Ken Davenport - Opinions from a Broadway Producer

Survey results revealed: What YOU really thought of the Tony Awards!

On Monday, I asked you to offer up your opinion about this year's Tony Awards in a quick survey, and boy did you respond.  You'd think we were giving away an iPad--so many of you clicked to voice your thoughts on the 2011 telecast.

So what did you think?

Here are the results!

• A whopping 97.51% of you watched the Tonys.  I assume the other 2.49% were in Antarctica. 
• On a scale of 1 to 10, here's how you rated the show:
  • 36.65% gave it a 10
  • 30.12% gave it a 9
  • 23.91% gave it an 8
  • 9.43% gave it a 7 or less
  • That's a 90.57% 8+ rating
• Comparing this year's telecast to last year's telecast:
  • 69.88% said it was much better
  • 25.16% said it was better
  • 2.80% said it was the same
  • 1.24% said it was worse
  • .93% said it was much worse
• Your favorite part of the telecast was:
  • Production numbers - 37.58%
  • Opening number - 24.22%
  • The host - 21.43%
  • Finding out who wins - 4.04% (this was shockingly low, IMHO)
  • Acceptance speeches - 2.48%
  • Other - 10.25% 
• Your least favorite part of the telecast was . . . 
  • The answers that popped up the most were "Spiderman's number" and "Acceptance Speeches" (sorry, Mark Rylance)
• Your favorite musical number was . . . (not what you think)
  • How to Succeed - 25.16%
  • Anything Goes - 24.84%
  • Book of Mormon - 22.67%
  • Catch Me If You Can - 10.56%
  • The Scottsboro Boys - 10.25%
  • Sister Act - 2.80%
  • Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - 2.48%
  • Spider-Man - 1.24%
• We asked what you would suggest to the Tony Producers to make it a more exciting evening.  Here's what came up the most:
  • "More production numbers."
  • "More numbers."
  • "Make sure that Neil Patrick Harris hosts every year."
  • "More performances"
  • "Neil Patrick Harris!  Neil Patrick Harris!  Neil Patrick Harris!"
  • "More performances, or at least a montage of sorts."
  • "All Neil Patrick Harris all the time."
  • "Less talking, more musical numbers."
  • "Lots of production numbers."
  • "Get Neil Patrick Harris to host every year."
  • (I think you get the drift)

Based on the above, a huge success, I'd say.  Big props go the Broadway League, the American Theater Wing, and the GM of the Tonys, Alan Wasser Associates, for raising the bar on our biggest night.

And thanks to all of 97.51% for watching and all 100% of you who shared your opinions in our survey!

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

----------------

FUN STUFF

- Come to our Writer/Producer Collaborator Speed Date on June 21st. RSVP here!

- Enter to win 2 tickets to see Love, Loss, and What I Wore Off Broadway!  Click here.

- My next Get Your Show Off the Ground seminar is coming up on June 25th.  Get info here.

- The next NY Broadway Investing 101 seminar is June 28th. Get your ticket today!

Who won my Tony Pool and the iPad 2? And how did I score?

Alright, it's that time . . . time to find out which one of you picked the most winners in my Tony pool, and which one of you is walkin' home with an iPad 2.

But before we announce the winner, let's see how I did.

Thankfully, I improved over last year, scoring 21 out of 26 right.  I went on a limb with a couple of my picks (Benanti over James, H2S over Anything Goes), and the surprise of the night was that there were no surprises.  So, I'll take the B- (81%) and start prepping for next year.

How did you do?  

If you remember, in addition to listing my predictions last week, I also listed what the majority of you thought would win.  You improved over last year as well . . . and you scored a stellar 24 out of 26!  I mean, do I not have the smartest readers on the planet or what?  You guys even beat Ben!  Seriously, future nominees, if you want to know if you should prepare a speech or not, look no further than the soothsayers known as the Producer's Perspective readers.  

Ok, now on to the good stuff . . . who won the iPad 2?

It came down to the tiebreaker this year.  We had 10 people guess a near perfect 25 out of 26 (!).  But the person who picked 25 winners AND came closest to guessing the length of Athol Fugard's speech was . . . 

BRIAN DECALUWE!

Congratulations!  You won!  Email me to confirm your entry and collect your prize!

