Mickey-Jo and Aeron James' 2025 Tony Awards predictions | Which Broadway plays and musicals will win?

Summary

Summary of Podcast Episode: "Mickey-Jo and Aaron James' 2025 Tony Awards Predictions | Which Broadway Plays and Musicals Will Win?"

Podcast Information:

• Title: MickeyJoTheatre
• Host/Author: MickeyJoTheatre
• Description: Join Mickey-Jo from MickeyJoTheatre as he reviews the latest shows from the West End, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-West End, Edinburgh Fringe, and across the globe. As a leading voice in theatre criticism on social platforms, Mickey-Jo pioneers a new medium for a dwindling field. His YouTube channel, MickeyJoTheatre, boasts over 60,000 subscribers and is the largest worldwide dedicated to theatre criticism, featuring reviews, news, interviews, and lifestyle content.
• Episode: Mickey-Jo and Aaron James' 2025 Tony Awards Predictions | Which Broadway Plays and Musicals Will Win?
• Release Date: June 7, 2025

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Introduction

In this exciting episode, Mickey-Jo teams up with Aaron James to delve into the predictions for the 78th Tony Awards, highlighting the best of the 2024-2025 Broadway theatre season. The hosts aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the nominated shows, creative teams, and outstanding performances, offering listeners a detailed preview of what to expect at the awards ceremony.

Overview of the 78th Tony Awards

Mickey-Jo begins by setting the stage for their discussion:

Mickey-Jo ([00:49]): "The 78th annual Tony Awards, aka the 2025 Tony Awards, is an annual celebration of the best and most acclaimed productions from the past year of Broadway theatre in New York."

He lists the nominated shows across various categories:

• Best New Musical: Maybe Happy Ending, Dead Outlaw, Buena Vista Social Club, Operation Mincemeat
• Musical Revivals: Gypsy, Sunset Boulevard
• Best New Play: Oh Mary, John Proctor is a Villain, Purpose, English, the Hills of California
• Play Revivals: Romeo and Juliet, Eureka Day, Yellowface

Both hosts have watched nearly all the performances, with a few exceptions, ensuring they are well-prepared to make informed predictions.

Predictions for Major Categories

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1. Best New Musical

Nominated Shows:

• Maybe Happy Ending
• Dead Outlaw
• Buena Vista Social Club
• Operation Mincemeat

Predicted Winner: Maybe Happy Ending

Key Points:

• Maybe Happy Ending has garnered significant accolades at the Drama Desks, indicating strong support.
• The announcement of a tour increased its appeal among regional voters, a crucial demographic for Tony voters.

Aaron James ([04:44]): "If it won the best new musical, that's like a very good indicator that it is likely to win."

Mickey-Jo ([04:09]): "Maybe Happy Ending is a solid frontrunner because this is a show that nearly didn't open."

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2. Best New Play

Nominated Shows:

• Oh Mary
• John Proctor is a Villain
• Purpose
• English, the Hills of California

Predicted Winner: Oh Mary

Key Points:

• Oh Mary transferred successfully from Off-Broadway, gaining momentum and commercial acclaim.
• It was a Pulitzer finalist, enhancing its prestige and likelihood of winning.

Aaron James ([06:07]): "I think it's just been such a success... I see it going that way."

Mickey-Jo ([06:23]): "O Mary has that commercial appeal. It's been such a surprising and delightful success."

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3. Best Musical Revival

Nominated Shows:

• Gypsy
• Sunset Boulevard
• Floyd Collins
• Pirates, the Penzance Musical

Predicted Winner: Sunset Boulevard

Key Points:

• Sunset Boulevard has received favorable nominations, including Best Director for Jamie Lloyd.
• Despite mixed feedback at the Drama Desks, its industry support remains strong.

Mickey-Jo ([07:04]): "I think Sunset Boulevard maybe takes this, but did I even write that down?"

Aaron James ([07:32]): "It feels like it leans one way already."

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4. Best Play Revival

Nominated Shows:

• Eureka Day
• Thornton Wilder's Our Town
• Romeo and Juliet
• Yellowface

Predicted Winner: Eureka Day

Key Points:

• Eureka Day stands out as a modern revival with fresh perspectives, aligning with contemporary themes.
• Its success in initial performances and recognition makes it a strong contender.

Aaron James ([08:25]): "Eureka Day is an outlier... it’s a great play."

Mickey-Jo ([08:32]): "It has a lot of quality that feels like it belongs in a new play category."

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Creative Team Categories

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5. Best Director of a Musical

Nominated Directors:

• Sahim Ali (Buena Vista Social Club)
• Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending)
• David Cromer (Dead Outlaw)
• Christopher Gattelli (Death Becomes Her)
• Jamie Lloyd (Sunset Boulevard)

Predicted Winner: Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending)

Key Points:

• Michael Arden's direction has been instrumental in the sweeping success of Maybe Happy Ending.
• His vision aligns with the show's critical and commercial triumphs.

Mickey-Jo ([10:01]): "I think Michael Arden is gonna win."

Aaron James ([10:26]): "They're sweeping. Maybe Happy Ending swept everything."

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6. Best Director of a Play

Nominated Directors:

• Knut Adams (English)
• Sam Mendes (The Hills of California)
• Sam Pinkleton (O Mary)
• Danya Taymor (John Proctor is a Villain)
• Kip William (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Predicted Winner: Sam Pinkleton (O Mary)

Key Points:

• Sam Pinkleton’s direction of O Mary is expected to receive acclaim, complementing the play's success.
• The split between outstanding play and exceptional direction might see dual recognition.

Aaron James ([11:58]): "I think play will go to O Mary. Director will go for Danya Taymor."

Mickey-Jo ([12:05]): "Let us know down below if we are wrong."

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7. Best Choreographer

Nominated Choreographers:

• Joshua Vegas (Smash)
• Camille A. Brown (Gypsy)
• Christopher Gattelli (Death Becomes Her)
• Jerry Mitchell (Boop!)
• Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck (Buena Vista Social Club)

Predicted Winner: Jerry Mitchell (Boop!)

Key Points:

• Jerry Mitchell’s choreography for Boop! has been highly praised and awarded at the Drama Desks.
• His legendary status and industry respect make him a favorite.

Mickey-Jo ([13:29]): "Jerry Mitchell for Boop!"

Aaron James ([14:06]): "He's a legendary choreographer... won't be disappointed."

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Technical Categories

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8. Best Original Score, Music and/or Lyrics

Nominated Shows:

• Maybe Happy Ending (Will Aronson & Hugh Parker)
• Dead Outlaw (Eric Della Penna & David Yazbeck)
• Buena Vista Social Club (Marco Ramirez)
• Operation Mincemeat (David Cumming, Felix Harga, Natasha Hodgson & Zoe Roberts)
• Death Becomes Her (Noel Carey & Julia Mattison)

Predicted Winner: Maybe Happy Ending

Key Points:

• The score of Maybe Happy Ending is seen as integral to its success, with rich compositions appealing to both audiences and critics.
• Their sweeping influence across multiple categories boosts their likelihood of winning.

Mickey-Jo ([15:07]): "Definitely Maybe Happy Ending."

Aaron James ([15:12]): "I think Maybe Happy Ending is the winner."

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9. Best Book of a Musical

Nominated Shows:

• Maybe Happy Ending (Will Aronson & Hugh Parker)
• Operation Mincemeat (David Cumming, Felix Hagen, Natasha Hodgson & Zoe Roberts)
• Dead Outlaw (Itamar Moses)
• Death Becomes Her (Margot Panetti)
• Buena Vista Social Club (Marco Ramirez)

Predicted Winner: Maybe Happy Ending

Key Points:

• The strong narrative and cohesive storytelling of Maybe Happy Ending position it well for this category.
• The interconnectedness of book and score in the show's overall appeal enhances its chances.

Aaron James ([17:15]): "I just see it going to Maybe Happy Ending."

Mickey-Jo ([17:37]): "Death Becomes Her is not to be underestimated."

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10. Best Orchestrations

Nominated Orchestrators:

• Will Aronson (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Bruce Coughlin (Floyd Collins)
• David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber (Sunset Boulevard)
• Marco Paguilla (Buena Vista Social Club)
• Andrew Resnick & Michael Ferber (In Time)

Predicted Winner: Maybe Happy Ending

Key Points:

• The orchestration of Maybe Happy Ending is expected to receive widespread acclaim, complementing its strong score.
• Although Buena Vista Social Club is a contender, Maybe Happy Ending holds the edge.

Mickey-Jo ([19:00]): "Maybe Happy Ending."

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11. Best Scenic Design of a Play

Nominated Scenic Designers:

• David Bergman & Marge Horwell (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Miriam Buther & 59 Productions (Stranger Things, the First Shadow)
• Marsha Ginsburg (English)
• Rob Howell (The Hills of California)
• Scott Pask (Good Night and Good Luck)

Predicted Winner: Stranger Things, the First Shadow

Key Points:

• The ambitious and visually stunning set of Stranger Things stands out, emphasizing its unique production scale.
• Its prior accolades, including an Olivier award, bolster its chances.

Mickey-Jo ([20:50]): "Stranger Things is doing so much more than almost any of the other nominees."

Aaron James ([21:00]): "Netflix knows how to petition."

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12. Best Costume Design of a Play

Nominated Costume Designers:

• Brenda Abadandolo (Good Night and Good Luck)
• Marge Horwell (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Rob Howell (The Hills of California)
• Holly Pearson (Oh Mary)
• Brigitte Riefenstuhl (Stranger Things, the First Shadow)

Predicted Winner: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Marge Horwell)

Key Points:

• Marge Horwell's Oscar-winning designs for The Picture of Dorian Gray are expected to translate well to Broadway, showcasing intricate and stylish costumes.
• The strategic and androgynous costume elements enhance the character portrayals, making her a strong contender.

Mickey-Jo ([24:25]): "Dorian Gray with how..."

Aaron James ([24:37]): "Marge Horwell won the Olivier for it."

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13. Best Costume Design of a Musical

Nominated Costume Designers:

• Didi Aita (Buena Vista Social Club)
• Greg Barnes (Boop!)
• Clint Ramos (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Paul Tazewell (Death Becomes Her)
• Kathryn Zuber (Just In Time)

Predicted Winner: Paul Tazewell (Death Becomes Her)

Key Points:

• Paul Tazewell's visionary costume work has been acclaimed, especially following his recent Academy Award win for Wicked.
• His designs for Death Becomes Her are both innovative and respectful of character dynamics, ensuring a win.

Aaron James ([25:36]): "Paul Tazewell won the Academy Award recently for Wicked... he's very likely to win."

Mickey-Jo ([25:44]): "He's been attached to some visually iconic productions."

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14. Best Lighting Design of a Play

Nominated Lighting Designers:

• David Bengali & Heather Gilbert (Good Night and Good Luck)
• Natasha Chivers (The Hills of California)
• John Clark (Stranger Things, the First Shadow)
• Natasha Katz & Hannah Wasileski (John Proctor as the villain)
• Nick Schleiper (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Predicted Winner: Stranger Things, the First Shadow

Key Points:

• The intricate and dynamic lighting design of Stranger Things is crucial for its narrative, particularly its fantasy and magical elements.
• Its prior accolades and Netflix's influence likely contribute to its edge.

Mickey-Jo ([27:14]): "It's going Stranger Things way."

Aaron James ([27:35]): "It needs to rely so much on lighting."

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15. Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Nominated Lighting Designers:

• Jack Knowles (Sunset Boulevard)
• Tyler Micolow (Buena Vista Social Club)
• Ben Stanton (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Roy Hongsson (Floyd Collins)
• Justin Townsend (Death Becomes Her)

Predicted Winner: Sunset Boulevard (Jack Knowles)

Key Points:

• Jack Knowles' exceptional lighting work on Sunset Boulevard adds emotional depth and enhances the narrative, making it a frontrunner.

Mickey-Jo ([28:34]): "Sunset Boulevard."

Aaron James ([28:51]): "Memorable moments of lighting."

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16. Best Sound Design of a Play

Nominated Sound Designers:

• Paul Arditi (Stranger Things, the First Shadow)
• Palmer Hefferan (John Proctor as the villain)
• Daniel Kluger (Good Night and Good Luck)
• Nick Powell (The Hills of California)
• Clements Williams (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Predicted Winner: Stranger Things, the First Shadow

Key Points:

• The complex soundscapes and integration of multimedia elements make Stranger Things a standout in sound design.

Aaron James ([30:38]): "Stranger Things, the First Shadow."

Mickey-Jo ([30:40]): "It's doing a lot with its sound."

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17. Best Sound Design of a Musical

Nominated Sound Designers:

• Jonathan Deans (Buena Vista Social Club)
• Adam Fisher (Sunset Boulevard)
• Peter Hellensky (Just In Time)
• Peter Hellensky (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Dan Moses Schreier (Floyd Collins)

Predicted Winner: Sunset Boulevard (Adam Fisher)

Key Points:

• Adam Fisher’s sound design enhances the dramatic and musical elements of Sunset Boulevard, making it a strong contender.

Mickey-Jo ([31:59]): "Sunset Boulevard - Adam Fisher."

Aaron James ([32:12]): "Adam Fisher will get this award."

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Performance Categories

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18. Best Leading Actor in a Play

Nominated Actors:

• George Clooney (Good Night and Good Luck)
• Kola Scola (O Mary)
• John Michael Hill (Purpose)
• Daniel Dae Kim (Yellowface)
• Harry Lennox (Purpose)
• Louis McCartney (Stranger Things, the First Shadow)

Predicted Winner: Kola Scola (O Mary)

Key Points:

• Kola Scola’s portrayal in O Mary has captured significant industry attention and acclaim.
• His dedicated campaign and standout performance make him a frontrunner.

Aaron James ([41:44]): "Kola Scola is gonna win."

Mickey-Jo ([41:58]): "This is O Mary’s most confident category."

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19. Best Leading Actress in a Play

Nominated Actresses:

• Laura Donnelly (The Hills of California)
• Mia Farrow (The Roommate)
• Latonya Richardson (Purpose)
• Sadie Sink (John Proctor as the villain)
• Sarah Snook (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Predicted Winner: Sarah Snook (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Key Points:

• Sarah Snook’s innovative and multi-faceted performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray has garnered significant praise and is expected to dominate this category.
• Her unique approach and critical acclaim make her the favorite.

Mickey-Jo ([43:29]): "Sarah Snook’s performance is unprecedented."

Aaron James ([44:09]): "Sarah Snook is extraordinary."

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20. Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Nominated Actors:

• Darren Criss (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Andrew Durand (Dead Outlaw)
• Tom Francis (Sunset Boulevard)
• Jonathan Groff (Just In Time)
• James Monroe Iglehart (A Wonderful World)
• Jeremy Jordan (Floyd Collins)

Predicted Winner: Jonathan Groff (Just In Time)

Key Points:

• Jonathan Groff’s charismatic and dynamic performance in Just In Time stands out, making him a top contender despite having won the previous year.
• His versatile acting and strong stage presence are key factors.

Mickey-Jo ([46:07]): "Jonathan groff is the bright shining star of Just In Time."

Aaron James ([46:13]): "He owns the room."

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21. Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Nominated Actresses:

• Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Boulevard)
• Audra McDonald (Gypsy)
• Jasmine Rogers (Boop!)
• Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her)
• Jennifer Simard (Death Becomes Her)

Predicted Winner: Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Boulevard)

Key Points:

• Nicole Scherzinger is anticipated to make history as possibly the second AA and HPI female winner in Tony Awards history.
• Her impactful performance and the significance of her win add to her favorability.

Mickey-Jo ([48:17]): "Nicole Scherzinger is poised to make history."

Aaron James ([49:10]): "Nicole's win would mean so much for future generations."

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Final Thoughts

Mickey-Jo and Aaron James conclude their episode with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. They reiterate their predictions, highlighting strong contenders like Maybe Happy Ending, O Mary, Sunset Boulevard, and Stranger Things. The hosts invite listeners to share their own predictions and engage in the discussion, emphasizing the collaborative and community-driven nature of theatre criticism.

Mickey-Jo ([52:13]): "We're going to hear what you think... comment down below with your predictions."

Aaron James ([54:04]): "Happy Tony's weekend."

Both hosts express their excitement for the upcoming awards and encourage their audience to stay tuned for more coverage, including guides and vlogs related to the Tony Awards.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mickey-Jo ([04:09]): "Maybe Happy Ending is a solid frontrunner because this is a show that nearly didn't open."
• Aaron James ([05:06]): "It's a very good indication that it is likely to win."
• Mickey-Jo ([07:04]): "I think Sunset Boulevard maybe takes this."
• Aaron James ([08:25]): "Eureka Day is an outlier... it’s a great play."
• Aaron James ([10:26]): "I think Michael Arden is gonna win."
• Aaron James ([12:05]): "I think play will go to O Mary. Director will go for Danya Taymor."
• Mickey-Jo ([13:29]): "Jerry Mitchell for Boop!"
• Aaron James ([17:15]): "I just see it going to Maybe Happy Ending."
• Mickey-Jo ([24:25]): "Dorian Gray with how..."
• Aaron James ([25:36]): "Paul Tazewell won the Academy Award recently for Wicked... he's very likely to win."
• Mickey-Jo ([28:34]): "Sunset Boulevard."
• Aaron James ([41:44]): "Kola Scola is gonna win."
• Mickey-Jo ([43:29]): "Sarah Snook’s performance is unprecedented."
• Mickey-Jo ([46:07]): "Jonathan groff is the bright shining star of Just In Time."
• Aaron James ([49:10]): "Nicole's win would mean so much for future generations."

Conclusion

This episode of MickeyJoTheatre provides an in-depth and engaging analysis of the 78th Tony Awards nominees, offering a blend of informed predictions and passionate theatre critique. Mickey-Jo and Aaron James effectively guide listeners through the complexities of each category, supported by their extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for Broadway theatre. Whether you're a seasoned theatre-goer or a casual enthusiast, this podcast serves as a valuable resource for understanding and anticipating the outcomes of one of theatre's most prestigious award ceremonies.

Transcript

[Mickey Jerf]

Tony. Tony. Tony. Tony. Tony. Oh my God. Hey, welcome back to my theatre themed YouTube channel. Hello to you. If you're listening on podcast platforms. If this goes on podcast platforms, who.

[Aaron James]

Knows who probably will. I don't know how quickly.

[Mickey Jerf]

No. We're in New York currently. My name is Mickey Jerf. You're meeting me for the first time. He warned me moments before we started filming that that was going to happen. Bless you, Aaron James. This is Aaron James, everybody.

[Aaron James]

Hello.

[Mickey Jerf]

My stagey fiance, fellow theatrical enthusiast. We are both pseudo professionals or me at least working in the West End.

[Aaron James]

Working industry.

[Mickey Jerf]

Theatre industry. Yes, you're a legitimate professional and we are both obsessed with all things theatre, which is why we are making this particular broadcast ahead of the Tony Awards. Which number? Tony Awards. It's on the back of my hat.

[Aaron James]

78Th.

[Mickey Jerf]

The 78th annual Tony Awards aka the 2025 Tony Awards, which if you don't know is an annual celebration celebrating the best, the most acclaimed or some of the best of the last year of Broad Theatre in New York, the 2024-2025 season. This year's nominated shows include the likes of maybe Happy Ending and Dead Outlaw and Operation Mincemeat, Buena Vista Social Club. Those are the new musicals. We also have in musical revivals, Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard. Those are the two sort of heavyweights alongside Floyd Collins, Pirates, the Penzance musical.

[Aaron James]

In plays you have oh Mary and John Proctor is a Villain and Purpose.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. And play revivals. Romeo and Juliet, Eure Cadet, Yellowface. Many brilliant productions from many brilliant creatives, writers, theatre makers, performers. Today we are going to be predicting who we think, what we think is going to win at the Tonys this weekend. The Tonys are taking place on Sunday, it's currently Friday morning. We're making this video a little bit late, but it's because last night we saw Just In Time, which was the last show we felt like we really needed to see. To give us a full overview, we've seen almost all of the nominated shows performances this year, but we ticked off all the musicals. Every single musical. Yeah. And there's some stuff that we'd seen before in London, for example, stranger Things and the Picture of Dorian Gray. The only stuff that we're really kind of blank on is like the revival of Our Town, Glengarry Glen Ross, which is nominated for like a single performance award. Good Night and Good Luck, which has a handful of nominations and will be shown on TV tomorrow night on cnn. And I think that's pretty much.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I think of ones that were Nominated, that's pretty much it of the season that we didn't get to.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. So we've never done this well before, which is exciting. Anyway, let us press on. As always, we are intrigued to hear what you think as well. I, in the process of writing down my predictions, lost almost all faith in them. So that's great.

[Aaron James]

It's difficult as well because this is what we think will win rather than like our personal feelings. You kind of have to take that aside and think what from everything we've heard in the industry, everything from recent awards like the Drama League, the Drama Desks, the outer critics, where they went. Some shows were last season's ones. You have to look all the way back a year to see how they did and then kind of put it together and think what is the climate? Like what is the future of these shows? So some of these shows, it's all about what's not commonly known as a lot of the voters are regional because they're from the touring houses where the shows are going to go on tour.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. So yeah, well, it's a big proportion of the voters. That's something I probably haven't given enough consideration to. But we're just going to dive in. I don't claim to. I, like I said, I don't have a lot of confidence in my predictions this year. I've just shared my thoughts. It could really go one way or another in a lot of these categories. But we're just going to dive in. So let's predict the Tonys, everybody. Okay, starting with the shows, then, Aaron, talk us through the nominees for best new musical.

[Aaron James]

So the nominees for best new musical are Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw Death Becomes her, maybe Happy Ending and Operation Mincemeat.

[Mickey Jerf]

And I'm setting a 1 minute timer for us to discuss. We will both say which show we are predicting to win this category on three, two, one, maybe Happy Ending. And I'm thrilled that we're here that we feel like maybe Happy Ending is a solid frontrunner because this is a show that nearly didn't open. Tell us a little bit more, Aaron, about why you think maybe Happy Ending is going to win the Tony because.

[Aaron James]

There was a big clue that it was likely to win one. It's won so many awards already. It got loads of awards at the Drama desks which is a very good sign. If it won the best new musical, that's like a very good indicator that it is likely to win. But also the biggest concern people had of maybe Happy Ending winning was they didn't know if it could tour.

[Mickey Jerf]

And it's announced a tour.

[Aaron James]

And it's announced a tour. So that means the regional voters have an invested interest in maybe happy ending winning. Because for the tour, they can say it is the Tony nominee. It's the Tony winning best new musical of the year.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. So that's why I think it has such broad appeal. I think everybody loves it. And I've got five seconds left and that's all that I need to say. And I will be thrilled. It should win. I think it will win. Yay for maybe happy ending. Yay for us. Yay for Huabun. Moving on. Let me tell you about the nominees for best new play. They are English, the hills of California. John Proctor is the villain O Mary and Purpose. And so we will say who we think is going to win on 3, 2, 1. O Mary. Agreeing again on O Mary. So this is such a runaway Broadway hit this year. It transferred from off Broadway and it's gained so much momentum. It got. It was a Pulitzer finalist. Yeah, yeah. Purpose by Brandon Jacobs. Jenkins won the Pulitzer.

[Aaron James]

English is a previous Pulitzer winner.

[Mickey Jerf]

English is a previous Pulitzer winner. But I think O Mary has that commercial appeal. It's been such a surprising and delightful success from Calderskola. What do you think?

[Aaron James]

I think that it's one of those where I can't see it winning just one award.

[Mickey Jerf]

Oh, yeah.

[Aaron James]

And by that extension, I feel like the most likely one after one that I'm a lock on would be this. I think it's just been such a success. I think there's a future life for it and I just see it going that way.

[Mickey Jerf]

Would you vote, Omari, if you were a voter?

[Aaron James]

I'd probably go for John Proctor as the villain.

[Mickey Jerf]

I would also go for John Proctor as the villain, but I think. And I wouldn't be disappointed, but I think if I'm gonna have a mini heartbreak, it might be that one. Tell us who then is nominated for best musical revival.

[Aaron James]

So for best musical revival is between Floyd Collins, Gypsy Pirates for Penzance Musical and Sunset Boulevard.

[Mickey Jerf]

Okay. Who do we think is gonna win this category? 3, 2, 1. Sunset Boulevard. Lovely. Very nice. I think so too. I think we've seen variations on Hal loved Sunset Boulevard. It can be divisive. It was not well liked by the drama desks either in nominations or in win. But there's something to be said for the fact that Jamie Lloyd is nominated for best director at the Tonys and George C. Wolfe isn't. And if the director of the revival is not Nominated.

[Aaron James]

It feels like it leans one way already.

[Mickey Jerf]

It seems unlikely. Yeah. Touring is not really a factor here because we don't expect. I mean, so few revivals tour and.

[Aaron James]

No revivals announced that it's touring. So there's nothing that has that inclination.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

And like Sunset just announced a one week extension. It just feels quite. I feel like that show was so kind of. It did everything. It changed what the musical was. It did that revival new look like we saw with Merrily We Roll Along. It fits that bill of what is the best musical revival.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think there's going to be more love for Sunset than some people anticipate. I'm willing to stick my neck out a little bit there. It is very well liked by some within the industry and it's already time for us to move on and talk about best play revival, in which the nominees are. Eureka Day, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, Romeo and Juliet and Yellowface. Who do we think is going to win this? 3, 2, 1.

[Aaron James]

Eureka Day.

[Mickey Jerf]

Eureka Day. Sorry, I forgot the words that I was going to say, but I had written down, I had written down Eureka Day.

[Aaron James]

I was like, oh, is that our first clash?

[Mickey Jerf]

This is. Of the four categories that we've talked through so far, the one I have the least confidence in.

[Aaron James]

This is an interesting one because Eureka Day is an outlier to all the others where it's never been on Broadway before.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So in some, even the uk, that would be new play. But because it's part of a classics ruling, it is in revival.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

But I think it was just such a moment when it was on. Everybody was talking about Eureka Day. Everybody was trying to get tickets to see it. I think it landed really strongly.

[Mickey Jerf]

It is a peculiarity though, because, you know, it's there by virtue of the classics rule. And so technically it's a new production of the play, but the play itself is not that old. And so what feels like development and also a lot of the boxes that it ticks in terms of its brilliance feel like attributes of a new play. The way that it like responds to conversation and it's not in terms of how it's re approaching the text, but.

[Aaron James]

We know that the Tonys like that because we saw plays like Appropriate get the award for that exact reason.

[Mickey Jerf]

That's. That's very true. And it's time for us to move on. We are next going to talk about the key leading creatives, the directors, the choreographers, the writers, the orchestrators. Aaron James, who are the nominees for best director of a musical?

[Aaron James]

So we Have Sahim Ali for Buena Vista Social Club, Michael Arden for maybe Happy Ending, David Cromer for Dead Outlaw, Christopher Gattelli for DEF Becomes her and Jamie Lloyd for Sunset Boulevard.

[Mickey Jerf]

Okay, giving the name of the show on three, who do we think is going to win this category? 1, 2, 3. Jamie Lloyd. I didn't even give the name of the show. I'm so stressed by this. I think Sunset Boulevard maybe takes this, but did I even write that down? I one minute to the next. I changed my mind about this.

[Aaron James]

My thing here is, I think should win is Jamie Lloyd. I think will win might be Michael Arden.

[Mickey Jerf]

I wrote down Michael Arden because I.

[Aaron James]

Think maybe happy ending is going to do. I genuinely think it's going to do a sweep. I think it's a rare musical compared to last season, where I think all the elements. I think it's a package deal rather than last year where it felt like it was separated apart.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think you're right. I think Michael Arden is gonna win.

[Aaron James]

I think we saw it over drama desks. Maybe Happy Ending swept everything.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's just the only thing in my mind is that you really feel the influence and the decisions of Jamie Lloyd in Sunset Boulevard more so than I think in any other musical production.

[Aaron James]

I agree. I just. I wonder whether it's. Whether this love of Jamie Lloyd, if it's enough for everybody to vote for him, because also everybody loves Michael Arden and is a past Tony winner.

[Mickey Jerf]

That's true. That's true. Did he win two recently? Is that going against him? I don't know. Let's talk about the nominees for best director of a play. Something that we said is perhaps one of the hardest categories this year because there's so many great plays and, you know, which do you attribute to the greatness of the writers, to the directors. Here are the nominees. So these are Knut Adams for English. Sam Mendes for the Hills of California, Sam Pinkleton for O Mary, Danya Taymor for John Proctor as the villain, and Kip William for the Picture of Dorian Gray. Let me see what I actually wrote down this time. Okay. Giving the name of the show on three. One, two, three.

[Aaron James]

John Proctor is the villain.

[Mickey Jerf]

You're going with Danya Taymor.

[Aaron James]

I think they're gonna split it.

[Mickey Jerf]

She won the Drama desk.

[Aaron James]

I think play will go to O Mary. Director will go for Danya Taymor for John Proctor. And that's how they honor John Proctor.

[Mickey Jerf]

Here's my wild thing. I don't even know if Danya is the runner up. In my mind, not that. Not that she shouldn't be. But I think, again, when you're talking about direction, you can really see Kit Williams for the Picture of Dorian Gray.

[Aaron James]

Do you know my thing last year, Daniel Taymor beat Maria Friedman for Mary Louie Roll Along. And I'm like, if she has that much behind her to have beat Maria when we knew how loved that revival was, I think she has the exact same going for her with John Proctor.

[Mickey Jerf]

Interesting. Interesting. But I wouldn't be surprised if this is among the O Mary love. And we just see a lot of oh, Mary. In the same way we see a lot of maybe happy ending. There is a sweepy mentality that could take us in a purple and yellow direction for those two shows. And I wouldn't be mad at it.

[Aaron James]

No, I wouldn't be mad about that happening. It's a great play.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Let's talk next, then, about choreographers. Best theatre choreographer. Who are the nominees?

[Aaron James]

The nominees are. Joshua Vegas for Smash. Camille A. Brown for Gypsy. Christopher Gattelli for Death Becomes Her. Jerry Mitchell for Boop. And Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck for Buena Vista Social Club.

[Mickey Jerf]

I still don't even know where I'm going with this one split.

[Aaron James]

I'm quite split in the middle on this one.

[Mickey Jerf]

Okay. Let's just say it with the name of the show. Three, two, one. Boop.

[Aaron James]

Jerry Mitchell for Boop.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jerf]

I. But I so nearly could have gone Buena Vista.

[Aaron James]

That's. That's my split. So last year, they. Joshua, Justin Peck. Last year, Justin Peck won for Illinois.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So it's a case of, would he win two years in a row? But I think the choreography is sublime, and that's where I'd vote. But I think Jerry Mitchell, with the start of Act 2, that number has been one of the most talked about, like, segments of a show. And that's choreography. And I think that. And he just won the drama desk for the choreography. And there is a lot of love for Jerry Mitchell across the Broadway community.

[Mickey Jerf]

There is. He's won for choreography multiple times before.

[Aaron James]

A lot of people have been saying it's like Jerry Mitchell at his best. And I feel like that sweep can feel quite.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's choreography that stands out. It's choreography that people are talking about. It's, you know, a bone thrown to a show that needs a little bit of support.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. I. And it's. It's a legendary. It's like adding to a legendary choreographer's.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

Docket.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Yeah. Let's talk then, about some writing. Let me tell you who Are the nominees for best original score, music and or lyrics written for the theater. So the nominated shows are Dead Outlaw with a score from Eric Della Penna and David Yazbeck. Death Becomes her, from Noel Carey and Julia Mattison. Maybe Happy Ending from Will Aronson and Hugh Parker. Operation Mincemeat from David Cumming, Felix Harga, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts. And Real Women have Curves from Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez. Are we ready?

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

Three, two, one. Maybe Happy Ending. I think this is. Yeah, definitely.

[Aaron James]

I think. I mean, they're sweeping. I think they're sweeping. I think.

[Mickey Jerf]

But even if they're not sweeping, I think they still. This is one of their more established.

[Aaron James]

I think school feels extremely strongly with them.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think new musical and score might be the two I think they're more definitely gonna get.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I kind of. I always think it's weird. Last year was really weird, where the new musical winner was not in score or book, and that's not common. It's normally at least one of the two, because if you're saying something's the best new musical, you're normally saying the writing is the best.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's gotta have the material to back that up. Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So I kind of feel like if we're betting maybe Happy Ending is the winner, it has to win either book or score.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. I think Dead Outlaw could maybe give it a run for its money. It's a big. Very different flavor. I mean, all the scores this year are very different in terms of their sort of sub genre and the style and the influences.

[Aaron James]

I think maybe Happy Ending as well. It's interesting that they've got the narrative of being written in two languages.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, yeah.

[Aaron James]

That process, they've done a lot on that, so I can see that winning people over.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Can you talk us through the nominees for best book of a musical, please?

[Aaron James]

Sure. So the nominees are Will Aronson and Hugh park for maybe Happy Ending, David Cumming, Felix Hagen, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts for Operation Mincemeat, Itamar Moses for Dead Outlaw, Margot Panetti for Death Becomes it, and Marco Ramirez for Buena Vista Social Club.

[Mickey Jerf]

This is another one. Ask me a different hour of the day. I could go in one of five directions.

[Aaron James]

This one. This one's one of those where it's like where my heart would go and where my. Where I think I've landed now. I especially have seen the shows and seeing, like, how different their books are, and actually it's a really strong year for book.

[Mickey Jerf]

It really is.

[Aaron James]

Book normally is an easier category. To talk about this year. There are a lot of good books.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, Yeah. I, I still don't. I still don't feel confident in what I'm about to say. But which show do you think is taking Best book on? One, two, three, baby.

[Aaron James]

Happy Ending.

[Mickey Jerf]

You still think maybe Happy Ending?

[Aaron James]

I think they're going to get all three. I think looking at last year and Serfs, this feels just very similar to me where I think it's a. There's so much love for the musical and it's for all the elements and I think book and score are equally strong. So I just, I just see it going to maybe Happy Ending for me.

[Mickey Jerf]

I. I think Death Becomes her is not to be underestimated. A lot of those similar genre type shows, the Beetlejuice, Addams Family, haven't had the same critical love that Death Becomes her has had. It's right up there. It is jointly leading in nominations. It is not to be ruled out. And I think if they're gonna split them, maybe Happy Ending could take score. Death Becomes her could take book. And I think those are the strongest elements of each show. But then, like, if Dead Outlaw ended up on that stage for Book, I wouldn't be shocked if Mincemeat did. I'd be delighted, obviously. So it is a really difficult year. I mean, it's a great year because so much strong material, but it makes our jobs hard.

[Aaron James]

I wouldn't feel like it was leaning one way until the tour announcement for maybe Happy Ending. And I think just the drama desks and them getting everything just has really made me lean one way because Suff's won in the drama desk and then won over Tony. So there's a link.

[Mickey Jerf]

We are now going to talk about best orchestrations. So the nominees here are Will Aronson for maybe Happy Ending, Bruce Coughlin for Floyd Collins, David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber. I've heard of him. For Sunset Boulevard, Marco Paguilla for Buena Vista Social Club and Andrew Resnick and Michael Ferber. In Time. I'm gonna give it one more moment of thought. I'm gonna check in with what I wrote down moments ago. Okay. Okay, ready? Three, two, one.

[Aaron James]

Buena Vista Social Club.

[Mickey Jerf]

You've gone Buena Vista here.

[Aaron James]

I love maybe Happy Ending. That's my favorite. That is my favorite orchestrations. So I think we've swapped from the.

[Mickey Jerf]

Last video when we talked about this.

[Aaron James]

My heart is with them, but my brain is saying the band got a special Tony.

[Mickey Jerf]

And I think the band getting a special Tony sort of already ticks that off. In a way.

[Aaron James]

Oh, no. Maybe I've changed back to maybe happy ending and I just want to go with my heart.

[Mickey Jerf]

Buena Vista Should I actually think Buena Vista should. I think it's. I said this before, but how many shows actually talk about their orchestrations in that flute?

[Aaron James]

This is my two shows. Sunset Boulevard's orchestrations shouldn't be. Shouldn't be, like, viewed out. If Sunset does have a lot of love on the night.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

It probably will go to them.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

But maybe a happy ending is my heart with the orchestrations. They are my favorite.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Buena Vista should.

[Aaron James]

Buena Vista. I'm just like, I think maybe happy. It's already got a Tony for the music. So will that lead people to say, well, surely the orchestrations. I don't know.

[Mickey Jerf]

I don't know. I don't know. So now then, continuing with more creative team recognitions, we're talking about the technical categories. Those designers. Scenic design, costume design, lighting design, and sound design. Eight categories here because the Tonys recognize each of these separately, unlike the Olivier Awards. We're looking at you, so we're gonna be here for a few minutes talking through these. First up, scenic design of a play. The nominees are David Bergman and Marge Horwell for the picture of Dorian Gray, Miriam Buther and 59 productions for Stranger Things, the First Shadow, Marsha Ginsburg for English, Rob Howell for the Hills of California, and Scott Pask for Good Night and Good Luck. Are you ready? Three, two, one. Stranger Things, the first shadow.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, it's massive.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's very rare for a play to have that kind of a set.

[Aaron James]

And also Stranger Things got the special Tony.

[Mickey Jerf]

There you go. Yeah, they did.

[Aaron James]

Apart for the projection element, I believe, for the video. So it's already got a leaning towards it. But also I think with the play categories, we have to look at the Oliviers. And Stranger Things won for set for.

[Mickey Jerf]

It did very well.

[Aaron James]

So it already has that acclaim. It's already kind of pushed through the. It's Stranger Things on Broadway. It's like, yeah, but it's Olivier award winning Stranger Things set.

[Mickey Jerf]

It has some prestige arriving with it. You are correct. And it's. Yeah, like I said, it's. Very few plays have that kind of scale and that kind of audacity in their sets. I just think it's doing so much more than almost any of the other nominees in this category.

[Aaron James]

And Netflix know how to petition.

[Mickey Jerf]

They do. They do. There you go. Okay, well, moving on. Let's talk about best scene design of a musical. Erin James, who are this category's nominees.

[Aaron James]

They are. They are. Rachel Huck for Swept Away, Dane Laughrey and George Reeve for maybe Happy Ending, Arnulfo Maldonado for Buena Vista social club, Derek McLean for death becomes her, and Derek McLean for just in Time.

[Mickey Jerf]

This is another one I really struggled to choose.

[Aaron James]

There's a splitting question in this one that froze me.

[Mickey Jerf]

I. I think I'm going to pivot from what I wrote down even 10 minutes ago. Some of these are so close. Like, ask me, like, the wind will change direction and I'll suddenly feel differently. But I'm ready to say a show.

[Aaron James]

I'm ready to say a show.

[Mickey Jerf]

Three, two, one. Maybe happy ending. What? So what had I written down.

[Aaron James]

Had you written down Death becomes her?

[Mickey Jerf]

I had.

[Aaron James]

I just think that, like, I would see those two creatives, like two of the creative categories going to Death becomes Her, but I think he's so, like, Death becomes her Just in Time are equally really strong set designs.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. But a lovely ruched curtain, but I.

[Aaron James]

Think they would split Interesting. And I think maybe Happy Ending set does certain moments that I think people will talk about, like the fireflies.

[Mickey Jerf]

Like, it's striking, it's memorable, it's completely different.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. It relies a lot on that set design and the intricacies.

[Mickey Jerf]

Did company win set design? Because that's the really comparable one when the revival was happening. I think it might have.

[Aaron James]

I think it might have.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

Let us know down below if we are wrong.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think. Yeah, I think there's going to be a lot of maybe Happy ending love.

[Aaron James]

And we could say it's one of the strongest ones for it.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, we could see a similar book score. Death Becomes Her May Be Happy split here, but we'll get onto that category in just a moment. Before we do, let's run up to it with best costume design of a play, in which the nominees are Brenda Abadandolo for Good Night and Good Luck. Marge Horwell for the Picture of Dorian Gray. Rob Howell for the Hills of California, Holly Pearson for O Mary and Brigitte Riefenstuhl for Stranger Things. The first shadow on three. One, two, three. Stranger Things.

[Aaron James]

Oh, no. The Picture of Dorian Gray.

[Mickey Jerf]

Oh, wait, hold on. No, I wrote that down as well. I also wrote it down. I take it back. I take it back. I did write down Picture of Dorian Gray. Marge Hallwell won the Olivier.

[Aaron James]

Won the Olivier for it. The costume designs are big and I think sometimes with a play design, the big one will win.

[Mickey Jerf]

I got myself carried away thinking about Stranger Things and possible dominance of the technical categories, but I do think this one is going Dorian Gray with how.

[Aaron James]

Dark and screen and non colorful the set is. All the costumes that Sarah wears are so for focus of everything. They're gorgeous and they are gorgeous.

[Mickey Jerf]

And the androgyny of them in the classic, it's really clever.

[Aaron James]

And it won the Olivier.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. And it would be great to hear an Australian creative giving a speech at the Tony Awards because we often hear a lot of British voices. We don't hear a lot of Australian theatre makers. We don't see a lot of original Australian theatre getting this kind of international acclaim and transfer.

[Aaron James]

It's a big moment for Australia.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Good for you, Australia. I hope it's a good day for all of you. That was a terrible joke. Let's carry on with best costume design of a musical. Erin James is going to tell us the nominees.

[Aaron James]

So we have Didi Aita for Buena Vista Social Club. Greg Barnes for Boop for Musical, Clint Ramos for maybe Happy Ending. Paul Tazewell for Death Becomes her. And Kathryn Zuber for Just In Time.

[Mickey Jerf]

I don't need to think about this one. I know where I'm going. This is one of the easier categories, I think, to predict of the whole Tonys.

[Aaron James]

I think her Scarily would be the one with the biggest upset. If it didn't go.

[Mickey Jerf]

That would be an upset. Let's just say it. 1, 2, 3. Death becomes her.

[Aaron James]

Death becomes her. I was just gonna say Paul Tazwell.

[Mickey Jerf]

Paul Tazwell. And man of the moment.

[Aaron James]

Paul Tazewell won the Academy Award recently for Wicked.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Becoming. I mean, that was his first Academy Award win. He's won the Tony multiple times.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jerf]

He's been attached to some visually iconic.

[Aaron James]

Productions and the reason why it would be really shocking if he didn't win is because of a setup of vicious Tony Awards. Because you've got Cynthia hosting, who wore his costumes in the two films. We're in between the two Wicked films.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's all about trailers just come out.

[Aaron James]

And then Hamilton are performing for their anniversary performance and likely will be wearing his costume designs that won the Tony Award.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, I think he's. I think Paul Tazwell is the winner of the Tony Awards in general this year. It's like this. All of this. I did this.

[Aaron James]

This should be a big celebration of Paul Tazwell. So I'm like, surely he's gonna win. And his.

[Mickey Jerf]

And to talk briefly about the costumes for Death Becomes It. Yeah, they're stunning. But the cleverness of them, the wit of them with those like shifted neckline and the epicenter of dueling.

[Aaron James]

And also being able to design those costumes for non binary performers as well as cisgender performers, the sexy, non gendered.

[Mickey Jerf]

Like individual ensemble costuming. Yeah, it's all great.

[Aaron James]

In this kind of year, we need to celebrate costume designers that are also thinking about the performers that are performing on the stage. We do conscientious.

[Mickey Jerf]

And we also need to talk about lighting design of a play. That's our next category. So the nominees are David Bengali and Heather Gilbert for Goodnight and Good Luck. Natasha Chivers for the Hills of California. John Clark for Stranger Things, the First Shadow. Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski for John Proctor as the villain. And Nick Schleiper for the Picture of Dorian Gray. Are you ready?

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

I've composed myself. I've remembered what it is I actually think here.

[Aaron James]

I remember what I actually think and then I suddenly had a thought which I will add.

[Mickey Jerf]

Okay. Okay. I can't wait to hear it. But here is our prediction. 1, 2, 3. Stranger Things, the first shadow. I think this is going to be another one that goes Stranger Things way.

[Aaron James]

It's big. Like lighting design's as important in this as.

[Mickey Jerf]

There's just a great deal more lighting design in this than in a lot of the others.

[Aaron James]

I read somebody said that lighting design at the Tonys is basically what had the most lighting design and that's how it normally falls. But my little out there one is like Natasha Katz never misses. So like John Protra is the villain hasn't.

[Mickey Jerf]

But I don't think she's won on every single nomination.

[Aaron James]

Maybe. True. Just often I think my little outsider would be John Proctor.

[Mickey Jerf]

Natasha Katz never misses for a musical.

[Aaron James]

True.

[Mickey Jerf]

Let's. Let's put that little caveat on it. But I wonder, I think, if there's going to be. I mean, we haven't said goodnight and good luck. We haven't seen the production. We've heard that's really visually interesting.

[Aaron James]

I think the thing with Stranger Things is it needs to rely so much on lighting. And the lighting is so important because of the effects.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

They're physically. They need the lights to be able to mask.

[Mickey Jerf]

They're doing a lot of fantasy and magic. Yeah. They have a taller order to adhere to. Really. Tell us then about the nominees for best lighting design of a musical.

[Aaron James]

The nominees are Jack Knowles for Sunset Boulevard, Tyler Micolow for Buena Vista Social Club, Ben Stanton for maybe Happy Ending, Roy Hongsson for And Scott Zielinski for Floyd Collins and Justin Townsend for Death Becomes Her.

[Mickey Jerf]

This Is another tricky one where I don't really know where we're going. But I'm just going to honor what I wrote down when we compiled our thoughts around 10 minutes ago. Here is what I had to say. 3, 2, 1. Sunset Boulevard. Okay. See, I hope so.

[Aaron James]

If we're talking about the most lighting Sunset Boulevard on the stage is all because of Z lighting.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. And death becomes her and maybe happy have a lot of momentum as shows. And Buena Vista has gorgeous lighting. But Sunset has real memorable lighting moments.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, it has memorable moments of lighting. And also that is what you're watching. Like it is a bed. Like the floor is empty.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

And it rely the fact that it's so moving and so powerful is because of that lighting design when it comes in, when it changes color.

[Mickey Jerf]

We rewatched it this week. I nearly cried at that moment. It's so strong. I hope that there is enough love for Sunset because there is in the industry a little bit of anti Jamie Lloyd around some previous productions around the whole strip back aesthetic. And I think it requires a certain amount of buy in and a certain amount of understanding and I hope that. That we like we did not see that at the drama desks. The drama desks did not buy into this concept of the Sunset revival. And I hope that the Tonys have. Is that. Oh no, we have sound design. Okay, so sound design of a play. Our penultimate technical category. The nominees are Paul Arditi for Stranger Things the first shadow, Palmer Hefferan for John Proctor as the villain, Daniel Kluger for Good Night and Good Luck. Nick Powell for the Hills of California and Clements Williams for the Picture of Dorian Gray. Okay, yeah, I. Okay, yeah. Are you ready?

[Aaron James]

No, I can't remember what I put.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's. It's again a little bit of a tricky one and you're like, does it just go in inevitable direction. Okay. Okay. Three, two, one. Stranger Things. The first shadow.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I think they're going to sweep the creatives.

[Mickey Jerf]

Did we give them 3 out of 4 technical just then? Did we say costume? Dorian? Great. Everything else? Stranger Things?

[Aaron James]

I think so, yeah. And I think it just has the most.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's so different to most other plays.

[Aaron James]

I also think like sound design in a play you have to have a really striking sound design for it to be a memorable element because a lot of players don't rely so much on score and background music and soundscapes and.

[Mickey Jerf]

This has those things. It also has singing. It also has like effect noises and all sorts. And it's doing a lot with its Sound and it's creating tension and dramatic storytelling and location.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. And I think that's probably the elements that they've been petitioning for because I feel like I could imagine in a Tony campaign they'll have been pushing the creative elements and not the best play, best revival, the best play element. They've gone.

[Mickey Jerf]

Sure.

[Aaron James]

So then we'll see the awards lean that way.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fair enough. And then our final technical category, which is best sound design of a musical. Aaron James. Who are the nominees?

[Aaron James]

Jonathan Deans for Buena Vista Social Club. Adam Fisher for Sunset Boulevard. Peter Hellensky for Just In Time, Peter Helenski for maybe Happy Ending, and David and. And Dan Moses Schreier for Floyd Collins.

[Mickey Jerf]

Again, lots of great sound design here. Lots of great musicals. Reminding myself what I wrote down. Okay, Okay. I don't. I don't know if I believe myself, but this is what I have said. Okay. 3, 2, 1.

[Aaron James]

Sunset Boulevard again.

[Mickey Jerf]

I hope so.

[Aaron James]

I love how you can't say it without doing it. In Sunset Boulevard, are you rising with a poop? But I think. I think this is going to get the nomination that we hoped would go to the video team because he, Adam Fisher, the ability to make the sound design work, that he can be outside and the sound can be in sync is enough. I think the war. I think Adam Fisher will get this award in honor of the walk and the score and the how it's all able to happen.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think the creative elements of Sunset are hard to forget. You become in that production. It enables you to become aware of the lighting, aware of the sound. You feel the weight of those choices in a way that something like just in time, it's just happened and you're so charmed by it that you're not noticing them as ostensibly.

[Aaron James]

And this is like with Sunset, I think look at the Oliviers, the creatives. They had locks on these elements. They did lighting and sound were the lighting and sound in particular were the ones that were very clearly that. And I don't think that's changed over here.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, yeah. Finally then, for some people, these are the most interesting categories. Certainly they are some of the most talked about. It is time to talk about the performances, the leading and featured actors and actresses in plays and musicals. Worth pointing out at this point, the Tony Awards still gendering these categories. While many other awarding bodies such as the Drama Desks and I believe like Outer Critics and Drama League as well.

[Aaron James]

It'S all of them bar for Tonys.

[Mickey Jerf]

Which they all managed to do successfully and with little debate.

[Aaron James]

They still honor the same amount of performers.

[Mickey Jerf]

They do. They do. Anyway, soapbox aside for one moment, let's begin by talking about the best performance by a featured actor in a play. The nominees are Glenn Davis for Purpose, Gabriel Ebert for John Proctor as the villain, Francis Jew for Yellowface, Bob Odenkirk for Glengarry Glen Ross, and Conrad Rickamora for O Mary. I was surprised how difficult this one was for me to come up with an answer, but I have come up with one.

[Aaron James]

I have one and then I have my, like, backup. The other person I could see going.

[Mickey Jerf]

To got a little backup. I feel similarly, and I wonder if we feel similarly in the same direction. I bet we do. So who do you think is going to win? 3, 2, 1. Conrad Rick Amora. And your backup is Conrad Rick Amora. And mine's Francis Joo. I would be thrilled. I think Francis Jew should win.

[Aaron James]

I think that Francis Jew has the legacy of one with a role. And that's a great thing to bring up is he was acclaimed and award winning when he played it the first time.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So then him coming back and playing it again, and he's never had a Tony, so this would be a legacy win. Yeah. And I feel like he's an element of that show that stuck with me ever since.

[Mickey Jerf]

I. Very much so. Very much so. I really think he should win. I hope that you're right. I never know how much to buy into the momentum of the big shows and the sweeping of it all, because I think featured doesn't necessarily go that way, and featured can go to something that's closed.

[Aaron James]

The pro shot of Yellowface made me think people will have remembered him.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, that's.

[Aaron James]

That's what's giving me that. A little bit of it. Like, I think if the pro shot hadn't have happened, I would have thought, yeah, maybe they'll have forgotten him.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. I think Conrad deserves for multiple performances, but I do hope that you're correct. Yes. Tell us then about the nominees for another very challenging category. Best performance by a featured actress in a play.

[Aaron James]

So we have Tyler Ash for English, Jessica Hecht for Eureka Day, Marja Neshra for English, Fenestraza for John Proctor as the villain, and Kari Ng for Purpose.

[Mickey Jerf]

One of the hardest categories to call.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. And I think there's two people I think it's between, and neither of those are the one that I want to win, and that's really hard.

[Mickey Jerf]

Interesting. Interesting. I. Okay, I'm gonna stick my neck out in a different direction. 3, 2, 1. Tala ash, you Think Jessica Heck's gonna take it.

[Aaron James]

I want Tala Ash to win it, and I feel like I really hope they've remembered her and that's where they go.

[Mickey Jerf]

The thing that has spurred me on a little bit here is so many people we know have all independently said, I hope Tyler Ash.

[Aaron James]

I think that's what I'd hope.

[Mickey Jerf]

There seems to be a lot of memory for that.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, that's giving me this hope. The Jessica Hecht thing is the same as the Francis thing. But she's never won a Tony, has she?

[Mickey Jerf]

Never won a Tony.

[Aaron James]

Never won a Tony.

[Mickey Jerf]

See, if I'd known that, I might have felt differently.

[Aaron James]

That's my thing is she's never won a Tony. The Kara Ying of it all is obviously, we know Kara's. This is year four, year four of.

[Mickey Jerf]

Her consecutive nominations, and she won last year on year three for Pearly Victorious.

[Aaron James]

So this is like the. That's my. There is so much love for Kari Young, perhaps that I'm like, it's this, like a memento that's just gonna keep on going and that nobody can really break that. But then at the same time, Jessica Hechts never won a Tony. And I really hope that everybody remembers Tala because Tala is magical.

[Mickey Jerf]

I hope so, too. Let's talk then about the world of musicals. And from one category that we said was very hard to predict to one that we think is quite easy to predict, best performance by a featured actor in a musical. The nominees are Brooks Ashmanskas for Smash, Jeb Brown for Dead Outlaw, Danny Burstein, Gypsy Jack Malone for Operation Mincemeat, and Taylor Trench for Floyd Collins. A three, two, one. Jack Malone for. Specifically for Dear Bill, for Operation Mincemeat.

[Aaron James]

If there's a thing we know about the Tony Awards is it only takes one singular song. It's such a moment like when you look back at Alex Newell in Shucked with Independently Owned, that one song guaranteed them the Tony. And I felt like with Jack Malone, with Dear Bill, that is the same. It was the same in the UK and it's the same here. It's the same. Same trajectory. They're selling vinyls of just Dear Bill.

[Mickey Jerf]

It's such a beautiful, powerful moment. But Jack's whole performance in that show with like all of the Spillsbury stuff and with Willy Watkins and all of the other characters that he plays. Jack is really emblematic of the rapid character changing nature of the show. And it almost feels like a way of saluting the entire company. It's also a great position to be in when you're a featured role, that is quite a big one because we were watching it the other day on Broadway and I was thinking, like, there's not much in it for like Natasha and Dave to usually go leading and for Jack to be featured.

[Aaron James]

Yeah, I think. I just think it's Jax. I think the outside chance would be with Brooks because everybody loves Brooks, but they both won the Tony. They both won the drama Desk.

[Mickey Jerf]

I can't even think of, like, who of those. The others are all great. I can't think of who the emerging runner up.

[Aaron James]

My literal only reason is that both of them won the Drama Desk. That's my only way of saying so.

[Mickey Jerf]

Did Michael Urie, who wasn't even nominated. So just goes to show you how much you can use that as a barometer. Tell us then about the nominees for best featured actress in a musical. Aaron.

[Aaron James]

So the featured actress in the musical nominees are. Natalie Venetia Belcom for Buena Vista Social Club, Julia Knightle for Dead Outlaw, Gracie Lawrence for Just in Time, Justina Machado for Real Women have curves, and Joy woods for Gypsy.

[Mickey Jerf]

The caveat to this being that this category features one of the few performances we haven't seen because we saw Gypsy but Joy woods was out.

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

So we haven't seen Joy Wood's performance in Gypsy. That being said, here is our prediction. A 1, 2, 3.

[Aaron James]

Natalie Venetia Belconte.

[Mickey Jerf]

This goes back to the thing that I was just saying about. It's great to be a featured performer in a role that almost feels leading. It's a really substantial role. She bows last.

[Aaron James]

She bows last. She takes the final bow. She last season did really well at the other awards because one of us.

[Mickey Jerf]

Was the year before the Off Broadway. Yeah.

[Aaron James]

So we've already got proof of. She's been beloved. She's very well liked in it. This is the category where I don't know if it's been shifting since. And I just. There's part of me that's like, if there's a lot of Gypsy love, could we see both actress and featured actress go one way? I think if there's a lot of love for Gypsy on the night, both could go one way and it could.

[Mickey Jerf]

Feel like a salute to everything Joy has done. Because Joy is this remarkable rising star who like the Kara Young's of this World in place, has been working really consistently going from strong performance to strong performance. The Notebook didn't get a nomination.

[Aaron James]

My other one is there's so much love for real women to have curves. And it didn't get the best musical nom. Could everybody have been putting their votes in for Justina as like the salute to that show?

[Mickey Jerf]

It's possible. We've seen stuff like that happen in the past, but I still think.

[Aaron James]

But Natalie's like, I think she's still the front runner. Yeah. I mean, she literally bows last. Like that show is revolved around her.

[Mickey Jerf]

Okay, so those are all the featured performances. Let's talk about those leads. So let's go over then to best leading actor in a play to begin with. And the nominees are George Clooney, little known actor making his debut for Goodnight and good Luck. Kola Scola, writer and star of O Mary. John Michael Hill in Purpose, Daniel Dae Kim in yellowface, Harry Lennox in Purpose, and Louis McCartney for Stranger Things, the first shadow. Are you ready, Aaron? Okay. Three, two, one. I think Kola Scola is going to win.

[Aaron James]

This is a look.

[Mickey Jerf]

You think Cora Scholar is going to win? Do you know who else thinks Cora Scholar is going to win? Allegedly? George Clooney.

[Aaron James]

It's a look. I feel like if there's any doubt about Omari winning best play, there is no doubt about Cora Scola winning best actor.

[Mickey Jerf]

This is Omari's most confident category.

[Aaron James]

I think this is kind of a. One of the big moments of this season has been the rise of as a really exciting creative as well as, as well as performer.

[Mickey Jerf]

And like people have been loving like on the Internet and in like the outer Broadway sphere for years, finally on Broadway, finally getting recognition. And this is their moment. And it's the greatest part of O Mary has written themselves such a terrific role and delivers it like having Love Titus as a replacement in the show, delivers it like no one else can, is so unique, is so wonderful.

[Aaron James]

It's gonna be a moment, it's gonna be a performance that people are gonna be talking about for years. And so should women.

[Mickey Jerf]

The Tony and Cole has been involved in every single step of this Broadway season. Has been involved in like miscast and doing all these interviews and like every time there's been like Hollywood Reporter doing like Cola Scola has been a fixture of every single part and has been so involved in the community and in the campaign and all of it and has like left the show at the right time, went back into the show at the right time. It's been perfectly executed. No brainer. Yeah. Who then are the nominees for best leading actress in a play? Aaron?

[Aaron James]

They are Laura Donnelly for the Hills of California. Mia Farrow for the Roommate, Latonya Richardson. Jackson for purpose. Sadie Sink for John Proctor as the villain, and Sarah Snook for the Picture of Dorian Gray.

[Mickey Jerf]

That is the correct pronunciation. It's Snook, everybody. It's Snook. A three, two, one. Sarah Snook. Yeah. One. The Drama Desk.

[Aaron James]

It's a bit like. It's a bit like call a scola, where it's like the picture of Dorian Gray might not win best. Like, it might not be for best play, but Sarah is a performance that you hear everybody mentioning.

[Mickey Jerf]

I was gonna say it's a bit like Stranger Things because, like, they have the most lighting. This is the most performance by a leading actress in a play because Sarah Snook plays all these characters and is joined by the formidable tech team and the stage management, but is the sole acting performance alongside herself. Often on that stage.

[Aaron James]

The only world to the right it could go is to Laura Donnelly.

[Mickey Jerf]

They won the Drama Desk together.

[Aaron James]

And everybody's been talking about the stair moment, which was new for Broadway, but I've heard that a lot. But I don't think that's enough to overtake Sarah.

[Mickey Jerf]

Not to overtake Sarah. People are really talking about how extraordinary. I've heard Broadway producers say this has never been done before, this kind of performance.

[Aaron James]

And you know, when we say about future life of like, this kind of style, it's a celebration of Australian theatre. It's a celebration of Sarah being a name and being like a beloved performer. But also there's a future life because Cynthia Erivo, the host, is about to do a very similar thing from the.

[Mickey Jerf]

Same producers, same theater makers, same creatives.

[Aaron James]

In London for Dracula.

[Mickey Jerf]

Dracula, yes.

[Aaron James]

So this happening is then a good sign for the host of the show for their future.

[Mickey Jerf]

A very good point. We've got a little over time on this one, but the other thing I would say is that Sarah and Laura were up against each other at the Oliviers in the same roles, and Sarah won. Now, that brings us to our final two categories. Let me talk you through the nominees for best leading actor in a musical. This is one I've been thinking about a lot in the last 24 hours because we just saw one of them. Yeah, yeah. So the nominees are Darren Criss for maybe Happy Ending, Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just In Time, James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World, and Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins. Four of these Broadway performances we only saw for the first time this week.

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

And we have seen all of them.

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

This is really difficult to predict. I Think it's going to come down to a two horse race, but I could be surprised by a third horse.

[Aaron James]

Yes.

[Mickey Jerf]

That could just run past them all. But I think I am ready.

[Aaron James]

I'm ready to say one and then I'm ready to explain why it could be other people.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Okay. Okay. Here is who I think actually will win. Here it is. 3, 2, 1. Jonathan Groff. I think so too.

[Aaron James]

It's such a great performance.

[Mickey Jerf]

And the only thing that makes me think it might not is that he won last year.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jerf]

That's literally the only reason he hadn't won last year. This would be guaranteed, I think.

[Aaron James]

But also this performance is so the opposite of what he did last year.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. And I think. Not that he wasn't great in Merrily. He was great in Merrily and I was very happy to see him win. But he was one part of a very strong trio. And in this he is the bright shining star of Just in Time.

[Aaron James]

Here's a moment. He shows how much he can dance.

[Mickey Jerf]

He's so charming.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. He owns the room.

[Mickey Jerf]

The whole theater falls in love with him instantly. He is beloved of the community and.

[Aaron James]

He like does the heart, the drama, but it shows off him completely as a performer.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

That if he had. The only reason, I think.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think it's the best vehicle he's ever had on stage.

[Aaron James]

Perhaps the only reason I think you could ever be like, is he not gonna win? Is only because he won last year. That's the only.

[Mickey Jerf]

And if he doesn't, who's the other horse?

[Aaron James]

Tom Francis for the Walk.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think it's Tom Francis.

[Aaron James]

The walk is the other moment of the season. But my really outside one is whether it could go to Darren.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think Darren could have entered horse.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. When we're talking about, like Cole appearing everywhere and doing the most for the community, the other person that's doing the same thing is Darren.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. I think Darren wins as a producer on maybe happy ending. I think Tom Francis could be the challenger here.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jerf]

But I just don't know.

[Aaron James]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jerf]

I don't know how much it goes to like, exciting rising star newcomer versus beloved Broadway veteran.

[Aaron James]

Yeah. And I think when, see, I mean, everybody loves Just in Time and Just in Time didn't get the best musical nomination, so there's not a backup for it.

[Mickey Jerf]

Now that brings us to the final category. The one that everyone has been talking about for months now, way in advance, before either of these shows even opened, this was the conversation. The conversation is still being had in a very strong way over the Last week, Aaron James. Who are the nominees for best leading actress in a musical?

[Aaron James]

Jasmine. Amy Rogers for Boop. Megan Hilty for Death becomes her, Audra McDonnell for Gypsy, Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard and Jennifer Simard for Death Becomes Her.

[Mickey Jerf]

I'm not even going to put a timer on this one because I think we're going to need a little bit to talk about it. But on three, who do you think is going to win the Tony? One, two, three. Nicole Scherzinger. I think Scherzinger is still going to take it. I know everyone thinks Audra. Everyone now thinks it's swung Audra.

[Aaron James]

Etc. I, if you'd have said to me like two days ago, I'd have probably said Nicole. And I still, I think, I think here's the thing. I think in my heart I'm like Nicole. I'm like Nicole will win. And then when realizing how late, like today is the final day, as we're speaking right now, in four minutes.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah. Ballots have to be in the ballot.

[Aaron James]

Close in four minutes.

[Mickey Jerf]

Oh my gosh.

[Aaron James]

I, I don't. I wish I'd have known how much percentage have voted before the, the big moment. And I just think you're talking about.

[Mickey Jerf]

The Patti LuPone drama.

[Aaron James]

I just think after that people will have lent towards Audra as a statement of support. And I just. And, and also it's Mama Rose. I just like it's is. People haven't always won for Rose.

[Mickey Jerf]

Benedette did not.

[Aaron James]

But it's a, it's one of those star vehicles that's very hard to maneuver.

[Mickey Jerf]

As is like Mrs. Anna and the King and I. But as is Norma Desmond.

[Aaron James]

I mean, true.

[Mickey Jerf]

And we've only seen it be eligible for the win once with Glenn Close because when she returned to Broadway like wasn't that good.

[Aaron James]

And Nicole's never won. Nicole's never had a Tony.

[Mickey Jerf]

And Nicole has, hasn't won everything else here because didn't win at the drama.

[Aaron James]

Desk but she won the drama league.

[Mickey Jerf]

Was winning a lot in London. Audra and Jasmine won the drama desk. There is a conversation to be had about whether the Nicole versus Audra of it all allows Jasmine Amy Rogers to break through the noise. But this is the conversation people have been having for months now. Is it Audra or is it Nicole?

[Aaron James]

I actually Nicole won the Drama league my own and I think everything for me would have been Nicole. And the only, my only doubt is purely the fact that the Tony noms hadn't been balloted before.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think of the demographic of Tony Voter. I've heard so many people in the industry so enamored with Nicole's performance in a way that I haven't heard people speak. People have a great respect for Audra's and like the craft and the acting and the masterclass and like the way she's approached it. There's a great respect for Audra's performance from those who enjoy it because both have been divisive. No, I would.

[Aaron James]

Well, I will look at Nicole.

[Mickey Jerf]

I think.

[Aaron James]

I think that's. That's where I want to lean.

[Mickey Jerf]

Both have been. Both productions have been divisive. Both performances have been divisive. There has been PR and politics at play for everyone involved here. That has been to Nicole's detriment a few months ago. That has been to Audra's benefit very recently. But I think people have talked about Nicole's performance the way they talked about Sarah Snook's performance. I think there has been such, like, she. I think there's more weight there than people are realizing and I think it could still happen. And I think it's the best story. I think Audra getting another Tony. Like, she's extraordinary. She's Audra. She's the best. She's the talent of a generation on Broadway. She is our most decorated Broadway performer, and rightly so. She is astonishing. She will get more Tony nominations. She will get more Tonys throughout her career. That's the exciting thing, the Nicole storyline of her, you know, returning to this industry that she always wanted to be in and having this moment.

[Aaron James]

There's also the thing that we were made aware of again recently, which is that if Nicole won the award, she would be the first. She would be the second ever AA and HPI female winner in history with.

[Mickey Jerf]

Leia Salonga being the only other one.

[Aaron James]

The only one.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

And I think that when you think about that and what that that win would mean for so many people, not just the story of Nicole, but also for generations to come.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah.

[Aaron James]

And the fact that, like, what that would mean for people in performances and what she would mean for people.

[Mickey Jerf]

Yeah, yeah.

[Aaron James]

That also leans towards her.

[Mickey Jerf]

But those have been our thoughts on who is going to win at the Tonys this weekend. Which shows will win, predicting a lot of love, obviously for maybe happy ending for oh Mary, but also for Stranger Things and Sunset Boulevard and a couple of other very worthy creatives and performances in and amongst there as well. I feel better. I feel slightly more confident having vocalized it, actually having spoken it into existence. I feel happier about the choices that I've made, but we're all going to find out together on Sunday. Stay tuned for more Tony Awards content from me over the weekend, including the videos I'm planning to put together. Are a guide to the Tony Awards this year. To give you a little bit of context. If you haven't been following the season as well as however we end up watching the Tony Awards, we'll vlog that we're not planning on attending the ceremony. If anyone has any leads on getting us into the dress rehearsal, we wouldn't say no to that, but we're just happy to be here in the same city where it's happening and to have seen almost of this season's brilliant productions. And now it's time for us to hear what you think. So comment section down below, which are your predictions, particularly in those big categories. But feel free to share your predictions in every single category if you'd like to, or just those where you disagree with us. I am curious. Let's do a random sample and feel like we're taking the temperature of the room. In the meantime, I hope everyone is looking forward to the Tonys. Thank you for joining us. Make sure you're subscribed here on YouTube so you don't miss my Tonys coverage over the weekend and heading into next week. Thank you for joining me as always is Erin James and I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a Stagey day. Happy Tony's weekend.

[Aaron James]

Bye.

[Mickey Jerf]

For 10 more seconds. I'm Mickey Jo Theater. Oh my God. Hey, thanks for watching. Have a stagey day. Subscribe.