It was a good season for quantity of productions. Not so much for quality. But there were a few standout shows (Maybe Happy Ending, Purpose, Yellow Face), some nail-biter head-on clashes (Audra McDonald vs. Nicole Scherzimger) and complete toss-ups (We’re looking at you, design categories).
So, the chances are I will get a lot of these wrong, but here are my picks to win this evening at the Tonys. Please don’t rub it in Monday morning.
Play — Purpose
Musical — Maybe Happy Ending
Revival, Play — Yellow Face
Revival, Musical — Sunset Boulevard
Book, Musical — Maybe Happy Ending
Original Score — Dead Outlaw
Leading Actor, Play — George Clooney, Good Night and Good Luck
Leading Actress, Play — Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Leading Actor, Musical — Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Leading Actress, Musical — Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Featured Actor, Play — Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Featured Actress, Play —Kara Young, Purpose
Featured Actor, Musical — Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Featured Actress, Musical — Natalia Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Scenic Design, Play — The Hills of California
Scenic Design, Musical — Maybe Happy Ending
Costume Design, Play — The Picture of Dorian Gray
Costume Design, Musical — Boop!
Lighting Design, Play — Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Lighting Design, Musical — Sunset Boulevard
Sound Design, Play — Good Night, and Good Luck
Sound Design, Musical — Buena Vista Social Club
Direction, Play — Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Direction, Musical — Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
Choreography — Boop!
Orchestrations — Buena Vista Social Club
What’s that, I hear you say? Nothing for Oh, Mary!? That could be where I get a lot of my predictions wrong if Cole Escola and company have a big night, but I can’t bring myself to give that show any acclaim. Sorry.