For the rest of you, there is always next year.  Because there are three sure things in life: death, taxes, and another Broadway season.

In fact, the new one starts . . . TONIGHT!  That's right, it's only fitting that Spider-Man will be the first Tony eligible show to open in the 2011-2012 season.  

Want to start laying bets on whether it will be nominated or not? 

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!)  

----------------

FUN STUFF

- Come to our Writer/Producer Collaborator Speed Date on June 21st. RSVP here!

- Take the Tony Award Survey! Results will be announced on Friday. Click here.

- Enter to win 2 tickets to see Love, Loss, and What I Wore Off Broadway!  Click here.

- My next Get Your Show Off the Ground seminar is coming up on June 25th.  Get info here.

 

My Top 5 Favorite Things about the 2011 Tony Awards.

Last year, when it was announced that the Tonys were going to be evicted from their temporary residence at Radio City, everyone wondered what the change of venue would do to the show.

Well, I think we have our answer.

Moving uptown shook some dust off the ol' girl, because in my opinion, the 2011 Tony Awards were the best I've seen in the last . . . well . . . since I've been watching.

It didn't matter that we all knew who was going to be walking home with the most Tonys on his arm at the end of the night--the show itself was a fantastic representation of the top-notch entertainment that Broadway can present.

Now, we can only hope that more people were watching this year than last.  But even if the ratings don't bump, the people that were watching got a terrific show that I know will get them more excited about going to the theater.  (Take that Oscar!)

What made it so special?  Here are my top five reasons why this Tony Awards telecast was so special.

1.  Not just another opening, another show.

Oh yeah, they went there.  And it was funny, original, and unabashedly proud of who we are.  Rather than trying to pretend we're something we're not (which never works in awards shows and in life), NPH and the nominated shows let their freak flags fly, and said this is who we are, and you know you love it.  And if a couple of viewers in red states reached for the remote when they heard the "G" word, I'd bet a bunch that we had them laughing before they could change the channel.

2.  Broadway is a "numbers" game.

When I was just another Broadway fan from Massachusetts, I used to tune in every year for one reason, and one reason only . . . to see production numbers from Broadway shows.  See, I lived far away from New York City.  You know, like 65% of our audience.  So I wanted to see what I couldn't see any day of the week.  This year, in addition to the numbers from the nominated musicals and musical revivals, the Tonys included numbers from Spider-Man (it's what the world is talking about, after all), the non-nominated Priscilla, and last year's winner, Memphis (what a coup!).  I'd keep pushing the numbers envelope myself, and start doing more previews from the next season's slate.  

3.  The host with the most.

Neil?  You had me at "I'm teen heartthrob Neil Patrick Harris."  Yeah, he can sing, he can dance, he can tell a joke, and he looks good in a tux and a purple jumpsuit.  But most importantly, the guy loves Broadway, and it shows.  

4.  The plays are usually not the thing.

Year after year, the Tonys try to come up with a creative way to showcase the incredible writing behind the nominees for Best Play.  We've seen live snippets of scenes, we've seen all the plays jumbled together in a Best Play soup, and many more iterations.  This year, they just showed footage.  Simple, great footage, and wonderfully succinct descriptions (and a special appearance from "Joey" the War Horse).  Sometimes being too clever gets you into trouble  Just show us the show and move on.

5.  "The Circle of Doom"

Something had to be done about the swarms of people that have taken to the stage over the last few years when the Best Musical, Best Play and Best Revivals are announced.  This year, a pre-determined select group of folks were invited to the stand behind the microphone, while the rest were sent to "The Circle of Doom", as labeled by Trey Parker.  The acceptance speeches were classy and clean, less chaotic, and most importantly, quicker, creating a much smoother show.

 

I'm giving the show a 9.  I'd give it a 10, but I would have liked 1 or 2 more A-list stars that I haven't seen before giving something away.  Oh, and I know they are on tour, but we couldn't get even one member of the Glee cast?  A lot of kids would have stayed up late to see Darren Criss for just a sec.  

What would you rate this year's Tonys?

You're going to get a chance, because we've created a quick seven question survey for you!  Click below to take the survey and share your thoughts.  The results will be posted on Friday.

Take our Tony Awards Survey!

