Mickey-Jo & Aeron James' Tony Awards predictions | Which Broadway shows will win in 2024?

Summary

Podcast Summary: MickeyJoTheatre Episode – "Mickey-Jo & Aeron James' Tony Awards Predictions | Which Broadway Shows Will Win in 2024?"

Introduction

In the June 9, 2024, episode of MickeyJoTheatre, host Mickey-Jo teams up with co-host Aaron James to delve into the highly anticipated Tony Awards. As dedicated theatre critics, Mickey-Jo and Aaron provide insightful predictions for the winners across various categories, analyzing the strengths and nuances of the latest Broadway and global theatre productions. Their discussion not only highlights the contenders but also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the factors influencing their predictions.

Best Musical

Mickey-Jo and Aaron James kick off their predictions with the fiercely competitive Best Musical category. The nominees include:

• Hell's Kitchen
• Illinois
• The Outsiders
• Suffs
• Water for Elephant

Predictions and Discussion:

Aaron James initially posits Suffs as a strong contender, appreciating its "strong match of a book and a score" ([00:46]). However, as the conversation progresses, both hosts gravitate towards Illinois as their top pick. Mickey-Jo emphasizes the show's "simple, beautiful artistry through dance" and "meaningful storytelling" ([02:14]), arguing that it stands out amidst a crowded field. Aaron supports this shift by highlighting Hell's Kitchen's significant campaign efforts and critical acclaim but ultimately agrees that Illinois holds the edge due to its artistic coherence and regional appeal.

Notable Quote:

“I think Illinois's simple, beautiful artistry through dance...floats to the top for just like, simple, beautiful, very meaningful storytelling.” — Mickey Jo [02:14]

Best Play

The Best Play category features:

• Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding
• Mary Jane
• Mother Play
• Prayer for the French Republic
• Stereophonic

Predictions and Discussion:

Both hosts express strong support for Stereophonic, noting its "hugely acclaimed" status and historic nomination slate ([04:39]). Mickey-Jo mentions that Stereophonic is "the most nominated play in the history of the Tony Awards" and predicts it will comfortably secure the win. Aaron concurs, recognizing it as the standout play of the season and reinforcing its dominance in the category.

Notable Quote:

“We can comfortably say it is going to Stereophonic.” — Mickey Jo [05:05]

Best Revival of a Play

Nominees include:

• Appropriate
• An Enemy of the People
• Pearly Victorious
• Non Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch
• It's Just for Free

Predictions and Discussion:

Mickey-Jo and Aaron James anticipate Appropriate to clinch the award, citing its substantial Broadway impact and "masterful balance of tension and comedy" ([05:16]). They discuss the strategic placement of Appropriate in the revival category, emphasizing its critical acclaim and pivotal direction that elevate the play's narrative ([25:02]).

Best Revival of a Musical

Candidates are:

• Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
• Gutenberg the Musical
• Merrily We Roll Along
• Who's Tommy

Predictions and Discussion:

The duo leans towards Merrily We Roll Along as the frontrunner, albeit acknowledging a close race with Cabaret ([06:04]). Mickey-Jo praises Cabaret's innovative set and immersive design, while Aaron highlights Maria Friedman's visionary direction for Merrily We Roll Along. They agree that Merrily We Roll Along is likely to triumph due to its compelling narrative and artistic execution.

Notable Quote:

“I think it'll be then one of the tightest races of the night.” — Mickey Jo [07:49]

Best Book of a Musical

The nominees are:

• Christopher Diaz for Hell's Kitchen
• Becca Brunstetter for The Notebook
• Adam Rappert and Justin Levine for The Outsiders
• Shayna Taub for Suffs
• Rick Ellis for Water for Elephants

Predictions and Discussion:

Mickey-Jo initially supports Suffs, appreciating its "great book" ([08:15]). However, Aaron James introduces the possibility of Hell's Kitchen or The Outsiders taking the award, with Mickey-Jo ultimately predicting Hell's Kitchen due to its robust campaigning and New York-centric narrative ([08:36]).

Best Original Score

Nominees include:

• Adam Gettle for Days of Wine and Roses
• David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim for Here Lies Love
• Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance for The Outsiders
• Will Butler for Stereophonic
• Shayna Taub for Suffs

Predictions and Discussion:

Both hosts agree on Stereophonic's strong chances, praising its original score's innovation and integration within the play ([09:32]). They discuss the challenges of scoring for plays versus musicals, ultimately favoring Stereophonic for its standout musical elements.

Best Scenic Design of a Play

The nominees are:

• Dots for Appropriate
• Dots for An Enemy of the People
• Derek McLean for Pearly Victorious
• David Zinn for Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding
• David Zinn for Stereophonic

Predictions and Discussion:

Mickey-Jo and Aaron James favor Stereophonic once again, commending its clever set design that immerses the audience as "flies on the wall" of a recording booth ([12:50]). They acknowledge Pearly Victorious's impressive set but believe Stereophonic's innovative approach will secure the win.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Candidates include:

• Tatiana Kovigian for The Outsiders
• Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini for Hell's Kitchen
• Takeshi Kata for Water for Elephants
• David Corens for Here Lies Love
• Ricardo Hernandez and Peter Negrini for Lempicka
• Tim Hatley and Finn Ross for Back to the Musical
• Tom Scutt for Cabaret at The KitKat Club

Predictions and Discussion:

Mickey-Jo and Aaron express a preference for Cabaret at The KitKat Club due to its transformative set redesign, making it more immersive and dynamic ([13:44]). They highlight Tom Scutt's dual role as set and costume designer, predicting Cabaret as the likely winner.

Best Costume Design

For plays:

• Didi Aite for Appropriate
• Didi Aito for Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding
• Enver Chakatash for Stereophonic
• Emilio Sosa for Pearly Victorious and Non Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch
• David Zinn for An Enemy of the People

Predictions and Discussion:

The hosts lean towards Stereophonic, appreciating its evolving and period-appropriate costumes that enhance storytelling ([15:33]). They discuss the potential influence of separate recognitions, like wig awards, but remain confident in Stereophonic's strong visual impact securing the win.

For musicals:

• Didiite for Hell's Kitchen
• Linda Cho for The Great Gatsby
• David Israel Reynoso for Water for Elephants
• Tom Scutt for Cabaret at The KitKat Club
• Paul Tazewell for Suffs

Predictions and Discussion:

Both Mickey-Jo and Aaron believe Cabaret at The KitKat Club will dominate due to its visually striking costumes, especially the iconic costumes of the Master of Ceremonies (MC) ([17:34]). They praise the symbolic and transformative costume designs that contribute significantly to the show's aesthetic.

Conclusion

As Mickey-Jo and Aaron James navigate through the myriad Tony Awards categories, their predictions reflect a deep understanding of the theatre landscape and the unique strengths of each nominee. From Illinois's artistic excellence to Stereophonic's innovative contributions across multiple categories, their insights provide a comprehensive overview of the potential Tony winners for 2024.

