The Tony Awards 2017: Musical Winners

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The Tony Awards are over! The victors have taken home their awards and work is already beginning for next year's awards, I'm sure. Time to see how our predictions panned out and share some of the best moments.

Opening Number

The opening number at the Tony Awards is always a big deal, and I really enjoyed Kevin Spacey's take on the challenge. 

Costume Design Award

Winner -- Santo Loquasto for Hello, Dolly!

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Hello, Dolly! was a clear favorite for this one and Andrea and I both predicted it as a possible winner. 1/1 for our predictions. The show is filled with colorful costumes for colorful characters. Just look at that hat!

Scenic Design Award
Winner -- Mimi Lien for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

Once again, Andrea and I predicted this show to win this award. Just take a look at this fun performance!

Featured Actor Award

Winner -- Gavin Creel for Hello, Dolly!

Once again, we were pretty on top of this one. Gavin Creel's role as Cornelius is pretty large and he's a great actor, so no surprises here. Our predictions are now 3/3.

Lighting Design Award

Winner -- Bradley King for Great Comet

I picked Dear Evan Hansen even though I thought Great Comet might win, so I guess the joke's on me. Andrea didn't choose a specific show, so I won't count that in her numbers. The lighting design for Great Comet is pretty amazing, so it's easy to see why it won. 3/4 for me and 3/3 for Andrea. 

Best Original Score Award

Winner --  Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for Dear Evan Hansen

The first big surprise of the evening. I thought Comet would run away with this award, though I did have DEH listed as a wildcard (so I shall give myself half a point). Andrea picked this (as well as Come from Away). So that's 3.5/5 for me and 4/4 for Andrea.

Best Book of a Musical Award

Winner -- Steven Levenson for Dear Evan Hansen

I predicted DEH, while Andrea suspected Come from Away would steal the spot. In the end, Dear Evan Hansen pulled through. With its realistic dialogue and easy flow, I'm not surprised. 4.5/6 for me and 4/5 for Andrea.

Orchestration Award
Winner -- Alex Lacamoire for Dear Evan Hansen

Bethany: Predicted Great Comet or Bandstand. 

Andrea: Predicted Bandstand. 

This was a surprising win, but deserved, I'm sure. Lacamoire also won last year for Hamilton. As you can see, Andrea and I were both off. Me: 4.5/7, Andrea: 4/6.

Featured Actress Award
Winner -- Rachel Bay Jones for Dear Evan Hansen

Once again, I listed the winner as a wildcard pick. I predicted Jenn Colella from Come from Away, while Andrea picked Stephanie J. Block (or Jenn) to take home the trophy. Looks like we were both wrong, but since I listed her as a wildcard, I'll give myself another half point. Rachel Bay Jones does an excellent job in this tear-inducing role as a mother who isn't always able to be there for her son because she's trying to provide for him. Me: 5/8, Andrea: 4/7.

Best Director Award 
Winner -- Christopher Ashley for Come from Away

I predicted this one as a probable win, while Andrea didn't pick a specific show again. Me: 6/9, Andrea: 4/7. 

Choreography Award

Winner -- Andy Blankenbuehler for Bandstand

Okay, I predicted Holiday Inn because I was awed by the idea of a tap number with jump ropes. I should have predicted Bandstand like Andrea. Also, this show looks awesome and their Tony performance was fabulous. Me: 6/10, Andrea: 5/8.

Actor in a Leading Role Award
Winner -- Ben Platt for Dear Evan Hansen 

 

This was all I wanted from this year's Tony Awards. Ben Platt won Best Actor and he was precious. His speech in the above video was inspiring as well. Both Andrea and I got this one correct. Me: 7/11, Andrea: 6/9.

Actress in a Leading Role Award

Winner -- Bette Midler for Hello, Dolly!

As predicted by both of us, Bette Midler won! She also did something we didn't expect: she talked right through her play-off music to thank people until the music actually stopped. It was a pretty hilarious moment that will probably live in Tony Awards infamy. Me: 8/12, Andrea: 7/10.

Revival of a Musical Award 
Winner -- Hello, Dolly!

I love the Revival of a Musical category. It's the moment musical classics get a chance to shine again. This year, they returned a previously cut song to the show and you can see David Hyde Pierce performing it above. I predicted this to win, while Andrea thought Falsettos might beat it. Me: 9/13, Andrea: 7/11. 

Best Musical Award

Winner -- Dear Evan Hansen

Whoa. Although I like Dear Evan Hansen, I was sure Great Comet was a lock for the night's biggest award. Andrea predicted rightly, though, so our final counts are ... me: 9/14, Andrea: 8/12. We didn't do so badly, but next year will hopefully be better.

Other Highlights

Ben Platt leading the cast of DEH, just days after being on vocal rest, was lovely and emotional and great. This kid can act and sing so beautifully. 

The performance from Miss Saigon was so chilling and emotional, a truly gut-wrenching performance and one of my favorites from the night. 

Have to share the performance from Groundhog Day since it didn't win any awards and has a talented cast. 

Lastly, I had to share this performance by two Broadway legends, Christine Ebersole and Patti LuPone. 

So there you have it. What was your favorite moment from the Tony Awards? Did your favorites win? 

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Tony Nominees: Best Musical 2017

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It's that time of year again! The Tony Awards are coming soon. The nominee list was just released and there are some strong contenders this year! Because the Tony Awards cover so many categories, we're just going to look at the Best Musical nominees today.

Come from Away

This nominee tells the tale of the passengers of the thirty-eight planes told to land in Newfoundland right after the events of 9/11. Twelve actors play many different roles, including the passengers and the people of Newfoundland. Although I haven't listened to much of this show (yet), the story seems to pack a powerful punch and its creative staging and casting contribute to its uniqueness in a sea of musicals. 

Dear Evan Hansen

Of all the shows that were nominated for Best Musical, this is the one I know best. Dear Evan Hansen is about a young man whose self-help letter is found on a student, Connor Murphy, who took own his life. In the confusion following Connor's death, people believe he was writing a letter to Evan, our protagonist. This results in an elaborate deception where Evan creates a fake friendship between himself and Connor, turning Evan into a social media sensation for his inspiring words spoken on Connor's behalf. The show deals with some heavy subjects like abandonment, suicide, anxiety/depression, and deception, but ultimately, Dear Evan Hansen has a message of hope. 

Groundhog Day

The Best Musical nominee I know the least about, Groundhog Day, is based on the well-known Bill Murray film of the same name (which I haven't seen, of course). If you're like me and haven't seen it, here's your little recap: an arrogant weatherman goes to Pennsylvania to report on Groundhog Day where he gets stuck in a time-loop of sorts and has to relive February 2 over and over again. I've heard the show is hilarious and the music is excellent, so this is one I definitely need to listen to . . . and I should probably watch the film, too. Possibly.

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

Some consider this show a favorite to win Best Musical. I still haven't been able to get into the music, but as with Hamilton, it may take some more listening. The show is an electro-pop musical derived from a seventeen-page section of the famous Russian novel War and Peace detailing the vices and adventures of the Russian aristocracy. It is staged among audience members, an unusual and truly interesting way to perform.

Tune in for the Tony Awards June 11!

Which of these musicals are you most interested in? 

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