Oh, and stay tuned to tomorrow's blog for the announcement of the winner of my Tony Pool, and to see how I did with my predictions.

Don't forget the survey!

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

- - - - -

FUN STUFF

- Enter to win 2 tickets to see Love Loss and What I Wore Off Broadway!  Click here.

- My next Get Your Show Off The Ground seminar is coming up on June 25th.  Get info here.

 

My 2011 Tony Predictions, your Tony predictions, and Guest Star predictions too!

Ok, it's put up or shut up time.  

Here are my predictions as to who is going home with a statue on Sunday night.  

In addition to my predictions, I'm also going to tell you who YOU predicted will win.  (I've sorted through all of the entries to my Tony Pool, and I'm going to tell you who got the majority of votes.)  

And, as a special bonus this year, I've enlisted some Producing Peers of mine to offer their predictions as well.  Producers Hal Luftig (Catch Me If You Can, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Movin' Out) and the 2010 Producers of the Year Randy Adams and Sue Frost (Memphis) have offered their thoughts on what will win in a few categories (and remember, they are all voters).  Let's see if they agree with me.

And let's see if you agree with us.

Here we go!

BEST PLAY

NOMINEES:  Good People, Jerusaleum, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, War Horse

There's some scuttle on the street that this will go to Good People because it's a good play by an American author, and a few folks are calling War Horse an example of style over substance. 

But I think the overall experience of War Horse will overpower Good People.  In fact, if "Joey" were running the Preakness this year, I'd put $1000 on him to win.

Hal Luftig agrees.  In his own words, "War Horse will win best play because a dying horse, especially when it's a puppet, is hard to beat!"

And Randy says, "This was a very tough category because all are excellent plays.  I think War Horse will win because of the epic size and sheer theatricality of the production.  

MY PREDICTION:  War Horse

YOUR PREDICTION:  War Horse

BEST MUSICAL

NOMINEES:  The Book of Mormon, Catch Me If You Can, The Scottsboro Boys, Sister Act

No contest.  But boy oh boy would I have loved to have seen what came in second!  If only, like the Preakness, we had a 'place' and a 'show' as well as a 'win'.  

Randy Adams says, "Book of Mormon will win.  It is an amazing show with a big old heart at the center of it. It is incredibly well put together with clever writing and great staging and its original!

MY PREDICTION:  The Book of Mormon

YOUR PREDICTION:  The Book of Mormon

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL

NOMINEES:  Alex Timbers (Bloody, Bloody, Andrew Jackson), Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (The Book of Mormon), David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys), Chris Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane, Sister Act.

While I think Douglas Carter Beane deserves some recognition for his work on the trans-atlantic version of Sister Act, wrap this one up and give it to the Mormon boys. 

MY PREDICTION:  Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (The Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (The Book of Mormon)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  The Book of Mormon (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone), The Scottsboro Boys (John Kander and Fred Ebb), Sister Act (Alan Menken and Glenn Slater), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

The Scottsboro Boys will get a few sentimental (but deserved) votes because of the careers of Kander and the late Fred Ebb, but The Mormons will take this one too.

Oh, and has anyone found the credits to BOM interesting?  All three authors split all three credits.  Rare that you can find artists willing to do that these days, and a sign that maybe this collaboration was made in heaven . . . or on XXXX if you’re a Mormon.

MY PREDICTION:  Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (The Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (The Book of Mormon)

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY

Nominees:  Arcadia, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Merchant of Venice, The Normal Heart

Beware the ides of May.  That’s what Shakespeare would have written if he had been talking about how quickly things can change in the Tony race when shows open late in the season.

Back in cold, dark January, I would have called this one for The Merchant of Venice.  And then The Normal Heart happened.  The industry players that I talk to tell me that Heart seems richer than it was, is incredibly acted, and then they all bring up the subject matter.  AIDS ravaged the entertainment industry, and voters will want the message of The Normal Heart to be rewarded for its bravery.

And Randy Adams agrees:  "This was a stunning, heartbreaking revival done by an incredible cast."

MY PREDICTION:  The Normal Heart

YOUR PREDICTION:  The Normal Heart

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Anything Goes, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

I've heard that Anything Goes has been building up some steam in this category, but I'm going the other way.  Here's why.  I don't care who you talk to, they all agree that Daniel Radcliffe was robbed of a nomination, and maybe even of a win.  Voters still want to reward him somehow.  And giving the Tony to H2S could be there way of doing so.