The hosts express anticipation for the live Tony Awards event, promising a follow-up vlog with their reactions and a tally of their prediction accuracy. They encourage listeners to engage by sharing their own predictions and opinions in the comments, fostering a community dialogue around the awards.

Notable Closing Quote:

“Make sure you're subscribed with notifications turned on so you don't miss that compelling content. ... I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day. Happy Tony Awards.” — Mickey Jo [46:20]

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a vital resource for theatre enthusiasts eager to engage with the Tony Awards' outcomes. Mickey-Jo and Aaron James' thorough analysis, combined with their dynamic discussion, makes for an informative and entertaining listen, encapsulating the excitement and anticipation surrounding the prestigious awards.

Transcript

[Mickey Jo]

Do you want to do an oh, my God. Hey. With me at the same time? Three, two, one.

[Aaron James]

Oh, my God. Hey.

[Mickey Jo]

Welcome back to my theatre themed YouTube channel. My name is Mickey Jo.

[Aaron James]

And I am Aaron James.

[Mickey Jo]

And today we are going to be.

[Aaron James]

Discussing what the Tony Awards. But we're gonna predict the winners.

[Mickey Jo]

Some of the best of this season of Broadway theatre plays and musicals in New York. Many different shows nominated. It's been a hell of a season. That's probably something we're going to keep.

[Aaron James]

Saying and we're not saying who we think should win, we're saying who we think will win. So we are.

[Mickey Jo]

I mean, we'll probably say both.

[Aaron James]

We'll probably say both. But mainly this is kind of a guessing game of where we think people will go.

[Mickey Jo]

And there's a difference between those two things.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

But this is an exciting one for us because this year we've seen more of the nominated Broadway shows than ever before.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Share your thoughts in the comment section down below as well. This time next week we are going to be watching the Tony Awards as we did last year from our flat here in the uk, hopefully with some theatre loving friends, hopefully with a whole party because it will be the middle of the night and, you know, I'm going to make themed snacks. All of the above. Make sure you're subscribed with notifications turned on so you don't miss that video. Which category are we going to talk about first? Erin James.

[Aaron James]

Well, the thing is, the list that I have has the four biggies to start with. So we're gonna just have to start with the four big ones.

[Mickey Jo]

Just whack them out.

[Aaron James]

We're just gonna start easy. So we're gonna begin with Best Musical.

[Mickey Jo]

Holy hell.

[Aaron James]

So the nominees are Hell's Kitchen, Illinois, the Outsiders, Suffs and Water for Elephant.

[Mickey Jo]

This is like already the hardest category. It's the hardest category and this is the one people have been talking about saying for the longest time. What is the front runner? Is there a front runner? What is the conversation? Are you prepared to say what you think should win?

[Aaron James]

So suffs.

[Mickey Jo]

There we go. I think suffs, as I said in my review, which you can watch here on my channel, is the best new musical currently on Broadway.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. It has the strongest match of a book in a score.

[Mickey Jo]

I feel like there's one show that's done really great campaigning and maybe has the most critical love. There's another show that has a huge amount of fan support behind it. How well they'll play to regional audiences is also A factor as well as the artistry of the whole and the.

[Aaron James]

Meaning that it has.

[Mickey Jo]

I keep coming back to what a crowded year it is. And, you know, where that leaves everyone's headspace. I am prepared to reveal who I think will win best musical. Illinois.

[Aaron James]

I think I've just heard it the most. I think we've seen these peaks and troughs of different shows being said as the front runner, and for maybe the past month and a half, the only show that I've heard people really say is Hell's Kitchen.

[Mickey Jo]

And Alicia Keys has campaigned, and the.

[Aaron James]

Campaigning that Alicia Keys has done, the amount that that show has been front and center, really, in the past month or so makes me just think it's probably besterly and it's a New York set show. And I feel like after New York, New York didn't hit the mark. I feel like they've been waiting for a show based and set in New York to be like, this is the one.

[Mickey Jo]

Listen, the regional Tony voters came to town. She was like, you want a private concert? I'll give you a private concert. Just give me that Tony Award. I, however, think it's such a crowded year. So many new musicals, including the ones that didn't even make it into this category, like the Notebook, like Here Lies Love, like other prematurely closed shows like how to Dance. Great shows, A lot of great shows. And I think, you know, with so much noise and so many shows, doing a lot of things really well, but not necessarily hitting everything out of the park. Although I think this does. For what it's worth, I think Illinois's simple, beautiful artistry through dance that again, was reviewed very well and has been just, like, thoroughly praised. I think that floats to the top for just like, simple, beautiful, very meaningful storytelling. It, I argue it is a musical. It is also a contemporary dance piece. So I know not everyone is necessarily content to see it win best Musical over these other book musicals, but I think. I think it could. So next then, from a category that is very hard to pick to one that I think might be a little bit easier to call, we're going to talk about best Play.

[Aaron James]

Yep.

[Mickey Jo]

The nominees are Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding, Mary Jane, Mother Play, Prayer for the French Republic, and Stereophonic.

[Aaron James]

I've only seen two of them, but I already have an idea for Will and Should.

[Mickey Jo]

I've seen three, I guess, but I agree that Will and Should are the same. A 1, 2, 3.

[Aaron James]

Stereophonic.

[Mickey Jo]

It's stereophonic.

[Aaron James]

I feel like if there's a show that's Gonna get a sweep and have a very big happy ending of this award ceremony. This is gonna be the show that you will see in all the headlines.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. As you're about to find out from a review video that is dropping on my ch imminently. I've already filmed it. It's going to be up within a matter of days from when you're seeing this video. I love Stereophonic. We both love Stereophonic. It's. I mean, it's hugely acclaimed. It is also the most nominated play in the history of the Tony Awards and nominated in a bunch of categories, but plays can't normally be nominated in. But we'll get to those when we get to those. This one I think we can comfortably say is going to Stereophonic.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. Next is best revival of a play. Okay, so we have Appropriate, An Enemy of the People, Pearly Victorious and Non Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch. It's Just for free.

[Mickey Jo]

And we've seen two out of three of these.

[Aaron James]

Two out of three because we didn't.

[Mickey Jo]

See An Enemy of the People. However, one of these is a big Broadway hit this season. I think it deserves to win, and I think it will.

[Aaron James]

And it is called Appropriate.

[Mickey Jo]

Or is it? Because is it pronounced Appropriate? I'm just saying I like to come down on the other side of the fence just for the sake of balance.

[Aaron James]

It's more effort to say Appropriate.

[Mickey Jo]

Appropriate.

[Aaron James]

It's like when it was revealed that Appropriate was going into the revival category, then everybody kind of went, oh, it's sorted. That's. That's best play. That's Revival.

