Who Will Be Nominated?! Broadway.com Ranks the 2015 Tony Contenders For Best Musical & More
OMG, it's Tony time! We're totally obsessing at the Broadway.com offices over which shows, creatives and stars will wake up to good news on April 28, the morning that this year's Tony nominees are announced. Because we know you're in the same boat, we're running through the top categories to offer our take on the frontrunners, hopefuls and a special Shout Out that we hope won't be forgetten. Today, we're kicking it off with the top musical categories!
BEST MUSICAL
FRONTRUNNERS
Left to Right:
An American in Paris — This throwback to the kind of romantic musicals that actually make you want to be in love will land lots of nominations, including this one.
Fun Home — This expertly crafted, deeply felt musical about real people with real struggles will become the first Best Musical nominee based on a graphic novel (of all things!).
Something Rotten! — A completely original musical comedy about the first musical comedy, and audiences can't get enough? It's a slam dunk for a nomination.
IN THE MIX
Left to Right:
Finding Neverland — If nominators have a heart, they'll acknowledge this moving family-friendly show with Tony love.
Honeymoon in Vegas — Although this musical comedy recently closed on Broadway, it deserves to be remembered.
The Visit — Although this dark creation might not be everyone's cup of tea, Kander and Ebb's final musical collaboration is total Tony bait.
BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT
The Last Ship — The musical inspired by Sting's childhood in a shipbuilding town never caught on, but it lives on in our hearts and on our iPods.
ALSO POSSIBLE
Doctor Zhivago, Holler if Ya Hear Me, It Shoulda Been You
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
Left to Right: Gigi, The King and I, On the Twentieth Century, On the Town, Side Show
Five shows, four slots. Yikes! The King and I is big and grand and definitely a shoo-in. On the Twentieth Century and On the Town are both lively productions of musical comedies that are rarely on Broadway and will both be acknowledged. The final slot comes down to Gigi or Side Show, both polished new takes on tarnished musicals. Although it's closed, Side Show seems to have the edge.
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
FRONTRUNNERS
Left: Karey Kirkpatrick & John O'Farrell, Something Rotten! — Both Broadway newcomers, this pair wrote one of the funniest scripts for a new musical in years and will be honored appropriately.
Right: Lisa Kron, Fun Home — The acclaimed playwright will be in the running for her musical debut, in which she deftly adapted Alison Bechdel's book for the stage.
IN THE MIX
Left to Right:
James Graham, Finding Neverland — This British playwright is new to Broadway and in the running for his elegant, moving stage version of the popular movie.
Craig Lucas, An American in Paris — Twenty-five years after getting a Best Play nom for Prelude to a Kiss, this esteemed playwright is likely to be remembered for the impressive feat of adaptating the beloved film for Broadway.
John Logan & Brian Yorkey, The Last Ship — The two respected writers teamed up to craft an engaging story of family, religion, rekindled love and, yes, shipbuilding, inspired by Sting's life.
Terrence McNally, The Visit — A two-time winner in the category, McNally is a contender for the long-brewing project that turned a bizarre play into the ultimate Chita Rivera vehicle.
BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT
Todd Kreidler, Holler if Ya Hear Me — Looking back on the season, we're filled with mad respect for this August Wilson protege who turned the songs of Tupac into a searing urban story with poetry and pathos.
ALSO POSSIBLE
Doctor Zhivago, Honeymoon in Vegas, It Shoulda Been You
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
FRONTRUNNERS
Left: Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! — This country songwriting brother act has delivered a vibrant score filled with showstoppers and will get their first nom.
Right: Lisa Kron (lyrics) & Jeanine Tesori (music), Fun Home — Kron and Tesori, a four-time nominee, are basically guaranteed a spot for their deeply felt score filled with unshakable moments.
IN THE MIX
Left to Right:
Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy, Finding Neverland — A pop-flavored score doesn't always impress nominators, but this duo deserves love for their bright tunes.
John Kander & Fred Ebb, The Visit — This legendary duo's final collaboration (Ebb died in 2004) is mysterious, moving and finally on Broadway.
Sting, The Last Ship — After pouring his heart into his autobiographical musical, this music superstar is likely to earn well-deserved respect from nominators.
BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT
Jason Robert Brown, Honeymoon in Vegas — Last year's winner in the category (for The Bridges of Madison County) wrote a bright, bouncy ode to musical comedy scores of the '60s and '70s and some of the most singable songs of the season.
ALSO POSSIBLE
Doctor Zhivago, It Shoulda Been You
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
FRONTRUNNERS
Left to Right:
Sam Gold, Fun Home — Not only did he create a stirring staging when the show premiered downtown, he restaged the entire musical in the round on Broadway, earning even better reviews.
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten! — The current golden boy of Broadway musicals should earn his third directing nod for this hilarious new musical that he helped craft out of thin air.
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris — To see his show is to be dazzled by his talents as not only a choreographer, but as a visionary director.
IN THE MIX
Left to Right:
John Doyle, The Visit — The Tony winner has created a dark, beautiful world that should excite nominators.
Diane Paulus, Finding Neverland — It's hard to imagine this magical new musical taking flight without the extraordinary vision of this always-reliable past winner.
John Rando, On the Town — He hasn't been nominated since he won in 2001 for Urinetown, but this always-working director has earned big respect for dusting off a classic and turning it into a hit.
Bartlett Sher, The King and I — He won a Tony for another Rodgers and Hammerstein hit, and is definitely in the running this year for this classy revival.
BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT
Bill Condon, Side Show — Thank you, Bill Condon, for bringing Daisy and Violet Hilton back to Broadway in a gorgeous new staging. It truly will never leave us.
ALSO POSSIBLE
Scott Ellis, On the Twentieth Century; Gary Griffin, Honeymoon in Vegas; Kenny Leon, Holler If Ya Hear Me; Joe Mantello, The Last Ship; Des McAnuff, Doctor Zhivago; David Hyde Pierce, It Shoulda Been You; Eric Schaefer, Gigi
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
FRONTRUNNERS
Left to Right:
Joshua Bergasse, On the Town — This former chorus boy is now a big-time choreographer who will be honored for kicking off the ballet revival on Broadway this season.
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten! — Nobody can make a classic Broadway showstopper like this guy. Nobody.
Christopher Wheldon, An American in Paris — This ballet icon slipped into the category with a nom for his jazz-infused work on the flop Sweet Smell of Success, but this year he's a big-time frontrunner.
IN THE MIX
Left to Right:
Warren Carlyle, On the Twentieth Century — He won last year for After Midnight and could easily be a contender again for his classic Broadway work in the splashy revival.
Graciela Daniele, The Visit — Never count out this eight-time nominee, who has staged some beautiful new dances to show off her friend and icon Chita Rivera.
Christopher Gattelli, The King and I — This past winner is in the running, assuming nominators can tell where original stager Jerome Robbins' work ended and his began.
Mia Michaels, Finding Neverland — So you think you can Broadway? This contemporary dance star sure can, creating unforgettable numbers with Pan and co.
BROADWAY.COM SHOUTOUT
Steven Hoggett, The Last Ship — Last year, he crafted boxing matches for Rocky Balboa and this year, he made believable dance numbers for the manliest ship builders you've ever seen. We can't wait to see what's next.
ALSO POSSIBLE
Joshua Bergasse, Gigi; Wayne Cilento, Holler If Ya Hear Me; Kelly Devine, Doctor Zhivago; Denis Jones, Honeymoon in Vegas; Danny Mefford, Fun Home; Josh Rhodes, It Shoulda Been You; Anthony Van Laast, Side Show
Stay tuned for more Tony cheat sheets!