Jun 13: 2007 Tony Awards

Sunday night, the theater world watched the Tony Awards (some even giving up the final episode of the Sopranos in favor of the award ceremony!) Thanks to some record companies and speedy shipping by Amazon, we have a pretty good representation of the winners, nominees, and should-have-been-nominated.

BEST MUSICAL
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins - London cast available only
Spring Awakening

We heard a little of Spring Awakening in early May during the "Rock Musicals" show. Sure enough, the Off-Broadway transfer took several awards: best musical, score, book of a musical (Steven Sater), director of a musical (Michael Mayer), featured actor of a musical (John Gallagher Junior), lighting design of a musical (Kevin Adams), choreography (Bill T Jones), and orchestrations (Duncan Sheik).

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
The Apple Tree - new recording unavailable. OBC
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade - CD available June 10, 2007 from PS Classics

Company had so much going for it, including director John Doyle's instruments-as-actors approach that worked so well in last season's Sweeney Todd.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik (no recording plans announced)
Raúl Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains (The Detective)

A bit of an upset - Raúl Esparza's Bobby holds Company together. Perhaps it was an apology for not giving Hyde Pierce a nomination for Spamalot? I have to admit he is SO fun to watch onstage.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde The Musical (available from Ghostlight July 17)
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik (no recording plans announced)

(I'm still surprised that Kristin Chenoweth isn't listed here)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Brooks Ashmanskas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde The Musical
John Cullum, 110 in the Shade
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
David Pittu, LoveMusik

AKA "The one with the hair," Gallagher Jr. is one of the youngest actors to receive a Tony. (I believe the youngest is still Daisy Egan for Secret Garden. She was adorable...)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Charlotte d’Amboise, A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde The Musical
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

I wonder what Jackie Kennedy would have thought of this portrayal of her cousin and aunt....