[Mickey Jo]

Hey, I remember back in January when we were in New York, our conversation was like, Appropriate or Prayer for the French Republic. Which one did we enjoy more? But they're in completely different categories. So there you go. Then we have best revival of a musical. And the same thing here. I think this is a little bit harder to call.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

So. So we have Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Gutenberg the Musical, Merrily We Roll along, and the who's Tommy.

[Aaron James]

I think there's the very clear front runner of Merrily We Roll Along. I'd be really surprised if it didn't win. I think there's. I think it's between that and Cabaret.

[Mickey Jo]

Merrily and Cabaret, for sure.

[Aaron James]

I think this is the fight anyways here. I just think that, like a Sondheim revival not long after his passing, and the fact that this is like this rags to riches story of a flop becoming a hit, and that kind of. All that narrative, I think, kind of pulls together if this is the show of the season, in many ways, the.

[Mickey Jo]

Category is best revival of a musical. And what the heck are we doing if not awarding this kind of revival that takes, like you said, a legendary flop that hasn't been seen on Broadway since, and turning it into the hit of the season, reworking it in just enough small ways to make a production that really succeeds on multiple artistic and commercial fronts. This is like a huge win in reviving a show. But when you consider, I don't know, the makeup of the people voting for the Tonys, is Cabaret more likely to be able to tour? You know, it's going to have a future life merely is a limited run. It is closing shortly after the Tony Awards are going to be broadcast. Cabaret is going to hope to run for many more years because they need to make enough money to pay for the renovation of the August Wilson Theatre to turn it into the KitKat club. I do still think Merrilee will win, but I think it's going to be close.

[Aaron James]

I think it'll be close.

[Mickey Jo]

And I think the critics are not the Tony voters.

[Aaron James]

No.

[Mickey Jo]

I also think the Tony nominators are not the Tony voters, but Cabaret did get more Tony nominations than Merrilee.

[Aaron James]

Oh, that's very true.

[Mickey Jo]

Just about. Just about. I don't know. I think that one's going to be one of the tightest races of the night.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. Next we have best book of a musical. The nominees are Christopher Diaz for Hell's Kitchen. Becca Brunstetter for the Notebook. Adam Rappert and Justin Levine for the Outsiders. Shayna Taub for Suffs and Rick Ellis for Water for Elephants.

[Mickey Jo]

I know who I think should win. Will win is tricky, and I think it's going to go in one of two directions. I will say that Shayna should win for Suss. Yes.

[Aaron James]

I agree.

[Mickey Jo]

I think that's a great book.

[Aaron James]

I could see a musical getting best musical and a different musical getting both book and score.

[Mickey Jo]

Sure.

[Aaron James]

And that's the divide. So I could see in my head, I could see Hell's Kitchen getting best musical, but then Shayna Tarot getting both book and school.

[Mickey Jo]

There's a fear I have that either the Outsiders or Hell's Kitchen will take book.

[Aaron James]

The Outsiders is my. The show that I think could take book if not for stuffs.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm gonna hedge my bets a bit here and I'm gonna say I'm predicting Hell's Kitchen.

[Aaron James]

I'm gonna predict the Outsiders.

[Mickey Jo]

It's gonna be. This is gonna be a very interesting night.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I'm gonna protect the Outsiders, I think.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. I feel like not as much was on the line last year. There weren't so many shows competing to stay afloat. There weren't so many shows that felt like they needed the Tonys. And, you know, there weren't so many ways that people could see it going. Like a lot of them felt more like foregone conclusions. Next up, and this is very interesting, we have best original score, music and or lyrics written for the theater. The nominees are Adam Gettle for Days of Wine and Roses, David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim for Hairlies Love, Jamestown Revival, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance and Justin Levine for the Outsiders, Will Butler for Stereophonic and Shayna Taub for Suffs.

[Aaron James]

Ugh. The talk of the town is that everybody hopes that Stereophonic will take it.

[Mickey Jo]

There's a lot of love.

[Aaron James]

There's still a lot of luck.

[Mickey Jo]

And I think people, you know, people love novelty and to see a play have enough original music to get nominated in this category and have enough really great original music, and it doesn't happen.

[Aaron James]

That often for the Tonys. I mean, in the uk, with the Oliviers, this has happened a lot. Like, we've had a lot of players get into a music category and it.

[Mickey Jo]

Stands out in the category to voters. I think for that reason, they see it and they go, ooh. So at the very least, I think it's going to get a lot of.

[Aaron James]

Consideration and people want Sarah Vonnik to sweep, so people love a sweep. The only outlier in my mind is Shayna Tyra for Suffs.

[Mickey Jo]

I love the score for Suffs, but it's not. And none of these are really shows where you come away going like, oh, my God, that score and those songs and that music. That's not what these shows are this year. I think when I listen to the Stereophonic Recording, I'm like, give it the Tony, give it the Tony. Right now, I'm ready to hand engrave it myself. I have no skills in engraving it, but I'm willing to give it a go. And then when I think about the show, not all of that music even appears within the show, and not in the way that you hear it on the recording, because you hear them recording it in isolation, you hear them recording small sections of it over and over and over again. So how much of a Tony can you get for a lot of work that's not even featured in the thing, but work that had to be done in order for the bits to exist? It's tricky.

[Aaron James]

It's difficult to know how Much just the way the buzz convinces people to vote. Because.

[Mickey Jo]

Am I over intellectualizing it?

[Aaron James]

I think so, because I don't think people. I don't think the voters compared to the nominators go that depth into its merit as much. I wish that maybe that was the case. But I think also it's just a case of which show is getting the hype, which show is the show and people. Sometimes people do it in a flock mentality of we don't want to be the one that caused that show not to get it. We've seen those years when that's happened before.

[Mickey Jo]

We're going with stereophonic, both of us.

[Aaron James]

So the next category is best scenic design of a play. We have dots for appropriate dots for an Enemy of a people, Derek McLean for Pearly Victorious and Non Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch, David Zinn for Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding, and David Zinn for Stereophonic.

[Mickey Jo]

It's Derek, David and Dots. Do you know what this is a great year for? It's a great year for, like, the late stage set design revelation.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Where it spends, like, 80% of the play being like, oh, I'm just this. And then the end's like, I'm also this. You know What? Not even 80%, 95% of the play. It's like, this is. This is as far as I'm gonna go as a set. And then at the last minute, it does a Two of them does a fat ham. I know, but those are the two that are standing out in my head.

[Aaron James]

Apropia had the tree.

[Mickey Jo]

It did.

[Aaron James]

The tree is a moment.

[Mickey Jo]

The tree. The tree is a factor. We must consider the tree. I mean, there's a lot that the stereophonic set has to do. And while I was talking about it, I, you know, I talked myself into getting really excited about the way that the set positions us as flies on the wall of the recording booth, with the sound engineers as, like, flies on the wall within that to the recording studio. I don't know the correct terminology for different parts of recording studio. I'm so sorry. But I. I think it's very clever, and I think stereophonic probably has enough momentum to take a lot of categories like this, where they're like, you know what? We love stereophonic, so give it set design as well. If I'm saying what I think should win.

