MICHAEL RIEDEL
May 11, 2007 -- 'DO not speak to the press," Elizabeth I. McCann, the executive producer of the Tony Awards, recently instructed the Tony nominators."Especially the persistent Michael Riedel."
Nice try, Liz, but I'm afraid you've been thwarted.
Over the last couple of days, I've spoken to several nominators - usually in various parking garages around Manhattan in the dead of night - to get a sense of how next week's nominations will shake out.
The three sure bets for Best Musical are "Spring Awakening," "Curtains" and "Grey Gardens." Every nominator I spoke to says so.
The fourth slot is up for grabs, the contenders being "Mary Poppins," "LoveMusik" and "Legally Blonde."
All are seriously flawed. "Mary Poppins" is "a big bore," one nominator says. "LoveMusik" is thought to be ambitious but "clunkily" staged by Hal Prince. And "Legally Blonde" is described as "empty" and "dumb," with "a terrible score."
The producers of "Legally Blonde" are desperate for that fourth slot. If they get it, they're going to marshal the so-called "road vote" in an effort to topple "Spring Awakening."
The "road vote" is made up of theater owners and presenters from around the country. The producers of "Blonde" are convinced the road will vote for their show because it will sell much better around the country than "Spring Awakening," which deals with teenage sexuality.
The only things standing in their way are the Tony nominators.
Some of the savvier ones are onto the plan, and I think they'll deny that fourth slot to "Legally Blonde" as a way of protecting "Spring Awakening," a musical everybody with a brain in this industry recognizes as a beautiful and important show.
That fourth slot, then, will go to "LoveMusik," an arty show that stands no chance of winning, and the "Blonde" backers will see red instead of pink.
On the Best Play front, "The Coast of Utopia," "Frost/Nixon" and "Radio Golf," the late August Wilson's final work, are shoo-ins. The fourth slot is likely to go to "The Little Dog Laughed," a funny off-Broadway play that just couldn't survive on Broadway.
"The Year of Magical Thinking" will not get in because nominators think it's "a recitation" rather than a play.
As for "Coram Boy," the only people who despise it more than the critics are the Tony nominators.
The most hotly contested acting category is for Leading Actor in a Play. Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Christopher Plummer ("Inherit the Wind") and Liev Schreiber ("Talk Radio") all win praise from the nominators. The remaining slots are likely to go to Bill Nighy, fondly remembered for his performance in "The Vertical Hour," and - here's the surprise - Boyd Gaines, who, one nominator says, "is simply astounding" in "Journey's End."Kevin Spacey will not make the cut for "A Moon for the Misbegotten." Nominators knock him for being too "jumpy" and "antic."
"Journey's End" is a huge hit with the nominators. They know it's struggling at the box office, so they're planning to shower it with what they hope will be box-office boosting nominations - Best Revival of a Play, Best Director (David Grindley) and supporting acting nods for Stark Sands and Nick Berg Barnes.
Another production nominators are talking about is the revival of Brian Friel.
"Journey's End" is a huge hit with the nominators. They know it's struggling at the box office, so they're planning to shower it with what they hope will be box-office boosting nominations - Best Revival of a Play, Best Director (David Grindley) and supporting acting nods for Stark Sands and Nick Berg Barnes.
Another production nominators are talking about is the revival of Brian Friel's "Translations," now closed. Expect it to pick up nods for Best Revival and Best Director (Garry Hynes). Cast members Susan Lynch, Chandler Williams and Niall Buggy could all snag nods for featured actor.
In addition to "Journey's End" and "Translations," the other nominees for Best Revival of a Play will be "Inherit the Wind" and "Talk Radio."
There is almost no support for "Moon" save for Eve Best, who's sure to get the nod as Best Actress in a Play. She'll go up against Vanessa Redgrave ("Magical Thinking") and Julie White ("Little Dog Laughed").
The nominators also seem to favor Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes, although no one has a good word to say about "Deuce," the play in which these two great ladies star.
Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens"), Donna Murphy ("LoveMusik"), Audra McDonald ("110 in the Shade") and Kristin Chenoweth ("The Apple Tree") will be nominated for Best Actress in a Musical.
And Debra Monk, very funny in "Curtains," will just beat out Laura Belle Bundy, of "Legally Blonde," for the fifth slot. The nominators like Bundy; they just don't think she's a star.
As for Best Revival of a Musical, in a year of slim pickings, if you opened, you're in. So the nominees will be: "Company," "110 in the Shade," "A Chorus Line" and "The Apple Tree."
Only the embalmed "Les Miserables" will remain in the morgue.
The nominators meet Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Edison Café on West 47th Street.
The doors will be locked; the windows covered with brown paper. And Liz McCann better check the matzo balls for hidden microphones.
(Source: New York Post | Theater | On Broadway | Tony Nods Odds)
Want to watch "Curtains"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
.Want to watch "Grey Gardens"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
.Want to watch "Legally Blonde"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
.Want to watch "LoveMusik"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
.Want to watch "Mary Poppins"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
.Want to watch "Spring Awakening"? CHECK WHERE IT IS ON!!!
Or, BUY A CD OF THIS SHOW
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