My Tony Award Picks 2013 (Musicals)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year..... for the Broadway lover!  On Tuesday, April 30, Sutton Foster and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will announce the highly-anticipated 2013 Tony Award nominations. The Tony Awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall on June 9th. 

As I eagerly await Tuesday’s nominations, I’ve made a list of my own Tony picks for some of the musical categories. 

I hope you enjoy- please comment and share your own Tony picks below! 

BEST MUSICAL
1.) Hands on a Hardbody- a very unique and original musical that closed far too soon. With its creative choreography, solid music, heart-warming story, and stand-out performers, this musical deserves a Tony nod. 

2.) Kinky Boots- book by Harvey Fierstein + music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper + Billy Porter’s amazing voice = great entertainment. Need I say more?

3.) Matilda- The dark children’s book by Roald Dahl has been transformed into a stage production. Matilda is well-written, well-staged, and boasts several stand-out performances- particularly Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull. 

Who will win? 
Matilda. 
However, I would love to see Hands on a Hardbody take home this Tony Award. 

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
**All five eligible productions- Annie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cinderella, Jekyll and Hyde, and Pippin- were very solid and any of these shows would, in my opinion, be deserving of a nomination. However, two shows did stand out for me. 

1.) Pippin- with its spectacular circus choreography, this production brings something new and exciting to the Broadway stage and quite possibly employs the most talented ensemble on Broadway right now. 

2.) The Mystery of Edwin Drood- How many musicals have more than one possible
ending? This killer cast (no pun intended) had me in stitches. 

Who will win?
Pippin. 

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda- an outstanding, formidable, transformative performance. 

2.) Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin- He transfixed the audience with his perfect embodiment of Charlie Chaplin. 

3.) Billy Porter as Lola in Kinky Boots- the heart of the show. 

4.) Constantine Maroulis as Jekyll and Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde- Constantine carried the entire show and transformed effortlessly between good and evil.... and that voice. 

5.) Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks in Annie- some of the best moments in this show were the scenes between Daddy Warbucks and Annie thanks to the great chemistry between him and Lilla Crawford. 

Who will win?
Bertie Carvel. 
However, I would love to see Rob McClure win for his role in Chaplin. 

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson in Scandalous- a powerhouse performance. 

2.) Patina Miller as the Leading Player in Pippin- she gave a mysterious and manipulative performance, while mastering Fosse’s choreography. In this role, Patina has proven that she is the ultimate triple threat. 

3.) Laura Osnes as Cinderella in Cinderella- she was born to play this part. 

Who will win?
Patina Miller

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Will Chase as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood- Did he really do it?

2.) Hunter Foster as Benny Perkins in Hands on a Hardbody- his character started out as a jerk but ended up having so much depth. 

3.) Gabriel Ebert as Mr. Wormwood in Matilda- one word: hilarious. 

Who will win?
Gabriel Ebert. 

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Andrea Martin as Bertha in Pippin- With one musical number, she somehow managed to steal the show while simultaneously dangling from a trapeze. (Note: she plays a grandma......)

2.) Annaleigh Ashford as Lauren in Kinky Boots- It’s about time this talented funny girl got a Tony nomination!

3.) Keala Settle as Norma in Hands on a Hardbody- with her killer pipes, she brought the house down with her big number. 

Who will win?
Andrea Martin. But I would not be sad if Keala Settle won....

What were your favorite Tony-worthy performances this season??

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

Broadway
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
3/2/13 matinee

Synopsis: Hands on a Hardbody is based on the 1997 documentary about a group of down-on-their-luck Texans who enter the ultimate competition of endurance. The contestant who is able to stay standing with his or her hand on a shiny, new Nissan truck for the longest amount of time will take that truck home! The musical introduces ten contestants with very different backgrounds and life experiences, some based on real-life contestants from the documentary and some fictional.  Each character reveals his or her story to the other contestants, and in doing so, embarks on a physical and spiritual journey. And while there is only one winner (no spoilers), every contestant takes something special away from the competition and becomes a stronger person for having participated in the contest. 

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

1.) The Timing. Everyone knows that timing is critical to the success of a Broadway musical. I would argue that Hands on a Hardbody has impeccable timing and this is why. This musical depicts the lives of ten very heterogenous and very real people. The ten actors on stage, who could easily be mistaken for members of the audience, appear no different than the people you might pass by on the street. There are no flashy costumes or lion puppets or flying witches or dancing ensembles. They are simply ten down-on-their-luck Texans, not unlike many real-life Americans who are currently struggling with economical and financial hardships and the effects of war. Given the current economic climate, I think this story could really strike a chord with people because the story is true to the times and the characters are real and relatable. 

2.) The Truck.  The truck (named Layla) is its own unique entity on the stage, a separate character and the star of the show. After all, everything- the story, the choreography, the music- revolves around the truck. Gliding gracefully across the stage, the truck is seamlessly incorporated into Sergio Trujillo’s clever, inventive choreography. To envision choreography in which each actor must keep one hand on the truck at all times is an impressive feat, and for that reason alone, this show is something to see. 

3.) An Original Concept. With all the shows on Broadway, why did I choose to spend my Saturday afternoon at this particular show? Because the concept of ten contestants who vie to be the last person with their hands on a hardbody is, well, unique, and elicits curiosity. The concept is not something you see every day on Broadway and what theatre fan doesn’t crave subject matters that are new and fresh? And I promise you, this original concept does not disappoint. 

4.) The Characters. Hands on a Hardbody portrays ten very unique characters, some of whom are quite endearing, while others are a bit eccentric. Listening to the dialogue between these characters and watching them interact with each other on stage can be quite hilarious to say the least. I still crack up when I think of Janis’ husband sitting on the sidelines wearing a cardboard sign-hat and sipping a “Big Gulp”, while cheering on his wife. Anyway, these characters are sure to give you lots of “laugh out loud” moments. 

5.) The Music. Hands on a Hardbody offers a solid score by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green. The score primarily has a country and rock “feel” to it with some powerful ballads and an outstanding gospel number performed by Keala Settle. And as I stated earlier, the integration of the truck into the music and choreography is most impressive and enjoyable to watch.