[Aaron James]

The Pearly Victoria set was very good as well.

[Mickey Jo]

It might be Pearly Victorious, or, you know, it might be stereophonic, because I loved that set also. Screw it. Stereophonic should and Will points for start. You're gonna hit Listen, A lot of love from me for Stereophonic both today and on Tony night.

[Aaron James]

I agree.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm a fan.

[Aaron James]

Yep. I agree. I'm the same.

[Mickey Jo]

Next up, best scenic design of a musical, of which the nominees are amp featuring Tatiana Kovigian for the Outsiders, Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini for Hell's Kitchen, Takeshi Kata for Water for Elephants, David Corens for Heli's Love, Ricardo Hernandez and Peter Negrini for Lempicka, Tim Hatley and Finn Ross for Back to the the Musical and Tom Scutt for Cabaret at The KitKat Club. Seven nominees.

[Aaron James]

Yep. And I feel like it's between the two immersive, rebuilding shows because that is the. Like, the moment of this year, I think, has been like redoing a whole theatre for this show.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

And then when looking at those two shows, one is closed, one is currently open. And I feel like this is Cabaret's. Even just how you enter the theatre. That's not a thing that could have people thought could happen on Broadway. The bars, the completely redoing that theatre when you go in. I like. I love what they do with her life, but if you think about what they did with the bar areas, etc, with her last love, it was nothing in comparison to what Cabaret has done.

[Mickey Jo]

That is. That is very true. I mean, I think they had different. There was a different brief, but, yeah. With all the love in the world to my man, David Corens for Heli's Love. Because I think the actual playing space I enjoyed probably more than the Cabaret.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. It is phenomenal. It was phenomenal auditorium.

[Mickey Jo]

But the design on Cabaret I love and have always loved and I. I think, and we've said this before, but the bar areas and everything before you get into the auditorium. Cabaret is even better on Broadway.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

That it is in the West End. So I'm prepared to say should win and will win. Tom Scott Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. Next we have best costume design of a play. Didi Aite for Appropriate. Didi Aito for Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding, Enver Chakatash for Stereophonic, Emilio Sosa for Pearly Victorious and Non Confederate Rump through the Cotton Patch and David Zinn for An Enemy of the People.

[Mickey Jo]

I really think it could just go Stereophonic again. I think there could be enough momentum. But we do have some very sort of visually striking plays in there, which they're not always a lot of plays, like something, like appropriate that whether it's Very naturalistic. They're just wearing people clothes. Someone went to Walmart and sourced that. Like, they probably. They probably did something much more in depth, but something like Jar Jar's African hair braiding or Pearly Victorious. Much more interesting costuming.

[Aaron James]

So I wonder if it's going to go to Jar Jar's.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay.

[Aaron James]

Because they've already announced that wigs and that the wigs from Jar Jar are getting a Tony Award. Yes, that's already been announced.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes.

[Aaron James]

Which if you're announcing that a Tony is already going to that show for their design work, I kind of just feel. And I feel like maybe some people won't even have realized that that's happened. So they're going to vote for costume to also acknowledge the collaboration with the wigs, or. That's my current thought process.

[Mickey Jo]

I also think there's just as much of a possibility that the fact that the wigs have been recognized with a separate Tony sort of discount, some people will sort of write that off to say, like, oh, well, the best part of that visually was the hair and that's been separately recognized. And do you know, I just think it could go ember. Jackatash for Stereophonic. I think the way that the costuming evolves throughout that show and the way it's all period and just, you know, enough of it, I think Stereophonic really could be that girl this year that sweeps the play categories at the Tony Awards.

[Aaron James]

I'm going to take a swerve and I'm going to say it's going to be Jar Jar.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay. There's so many more categories. I know every time we do the Olivier ones, we get upset. They need more categories so they're not separate. But then we sit and do this and I'm like, God, there's so many categories. So we have Costume design, then, of a Musical, of which the nominees are. Didiite again for Hell's Kitchen, Linda Cho for the Great Gatsby, David Israel Reynoso for Water for Elephants, Tom Scutt for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and Paul Tazewell for Suffs. Lots of great costumes in there.

[Aaron James]

Lots of great costumes.

[Mickey Jo]

Tom Scutt's work in Cabaret as the set and costume designer. The costumes are my favourite part of that. And the MC costumes in particular, like, there's a lot of meaning with the way that they use costuming and again, the way that costuming evolves throughout the show, the way that everything begins to shift. But the MC costumes, I mean that. Oh, the clown outfit and the skeletal. Yeah, the Jewels and the.

[Aaron James]

And the Sally Iconic.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

Coat.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Listen, I would love to be surprised and see Suffs taking all of these categories in which it's made an appearance so far. Because I think the costumes in that are also brilliant. Really great costume design. They, you know, there's a whole level on which they have to be period appropriate and demonstrable of so many different qualities and represent so many different things. And the differences between Ida B. Wells characters, like all the outfits they wear to the marches and the meaning of that and the history of all that represents a great creative undertaking and.

[Aaron James]

How you make that many characters identifiable.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. I'm gonna go as far as to say, I think. I think. Actually, maybe. I think Suffs should, but I think Cabaret will. I think that's where I am.

[Aaron James]

I'm just gonna go all in and say cabaret should and will.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

Because also the prologue costumes as well as the like, it's all gorgeous. Yeah. And I like that every. All of the Kit Kat Club characters are so recognizable.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. I think Cabrera should as well. I don't know. I like both.

[Aaron James]

So next is best lighting design of a play. Isabella Bird for An Enemy of a People, Amif Chandrashekha for Pride of the French Republic, Ji Eun Chang for Stereophonic. Jane Cox for Appropriate, and Natasha Katz for Greyhouse.

[Mickey Jo]

Don't think I don't hear you saying appropriate every time. As if I've decided to deliberately dismiss my campaign for appropriate.

[Aaron James]

It's too much effort. Reading through these lists is so quickly that you have to say everything that my mouth is like, nah, I'm gonna.

[Mickey Jo]

Be very upset if at the Tony Awards, every time they announce the nominations, it's appropriate, not appropriate.

[Aaron James]

Appropriate had an incredible. Like, I really enjoy their lighting zone, especially in the last 10 minutes of that show.

[Mickey Jo]

They both had great lighting, but I didn't think that it was like a spectacle in the same way it often is for musicals.

[Aaron James]

It's.

[Mickey Jo]

Again, it's the difference between those creative elements and musicals and plays, where they often just do. It's subtler work.

[Aaron James]

But do you know who I actually think might win it?

[Mickey Jo]

Greyhouse.

[Aaron James]

Natasha Katz. Because Natasha Katz's like, record just in general with the Tony Awards and as a designer.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

I think I remember when we said predicting the nominations and I was like, you cannot discount Natasha Katz. Because when I see she's working on a show, I'm like, that's most likely gonna get a Tony nom. At least in the lighting design category.

