The Tony Awards 2017: Musical Predictions

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We've talked about some nominees for the Tony Awards, but with the big night airing this coming Sunday evening, it's time for some predictions. I and fellow TFI contributor Andrea will choose who we think will win this year's awards. To keep things simpler (and because we're better-versed in it) we will be sticking to the musical theater awards, but there are many plays that are also nominated.

Best Musical

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There were lots of great shows this year, which makes the choosing harder. From what I've seen, most of the musicals are quite innovative and entertaining and offer something special. 

Bethany's Prediction: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. I'm being unoriginal and choosing this show because I see it as a favorite to win. It leads nominations this year, similar to smash-hit Hamilton from last awards season. Come from Away might be a wild card with its message and emotional core. 

Andrea's Prediction: Come from Away or Dear Evan Hansen. DEH is super popular, but the other is also getting great reviews and is about 9/11, so I can see it going either way.

Best Revival of a Musical

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Bethany: Hello, Dolly! It's getting the biggest buzz (though no official show clips have been released yet) and is a true classic. Falsettos could win, but I think it's a slim shot.

Andrea: I want it to be Hello, Dolly!, but I think it will be Falsettos.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor

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Bethany: It's gotta be Ben Platt in his role as Evan Hansen. Each of the nominees are wonderful performers, but from all I've seen and researched, Platt has something special and delves into his character every performance in a way that is baffling. 

Andrea: I think it'll be either Christian Borle (for Falsettos) or Ben Platt.  

Best Performance by a Leading Actress

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Bethany: Lots of great talent here, but it's probably going to be Bette Midler (for Hello, Dolly!) on this one. She's 71 and a lead in a Broadway musical. Wow!

Andrea: It'll be Patti LuPone (for War Paint) or Bette Midler.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor

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Bethany: I gotta go with Gavin Creel for his portrayal of Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! I think Andrew Rannells (Falsettos) may have a shot as well, with Mike Faist (Dear Evan Hansen) and Lucas Steele (Great Comet) as wild cards. 

Andrea:  I think they'll go with either Gavin, Mike, or Andrew. Gavin and Andrew are super popular, and Mike has been getting a lot of attention for his role as Connor in Dear Evan Hansen.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress

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Bethany: I'm going to go out on a limb and say Jenn Colella from Come from Away. The performers in that show have the daunting task of playing multiple roles. Stephanie J. Block (Falsettos) and Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen) are also possibilities. 

Andrea: It'll be Stephanie or Jenn.

Best Book of a Musical

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Bethany: I'm going with Dear Evan Hansen on this one. 

Andrea: Again, I want it to be Dear Evan Hansen, but it'll probably be Come from Away. Who knows?

Best Original Score

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Bethany: I think Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 has been getting a lot of attention for its score, so I see this one snagging the win. Wildcards are Dear Evan Hansen and Come from Away.

Andrea: Come from Away or Dear Evan Hansen. 

Best Scenic Design

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Bethany: I think this could go several ways, but I'm going with Great Comet again.

Andrea: Great Comet or Hello, Dolly!

Best Costume Design

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Bethany: I'm going with Hello, Dolly! or Anastasia on this one. 

Andrea: Anastasia, Hello, Dolly!, or Great Comet.

Best Lighting Design

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Bethany: Great Comet is another big possibility for this one, but I really like the lighting design of Dear Evan Hansen, so I'll go with the latter. 

Andrea: Any of them.

Best Direction

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Bethany: Probably Great Comet or Come from Away.

Andrea: Any of them.

Best Choreography

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Bethany: Holiday Inn. The show has a tap number involving jump ropes!

Andrea: Bandstand or Holiday Inn.

Best Orchestration

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Bethany: Probably Great Comet, though Bandstand could be a wild card with its big band theme.

Andrea: Please be Bandstand!

And there you have it. Our predictions. Tune in Sunday to see what we missed and what we got right!

What show/performer do you think will take home the big awards this weekend?

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Tony Awards 2017: Best Revival of a Musical Nominees

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The Tony Awards continue to draw nearer. We've already gone over the best musical nominees for this year, but what about revivals of musicals?

A revival is a musical that has been performed in the past and has been "revived" to be performed again. This year, there were only three Best Revival of a Musical nominees. Let's take a look.

Falsettos: Originally Performed in 1992, Revived in 2016

First up is Falsettos. I'm not a fan of this show (I don't know much about it beyond what I've researched for this article), but the 2016 revival had some good talent like Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block, and Andrew Rannells, all of whom were nominated for Tony Awards for their performances. Falsettos is the story of a man who leaves his wife for another man and attempts to make a family including all of them, a task that is beyond difficult. 

Hello, Dolly!: Originally Performed in 1964, Revived in 2017

Hello, Dolly! has actually been revived several times over the years, which is a testament to its enduring nature. Unfortunately, no show clips were to be found so I've included instead a compilation sort of video about the show and its current star, the uber talented theater legend Bette Midler, nominated for Best Actress in this role. Hello, Dolly! follows a widow and self-proclaimed meddler (or matchmaker) who's decided it's time to find a match for herself. 

Miss Saigon: Originally Performed in 1989, Revived in the US in 2017

Miss Saigon made its Broadway debut in 1991, but I felt it would be prudent to list its earlier London premiere, considering Lea Salonga won awards in both nations for her turn as Kim, a Vietnamese girl who's left with a son when her lover, an American soldier, is evacuated as the US leaves Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Probably the most tragic musical on this list, Miss Saigon was created by the team who made Les Misérables a reality and still holds its place as the 13th longest running show on Broadway. Eva Noblezada was also nominated for Best Leading Actress for her portrayal of Kim.

Which show do you think will win this year's Best Revival of a Musical award?

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