2009 Tony Award Predictions!

It is truly the most wonderful time of the year: the Tony Awards. It's the one night where the country (or at least the educated sect of the country) turns their attention to celebrating the theatrical season on Broadway. In honor of this great night, here's my take on what I will win tonight in the musical theatre categories!

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Robert Brill, Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask, Pal Joey
Mark Wendland, Next to Normal

In a category that many deem up for grabs, I think people will gravitate towards this much utilized unit set.

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Gregory Gale, Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald, Hair

Hatley, who also designed the set, gets the nod here for inventive use of costume throughout the piece.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Kevin Adams, Hair
Kevin Adams, Next to Normal
Howell Binkley, West Side Story
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical

After winning the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards, it seems fitting that Fisher will complete the triple crown here. Look out for Kevin Adams to maybe steal this one though!

Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Acme Sound Partners, Hair
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski, Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan, Next to Normal

With it's rock band that turns up to 11, Hylenski gets the nod here for creating a full aural world.

Best Orchestrations:
Larry Blank, Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy, Shrek The Musical

The combination of composer Kitt and orchestrator Starobin have created the blueprint for what a contemporary musical's sound should be

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair

Jbara gets his Tony after his second nomination. My personal pick would be Sieber for his wonderfully crafted performance in Shrek. Being on your knees for 2.5 hours has to count for something!

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical

In her Broadway debut, Gwynne grabs the Tony in a relatively weak category.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish ‚ Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal

Although many belive the 3 Billy's will nab this award, I'm of opinion that d'Arcy James grabs this award tonight. His performance transcends its original subject matter and brings a new humanity to the ogre.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story

Ripley, a Broadway veteran, gets her Tony here for a beautiful performance in such a tough role.

Best Direction of a Musical:
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair

Although Paulus might steal this one, many believe that Daldry's direction will win tonight.

Best Choreography:
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin's White Christmas

With its story grounded in dance, Darling grabs this award. Look out for Armitage to take this one though!

Best Book of a Musical:
Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Music
Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal
David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek The Musical
Hunter Bell - [Title of Show]

In a much contested category, Hall is favored to win, with Bell being the dark horse.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
Elton John & Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal
Dolly Parton, 9 to 5
Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek the Musical

Kitt & Yorkey get their Tony for finding the perfect contemporary sound for a contemporary musical story.

Best Revival of a Musical:
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Basically a forgone conclusion since it opened, Hair gets the Tony.

Best Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical
In the tradition of Avenue Q and Jersey Boys, I'm predicting a huge upset in this category. Although I think Billy Elliot will win many awards, I believe that Next to Normal is a better musical and that voters will agree with this.

Enjoy the awards and I look forward to talking about the outcomes in coming days!