Kinky Boots Dominates Everyone
Since basically September, anyone who was anyone viewed the Tonys as the race for second place to Matilda. In basically all relevant categories. And then, Ben Brantley jizzed all over it, and that seemed like a done deal. Matilda for everything. Until yesterday morning. When somehow, Kinky Boots dominated EVERYONE with 13 Nominations. Even if the Matlida girls had been eligible for Lead Actress it wouldn’t have beat Kinky Boots. How did this even happen, nominating committee? And can we have some of whatever you were on when you saw Kinky Boots? We bet it was fun.
Stark Sands earns Lead Actor in a Musical (And there go Billy Porters hopes and dreams)
We’ve been smitten with Stark Sands since the moment we first saw him sing–in The Twelfth Night–and were totally thrilled to see him nominated for a Tony this morning. But where the hell did he come from? In the lead up to the nominations, homeboy’s name was on nobody’s lips. Any talk of actor nods for Kinky Boots was almost exclusively about Billy Porter, who’d actually seemed like the season’s most credible competitor to Bertie Carvel (already an Olivier winner for this role). Too bad he’s likely to split the Kinky vote with Stark, now. Looks like Bertie’s all but locked this shit up.
Anthony Warlow
So, let’s get this straight. You ship Anthony Warlow all the way over here from Australia. He gives the most solidly charming performance in a somewhat tedious musical about and for screaming young children. He’s benevolent and handsome and he’s in all these stupid ads all over town that are weirdly sexual in a way that we kind of appreciate, but that still make us vaguely uncomfortable. And you’re not giving this man a Tony nomination? Are you joking? No wonder we can’t get Ramin Karimloo over here for more than a week at a time.
Where Are You, Daniel Sullivan?
Nowhere near the Tony nominations, it turns out. With two high-profile shows this season, Sullivan couldn’t squeeze out a single nomination anywhere. It’s a bit of a shame, too. We kind of loved his sparse, jerky Glengarry, Glen Ross, and his paranoid, Archie-Bunker-meets-
Also, Bette Midler? Bueller?
Not an ounce of love for Midler in her well-reviewed performance as Hollywood agent Sue Mengers. This just wasn’t the year for solo shows, apparently. Or famous people. Or known quantities. You know, all the things that Broadway has been busting its collective ass to produce for the last six years.
So Much Cinderella
Much as we love its stellar cast, we’re sort of breaking our brains over how this frustrating revival (or whatever it is…) has somehow found itself nominated for nine Tonys. William Ivey Long’s costumes dazzle, but you’ve seen them all before, from Disneyland to Sex and the City to Whoville. Best book? Totes no effing way, as the characters themselves would say, in totally anachronistic fashion. Best revival? Sound design? Lighting? Maybe we’re as grumpy and jaded as the wicked stepsisters… except they’re not grumpy and jaded any more. Get with the times, dudette. Cinderella is modern now! So let’s give her some Tonys and stuff.
Stephanie J Block for Lead Actress in a Musical, Drood
Her performance in Drood was, admittedly, great. And without the Matlidas, the Lead Actress in a Musical category had certainly opened up, but Stephanie J Block’s name still came out of nowhere. Drood has been closed for months and sadly, even Lilla Crawford seemed to have more awards buzz than Block. That being said, we’re stoked to see a woman, and not an insufferable stage child, snag the fifth slot. That she’s a hardworking, genuine theater star, only makes us happier. Can’t wait to see this beautiful lady and her handsome husband Sebastian Arcelus hit the red carpet in June.
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