The Tony Awards committee has met. White smoke has come up out of their tower. And now we know a few things we didn’t before. Namely: the four young actresses who alternate as the main character in “Matilda” are going to bypass the nominations process and receive a special award. No fuss, no muss. That certainly sounds like “Matilda” is already on the Tony committee’s mind for lots of awards. Well, the girls are very good. So why not?
The committee just discussed 18 productions. They are: Ann; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Hands on a Hardbody; Lucky Guy; Kinky Boots; Matilda The Musical; Motown The Musical; The Nance; The Big Knife; The Assembled Parties; Jekyll & Hyde; Orphans; Macbeth; The Testament of Mary; The Trip to Bountiful; I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers and Pippin.
Other shows that had opened earliert were already set up.
One of the determinations is surprising. Kristine Nielsen, so good in “Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike” will go into Lead Actress, not supporting. Listen to me: she will win unless the committee chooses Cicely Tyson. That’s hard because Tyson is wonderful and she’s 88 years old. But Nielsen is the most sublime person on stage in the world right now. This also frees up Shalita Grant, who plays Cassandra in the same play, as supporting actress. I don’t know if Sigourney Weaver took her name out of the running, or what happened there.
Emilia Clarke and Cory Michael Smith will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by a Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Play categories for their respective performances in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Stark Sands and Billy Porter will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for their respective performances in Kinky Boots.
Bertie Carvel will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Matilda The Musical.
Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro will receive Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre for their performances as “Matilda” in Matilda The Musical. They will not be eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical category; however, the Tony Awards Administration Committee wishes to recognize their outstanding performances this season.
Valisia LeKae and Brandon Victor Dixon will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by a Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in Motown The Musical.
Nathan Lane will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in The Nance.
Bobby Cannavale will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in The Big Knife.
Jessica Hecht will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in The Assembled Parties.
Orphans will be eligible in the category of Best Revival of a Play.
Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Featured Role in a Play categories for their respective performances in The Trip to the Bountiful.
Patina Miller and Matthew James Thomas will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in Pippin.