[Mickey Jo]

I sort of. I don't think Stereophonic is set to take this one.

[Aaron James]

I think Appropriate should get it, but that's because I didn't see the Grey House, but I think the Greyhouse will win.

[Mickey Jo]

We didn't see Greyhouse, but from what we've heard about it, the lighting design in that show had a different role to play and it was just a different ball game to the rest of these others. So it's hard not to guess that. I'm gonna go with you. I'm gonna say lighting. You've swayed me. Natasha Katz is gonna get a Tony for Greyhouse. Next up then, best lighting design for a musical. Brandon Sterling Baker for Illinois. Isabella Bird, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. Natasha Katz for Hell's Kitchen. Bradley King and David Bengali. Water for elephants. And Brian McDevitt and Hannah S. Kim for the Outsiders. I think this is tricky.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. Because in some ways I could say Cabaret because how they've done the lighting for that, like, it's a complete re rigging of set. Re rigging. Like because of a new set layout. A new. And like, I paid attention so much more to the lighting than I think I've done before because I forgot that there's lighting in the stage itself, surrounding the central stage. I was like, oh, that's really pretty.

[Mickey Jo]

I do think Illinois has beautiful lighting design.

[Aaron James]

It does. It has a beautiful light inside.

[Mickey Jo]

But I also think that the Outsiders is going to be a real force here because where I remember not being struck by the book. Sorry about it. I do remember very impactful lighting design.

[Aaron James]

Particularly in the Rumble, which is like the big moment.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm saying Outsiders is going to take this one. I've.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I agree. It's gonna be the Outsiders. That Rumble moment, if you think it's like choreo and lighting, but also the.

[Mickey Jo]

Whole, like, stay gold glow and some of the physical effects that happen on stage in the second act.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

And yeah, yeah, I'm gonna. Gonna go for the Outsiders.

[Aaron James]

Best sound design of a play.

[Mickey Jo]

Stereophonic. It's gonna be Stereophonic. Sorry.

[Aaron James]

I will let you read Justin Ellington and Stefania Balderella for Jar Jar's African hair braiding. Leah Gelp for Mary Jane. Tom Gibbons for Greyhouse, Bray Paul and Will Pickens for Appropriate and Ryan Romery for Stereophonic. Stereophonic will win. Thank you very much.

[Mickey Jo]

It's going to be Stereophonic.

[Aaron James]

It's going to be like.

[Mickey Jo]

I have a vintage 1970s mixing desk.

[Aaron James]

They are mixing during the show live.

[Mickey Jo]

Any. Any play that features music, I think has a strong claim to sound design because there are more Moving parts, which is a big part of why it's so ridiculous that sound design for plays and musicals is one category in the uk.

[Aaron James]

And then moving different types of mic styles. Like, you're going from a kind of natural. Not really utilizing mics on heads, but using, like, the pickup mics, but then going around then using the mics in the booth and to make it sound different from the states that they're in.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah. Like, we're hearing them through, like, through a soundproof barrier. And then. But also, it is not just a play that involves music. It is a play about sound editing.

[Aaron James]

Literally about mixing and how to. In your recording album.

[Mickey Jo]

There is no way Stereophonic does not take this Tony Award next Sunday. I. I missed that. Of course. We also have best sound design of a musical, of which the nominees are ML Dog and Cody Spencer for Here Lies Love, Kai Harada for Merrily We Roll Along, Nick Lidster for Autograph cabaret at the KitKat Club, Gareth Owen, Hell's Kitchen and Cody Spencer for the Outsiders. I can tell you my should is Here Lies Love. I thought the sound was experiencing it from both the mezzanine and the immersive dance floor. I thought the sound was great.

[Aaron James]

And you know what? I think will win Baraphone for Hell's Kitchen because it would also be giving him the award to say, also well done for your two other shows that season, who's Tommy And Back to the Future. And kind of one of the best things, I think, about two of those shows is the sound design.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, yeah. And same with Hell, I'm surprised that Tommy isn't on.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. He has such a great ability to work with those more electronic sounds and that the newer styles of music. He does great work in musical theatre. So I kind of feel like it's saying you are kind of. You're moving sound design forward in such a way, especially in commercial musical theater. You deserve this award.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah, sure. I also think, what is Hell's Kitchen if not in many ways a musical about, like, the sound of the city and the sound of this community? And I think that's captured in a way that is stirring, in a way that is energizing, that really works in the Schubert Theatre and gets that audience alive with the feel of the thing.

[Aaron James]

And also with a show where you're doing one, having to replicate the sound of Alicia Keys. But also there's a lot of electronic. But what needs to ping through is piano, because it's all about a piano player. So the sound of the just. Just a f A piano has to sound beautiful. And it does.

[Mickey Jo]

So true. So true. Cool. No, we agree.

[Aaron James]

Best director of a play is between Daniel Orkin for Stereophonic, Anne Kaufman for Mary Jane, Kenny Leone for Pearly Victorious and Non Confederate, Run through the Cotton Patch, Lyla Nogerbauer for Appropriate, and Whitney White for Jar Jar's African Hair Braiding.

[Mickey Jo]

And I think it's safe to say, given our conviction for best play, that that play's director, Daniel Orkin for Stereophonic is also going to win best of play.

[Aaron James]

I'd be shocked if it goes a different way. I feel like sometimes there's a split where it's like, it's the best, you want it to get the best play. But then director, there's like, somebody you should go to. The only thing I could see is whether. Whether it be best play goes to Stereophonic and director goes to Appropriate.

[Mickey Jo]

This is the other thing that's just entered my head because the way that they balance, like, tension and comedy in Appropriate and I mean just that entire thing is also masterful and shocking.

[Aaron James]

And I had not been to a show where the audience so audibly react to moments. And the reason the writing is so good, the writing's incredible. But what I think elevates that is the direction of saying, this is how we reveal it. This is how you need to say this, love.

[Mickey Jo]

Perfectly paced. It is impeccably paced. You feel trapped in a horrifying family argument you are fascinated by, like a couple car crash but you cannot physically escape from. And the punch lines that just keep coming and then the revision, like the things that come running down the stairs. It's.

[Aaron James]

I think when we said before that if Appropriate was in new category. The new category, like, how would you put the two against each other? And I feel like this is the category where they do go up against each other.

[Mickey Jo]

This is a fight. But I do. I do still think Stereophonic.

[Aaron James]

I think Stereophonic has some momentum too, and it's the play of the season.

[Mickey Jo]

But I wouldn't be surprised. Then we have best direction of a musical. And the nominees are Maria Friedman for Merrily We Roll Along.

[Aaron James]

Who will win?

[Mickey Jo]

Okay. Michael Grive for Hell's Kitchen, Leigh Silverman for Suffs, Jessica Stone for Water for Elephants, and Danya Taymor for the Outsiders. And you know, I do agree with you, actually having got to the end of that list.

