I like to think that everyone in America (and many throughout the world) do the exact same thing at the same time just once each year by sitting down with family or friends to watch the Tony Awards. I'm well aware that my mental image is about as unrealistic as the worlds created in most Broadway musicals. But the beauty of the Tony Awards is that they bring theater into billions of homes for one night per year. While most families have ready access to television and see plenty of movies each year (even if those movies are via their rebroadcast on television), a large number of people, young and old, rarely (if ever) have the opportunity or make the choice to see live theater. This is the one moment that brings it to those who would never see it otherwise. In an ideal world, the Tonys would reinvigorate interest in live theater across the globe.
Here are the Tony picks for whom I'll be rooting this year:
Best Play - Next Fall
Best Musical - Fela!
Best Book of a Musical - Everyday Rapture
Best Original Score - Memphis
Best Revival of a Play - Fences
Best Revival of a Musical - Ragtime
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play - Alfred Molina, Red
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play - Viola Davis, Fences
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Montego Glover, Memphis
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - John Michael Hall, Superior Donuts
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play - Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Robin De Jesús, La Cage aux Folles
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
And for pure fun, check out the special Tony edition of Broadway.com's web series Side by Side by Susan Blackwell with three deserving Tony nominees:
