Welcome back to 'Tonys Flashback', where I take a deep dive into all of the nominees from any previous acting race at the Tony Awards. Today, we'll be taking a look back at what ended up being a pretty competitive race from 2013. So for each of the five nominees, let's go in order of who was (probably) last place to first place, shall we?
5. Tom Sturridge-Orphans
5. Tom Sturridge-Orphans
In the Broadway premiere of Lyle Kessler's 1983 drama, Tom Sturridge played Phillip, a grown orphan who is sensitive, reclusive, and has never ventured out of his house in North Philadelphia. He is provided for by his older brother, Treat, who is a violent pickpocket and thief. They were both deserted in their childhoods by an unfaithful father and the death of their mother. As Treat is out stealing to put food on the table, Phillip stays home thinking he will die from something outside because of a near deadly allergic reaction he had as a child. Haunted by the death of their mother, he spends his time lying in her closet filled with unworn clothes. Curious about the world, he secretly attempts to understand things by watching reruns of The Price Is Right and underlining words in newspapers and old books he finds lying around.
This was the first and only Tony nomination for Tom Sturridge. Orphans also marked the British actor's Broadway debut. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Outer Critics Circle Award (as a Featured Actor), was nominated for the Drama League, and was one of 12 recipients of the Theatre World Award that year for his debut.
What's also worth noting is that Tom Sturridge's Broadway debut was a quite a struggle. Originally, Shia LaBeouf was set to star in the production as Treat, but departed during rehearsals after running into a conflict with co-star, Alec Baldwin. So Ben Foster ended up taking over. Not only that, but the show received a very lukewarm critical reception, and even after receiving 2 Tony nominations (including Best Revival of a Play), it ended up concluding its limited run (on May 19th) earlier than its originally planned closing date of June 30th due to low grosses at the box office. So for Tom Sturridge, the nomination was the award, and he at least went on to do longer runs on Broadway twice. First in a stage adaptation of 1984 in 2017, then in a one-man show by Simon Stephens titled Sea Wall, which was produced in repertory with Jake Gyllenhaal performing Nick Payne's A Life, in 2019.
4. David Hyde Pierce-Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
This was the first and only Tony nomination for Tom Sturridge. Orphans also marked the British actor's Broadway debut. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Outer Critics Circle Award (as a Featured Actor), was nominated for the Drama League, and was one of 12 recipients of the Theatre World Award that year for his debut.
What's also worth noting is that Tom Sturridge's Broadway debut was a quite a struggle. Originally, Shia LaBeouf was set to star in the production as Treat, but departed during rehearsals after running into a conflict with co-star, Alec Baldwin. So Ben Foster ended up taking over. Not only that, but the show received a very lukewarm critical reception, and even after receiving 2 Tony nominations (including Best Revival of a Play), it ended up concluding its limited run (on May 19th) earlier than its originally planned closing date of June 30th due to low grosses at the box office. So for Tom Sturridge, the nomination was the award, and he at least went on to do longer runs on Broadway twice. First in a stage adaptation of 1984 in 2017, then in a one-man show by Simon Stephens titled Sea Wall, which was produced in repertory with Jake Gyllenhaal performing Nick Payne's A Life, in 2019.
4. David Hyde Pierce-Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
In this original comedy by Christopher Durang, David Hyde Pierce played Vanya, a gay middle-aged man who lives in his family home with his adopted sister, Sonia, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Named after characters from the works of playwright Anton Chekhov by their theater-enthusiast professor parents, Vanya and Sonia have not had to grow up. After spending their adulthood looking after their now-dead parents, neither of them has a job, and money is provided for by their movie star sister, Masha, who owns the house and pays the bills. Vanya and Sonia both spend their days reflecting on their lost chances, debating whether the grove of nine cherry trees on their property constitutes an orchard, and bemoaning their rather Chekhovian lot in life.
This was the second of three Tony nominations for David Hyde Pierce. At that point, he was already a previous winner from 2007 for his lead performance as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi in the musical Curtains. He went on to receive an additional bid for his lead performance as Horace Vandergelder in the 2017 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!. Leading up to the Tonys, David had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards.
Despite his show winning Best Play that year, David Hyde Pierce didn't end up going along for the ride as part of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike's final prize haul (which consisted of the aforementioned award and nothing else). Then again, since he was already a previous winner (in a race that did result in him pulling an upset), I think it's safe to say that David's nomination was a culmination of his performance in the play, how respected he is within the industry, and how popular Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike was with the Broadway community. While I haven't seen (nor read) the play itself, it appears to me that the story might be a bit more of an ensemble piece where each member of the six-person cast gets their own chance to shine, thus David Hyde Pierce's character doesn't like dominate the show.