Randy Adams disagrees with me, saying, "Anything Goes will win.  The work of Kathleen Marshall and Sutton Foster shot this to the top for me."

MY PREDICTION:  How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

YOUR PREDICTION:  Anything Goes

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Nominees:  Brian Bedford (Importance of . . . ), Bobby Cannavale (The MF with the Hat), Joe Mantello (Normal Heart), Al Pacino (Merchant of Venice), Mary Rylance (Jersualeum)

Tough category.  Really competitive category.  All of them are Tony-worthy.  Who will win is a tough question.  But a tougher question is . . . if Rylance wins, how will he top his previous speech?  

MY PREDICTION:  Actor/Director Joe Mantello (The Normal Heart), or as I call him, The MF who wears many hats and looks good in all of them.

YOUR PREDICTION: Mark Rylance (Jerusalem)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Nominees:  Nina Arianda (Born Yesterday), Frances McDormand (Good People), Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice), Vanessa Redgrave (Driving Miss Daisy), Hannah Yelland (Brief Encounter)

A three-way race, if you ask me, or what I call, a menage-a-Tony.  It's between Arianda, McDormand and Rabe.  And I'm going to say voters went with the one that surprised the the most. 

MY PREDICTION:  Nina Arianda (Born Yesterday)

YOUR PREDICTION: Frances McDormand (Good People)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Norbert Butz (Catch Me If You Can), Josh Gad (The Book of Mormon), Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys), Andrew Rannells (Book of Mormon), Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert)

This category is the best chance we have for an upset, but at the end of the day, the veteran wins the day, and deservedly so.

As Hal Luftig says, "Norbert Leo Butz will win Best Actor in Catch Me If You Can because he should! (full disclosure: I produced the show)"

MY PREDICTION:  Daniel Radcliffe.  Oops.  Sorry.  I forgot.  I mean, Norbert Leo Butz.

YOUR PREDICTION:  Norbert Leo Butz

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Sutton Foster (Anything Goes), Beth Leavel (Baby It's You!), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Donna Murphy (The People in the Picture)

We've got another two-timer, Ladies and Gentlemen.  And I'l bet she sees a third win in her lifetime easy.

Hal Luftig produced the show that won Sutton her first.  This year he predicts, "Sutton Foster will win Best Actress in a Musical because she is quickly becoming Broadway Royalty!"

MY PREDICTION:  Sutton Foster

YOUR PREDICTION: Sutton Foster

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Nominees:  Mackenzie Crook (Jerusaleum), Billy Crudup (Arcadia), John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart), Arian Moayed (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), Yul Vazquez (The MF with the Hat)

Another one for Normal.

Sue says, "These guys are all so good, but John really breaks your heart, and I think this will push him out in front."

MY PREDICTION:  John Benjamin Hickey

YOUR PREDICTION: John Benjamin Hickey

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Nominees:  Ellen Barkin (The Normal Heart), Edie Falco (The House of Blue Leaves), Judith Light (Lombardi), Joanna Lumley (La Bête), Elizabeth Rodriguez (The MF with the Hat)

I want to say that Judith Light will pull an upset, because 1 - she was great and 2 - Lombardi was the surprise show of the year.  But at the end of the day, the voters will go with Barkin.

Sue and I agreed about the competition.  She said, "Give it to all of them!  Really!  I think it will go to Ellen Barkin in The Normal Heart, because it is her Broadway debut and she knocks it out of the park.

MY PREDICTION:  Ellen Barkin

YOUR PREDICTION:  Ellen Barkin

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Colman Domingo (The Scottsboro Boys), Adam Godley (Anything Goes), John Larroquette (How To Succeed . . . ), Forrest McClendon (Scottsboro Boys), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon)

It's an anti-Hollywood year at the Tonys, but the TV star will take this one home.  Give it to John Boy.

Sue Frost agrees with me, saying, "He's just such a teddy bear, and everyone loves him - in a category of really wonderful performers, I think he has the edge."