[Aaron James]

If this was new musical, I would have think it would have gone to Jessica's tone for Water for Elephants. I think that's one of the strongest things About Water for Elephants is the direction.

[Mickey Jo]

I actually think it could go to Daniel Taymor for the Outsiders.

[Aaron James]

Interesting.

[Mickey Jo]

Well, if it wasn't going to go to Maria Friedman. Yeah, that is, I think, but I.

[Aaron James]

Feel like it has to be Maria Friedman. This show became a hit in the UK first, and it's because of one consistent person who is the visionary of it, and that was Maria Friedman.

[Mickey Jo]

Cabaret has been nominated for its aesthetic choices, for its design elements, but not for its direction. Merrilee did not get those design nominations, but it did get nominated for direction, and I think that is because Marie Friedman's direction is chiefly among this brilliant and I think. And partially overlooked, actually, creative team. But I do think she's going to win on her first directing nomination on Broadway. So that's exciting. Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So for choreography, we have Annie B. Parson for Her Life's Love, Camille A. Brown for Hell's Kitchen, Rick Cooperman and Jeff Cooperman for the Outsiders, Justin Peck for Illinois and Jesse Robbins, Shane and Carol for Water for Elephants with Water for Elephants. That includes the circus choreography. But, like, they've been nominated for both Dance and Cirque, which I think if.

[Mickey Jo]

I could just see the nominees, I. I mean, don't count out Camille A. Brown for Hell's Kitchen, but I do think that Illinois's the Outsiders and then Water for Elephants, in light of the circus stuff.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Are probably the frontrunners here.

[Aaron James]

I agree.

[Mickey Jo]

It's interesting that Illinois hasn't just by default won this category in some of the other awards that we've seen.

[Aaron James]

I think, for me, it's because the Outsiders has the Rumble, and, like, that is just where choreography is, the standout moment of it.

[Mickey Jo]

It is.

[Aaron James]

And fight choreography, it's an incredible moment.

[Mickey Jo]

Of this Broadway season. It's one of the standout moments, I think, of this Broadway season is that sequence.

[Aaron James]

And, like, Illinois, the whole thing is choreography.

[Mickey Jo]

The language of the storytelling language of that show is dance.

[Aaron James]

I'm gonna go rogue, and I think it's gonna go to the Outsiders.

[Mickey Jo]

You think the Outsiders is gonna win? I. I agree. I actually don't think Illinois is gonna take this one. Even though I said Illinois could take Best Musical, it seems crazy to say it won't take choreography automatically with that. I think the Outsiders could. Oh, you know, as I'm going through this, I'm thinking Hell's Kitchen is going to take Best Musical more and more. But I think the Outsiders. I think the Koopman brothers could get choreography for that fight moment. And you know what? That it would be deserved.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Because that was my feelings about the show notwithstanding.

[Aaron James]

The choreography was the best part for me.

[Mickey Jo]

Phenomenal moment. A jaw droppingly good moment of that show and of this entire Broadway season. And then for our final creative category, we have best orchestrations. From the studio that brought you best original score, we have Timo Andres for Illinois, Will Butler and Justin Craig for Stereophonic, Justin Levine, Matt Hinckley and Jamestown Revival, which are Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance for the Outsiders, Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone for Hell's Kitchen and Jonathan Tunick for Merrily We Roll Along.

[Aaron James]

In my head, I'm like, I could see the people going, we'll give Stereophonic this one because we want to give a musical score.

[Mickey Jo]

You know, the orchestrations in Stereophonic are finite. There's only as many instruments as there are and everything is just on a bigger scale, I guess. I don't know. And then again, there's this whole question about how much of it is actually performed within the context of the show. I also think everything we said about why the music in Hell's Kitchen works as well as it does could be a motivator for them. Winning orchestrations.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. And Alicia Keys isn't eligible for best score.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. One, two, three. Merrily. I don't know that I'm even convinced by myself.

[Aaron James]

I'm not convinced. He is. Like, I can see.

[Mickey Jo]

Illustration's the hardest category to get.

[Aaron James]

I could see anybody get this because I could see Hell's Kitchen getting it. Because if Hell's.

[Mickey Jo]

I was this close to saying Hell's.

[Aaron James]

Kitchen because the thing with that is a Hell's Kitchen sweep. I don't see. Like, I would kind of be amazed in some of the categories because they're going against revivals.

[Mickey Jo]

Do you know what I ended up saying? Merely because we all get to bask in it in that overture moment. There's an extended amount of time sitting listening to that going, God, these are great orchestrations. Maybe I'm saying merrily should. I don't know if I think it will Hell's Kitchen. Hell's Kitchen will. Because Alicia Keys can't get an original score. Nom. Because it's largely non original. So there's a couple of original songs, if you didn't know. But it's largely not an original score.

[Aaron James]

I'm just going to stay with Seraphon Ink. I've said it now.

[Mickey Jo]

It's not a bad guess.

[Aaron James]

Now we're on to the acting categories. Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play. The nominees Are William Jackson Harper for ancavanya, Leslie Odom Jr for Pearl victorious and Non Confederate Run through the Cotton Patch, Lev Schreiber for Doubt a Parable, Jeremy Strong for An Enemy of the People, and Michael Stulberg for Patriots. I actually realized that with this category, I just thought, oh, I can see Leslie Odom Jr. Getting it after we saw Pele Victorious. And I've just stayed with that. Yeah, I think they've not really changed. Like, William Jackson Harper was my favorite part of that show.

[Mickey Jo]

I enjoyed him in the context of Uncle Vanya. Yeah.

[Aaron James]

But I didn't feel like, oh, that's like a leading performance. I'm gonna.

[Mickey Jo]

I didn't think I was watching a Tony winning performance. And I think there was also a little bit of conversation about, like, is he leading? Is he featured?

[Aaron James]

But I think that was my thing with it. It didn't feel like, oh, it's a lead.

[Mickey Jo]

If someone's on the fence and they fall into Featured, that's great. That's great for them because it means they have a really juicy featured bar. If they're on the fence and they fall into leading, it means they have a leading part that doesn't feel like the lead, and that's not really to their advantage in a leading category. Michael Stuhlbag for Patriots. I heard good things about him, but the play has not really caught.

[Aaron James]

Jeremy Strong is probably one of, like, that has kind of been the big revolver that's been on. I think it's between Jeremy Strong and, let's see, Adam Jr.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree, but I think with the.

[Aaron James]

PBS screening of Pella Victorious, and I think if. If it's gonna win an award, I think that's the award. I think It's Nancy Adam Jr. For.

[Mickey Jo]

Me, I'm thinking Jeremy Strong.

[Aaron James]

Okay.

[Mickey Jo]

From leading actors to leading actresses in a play, then we have Betsy Adam for Prayer for the French Republic, Jessica Lange for mother play, Rachel McAdams for Mary Jane, Sarah Paulson for Appropriate, Amy Ryan for Doubt. A parable Starry category.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. And I feel it's between Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson.