3. Nathan Lane-The Nance
This was the second of three Tony nominations for David Hyde Pierce. At that point, he was already a previous winner from 2007 for his lead performance as Lieutenant Frank Cioffi in the musical Curtains. He went on to receive an additional bid for his lead performance as Horace Vandergelder in the 2017 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!. Leading up to the Tonys, David had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards.
Despite his show winning Best Play that year, David Hyde Pierce didn't end up going along for the ride as part of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike's final prize haul (which consisted of the aforementioned award and nothing else). Then again, since he was already a previous winner (in a race that did result in him pulling an upset), I think it's safe to say that David's nomination was a culmination of his performance in the play, how respected he is within the industry, and how popular Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike was with the Broadway community. While I haven't seen (nor read) the play itself, it appears to me that the story might be a bit more of an ensemble piece where each member of the six-person cast gets their own chance to shine, thus David Hyde Pierce's character doesn't like dominate the show.
3. Nathan Lane-The Nance
In this original drama by Douglas Carter Beane, Nathan Lane played Chauncey Miles, a gay burlesque comic who plays a "nance" character onstage. At a time when it was easy to play gay and too dangerous to be gay, Chauncey's uproarious antics on the stage stand out in marked contrast to his offstage life.
This was the fourth of six Tony nominations for Nathan Lane. At that point, he had already won twice before for starring in musicals. First as Pseudolus in the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, then in 2001 as Max Bialystock in The Producers. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play as well as the Drama League for Distinguished Performance, and was also nominated by the Drama Desk Awards.
What is worth noting is that since Nathan Lane departed his previous Broadway outing at the time, The Addams Family, he started taking a break from musicals as he felt ready to start challenging himself more as an actor. According to the New York Times' Tony voter survey that year, quite a few people believed Nathan Lane was giving his best performance yet in The Nance. He was definitely seen as a threat to win. Though maybe some voters at the time felt that Nathan would probably have plenty of opportunities to win a third Tony Award in the future. After all, he's certainly proven to be quite successful at establishing himself more as an actor in recent years with not just The Nance, but also as Roy Cohn in the most recent Broadway revival of Angels in America (which did win him a third Tony) in 2018 and as the title character in Taylor Mac's Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus in 2019.
2. Tom Hanks-Lucky Guy
This was the fourth of six Tony nominations for Nathan Lane. At that point, he had already won twice before for starring in musicals. First as Pseudolus in the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, then in 2001 as Max Bialystock in The Producers. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play as well as the Drama League for Distinguished Performance, and was also nominated by the Drama Desk Awards.
What is worth noting is that since Nathan Lane departed his previous Broadway outing at the time, The Addams Family, he started taking a break from musicals as he felt ready to start challenging himself more as an actor. According to the New York Times' Tony voter survey that year, quite a few people believed Nathan Lane was giving his best performance yet in The Nance. He was definitely seen as a threat to win. Though maybe some voters at the time felt that Nathan would probably have plenty of opportunities to win a third Tony Award in the future. After all, he's certainly proven to be quite successful at establishing himself more as an actor in recent years with not just The Nance, but also as Roy Cohn in the most recent Broadway revival of Angels in America (which did win him a third Tony) in 2018 and as the title character in Taylor Mac's Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus in 2019.
2. Tom Hanks-Lucky Guy
In this original drama by Nora Ephron, Tom Hanks played Mike McAlary, a real-life journalist who worked at the New York Daily News. The story begins in 1985 and ends with his death at the age of 41 in 1998. The play covers the high points and tribulations of McAlary's career as he traverses the clubby atmosphere of the New York City tabloid industry in what some regard as its heyday.
This was the first and only Tony nomination for Tom Hanks. Lucky Guy also marked the two-time Oscar winner's first (and as of now, only) appearance on Broadway. Leading up to the Tonys, he had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Drama Desk Awards. Hanks was also one of 12 recipients of the Theatre World Award that year for his debut.