MY PREDICTION:  John Larroquette

YOUR PREDICTION: Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon)

 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Laura Benanti (Women on the Verge . . .), Tammy Blanchard (How to Succeed . . . ), Victoria Clark (Sister Act), Nikki M. James (Book of Mormon), Patti Lupone (Women on the Verge . . .)

Remember that time Sutton won her second Tony?  She won't be the only one that can double-fist Tony Awards after Sunday night.

Sue Frost thinks they'll go with another former Tony-winner.  "This is another tough category, but everyone is so thrilled to see Vickie do comedy. I think she's going to take it."

MY PREDICTION:  Laura Benanti

YOUR PREDICTION:  Laura Benanti

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Nominees:  Marianne Elliot & Tom Morris (War Horse), Joel Grey & George C. Wolfe (Normal Heart), Anna D. Shapiro (The MF with the Hat), Daniel Sullivan (Merchant of Venice)

This is the year of the co-directors (see Musical category as well)!  

MY PREDICTION:  Joel Grey & George C. Wolfe

YOUR PREDICTION:  Marianne Elliot & Tom Morris (War Horse)

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Rob Ashford (How to Succeed . . . ), Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes), Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker (Book of Mormon), Susan Stroman (Scottsboro Boys)

Two directors are better than one, and that's why these boys will have "won" come Sunday night.

MY PREDICTION:  Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker

YOUR PREDICTION:  Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Nominees: Nominees:  Rob Ashford (How to Succeed . . . ), Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes), Casey Nicholaw (Book of Mormon), Susan Stroman (Scottsboro Boys)

Ahhh, can you say the year of the director-choreographer?  In case you didn't notice, the same people were nominated in both categories (except for Trey Parker - sorry Trey).  

Part of me wants to say that voters will want to give something to Susan and Scottsboro, but it's not like her mantle is empty.  And if I'm right about H2S taking Best Revival, then the voters will want to credit Kathleen for her toe-tappin' work and might want to give Mormon a break from running up and down those stairs so many times.  So . . .

MY PREDICTION:  Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes)

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Nominees:  Doug Besterman (How to Succeed . . . ), Larry Hochman (Scottsboro Boys), Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus (Book of Mormon), Marc Shaiman & Larry Blank (Catch Me If You Can)

MY PREDICTION:  Larry Hochman & Stephen Oremus (Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Larry Hochman & Stephen Oremus (Book of Mormon)

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY

Nominees:  Todd Rosenthal (The MF with the Hat), Rae Smith (War Horse), Ultz (Jersualem), Mark Wendland (Merchant of Venice)

MY PREDICTION:  Rae Smith (War Horse)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Rae Smith (War Horse)

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Beowulf Boritt (Scottsboro Boys), Derek McLane (Anything Goes), Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), Donyale Werle (Bloody, Bloody, Andrew Jackson)

This was not the year of the monster spectacle musical (thanks to the delay of Spider-Man).  While BBAJ had a terrific set, I'm not sure enough people saw it.

MY PREDICTION:  Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY

Nominees:  Jess Goldstein (Merchant of Venice), Desmond Heeley (Importance of . . . ), Mark Thompson (La Bete), Catherine Zuber (Born Yesterday)

MY PREDICTION:  Desmond Heeley (Importance of . . . )

YOUR PREDICTION:  Desmond Heeley (Importance of . . . )

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner (Priscilla . . . ), Martin Pakledinaz (Anything Goes), Ann Roth (Book of Mormon), Catherine Zuber (How to Succeed . . .)

I mean, come on.  A dancing cupcake?  Not to mention figuring out how to get those ping pong balls to . . . you know . . .

MY PREDICTION:  Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner (Priscilla . . . )

YOUR PREDICTION:  Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner (Priscilla . . . )

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY

Nominees: Paule Constable (War Horse), David Lander (Bengal Tiger . . .),  Kenneth Posner (Merchant of Venice), Mimi Jordan Sherin (Jerusalem)

MY PREDICTION:  Paule Constable (War Horse)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Paule Constable (War Horse)

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Ken Billington (The Scottsboro Boys), Howell Binkley (How to Succeed . . . ), Peter Kaczorowski (Anything Goes), Brian MacDevitt (Book of Mormon)

MY PREDICTION:  Brian MacDevitt (Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Brian MacDevitt (Book of Mormon)

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY

Nominees:  Acme Sound Partners & Cricket S. Myers (Bengal Tiger . . . ), Simon Baker (Brief Encounter), Ian Dickinson for Autograph (Jerusalem), Christopher Shutt (War Horse)

MY PREDICTION:  Christopher Shutt (War Horse)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Christopher Shutt (War Horse)

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL

Nominees:  Peter Hylenski (The Scottsboro Boys), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Catch Me If You Can), Brian Ronan (Anything Goes), Brian Ronan (Book of Mormon)

Because when voters don't know what to do, they give a Tony to the big show of the year.

