Choreography for Sergio Trujillo, Lighting Design for Kenneth Posner, and/or Costume Design for Esosa.
School of Rock-It seems 'The Lord' of musical theatre is back with a bang. Expect this musical adaptation of the 2003 Richard Linklater film of the same name to be nominated for Best Musical, Lead Actor for Alex Brightman, Book for Julian Fellows, and Score for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater. It could also be possible for School of Rock to be nominated for Direction of a Musical for Laurence Connor, Choreography for JoAnn M. Hunter, Orchestrations for Andrew Lloyd Webber, and/or Lighting Design for Natasha Katz.
Sylvia-Considering that this production of the 1995 A.R. Gurney comedy hasn't really been catching on within the industry, the most that may be remembered come Tony time is last year's Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford for her performance as the title character.
Spring Awakening-With all of the critical praises surrounding this deaf-infused revival of the 2007 Tony-Winning musical, It's likely gonna be remembered with a nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. As for other categories, I could see director Michael Arden getting nominated for his re-imaging of the musical as well as Spencer Liff for his inventive choreography. As for the cast, I think the American Theatre Wing may acknowledge them the same way the cast of Deaf West Theatre's production of Big River was back in 2004 by receiving special Tony Awards.
Therese Raquin-Considering it's mixed response, this stage adaptation of the 1867 Emile Zola novel of the same name may best be remembered in the design awards.
A View From the Bridge-While the transfer of this Olivier Award-Winning revival of Arthur Miller's 1955 drama hasn't been a hit at the box office, it has still garner some major critical praises. At this point, expect it to get nominated for Best Revival of a Play, Lead Actor for Mark Strong, Featured Actress for Phoebe Fox and/or Nicola Walker, and Direction of a Play for Ivo van Hove. Even though it's a pared down production, it could still get nominated for Lighting and/or Scenic Design.