According to the Times' aforementioned survey, "He may be a movie star with two Academy Awards to his credit, but plenty of theater insiders were skeptical that he could pull off his Broadway debut, carrying Lucky Guy on his shoulders, playing the temperamental columnist Mike McAlary. Mr. Hanks delivers a solid performance, and he has been turning out for Broadway industry events (also known as Tony campaign stops) with geniality and humility to spare. Many voters said they had a soft spot for him too." The New York Times ended up suggesting that Tom Hanks was going to win. After all, Lucky Guy was the final work of Nora Ephron, a popular figure in the New York cultural scene who had died the year before. So there was a feeling that Tony voters were going to show some respect for it, and awarding Hanks would've been a great way to do so. Especially given how he surprised everyone by being such a celebrated movie star giving a fully committed Broadway debut.
1. Tracy Letts-Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
This was the first and only Tony nomination for Tom Hanks. Lucky Guy also marked the two-time Oscar winner's first (and as of now, only) appearance on Broadway. Leading up to the Tonys, he had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Drama Desk Awards. Hanks was also one of 12 recipients of the Theatre World Award that year for his debut.
According to the Times' aforementioned survey, "He may be a movie star with two Academy Awards to his credit, but plenty of theater insiders were skeptical that he could pull off his Broadway debut, carrying Lucky Guy on his shoulders, playing the temperamental columnist Mike McAlary. Mr. Hanks delivers a solid performance, and he has been turning out for Broadway industry events (also known as Tony campaign stops) with geniality and humility to spare. Many voters said they had a soft spot for him too." The New York Times ended up suggesting that Tom Hanks was going to win. After all, Lucky Guy was the final work of Nora Ephron, a popular figure in the New York cultural scene who had died the year before. So there was a feeling that Tony voters were going to show some respect for it, and awarding Hanks would've been a great way to do so. Especially given how he surprised everyone by being such a celebrated movie star giving a fully committed Broadway debut.
1. Tracy Letts-Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In the third Broadway revival of Edward Albee's 1962 drama, Tracy Letts played George, a middle-aged man who's an associate history professor. His wife, Martha, is the daughter of the president of the college where he teaches. After returning home from a faculty party one evening, George & Martha are visited by an unwitting younger couple, Nick & Honey, as guests. From there, they are all drawn into their bitter and frustrated relationships.
This was the second of two Tony nominations for Tracy Letts. He had previously won in the category of Best Play back in 2008 as the playwright behind August: Osage County. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? also marked Letts' Broadway debut as an actor. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Drama Desk Award, and also had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League.
So How Did Tracy Letts Win?: According to the New York Times, several Tony voters insisted that Tracy Letts was the best George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? they had ever seen. So despite the Times suggesting that Tom Hanks was the frontrunner, it appears to me that those who voted for Tracy must've felt "Yeah, Hanks is a lock, he's got it in the bag, but I'm voting for my passion pick". Not to mention that the role of George in Edward Albee's classic has done quite well at the Tonys before with Arthur Hill winning for the original production and Bill Irwin winning for the 2005 revival.
It's also worth noting that the production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that Tracy Letts was starring in had originated at the Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre Company in December of 2010, followed by a run at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. When the production came to Broadway, it just so happened to have opened on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the original production (October 13th, 2012). Yet, despite rave reviews across the board, it was not a big commercial hit. The weekly grosses were pretty low, which led to the production ending its run on March 3rd, 2013. Though with that being said, it was still widely considered to be a benchmark production of a great American play. People were still talking about it throughout the remainder of the 2012-13 Broadway season.
By the time Best Lead Actor in a Play was presented on Tony night, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? had already picked up 2 awards for Best Direction of a Play (Pam MacKinnon) and Best Revival of a Play. Meanwhile, Lucky Guy had won 2 awards as well for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Courtney B. Vance) and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer) with The Nance winning 3 design awards - Best Sound Design of a Play (Leon Rothenberg), Best Scenic Design of a Play (John Lee Beatty), and Best Costume Design of a Play (Ann Roth). So when it got to Best Lead Actor in a Play, the award was presented by Nathan Lane's frequent co-star, Matthew Broderick, and Tom Hanks' former onscreen mama, Sally Field. Many people believed Hanks was winning with Lane as the likely alternative. Yet, along came a huge upset...
This was the second of two Tony nominations for Tracy Letts. He had previously won in the category of Best Play back in 2008 as the playwright behind August: Osage County. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? also marked Letts' Broadway debut as an actor. Leading up to the Tonys, he had won the Drama Desk Award, and also had nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League.