MY PREDICTION:  Brian Ronan (Book of Mormon)

YOUR PREDICTION:  Brian Ronan (Book of Mormon)

 

So there she blows!  My, yours, and other Producers' 2011 Tony Award Predictions.

What do you think?  Agree?  Disagree?  Excited for Sunday?

Coming to our party?  

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

- - - - -

FUN STUFF

- Come to our Tony Awards Party THIS SUNDAY!  Click here for more info and to get your ticket now! 

- Enter to win 2 tickets to see the screening of Company!  Click here.

- My next Get Your Show Off The Ground seminar is coming up on June 25th.  Get info here.

 

Last chance for you to win an iPad in my Tony Pool!

Like a bartender in the West Village at 3:45 AM, it's time for me to say, "LAAAST CAAAALLL!"

My Tony pool officially closes at midnight tonight, so this is your very last chance to get your votes in for a shot at the iPad 2.  

I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.  

Good luck!

Click the link below and enter today!  

Play The Producer's Perspective Tony Pool!

Don't have tickets to the Tonys? Come to our Tony Party! Prizes, wings, Broadway stars and more!

Last year's Tony Party was so much fun, we're having it again!

On Sunday, June 12th, you're invited to join us at Blondie's on the Upper West Side (just a few blocks from the actual Tonys) starting at 7 PM.

And this year our hosts are the stars of The Addams Family, Rachel Potter and Adam Riegler, aka Wednesday and Pugsley Addams!  

In addition to the Addams kids, we're also having a FREE Tony Pool.  Grand prize?  A Nintendo Wii!  

And don't forget the all-you-can-eat wings, mozz sticks, fries, veggies, all-you-can-drink soda (full cash bar available), contests/giveaways during commercial breaks, a goody bag, special appearances, tons of TVs and a whole bunch of other surprises.  (And, like last year, a "quiet room" will be available for those who want to eat their wings and watch their Tonys with less distraction.)

So come and cheer on your favorite shows/actors/designers, and mix and mingle with a whole bunch of folks who love Broadway just as much as you do.

Get your ticket today!

If last year is any indication, much, MUCH fun will be had.  Don't miss it.  

And unlike going to the actual awards themselves, no dress code is required, you can eat while you watch, and when you have to pee, you can go anytime you want.  

Info is below.  Last year's party did sell out, so get your ticket ASAP (and prices go up at the door).  And check out the VIP option which gets you open bar access (perfect for those of you whose favorite show comes up empty handed), reserved seating and more.  

See you there!

The BroadwaySpace.com 2nd Annual Tony Party
Hosted by Rachel Potter and Adam Riegler
Blondie's on the Upper West Side
212 West 79th St. (betw. Broadway & Amsterdam) 
7 PM - 11 PM

Tickets are only $29.50 for the food, drink and all the other stuff above.

VIP passes including open bar, reserved seating and more are available for $99.

Click here for more info and to get your ticket now! 

- - - - -

FUN STUFF

- Enter my Tony Pool!  You can win an iPad!  Enter today!

- Enter to win 2 tickets to see By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Second Stage!  Click here.

The Sunday Giveaway: 2 Tickets to By The Way Meet Vera Stark at Second Stage.

Did you see Ruined?  

People are still talking about how that play, by the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Lynn Nottage, didn't make it to Broadway, even though it had more extensions than Kim Kardashian at an Oscar Party.

 

Will they be saying the same thing about By The Way Meet Vera Stark, the new play by Ms. Nottage that is up and running at 2nd Stage?

You tell me!  Because one of you is going!

