In This World, the Tony Goes to ...

Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Photo from "Lady Day" Facebook page.

BY TAMARA BECK

THOUGH still reeling from the works and performances that didn't and should have been nominated for an award, one must handicap the “68th Annual Tony Awards.” (http://www.ow.ly/xDv4A)

Such an undertaking does present some challenges, but I rise to the occasion. To hedge my bets, my predictions will be limited to the major awards. That is, Best Lead Actress in a Play, Best Lead Actor in a Play, Best Play, Best Revival of a Play, Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical.
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It was clear that Tyne Daly's astounding performance as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's "Master Class" in 2011 was staged too early in the year to be remembered by the time the nominations came in.

Obviously, the Tony committee would not recall (or honor) in June what was on stage the previous summer. If members choose to rectify the oversight this year by nominating TD in the Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category, so be it.

TD's Katharine Gerard in another TMcN play, "Mothers and Sons," is damn fine work. But damn fine work is only to be expected from a damn fine master such as TD. Cherry Jones also has her hat in the ring for her exceptional interpretation of the fiercely protective mother in “The Glass Menagerie.” (http://www.ow.ly/qFZP4)

Since "Lady Day at the Emerson Bar & Grill" is a play with jazz and not a musical, five-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is also a hot contender for yet another Best Actress in a Play Tony. By the way, one of her Tonys was as Best Featured Actress in "Master Class," an early but not the first of AMcD's triumphs.

Her performance in "Lady Day" is completely immersive. Billie Holiday may have squandered and spent her talent on booze and drugs, but AMcD's is in full flower. She is completely lost in the role, and that's a good thing.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson is a deserving nominee for her role in the revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," Lorraine Hansberry's classic drama. All worthy performances, but after all is said and done, the Tony goes to AMcD.

Going all the way to Tony riches in the Best Lead Actor in a Play category is Bryan Cranston. In "All The Way," as Lyndon Baines Johnson, he deserves to win, though Tony Shalhoub, playing both the mature Moss Hart and his early mentor and collaborator, George S. Kaufman, in “Act One” will give BC a run for his money.

In the Best Play category, five plays and four revivals were acknowledged. They include “The Glass Menagerie,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” Harvey Fierstein's "Casa Valentina" and “Act One.” Moss Hart’s paean to becoming is elegiacally transposed for the stage by James Lapine. “Act One” belongs in and to the theater. It should easily win.

“A Raisin in the Sun” is on the shortlist for Best Revival of a Play, as is “The Glass Menagerie.” Is it surprising to learn that the latter has never won a Tony? At any rate, neither will win this year because the much admired British import, “Twelfth Night,” will take home the top prize.

It would be wonderful to witness the talented and lovely Kelli O'Hara receive a Best Lead Actress in a Musical statuette for every chance she's ever taken and every role she's ever played. She has never won a Tony. Unfortunately, "The Bridges of Madison County," which rises far above the novel from which it sprouts, is not going to be her ticket. (http://www.ow.ly/vThMA)

Also competing in this category are Jessie Mueller as Carole King in "Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” Mary Bridget Davies, reputed to be pitch-perfect as the eponymous Janis in “A Night with Janis Joplin” and the wonderful Sutton Foster as “Violet.”

However, in the Best Actress in a Musical category, the Tony goes to Idina Menzel as Liz/Beth in the ultra-original “If/Then.” It is the closest thing to having two leading roles, since the character is split by chance and choice and follows two very different and separate paths.

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” star Neil Patrick Harris is the pick for the Best Leading Actor in a Musical. The much admired and very talented NPH plays rough-and-tumble transgender rock 'n' roller “Hedwig.” The production took off Broadway by storm in 1999.

“After Midnight” (http://www.ow.ly/qUAjl) is an exceptionally entertaining cabaret-like show, with exciting tap acts, and a nice sense of history. It is more of a revue than a musical, however. With the field for Best Musical narrowed to “After Midnight,” “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” “A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder” and “Aladdin,” this critic is forced to go with “A Gentleman's Guide to Love.” Its 10 nominations suggest a sweeping win. (http://www.ow.ly/sOG2P)

Samuel Barnett and Liam Brennan in "Twelfth Night. Photo from "Twelfth Night" Facebook page.

In the Best Revival of a Musical category the smart money is on “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” It will easily outpace the other transplant from off Broadway, "Violet," and Cameron Mackintosh's production of "Les Miz."

Only one more day to see how the predictions bear out!

The 68th Annual Tony Awards airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 8 June on CBS. Visit http://www.tonyawards.com/ to learn more about the nominations and broadcast.

Cruelest Cuts of the Tony Awards Committee

"If/Then," featuring Tamika Lawrence, Jenn Colella, LaChanze and Idina Menzel. Photo from production.

BY TAMARA BECK

WHEN Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff announced the nominations for the “68th Annual Tony Awards” on 29 April, there were serious oversights.

Some fine and/or interesting productions, as well as superb performances were overlooked. First, gripes about the ones that shoulda been named, then predictions about the winners from those that made the cut.

If this reviewer takes it personally, imagine how the casts and creatives on the unacknowledged and under-acknowledged shows feel. Maybe it's just the Tony committee messing with the regular theater-lover's head.

"The Realistic Joneses," Will Eno's comic tragedy and its deserving star, Toni Colette, did not get a mention. (http://www.bit.ly/1x8UT0S) Although the play left a lot of holes in its odd plot points, it was well-staged and wildly interesting.

The acting from the ensemble of Tracy Letts (a past Tony winner), Michael C. Hall, Marisa Tomei (Academy award winner) and the aforementioned TC, was top-notch. The Joneses meet cute, with one couple stumbling onto the other’s property in the dead of night bearing a bottle of wine. Existential issues are then addressed.

Another overlooked drama was "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Do note, however, that Audra McDonald, as Billie Holiday, was nominated in the Best Actress category. (http://www.bit.ly/1jRGDzG; see video above).

Broadway's producers are to be congratulated for taking the chance on so many straight plays, an oft misunderstood and under-appreciated entertainment this season. The applause would be that much louder, though, if unconventional vehicles like “The Realistic Joneses” were in the Tony running.

Other major snubs include “Bullets Over Broadway,” “If/Then,” “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Rocky.” The blow to all is lessened because each got nods in other categories.

Tracy Letts, Toni Collette, Marisa Tomei and Michael C. Hall in "The Realistic Joneses." Photo from production.

For instance, Woody Allen was tapped for Best Book of a Musical for “Bullets.” Also Nick Cordero is up for Best Featured Actor in a musical for his role as Cheech. “If/Then's” amazing star, Idina Menzel, is up for Best Actress in a Musical. The musical's creative team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics) are up for Best Original Score.

Next week: And the Tony goes to ...

The “68th Annual Tony Awards” airs at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 8 June on CBS. Visit http://www.tonyawards.com/ to learn more about the nominations and broadcast.