Blow a kiss! Take a bow! Honey, everything's coming up TONYS!

 

There are only two more sleeps until the 77^th Annual Tony Awards! This is what would have been going through Grissom High School theatre kid, Kip Driver’s, head back in the mid-eighties. What about now? Same thing! Haha. Hosted again (third year in a row) by the fabulous Ariana DeBose. Ms. DeBose is probably best known for being in the original Broadway company of Hamilton, her Tony nominated performance as “Disco Donna” in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and of course winning an Academy Award for her portrayal of Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story film.

Where/How/When do you watch the Tony Awards:

“The 77^th Annual Tony Awards will air from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sunday, June 16 (8:00-11:00 PM, LIVE ET) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.

It is certainly a jam-packed Season on Broadway, with 18 shows that opened in March and April alone, and 35 Broadway shows currently running. Which makes it even more difficult to make predictions but I’m going to try. Keep in mind that the following are my predictions of who will win, but not necessarily my favorite choices. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in!

 

Best Musical:

Hell’s Kitchen

Illinoise

The Outsiders

Suffs

Water for Elephants

My prediction is Hell’s Kitchen. With the inspiring music of Alicia Keys, beautiful storytelling, powerhouse performances from all the characters, and it just gives you all the feels throughout, it’s my pick.

 

Best Play:

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Mary Jane

Mother Play

Prayer for the French Republic

Stereophonic

It’s definitely Stereophonic! There’s a reason why it’s the most Tony-nominated play of all time.

 

Best Revival of a Play

Appropriate

An Enemy of the People

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

I must go with Appropriate for this prediction. Although my heart is with An Enemy of the People with Huntsville’s Katie Broad.

 

Best Book of a Musical

Kristoffer Diaz, Hell’s Kitchen

Bekah Brunstetter, The Notebook

Adam Rapp and Justin Levine, The Outsiders

Shaina Taub, Suffs

Rick Elice, Water for Elephants

I predict Suffs will walk away with this one. But I wouldn’t mind an upset with The Outsiders.

 

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Adam Guettel, Days of Wine and Roses

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love

Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders

Will Butler, Stereophonic

Shaina Taub, Suffs

I predict Adam Guettel, Days of Wine and Roses. But Suffs could take it, or my sentimental favorite would be The Outsiders.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya

Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable

Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People

Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots

I’m going with Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic

Jessica Lange, Mother Play

Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane

Sarah Paulson, Appropriate

Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable

I predict Sarah Paulson, Appropriate. But Jessica Lange could easily walk away with the trophy.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:

Brody Grant, The Outsiders

Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along

Dorian Harewood, The Notebook

Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses

Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

I would be very surprised if this wasn’t the year for Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Eden Espinosa, Lempicka

Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen

Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses

Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook

Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

I’m going with Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen. But Kelli O’Hara could easily take this one too. Eden Espinosa is my friend, and she belts better than anyone on Broadway. I’m so proud of her for this nomination!

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Will Brill, Stereophonic

Eli Gelb, Stereophonic

Jim Parson, Mother Play

Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic

Corey Stoll, Appropriate

I think the Stereophonic guys will cancel each other out, so I predict Corey Stoll, Appropriate.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable

Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic

Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play

Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic

Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

This is a close one, but I predict Kara Young, Purlie Victorious… Although it could easily go to Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic.

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Roger Bart, Back To The Future: The Musical

Joshua Boone, The Outsiders

Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen

Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders

Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along

Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

I’m going with Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along. He also has the reputation of being the nicest guy on Broadway. Jim Athens confirms that as he was his stage manager in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen

Amber Iman, Lempicka

Nikki M. James, Suffs

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot

Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen

Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along

Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

I predict a Merrily landslide, with Lindsay Mendez winning in this category. But Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen, might be the upset.

 

Now the following technical categories are not my specialty but I’m giving it a go…

 

Best Scenic Design of a Play

dots, Appropriate

dots, An Enemy of the People

Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

David Zinn, Stereophonic

My guess is dots, Appropriate but I would personally love dots, An Enemy of the People.

 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:

AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders

Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen

Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants

David Korins, Here Lies Love

Riccardo Hernandez and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka

Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back To The Future: The Musical

Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

My prediction is for Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

 

Best Costume Design of a Play

Dede Ayite, Appropriate

Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic

Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

David Zinn, An Enemy of the People

I’m going with Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen

Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby

David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants

Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Paul Tazewell, Suffs

The costumes in The Great Gatsby were beautiful so I’m going with Linda Cho on this one.

 

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People

Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic

Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic

Jane Cox, Appropriate

Natasha Katz, Grey House

My prediction is Jane Cox, Appropriate.

 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise

Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen

Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants

Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders

I LOVED the lighting in The Outsiders! So, I’m going with Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim for the win.

 

Best Sound Design of a Play

Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane

Tom Gibbons, Grey House

Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate

Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic

I’m predicting another win for Stereophonic, Ryan Rumery.

 

Best Sound Design of a Musical

M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love

Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along

Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club

Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen

Cody Spencer, The Outsiders

My guess here is for Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

Best Orchestrations

Timo Andres, Illinoise

Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic

Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders

Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell's Kitchen

Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along

I predict another Merrily win with the brilliant Jonathan Tunick.

Best Choreography

Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love

Camille A. Brown, Hell's Kitchen

Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders

Justin Peck, Illinoise

Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants

I'm pretty certain that Justin Peck, Illinoise is the clear winner here.

 Best Direction of a Play

Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic

Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane

Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch

Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate

Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Once again, I’m going with Stereophonic, Daniel Aukin.

 

Best Direction of a Musical

Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along

Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen

Leigh Silverman, Suffs

Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants

Danya Taymor, The Outsiders

Hands down, I believe this will go to Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along.

 

Well, I don’t know about you but that was exhausting!! Hahaha. Do you agree with my predictions? I would love to hear from you before the big night (two sleeps away) … Comment section is wide open! And don't forget that sequins are mandatory when attending a Tony Awards party or watching them from home. Cheers!

UPDATED ON JUNE 18:

Well it turns out that I scored a 77% on my Tony predictions. I'll take it! Now that Broadway's Biggest Night is behind us...  Click here for the complete list of the 2024 Tony Award Winners!!