To win?  All you have to do is enter my Tony Pool (I'm giving away an iPad if that helps).  I'll pick a winner for the Vera Star tickets from the entrants in the Pool.  If you've already entered the Pool, then sit back and relax, because you're in it to win it. 

Enter the Tony Pool here.

Good luck!

Play my 2011 Tony pool! You can win an iPad!

Mmmmmm, Tony Award.

Mmmmmm, iPad.

Put 'em together and you get . . . my 2011 Tony Award Pool!

Yep, every year we let you be the Tony Voter.  Who do you think is going to win?  

Pick the winners and you could be walking around with a brand spankin' new iPad Deux.  

Now, this might all seem like fun & games (and it is) but picking Tony Winners is a big part of what Producers do.  If you've got a good eye, you could be beating the Broadway game for reals, yo.

So let's see what you've got!

To play, click the link below and pick away!  

PLAY KEN'S 2011 TONY POOL!

Some rules and regs:

- Only one entry per reader.  Multiple entries will disqualify all of your entries. 

- To play, you must be an email subscriber to the blog.  If you are not an email subscriber, use the box on the upper left corner of this page to subscribe now.  If you are already an email subscriber, you do not have to resubscribe.

- Make sure you fill out ALL of the information on the "Verification Page" of your entry.  Incomplete entries (and there were a few last year) cannot be counted.  And that's a major bummer.
 
- When asked for your email on the "Verification Page", make sure you enter the same email that you use to subscribe to the blog. It's how we verify who you are.

Got it?  Good!

So PLAY TODAY and you can win an iPad! 

Click here to enter.  Hurry voting closes on Tony Sunday June 9, 2011 at 11:59 PM!

My reaction to today's Tony Award nominations.

Well I got a Satisfactory "C" or 75% on my Tony Award nomination predictions.  How did you do?

I missed one in the Best Play nomination category and one in the Best Musical category.

In Best Play, I went with the almost-Pulitzer Bengal Tiger, which was pushed out by The "Mother" With The Hat (as Matthew Broderick called it on the Tony Awards live stream).  MF with the Hat has had quite a ride, with a first weekly gross of only $217k, a Michael Riedel article saying it was going to close in a week, and now . . . grosses of $600k-plus and a chance at Tony Gold!

In Best Musical, I tried to outsmart the Tony Award nominators, and got outsmarted in return.  Rather than go for two artistic choices, they stuck with just one, Scottsboro Boys, and gave the fourth and final spot to the original Sister Act. (I assume Sister's original score is what gave it the advantage over Priscilla and its jukebox score.)  

What else surprised me?

- My jaw is still on the floor that Daniel Radcliffe was snubbed for his superstar turn in How To Succeed.  Honestly, I don't think I've ever been so disappointed that someone's hard work and all around awesomeness wasn't rewarded.  Was this a response to last year's backlash that too many Hollywood stars were given award attention over Broadway stars?  That would explain the lack of noms for the star-driven, Oceans 11-like cast of That Chamionship Season.  (Now, will Radcliffe prove the better man and host/present anyway?  I'd bet yes.  But nominators?  Be on the look out, he just might throw a Furunculus Curse spell on you)

- Many a show and a performer were affected by something I'm now calling "The Scottsboro Syndrome."  It's when a closed but critically acclaimed show sneaks back in and gets a lot more nominations that anyone ever expected.  Catch Me's score and choreography were just a few that were felled by "The Syndrome."

- In this incredibly crowded season, a lot of shows were left without even a single nomination including Wonderland, Pee Wee, Elf, Ghetto Klown, Rain, A Free Man of Color, and a bunch more . . . most of which would have been included if we still had a Special Theatrical Event category (hint, hint).

What surprised you?

Now that the nominations are out, it's time to start handicapping the actual awards!  I mean, come on, is there anything more exciting for a theater fan than the 6 weeks between nominations and the big day?

And it's also time to try and win stuff!  Look for the announcement of our Tony Award Pool later this week!  Big prizes!  Big fun!

Click here for a complete list of The 2011 Tony Award Nominations.

 

(Got a comment?  I love 'em, so comment below!  Email subscribers, click here, then scroll down, to say what's on your mind!) 

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FUN STUFF

- Take the Broadway Investing 101 Seminar in NYC and in Minneapolis!  Click here! 