[Mickey Jo]

It's an American horror story off.

[Aaron James]

I mean, you saw both. I only saw Sarah Paulson.

[Mickey Jo]

I did. Jessica Lange was brilliant in Mother Play. But giving you everything you expect from a Jessica Lange performance that we've seen on screen that others have seen on stage.

[Aaron James]

I mean, appropriate did two runs. It had to transfer to the Belasco because it was doing so well. And the person that you hear about constantly with that show is Sarah Paulson. Not just because oh, it's Sarah Paulson in a play. And people are like, oh, that's amazing. It's also. She's extremely good.

[Mickey Jo]

Yep.

[Aaron James]

In a play.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I think this is going to be Sarah Paulson. Inappropriate.

[Aaron James]

So next we have best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical. It is between Brody Grant for the Outsiders, Jonathan Groff for Merrily We Roll Along, Dorian Harewood for the Notebook, Brian Darcy James for Days of Wine and Roses, and Eddie Redmayne for cabaret at the KitKat Club.

[Mickey Jo]

This is a tricky one. And I think it's Eddie Redmayne versus Jonathan.

[Aaron James]

Jonathan Groff. I think it's gonna be Jonathan Groff. I think we might see all three primarily Roll Along. Gwyn.

[Mickey Jo]

We spent a good six months thinking that that was what was gonna happen.

[Aaron James]

There'd be the trifecta. That one won't be left behind. They'll get it.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. And they've done. I mean, a brilliant press campaign of really making sure that those freezers and those three stay in your mind. I also think. I don't know. Jonathan, in some ways has. I think he does. And I said it in my review. Brilliant work in Merrily We Roll along in what is a challenging role, a bit of a thankless role and the least showy maybe out of the three of them in terms of the material that he gets. Because the likes of Growing up as a song and nothing stood next to Franklin Shepherd Inc. And like It Was and Not a Day Goes By, Reprise and Now, you know, and the brilliant songs that Lindsay and Dan get as Mary and Charlie. But the MC in Cabaret is a very showy role. Yeah. And Eddie Redmayne, just that little moment. Did you see the clip of him on Jimmy Fallon teaching him how to do vilkoman and showing him his characterization and just getting that insight into, like, the transformation of his performance. I still think he should. Sorry to that man, AKA Jonathan Groff. I do still think that Eddie Redmayne should take this one. It was not a universally beloved performance.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I agree on should. I think I agree on should. I don't know if I agree on Will.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm gonna say Will. I'm gonna say Eddie Redmayne's gonna take it. I do. I don't know if I already don't believe myself, but I'm just. I've said it.

[Aaron James]

Now I'm gonna say Jonathan Groff.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay, let's move on then to the ladies. Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical. Eden Espinosa. For Lempicka, Malia Joy Moon for Hell's Kitchen, Kelly O'Hara for Days of Wine and Roses, Marianne Plunkett for the Notebook, and Gail Rankin for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club. I feel very strongly.

[Aaron James]

I do as well. I think it's going to be Marianne.

[Mickey Jo]

Plunkett, and I really hope it is.

[Aaron James]

And I really hope. Yeah, she deserves an amazing. She has. She gives such an amazing performance. And I feel like the Notebook isn't that represented in the nominations. So the focus for their campaign has been around for two leading roles.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Marianne has won a Tony Award before a long time ago for the Dale Founders all doing the Lambeth Walk.

[Aaron James]

Hey, Me and my girl.

[Mickey Jo]

Thank you so much for me and my girl, but I think this is a really glorious acting performance from her in the Notebook, and I really hope that she does win this one, and I think that she could. Kelly O'Hara does beautiful work, the likes of which, you know, she has been awarded for previously, and we have seen her do previously. Aidan Espinosa, the lumpicker of it all, I think is against her.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Malia Jo Moon. I think it's a big win for her to be nominated as a newcomer. We could see a huge love for Hell's Kitchen that could bring.

[Aaron James]

We could see the big. The big thing of. Oh, it's a newcomer that we want to. That we think deserves the year that.

[Mickey Jo]

Sharon D. Clark didn't win because Joaquina Kalagango won for Paradise Square. Like, there could be a surprise. Sally Bowles is a hell of a role. Probably out of all of those, has the best material. So it's hard. But I do still think Marianne Planka, again, when it's noise, sometimes just simple and really great can win the day.

[Aaron James]

Best performance by an actor in a featured role in a play. It's between Will Brill, Stereophonic, Eli Gelb for Stereophonic, Jim Parsons for Mother Play, Tom Pasinka for Stereophonic, and Corey Stoll for Appropriate.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm gonna get mathematical on you for a second now because there are three actors out of five in this category nominated for the same show. So even if there is a tidal wave of love for that show, it's.

[Aaron James]

Gonna be split three ways.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. You need more than 60% of the voters to vote for Stereophonic because the vote could theoretically be split three ways between those great performances. Like, those are all. Those are already great actors in those roles. And Stereophonic, I think Will Brill is the one I would vote for, but I've heard different things from other people.

[Aaron James]

I know because, like, I kind of love the role that Eli has as like the. The kind of outsider from the group. And.

[Mickey Jo]

And Tom Pasinka is so near lead. He has that. Yeah, literally he's a leader. Is he a featured thing?

[Aaron James]

Well, I wondered if he was a lead because he spends but every so much to play with him.

[Mickey Jo]

So we. I mean, we've just demonstrated how it could be split three different ways and if it splits and it doesn't go Stereophonic way, who wins? Yeah, because I don't think Corey really has enough.

[Aaron James]

No, I don't think so.

[Mickey Jo]

Inappropriate. And Jim Parsons, I think has done similar, perhaps better work in other plays. So I don't know. This is kind of a free for all.

[Aaron James]

Three, two, one. Will Eli Girl.

[Mickey Jo]

Because if I'm voting, I'm voting Will Grill.

[Aaron James]

And I said, Eli.

[Mickey Jo]

There we go. Then we have the perhaps slightly more straightforward, but no less competitive best performance by an actress in a featured role in a play. The nominees are Quincy Tyler Bernstein for Doubt A Parable, Juliana Canfield for Stereophonic, Celia Keenan Bolger for Mother Play, Sarah Pidgeon for Stereophonic and Kari Young for Pearly Victorious. A Non Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch.

[Aaron James]

To me, it's between Kari Young and Sarah Pidgeon.

[Mickey Jo]

And Sarah Pidgeon to a lesser extent, has that same thing going against her. Hers is just such more obvious mater. I don't think it would split with Juliana necessarily. No, because Stereophonic Performance, you're voting for Sarah.

[Aaron James]

I think, because Sarah is one of those that get like Tom, where it's like she could have been leading but she's been featured. So it's like that's a massive role in a featured position.

[Mickey Jo]

We left Stereophonic saying, oh, my God, Stereophonic and oh my God, Alderman and oh my. We talked about her voice and the brilliant work she has to do in that sequence when she's rerecording that line and she's struggling to hit the note authentically. And then she hits the note and it's a really fantastic performance. I would love to see her win. But we left Purly Victorious saying, oh, my God, Kara Young, give her a Tony.

[Aaron James]

And she has been nominated for the past. This is her third year in a row for being nominated and she's literally. It's just every role she does, she gets a Tony nomination, but she hasn't won yet.

[Mickey Jo]

And if you haven't seen this performance by Cara Young in Pearl Evictorius, it's reason enough to watch the pro Shot just for the work that she does in that show. And I think she should win. And I'm gonna say I think she will.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I think she will. I feel like people will be like, it's her tongue dream. If somebody can be nominated that many times at some point, then there needs to be proof that that all adds together to mean you were a Tony award winner. The best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical. The nominations are Roger Bart for Back to the the Musical, Joshua Boone for the Outsiders, Branta Victor Dixon for Hell's Kitchen, Skylar Cotillch for the Outsiders, Daniel Radcliffe for Merrily We Roll along, and Steven Skybell for Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.

[Mickey Jo]

I just think that Daniel Radcliffe is going to take this.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I read them and was like, daniel Radcliffe.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, I think it's a lot of good performances, but I think Daniel Radcliffe. And that would. How fantastic would that be for him? You know, having done Broadway projects before and not getting that Tony nomination.

[Aaron James]

And he loves theatre, and he said in things that he's felt like he hasn't been fully embraced by the theater industry and being concerned that, like, he really wants to do it and he's really.

[Mickey Jo]

He didn't feel like a real theatre actor.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, he was like, really wants to do it, but didn't feel like he would be accepted. And I kind of feel like Merrilee is like, the sudden thing of, no, you are.

[Mickey Jo]

I think if he won, I might cry.

[Aaron James]

Actually.

[Mickey Jo]

I could see a version of the evening where Eddie wins for Cabaret, but Daniel Radcliffe wins for Merrilee.

[Aaron James]

Okay.

[Mickey Jo]

And they don't have to be related. Finally, then. Oh, it's my favorite category.

[Aaron James]

I was gonna say. I feel like this feels correct that this is the last one.

[Mickey Jo]

I love this category. This is always my favorite category in any awards show. Best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical. And there are seven nominees, and they are Shoshana Bean for Hell's Kitchen, Amber Iman for Lempicka, Nikki M. James for Sups, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer for Monty Python's Spamalot, Keisha Lewis for Hell's Kitchen, Lindsay Mendes for Merrily We Roll along, and Bebe Neuwirth for Cabaret at the Kitkat Club.

[Aaron James]

So I think it's between the final three.

[Mickey Jo]

Well, I have heard people predicting wins for every single one of these. I have heard people saying, oh, I think they're gonna take it. And I'm gonna say, having seen all of these performances, yeah, we have. Any of them could.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I Agree. They are all incredible.

[Mickey Jo]

And I don't think that about any other category at this year's Tony Awards. There is no other category. I'm like, they all deserve a Tony. These ladies all deserve a Tony. Like Nicky and Binge deserves a Tony. Amber Eman deserves a Tony. I wouldn't be shocked to see any of them walking onto that stage. Shoshana or Keisha or Leslie or Lindsay or Bebe. But I think for a good six months, we were saying, oh, Lindsay Mendes.

[Aaron James]

Well, I feel like that's been like. If there was one of the trio that everybody said is gonna get a Tony the most. Yeah, it was Lindsay. And that was even when she was in leading.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So then when it came down to them being featured, it kind of became a.

[Mickey Jo]

Well, like a slam dunk. But then we saw Bebe in Cabaret.

[Aaron James]

And Bebe's so beloved.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

But if it. And straight.

[Mickey Jo]

And it's a heartbreakingly vulnerable performance. It's an incredible acting performance and it's.

[Aaron James]

She's probably one of the things that everybody has agreed on as well.

[Mickey Jo]

And Fraulein Schneider is great material that often wins awards.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

So I do think it's Bebe versus Lindsay. And I think. I'm not willing to say should in this category is too hard because they were all terrific. If there was one my heart wants to see on that stage, it's actually Nikki M. James. Because of all of the performances this season, I was like, better get a nomination. But will. I'm going to do it on three. Are you ready? Who will take that Tony? Visualize it. Look into the future. What do you see? One, two, three.

[Aaron James]

Bbb.

[Mickey Jo]

Division. Division. Discord. On our final prediction now, when we did this for the Oliviers, we went back and we counted how many we agreed on and how many we disagreed on.

[Aaron James]

We have disagreed on more, I think, than agreed.

[Mickey Jo]

I think there's too many to count.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Maybe I'll put a stack up here.

[Aaron James]

I think we have disagreed a lot more on this one and I think it's because there's just so many shows. So a lot has changed. When you think now we are.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. But this time next week, we will still be waiting for the Tony Ward to start because they're going to start in the middle of the night. Because we're watching from the uk, there will be a vlog about it. But as part of that video, we will be keeping a tally of which of us more closely predicted the Tonys. Do you feel confident in your guesses? No, not even a little bit. I. This is the. Nope. I think I'm going to be more wrong than I've ever been.

[Aaron James]

I will probably have completely different predictions by the time we get to it. And I mulled on it more or something's happened. I mean, we've still got the drama Desk Awards to come out. That comes out before.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

That will give us probably the closest idea of where things are.

[Mickey Jo]

Plenty could change. If you want to see our reactions to the Tony Award winners and of course, the performances and everything else about the broadcast, as well as finding out which of us was more accurate in our predictions. Do you remember who did I win last year? If I did, I think it was only by like one.

[Aaron James]

I think every single one time we've done this, it's only been by one. But then we've had hardly any differences most years and this year feels this is very different.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Aaron James]

Separate.

[Mickey Jo]

Make sure you tune in. Make sure you're subscribed with the notifications turned on so you don't miss that compelling content. In the meantime, I'd love to know what you all think. Do you agree with us? Do you disagree with us? Drop either your full guesses and predictions in the comments down below or just the categories that you feel the most strongly about. Who do you think is taking best musical? Who do you think is taking featured actress in a musical? Who do you think is taking orchestrations? That turned out to be one of our interesting ones. Who do you think is taking direction of a play? I would love to know your thoughts and feelings or indeed a musical.

[Aaron James]

Well, yeah, we think it's more obvious, but they may disagree.

[Mickey Jo]

We're gonna find out. Yeah, let us know in the comments section down below. And we hope that you enjoyed this video. There'll be more awards coverage this time next year when the awards season rolls back around. In the meantime, I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day. Happy Tony Awards.

[Aaron James]

Yay.

[Mickey Jo]

For ten more seconds, I'm Mickey Jo Theatre. Oh, my God. Hey, thanks for watching. Have a stagey day. Subscribe.