Best Featured Actor in a Musical
A very weak category leaves me no one that I’m incredibly enthusiastic for, just largely a group of talented actors in small or poorly written parts. However, Levi Kreis is the sole lifeblood in the clumsy jukebox revue Million Dollar Quartet, and deserves the award for that impossible job. Fitzgerald was magically charming in Finian’s, and Bobby Steggert was the shining standout of the Ragtime ensemble with a bright future. Personally, I would have chosen American Idiot‘s Stark Sands over all of them.
Who Should Win Breakdown:
1) Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet
2) Christopher Fitzgerald as Og in Finian’s Rainbow
3) Bobby Steggert as Mother’s Younger Brother in Ragtime
4) Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family
5) Robin de Jesus as Jacob in La Cage aux Folles
Who Will Win: Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet
Should Have Been Nominated: Stark Sands as Tunny in American Idiot
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
This Tony should be Lansbury’s sixth–she takes a supporting role and owns the Walter Kerr Theatre with it as the commanding master of ceremonies over the Sondheim revival A Little Night Music. Everyone seems to have Finneran fever, which I don’t understand in the least. The role is very funny, due to Neil Simon and Hal David’s writing; however, Finneran does very little as the part would have to be cast with someone with no comic timing at all to mess it up, but I couldn’t help but leave thinking of handfuls of musical commedienes who could have really pulled out all the stops for Marge. Finneran is largely mediocre, and will get a Tony for it. Oh well.
Who Should Win Rankings:
1) Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music
2) Lillias White as Funimilayo in Fela!
3) Barbara Cook as Herself in Sondheim on Sondheim
4) Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall in Promises Promises
-Karine Plantadit as Kate in Come Fly Away
Who Will Win: Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall in Promises Promises
Should Have Been Nominated: Terri White as Dottie in Finian’s Rainbow
Best Featured Actor in a Play
The five nominees give strong performances. Redmayne has the edge of having a leading role in a supporting category, and it’s a shame that it will probably prevent great work like that of Jon Michael Hill, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Stephen Kunken from getting recognized.
What Should Win Rankings:
1) Jon Michael Hill as Franco Wicks in Superior Donuts
2) Eddie Redmayne as Ken in Red
3) Stephen McKinley Henderson as Bono in Fences
4) Stephen Kunken as Andy Fastow in Enron
5) David Alan Grier as Henry Brown in Race
Who Will Win: Eddie Redmayne as Ken in Red
Who Should Have Been Nominated: Brian D’Arcy James as James Dodd in Time Stands Still
Featured Actress in a Play
Another strong group, with the dramatic turns of A View From The Bridges‘ Scar-Jo and Jess-Hec, the comedic tour de force of Jan-Max, and the matronly charm of Ro-Hare. I would be happy with any of these four winning, with a personal preference towards Hecht. Maria Dizzia, while often good, gave too clunky of a performance for Tony gold, and I would have traded her slot for Enron‘s Marin Mazzie.
Who Should Win Rankings:
1) Jessica Hecht as Bea in A View From the Bridge
2) Scarlett Johannson as Catherine A View From The Bridge
3) Jan Maxwell as Maria in Lend Me A Tenor
4) Rosemary Harris as Fanny Cavendish in The Royal Family
5) Maria Dizzia as Mrs. Daldry in In The Next Room (or the vibrator play)
Who Will Win: Jan Maxwell as Maria in Lend Me A Tenor
Should Have Been Nominated: Marin Mazzie as Claudia Roe in Enron
