The 79th annual Tony Awards are set to captivate audiences this Sunday, with Grammy-winning artist Pink taking the helm as host. As anticipation builds for Broadway’s most prestigious night, the team at Next Best Theatre has meticulously compiled their predictions for the coveted awards. These insights, previously shared via their podcast, are now available in written form for enthusiasts eager to delve into their favored contenders across a diverse range of categories. The expert predictions are brought to you by a dedicated panel of critics: Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, and Lauren LaMagna, whose collective expertise offers a comprehensive outlook on the potential winners.
A Season of Remarkable Achievements on Broadway
The 2023-2024 Broadway season has been a vibrant tapestry of innovative new productions and compelling revivals, making the competition for this year’s Tony Awards particularly fierce. From groundbreaking musicals that push artistic boundaries to poignant plays that tackle complex societal themes, the nominated works represent the pinnacle of theatrical achievement. The Tony Awards, established in 1947 and named after Antoinette Perry, a prominent actress and humanitarian, serve as a crucial barometer of success and recognition within the American theatre community. Each year, the awards honor excellence in live Broadway theatre, celebrating the artistry, dedication, and collaborative spirit that brings these productions to life.
This year’s nominations reflect a season characterized by artistic risk-taking and a commitment to diverse storytelling. The nominated musicals showcase a spectrum of genres, from ambitious new works like "The Lost Boys" and "Titanique" to the critically acclaimed "Schmigadoon!" and the charming "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)." The Best Play category features a compelling lineup, including the deeply resonant "The Balusters," the thought-provoking "Giant," the powerful "Liberation," and the intimate "Little Bear Ridge Road."
Navigating the Competitive Landscape: Key Categories and Predictions
The Next Best Theatre team’s predictions offer a detailed roadmap through the most anticipated races. In the Best Musical category, their collective foresight points towards a spirited contest. While "The Lost Boys," "Titanique," and "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" all garnered significant attention, the team’s predictions highlight "Schmigadoon!" as a strong contender, marked by "ALL" indicating a consensus among the prognosticators. This suggests a shared belief in its potential to clinch the top prize, perhaps due to its widespread critical acclaim and audience resonance.
The Best Play category presents a similarly robust field. "The Balusters," "Giant," and "Little Bear Ridge Road" have all earned their nominations through distinct artistic merits. However, the team’s prediction for "Liberation" is underscored by "ALL," signaling a strong consensus that this play is poised for victory. This points to its impactful narrative and masterful execution, resonating deeply with the critics’ assessment of the season’s finest dramatic work.
The realm of Revival of a Musical is set to be a closely watched race. "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" stands out with a significant endorsement ("ALL"), suggesting it’s a frontrunner for this prestigious award. The competition also includes the enduring "Ragtime" and the cult favorite "Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show," each bringing their unique appeal to the category. The prediction for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" implies a strong appreciation for its innovative reinterpretation or a powerful revival performance.
Similarly, the Revival of a Play category features a strong slate of reimagined classics and contemporary works. "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" is prominently featured with an "ALL" prediction, indicating a likely win. The nominees also include "Becky Shaw," "Every Brilliant Thing," "Fallen Angels," and "Oedipus," each offering a distinct theatrical experience. The consensus around "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" suggests a production that not only honors the source material but also brings a fresh and compelling perspective to a timeless play.
Spotlight on Individual Performances
The acting categories are often the most emotionally charged, celebrating the individual brilliance that anchors theatrical productions. In the Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, the predictions show a tight race. Nicholas Christopher for "Chess," Luke Evans for "Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show," Sam Tutty for "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)," and Brandon Uranowitz for "Ragtime" are all recognized. However, Joshua Henry’s performance in "Ragtime" is marked with "ALL," suggesting a strong likelihood of him taking home the award.
For Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play, the field is equally impressive. Will Harrison ("Punch"), John Lithgow ("Giant"), Daniel Radcliffe ("Every Brilliant Thing"), and Mark Strong ("Oedipus") are all recognized. Nathan Lane’s portrayal in "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" receives the "ALL" endorsement, pointing to a probable win for the veteran actor.
The Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical features a diverse group of talented actresses. Sara Chase ("Schmigadoon!"), Stephanie Hsu ("Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show"), Marla Mindelle ("Titanique"), and Christiani Pitts ("Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)") are all nominated. Caissie Levy’s performance in "Ragtime" is highlighted with "ALL," indicating a strong prediction for her victory.
In the Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, the competition is fierce. Rose Byrne ("Fallen Angels"), Carrie Coon ("Bug"), Susannah Flood ("Liberation"), and Kelli O’Hara ("Fallen Angels") are all strong contenders. Lesley Manville’s performance in "Oedipus" is marked with "ALL," suggesting a significant consensus for her win.
The Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical sees Ali Louis Bourzgui ("The Lost Boys"), Bryce Pinkham ("Chess"), Ben Levi Ross ("Ragtime"), and Layton Williams ("Titanique") nominated. André De Shields in "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" receives the "ALL" prediction, signaling a likely win for the esteemed performer.
For Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, the nominees include Christopher Abbott ("Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman"), Danny Burstein ("Marjorie Prime"), Brandon J. Dirden ("Waiting for Godot"), and Ruben Santiago-Hudson ("August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone"). Alden Ehrenreich’s performance in "Becky Shaw" is marked with "ALL," suggesting he is the predicted winner. Richard Thomas’s role in "The Balusters" is also noted, indicating strong consideration.
The Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical features Shoshana Bean ("The Lost Boys"), Hannah Cruz ("Chess"), Rachel Dratch ("Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show"), and Nichelle Lewis ("Ragtime"). Ana Gasteyer in "Schmigadoon!" receives a specific endorsement from "Dan," indicating his personal strong prediction, while Cody and Lauren also lean towards Shoshana Bean for "The Lost Boys." This split prediction hints at a very close race in this category.
In the Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, Betsy Aidem ("Liberation"), Marylouise Burke ("The Balusters"), Aya Cash ("Giant"), and June Squibb ("Marjorie Prime") are nominated. Laurie Metcalf’s powerful performance in "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" garners the "ALL" prediction, making her a strong favorite.
Creative Excellence: Direction, Score, and Design
Beyond individual performances, the Tony Awards celebrate the visionary direction and intricate design elements that shape theatrical productions. In Direction of a Musical, Michael Arden for "The Lost Boys" receives a specific endorsement from "Dan," while Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" are favored by "Cody & Lauren." Lear deBessonet ("Ragtime"), Christopher Gattelli ("Schmigadoon!"), and Tim Jackson ("Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)") are also recognized, suggesting a competitive field where different critics favor different productions.
For Direction of a Play, Nicholas Hytner ("Giant"), Robert Icke ("Oedipus"), Kenny Leon ("The Balusters"), and Whitney White ("Liberation") are nominated. Joe Mantello’s work on "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" is strongly predicted with "ALL," highlighting his directorial prowess.
The Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre category acknowledges the composers and lyricists who have enriched the season. Nominees include works for "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman," "August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone," "The Lost Boys," and "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)." Cinco Paul’s contribution to "Schmigadoon!" receives a "Dan" endorsement, while Jim Barne and Kit Buchan for "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" are favored by "Cody & Lauren."
In Book of a Musical, the writers of "The Lost Boys," "Titanique," and "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" are nominated. Cinco Paul’s work on "Schmigadoon!" receives the "ALL" prediction, indicating a strong consensus for his authorship.
Choreography is another highly competitive category. Christopher Gattelli for "Schmigadoon!" and Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" receive specific endorsements from multiple critics. Ellenore Scott ("Ragtime"), Ani Taj ("Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show"), and Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant ("The Lost Boys") are also recognized, underscoring the diverse choreographic talent on display.
The Orchestrations category highlights the musical arrangements that bring scores to life. Doug Besterman and Mike Morris for "Schmigadoon!" and Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, and Doug Schadt for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" are favored by individual critics, while Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann for "The Lost Boys," Lux Pyramid for "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)," and Brian Usifer for "Chess" are also nominated. Cody’s preference for the orchestrations in "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" is noted.
Design categories celebrate the visual and auditory artistry of theatre. In Scenic Design in a Musical, Dane Laffrey for "The Lost Boys" is predicted to win ("ALL"), while nominations also include works for "Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show," "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)," "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," and "Schmigadoon!"
For Scenic Design in a Play, Hildegard Bechtler ("Oedipus"), Takeshi Kata ("Bug"), David Korins ("Dog Day Afternoon"), and David Rockwell ("Fallen Angels") are nominated. Chloe Lamford’s design for "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" receives the "ALL" prediction.
Costume Design in a Musical sees Linda Cho nominated for both "Ragtime" and "Schmigadoon!," highlighting her prolific season. Qween Jean for "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," Ryan Park for "The Lost Boys," and David I. Reynoso for "Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show" are also recognized, with Qween Jean receiving the "ALL" prediction.
In Costume Design in a Play, Brenda Abbandandolo ("Dog Day Afternoon"), Qween Jean ("Liberation"), Emilio Sosa ("The Balusters"), and Paul Tazewell ("August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone") are nominated. Jeff Mahshie’s work on "Fallen Angels" is favored with "ALL."
Lighting Design in a Musical presents a strong field with nominees for "Chess," "Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show," "Schmigadoon!," "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," and "Ragtime." Jen Schriever and Michael Arden for "The Lost Boys" are predicted to win ("ALL").
For Lighting Design in a Play, Isabella Byrd ("Dog Day Afternoon"), Natasha Chivers ("Oedipus"), Stacey Derosier ("August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone"), Heather Gilbert ("Bug" and "The Fear of 13"), are nominated. Jack Knowles’s lighting for "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" receives the "ALL" prediction.
Sound Design of a Musical features Kai Harada for both "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" and "Ragtime." Adam Fisher for "The Lost Boys" is favored by "Cody & Dan," while Brian Ronan ("Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show") and Walter Trarbach ("Schmigadoon!") are also nominated. Kai Harada’s work on "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" is specifically highlighted by "Lauren."
Finally, in Sound Design of a Play, Justin Ellington ("August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone"), Lee Kinney ("The Fear of 13"), and Josh Schmidt ("Bug") are nominated. Tom Gibbons for "Oedipus" is favored by "Dan & Lauren," while Mikaal Sulaiman for "Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman" is the predicted winner according to "Cody."
A Look Ahead: The Tony Awards Broadcast
The 79th Tony Awards ceremony is scheduled to broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, June 7th. This highly anticipated event will not only reveal the winners but also feature performances from many of the nominated musicals, offering viewers a spectacular showcase of Broadway’s talent. The inclusion of Pink as host promises an engaging and entertaining evening, blending her renowned performance style with the gravitas of theatre’s highest honors.
As the theatre community and fans alike await Sunday’s broadcast, the predictions from Next Best Theatre provide a valuable glimpse into the potential outcomes. These insights, informed by a thorough analysis of the season’s offerings, invite discussion and speculation, further fueling the excitement surrounding this celebration of theatrical excellence. The Tony Awards remain a crucial platform for recognizing and promoting the art form, inspiring future generations of artists and audiences alike.