So How Did Tracy Letts Win?: According to the New York Times, several Tony voters insisted that Tracy Letts was the best George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? they had ever seen. So despite the Times suggesting that Tom Hanks was the frontrunner, it appears to me that those who voted for Tracy must've felt "Yeah, Hanks is a lock, he's got it in the bag, but I'm voting for my passion pick". Not to mention that the role of George in Edward Albee's classic has done quite well at the Tonys before with Arthur Hill winning for the original production and Bill Irwin winning for the 2005 revival.
It's also worth noting that the production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that Tracy Letts was starring in had originated at the Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre Company in December of 2010, followed by a run at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. When the production came to Broadway, it just so happened to have opened on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the original production (October 13th, 2012). Yet, despite rave reviews across the board, it was not a big commercial hit. The weekly grosses were pretty low, which led to the production ending its run on March 3rd, 2013. Though with that being said, it was still widely considered to be a benchmark production of a great American play. People were still talking about it throughout the remainder of the 2012-13 Broadway season.
By the time Best Lead Actor in a Play was presented on Tony night, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? had already picked up 2 awards for Best Direction of a Play (Pam MacKinnon) and Best Revival of a Play. Meanwhile, Lucky Guy had won 2 awards as well for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Courtney B. Vance) and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer) with The Nance winning 3 design awards - Best Sound Design of a Play (Leon Rothenberg), Best Scenic Design of a Play (John Lee Beatty), and Best Costume Design of a Play (Ann Roth). So when it got to Best Lead Actor in a Play, the award was presented by Nathan Lane's frequent co-star, Matthew Broderick, and Tom Hanks' former onscreen mama, Sally Field. Many people believed Hanks was winning with Lane as the likely alternative. Yet, along came a huge upset...
True story: When Tracy Letts came into the press room after winning, the first thing he did was that he started calling out by name the experts on Gold Derby who did not predict he was going to win. I know this because Paul Sheehan, who's the executive editor for the website, was actually in the press room for the Tonys that year, and he's told this story quite a few times in the past (@11:35). It just goes to show how much the nominees (or at least their representatives) pay attention to what their odds are like going into these award ceremonies.
Nonetheless, the overall success Tracy Letts had with his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened so many doors for him as an actor. He went on to appear as a series regular on the third and fourth seasons of Showtime's Emmy-winning drama series, Homeland, the second season of USA Network's The Sinner, and HBO's dramedy, Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Tracy has also since appeared on the big screen in Adam McKay's The Big Short, Steven Spielberg's The Post (where he ironically worked alongside Tom Hanks), James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari, and two films for Greta Gerwig: 2017's Lady Bird and 2019's Little Women. Not to mention that he also went on to appear on Broadway twice more in Will Eno's The Realistic Joneses in 2014 opposite Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall, and Marisa Tomei, and in the 2019 Tony nominated revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons opposite Annette Bening. Though just before the Broadway shutdown began, Tracy Letts was about to open in a new play he wrote titled The Minutes alongside Armie Hammer, Jessie Mueller, and Austin Pendleton. This marked the first time he had ever performed in one of his own works. Luckily, The Minutes is currently rescheduled to open in March 2022. Though what was probably the best thing for him to have come out of his whole experience with Virginia Woolf was that he grew close to his now-wife, actress Carrie Coon, who appeared in the production as Honey.
Nonetheless, the overall success Tracy Letts had with his performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened so many doors for him as an actor. He went on to appear as a series regular on the third and fourth seasons of Showtime's Emmy-winning drama series, Homeland, the second season of USA Network's The Sinner, and HBO's dramedy, Divorce, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Tracy has also since appeared on the big screen in Adam McKay's The Big Short, Steven Spielberg's The Post (where he ironically worked alongside Tom Hanks), James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari, and two films for Greta Gerwig: 2017's Lady Bird and 2019's Little Women. Not to mention that he also went on to appear on Broadway twice more in Will Eno's The Realistic Joneses in 2014 opposite Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall, and Marisa Tomei, and in the 2019 Tony nominated revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons opposite Annette Bening. Though just before the Broadway shutdown began, Tracy Letts was about to open in a new play he wrote titled The Minutes alongside Armie Hammer, Jessie Mueller, and Austin Pendleton. This marked the first time he had ever performed in one of his own works. Luckily, The Minutes is currently rescheduled to open in March 2022. Though what was probably the best thing for him to have come out of his whole experience with Virginia Woolf was that he grew close to his now-wife, actress Carrie Coon, who appeared in the production as Honey.