- Take the Get Your Show Off the Ground Seminar in Minneapolis on May 15th.  Click here!

- Come to the Social in Minneapolis.  Click here!

- Win 2 tickets to see Chicago on Broadway.  Click here!

The Official 2011 Tony Award Nominations

Here they are!  The official 2011 Tony Award nominations!  

Best Play
Good People	Author: David Lindsay-Abaire
Jerusalem	Author: Jez Butterworth
The Motherf**ker with the Hat	Author: Stephen Adly Guirgis
War Horse	Author: Nick Stafford

Best Musical
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act

Best Book of a Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson	Alex Timbers
The Book of Mormon	Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
The Scottsboro Boys	David Thompson
Sister Act	Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Book of Mormon	Music & Lyrics: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
The Scottsboro Boys	Music & Lyrics: John Kander and Fred Ebb
Sister Act	Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown	Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek

Best Revival of a Play
Arcadia
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
The Normal Heart

Best Revival of a Musical
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Brian Bedford	The Importance of Being Earnest
Bobby Cannavale	The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Joe Mantello	The Normal Heart
Al Pacino	The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance	Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda	Born Yesterday
Frances McDormand	Good People
Lily Rabe	The Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave	Driving Miss Daisy
Hannah Yelland	Brief Encounter

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz	Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad	The Book of Mormon
Joshua Henry	The Scottsboro Boys
Andrew Rannells	The Book of Mormon
Tony Sheldon	Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sutton Foster	Anything Goes
Beth Leavel	Baby It's You!
Patina Miller	Sister Act
Donna Murphy	The People in the Picture

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Mackenzie Crook	Jerusalem
Billy Crudup	Arcadia
John Benjamin Hickey	The Normal Heart
Arian Moayed	Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Yul Vázquez	The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Ellen Barkin	The Normal Heart
Edie Falco	The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light	Lombardi
Joanna Lumley	La Bête
Elizabeth Rodriguez	The Motherf**ker with the Hat

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Colman Domingo	The Scottsboro Boys
Adam Godley	Anything Goes
John Larroquette	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Forrest McClendon	The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O'Malley	The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Laura Benanti	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tammy Blanchard	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Victoria Clark	Sister Act
Nikki M. James	The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone	Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Best Direction of a Play
Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris	War Horse
Joel Grey & George C. Wolfe	The Normal Heart
Anna D. Shapiro	The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Daniel Sullivan	The Merchant of Venice

Best Direction of a Musical
Rob Ashford	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall	Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker	The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman	The Scottsboro Boys

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall	Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw	The Book of Mormon
Susan Stroman	The Scottsboro Boys

Best Orchestrations
Doug Besterman	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Larry Hochman	The Scottsboro Boys
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus	The Book of Mormon
Marc Shaiman & Larry Blank	Catch Me If You Can

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Todd Rosenthal	The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Rae Smith	War Horse
Ultz	Jerusalem
Mark Wendland	The Merchant of Venice

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt	The Scottsboro Boys
Derek McLane	Anything Goes
Scott Pask	The Book of Mormon
Donyale Werle	Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jess Goldstein	The Merchant of Venice
Desmond Heeley	The Importance of Being Earnest
Mark Thompson	La Bête
Catherine Zuber	Born Yesterday

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner	Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Martin Pakledinaz	Anything Goes
Ann Roth	The Book of Mormon
Catherine Zuber	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable	War Horse
David Lander	Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Kenneth Posner	The Merchant of Venice
Mimi Jordan Sherin	Jerusalem

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington	The Scottsboro Boys
Howell Binkley	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Peter Kaczorowski	Anything Goes
Brian MacDevitt	The Book of Mormon

Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners & Cricket S. Myers	Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Simon Baker	Brief Encounter
Ian Dickinson for Autograph	Jerusalem
Christopher Shutt	War Horse

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Peter Hylenski	The Scottsboro Boys
Steve Canyon Kennedy	Catch Me If You Can
Brian Ronan	Anything Goes
Brian Ronan	The Book of Mormon

Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Athol Fugard

Philip J. Smith

Regional Theatre Tony Award®

Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago, Ill.)

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Eve Ensler

Special Tony Award

Handspring Puppet Company

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
	William Berloni
	The Drama Book Shop
	Sharon Jensen and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts