Predicting the 2025 Tony Award Nominations with Aeron James | Which Broadway plays and musicals will get nominated?

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Predicting the 2025 Tony Award Nominations with Aeron James | Which Broadway Plays and Musicals Will Get Nominated?”

Introduction

In this engaging episode of MickeyJoTheatre, host Mickey Jo and his fiancée Erin Jadens delve into their predictions for the 2025 Tony Award nominations. Filmed amidst a weekend away in Dorset, the duo analyzes current Broadway and global theatre trends, highlighting standout performances and productions. Their comprehensive discussion covers various award categories, offering insights based on reviews, word-of-mouth, and previous nomination patterns.

Best New Musical

Mickey Jo and Erin begin their analysis with the Best New Musical category, emphasizing its competitiveness this year.

• “This is the category we've been talking about every day of our lives for months now.” – [02:31] Mickey Jo
• "Happy Ending is V Lock, which if you just said that to me at the start of the season, I knew people didn't think the show was going to open.” – [03:06] Erin Jadens

Top Contenders:

1. Happy Ending (V Lock) – Seen as a confident frontrunner despite initial skepticism.
2. Dead Outlaw – Transferred from winning last season, making it a strong contender.
3. Operation Mincemeat – Expected to secure a nomination, though not without uncertainty.
4. Buena Vista Social Club – Noted for its bilingual narrative and boundary-pushing elements.
5. Death Becomes Her – Highlighted as a commercial powerhouse that merits recognition.

Erin expresses a strong preference for Death Becomes Her, emphasizing its artistic merit over mere commercial success:

• “It feels like we're having a discussion about our shows, not a show not getting a nomination because it's not arty.” – [04:22] Erin Jadens

Best New Play

Transitioning to the Best New Play category, the hosts discuss several promising plays, focusing on narratives and contemporary relevance.

• “I think it will [John Proctor is a Villain being categorized as a new play].” – [05:31] Mickey Jo
• “Omari is a lock.” – [06:43] Erin Jadens

Top Contenders:

1. John Proctor is a Villain – Expected to be categorized as a new play and possibly lead the category.
2. Omari – Considered a secure nominee due to its compelling storytelling.
3. English – Gains traction with acting nominations in both Drama League and Edge Critics.
4. The Hills of California – Seen as a strong contender, potentially reaching five nominations.
5. Purpose – Anticipated to secure a nomination based on its depth and narrative strength.

Mickey Jo underscores the importance of categorizing plays accurately to reflect their innovative aspects:

• “It’s so contemporary, it’s so pushing.” – [06:11] Mickey Jo

Choreography Predictions

Choreography emerges as a pivotal category, with both musicals and plays incorporating innovative movement.

• “If the show has a moment, you can probably guarantee that it’s gonna get a nom.” – [14:12] Erin Jadens

Top Contenders:

1. Buena Vista Social Club – Recognized for its significant dance moments and experienced choreographers.
2. Death Becomes Her – Noted for its expansive movement and choreography.
3. Smash and Boop – Potential surprise nominees due to their dynamic choreography.
4. Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard – Established heavyweights expected to secure nominations.
5. Floyd Collins – Celebrated for its choreography, aligning with its critical acclaim.

Direction Categories

The hosts explore nominations for both musical and play directors, emphasizing the synergy between direction and the overall production quality.

• “I think Rob Hasty deserves one very much for Mincemeat.” – [17:15] Mickey Jo

Top Contenders:

1. Michael Arden for Happy Ending
2. Christopher Gattelli for Death Becomes Her
3. Robert Hasty for Operation Mincemeat
4. Jamie Lloyd for Revival Productions
5. George C. Wolfe for Gypsy

Mickey Jo highlights the intricate relationship between direction and nominations:

• “If a show gets a best musical nomination, it is very weird if that show does not also get a best direction.” – [18:41] Erin Jadens

Best Original Score

Original scores are critically assessed for their creativity and integration within the productions.

• “It’s not a world of like, oh, my God, that’s the most obviously sensational, incredible original score.” – [21:08] Mickey Jo

Top Contenders:

1. Operation Mincemeat
2. Happy Ending
3. Death Becomes Her
4. Dead Outlaw
5. Real Women Have Curves (outsider)

They commend the subtle brilliance of the scores, noting the lack of bombastic entries but highlighting their sophistication.

Book of a Musical

The Best Book of a Musical category receives attention for its narrative depth and contribution to the show's success.

• “Real Women have Curves has slipped into nearly every single awards nominations that have come out so far.” – [05:21] Erin Jadens

Top Contenders:

1. Operation Mincemeat
2. Happy Ending
3. Dead Outlaw
4. Buena Vista Social Club
5. Death Becomes Her

Mickey Jo emphasizes the importance of strong storytelling in securing nominations:

• “The book speaking to people more than the score.” – [22:41] Erin Jadens

Orchestrations

Orchestrations are evaluated based on their enhancement of the musical experience.

Top Contenders:

1. Happy Ending
2. Operation Mincemeat
3. Sunset Boulevard
4. Gypsy
5. Floyd Collins

The duo praises shows like Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy for their exceptional orchestrations, while hoping for recognition of innovative works like Dead Outlaw.

Set Design

Set designs are scrutinized for creativity and how they contribute to the storytelling.

• “I love purpose for the same reason.” – [26:41] Mickey Jo

Top Contenders:

1. Redwood
2. Renewed Designs in Boop
3. Eureka Day
4. Omari
5. Romeo and Juliet

They express admiration for the versatility and ingenuity of sets in plays like Omari and Redwood, underscoring their potential for nominations.

Costume Design

Costume design discussions highlight the visual storytelling and character development facilitated by attire.

Top Contenders:

1. Death Becomes Her
2. Boop
3. Smash
4. A Wonderful World
5. Buena Vista Social Club

Mickey Jo and Erin laud the glamorous and functional costumes in shows like Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her, suggesting strong nominations.

Lighting and Sound Design

Lighting and sound are recognized for their role in enhancing the theatrical experience.

Top Contenders:

1. Sunset Boulevard – Particularly for its exceptional sound design.
2. Happy Ending
3. Buena Vista Social Club
4. Stranger Things: The First Shadow
5. Dorian Gray

Performances

The hosts discuss lead and supporting performances, highlighting standout actors and actresses.

Leading Actress in a Musical:

• Jasmine in Boop – Considered a secure nominee.
• Nicole Scherzinger, Audrey McDonald, Amy Rogers, Tatiana Cordova, Sutton Foster – Recognized for their impactful performances.

Leading Actor in a Musical:

• Jonathan Groff – Seen as a lock.
• James Monroe Iglehart and Jeremy Jordan – Potential nominations for their roles in musicals like Floyd Collins.

Supporting Actress in a Musical:

• Natalie Venetia Belcon for Buena Vista Social Club
• Jinkx Monsoon – Likely to secure a nomination.
• Other notable mentions: Justina Machado, Beth Leavel.

Featured Actor and Actress in a Play:

• Sarah Snook, Laura Donnelly, Natalia Richardson Jackson – Strong contenders.
• Conrad Rickamora – Expected to secure a nomination for his role in plays like Omari.

Conclusion

Mickey Jo and Erin Jadens conclude the episode by acknowledging the intense competition and the multitude of deserving nominations. They express excitement for the upcoming Tony Awards announcements and invite listeners to share their predictions and opinions in the comments. The hosts promise live reactions to the nominations and continue their coverage leading up to the awards in June.

• “There's so many great shows. There's so many great performances. Some hearts are gonna get broken.” – [47:00] Erin Jadens

Mickey Jo encourages continued engagement and urges listeners to stay subscribed for ongoing Tony Awards coverage.

Notable Quotes:

• "If the show has a moment, you can probably guarantee that it’s gonna get a nom." – [14:12] Erin Jadens
• “How much memory will you have? Because when we get to set design, there's a show that I'm gonna bring up and I don't know if it will get the nomination that it does actually deserve.” – [15:08] Erin Jadens

Final Thoughts

This episode of MickeyJoTheatre offers a thorough and passionate exploration of the 2025 Tony Award landscape. Mickey Jo and Erin Jadens provide valuable insights, blending their extensive theatre knowledge with personal preferences to foresee potential nominees. Their dynamic discussion serves as a comprehensive guide for theatre enthusiasts anticipating the upcoming Tony Awards.

Transcript

[Mickey Jo]

Oh my God. Hey.

[Erin Jadens]

Hello.

[Mickey Jo]

Welcome back to my theatre themed YouTube channel. My name is Mickey Jo. I'm obsessed with all things theatre. And I am Erin Jadens, my stagey fiance. We are both obsessed with all things theatre. We are currently on location in my home county of Dorset because we were at a family wedding.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. Yesterday.

[Mickey Jo]

Yesterday and this weekend. But Time Tide and the Tony Awards wait for no man. So. So we are here amidst a weekend away to try and predict the Tony nominations that might be announced on Thursday. Well, they will be announced on Thursday. We're trying to predict what they might.

[Erin Jadens]

Be and it's a very competitive season.

[Mickey Jo]

It's a very competitive season and I think we've seen upwards of 60% of it this year.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, we've seen a lot more plays than we've ever done before on Broadway in a season.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. But not quite all of the musicals. I think this time last year, because we did a trip in late April, we'd done a better job of seeing more stuff.

[Erin Jadens]

We'd seen the last one, so more that were opening as we were coming back to the uk.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. We probably have another summer trip pending later this year so we can catch the likes of Real Women Have Curves, Dead Outlaw just in time. A handful more that I'm forgetting now. But if it seems like we're low balling any of those shows, it might be because we haven't seen them yet. And so we're basing things off of word of mouth, those that have opened the way that they've been reviewed, stuff like that. But this is all really just hypothesis based on kind of some nominations that have already been announced from other awarding bodies, how the Tonys have gone previously and stuff that we've seen. Yeah, but these are going to be our thoughts as always. We would love to know what you think. People have many opinions about this, as they should. So if you disagree with us wildly or if you agree with us or if you want to share all of your predictions, let us know in the comments section down below. For finally, as we head towards the Tony's announcement, we will hopefully be reacting live. We have a very busy day on Thursday when it's been hopefully we're going to find somewhere and some time in the day to react to the Tony nominations when they come out on Thursday. And then there will be more coverage leading up to the Tony Awards in June. So make sure you're subscribed here on YouTube or following on podcast platforms. Turn on those notifications, do whatever you need to do to stay up to date with the coverage. In the meantime, are you ready to talk Tony nominations?

[Erin Jadens]

Let's do it.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay.

[Erin Jadens]

Let's start with best new musical.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, this is the wild one.

[Erin Jadens]

See, I feel like it's the easiest one for us to talk about because I feel like there's a clear looks. There is battling to get in there.

[Mickey Jo]

But this is also the category we've been talking about every day of our lives for months now.

[Erin Jadens]

Well, I think people were surprised that a couple of the last musicals of the season have been really good. Maybe happy ending is V Lock, which if you just said that to me at the start of the season, I know people didn't think the show was going to open.

[Mickey Jo]

It was this little underdog. It was this unknown quantity unless you've seen the pre Broadway productions. But I'm thrilled that we're where we are with it.

[Erin Jadens]

I'm so happy.

[Mickey Jo]

And it feels like maybe the most confident frontrunner even.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like that. And then Dead Outlaw is like it's twin. I feel like those two are bee locks. Because Dead Outlaw won the awards last season.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes.

[Erin Jadens]

And now it's transferred. It's kind of coming in as the. We're here because of the Tonys. Like, we're here for the Tonys situation. They're perfectly timed for it.

[Mickey Jo]

We also have Operation Mincemeat, which I think still gets a nomination, but it could be a shock upset. I'm not 100% confident about it, but it ought to in a perfect and accurate world. Yes, it ought to get a nomination for best new musical, But I think.

[Erin Jadens]

More of a look in my mind is Buena Vista Social Club.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like Buena Vista is kind of a. That's going to get nomination. It's done the season before. It's very solid as a show. Yeah, it feels very well rounded and it has this element of it being bilingual, which we don't see very often on Broadway. So it has that like that. That new. That new pushing the boundaries of theater element to it.

[Mickey Jo]

There's then a whole world of commercial possibilities. I think Death Becomes her gets a nomination.

[Erin Jadens]

Death Becomes her is my one that I personally will be an upset if it doesn't get nominated because then I feel like we're having a discussion of our shows. Not is a show not getting a nomination not because it's not great, but because it's not arty. Like it's something viewed a bit too like, oh, it's so glitzy and glamorous.

[Mickey Jo]

Commercial versus.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. That is. Is so Beautifully put together and it is a great musical that will do really well. And in all honesty, we know that the Tony Awards part of it, especially in the US compared comparatively to the Oliviers, is to ensure future life of shows.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, I'm not convinced we will see one for Smash or for Boop or for Redwood. We are hearing great things about Women have Curves and just in time, and.

[Erin Jadens]

Just in time, those are the two real. Women have Curves has slipped into nearly every single awards nominations that have come out so far.

[Mickey Jo]

What do we think gets nominated for best new play?

[Erin Jadens]

The one thing we don't know yet is whether John Proctor is a Villain has been officially categorized as a new play. Yeah, I think it will.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm sure it will. I think it's silly if it doesn't because there was rumor of it potentially petitioning to be considered revival because this is not the first production of that play ever. But then shows develop, especially on their way to Broadway and the notion that like a show that's only a few years old, that it would have to be the same world premiere production, sort of unchanged. But I think it's a challenging concept.

[Erin Jadens]

And I also feel like that show for its life and its breadth and the breadth of that show can do. Being in new play would help it a lot better and actually target the demographic that it's going for.

[Mickey Jo]

I think it really ought to be new play. I mean, it's so contemporary, it's so pushing. It's my front runner for best new play if it goes into best new play. It's interesting that we're seeing the classics rule applied to so many sort of less than a decade old plays. Recently. Eureka Day has already been ruled a revival and last year's revival winner appropriate was in the grand scheme of things, not that old either. From the same playwright, Brendan Jacobs Jenkins, we have Purpose, which I think will also go into best in play.

[Erin Jadens]

I also think Omari is a lock.

[Mickey Jo]

Omari is a lock.

[Erin Jadens]

Omari is a lock.

[Mickey Jo]

Omari is the biggest challenge.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. If O Mary and John Rocher is the villain are in the same category, people are not going to know where that's going to go. No, there will be a fight.

[Mickey Jo]

No. The gays and the girls are going to be fighting. You hate to see it. English.

[Erin Jadens]

English. I think it's pull a surprise winner. It also showed up a lot in the recent nominations because people wondered whether it would be forgotten because it was so early on. But it has seen in both the Drama League and the Edge critics, English has appeared.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

English has had acting nominations. I'm very much not concerned about it appearing.

[Mickey Jo]

No. Which is thrilling news, I think.

[Erin Jadens]

Whereas a show likes Job. I don't know if it's gonna.

[Mickey Jo]

I forgot about Job.

[Erin Jadens]

There's a thing people keep forgetting that existed in this season and you've noticed it in the noms. I really hope the hills of California is there.

[Mickey Jo]

How did I forget about the hills? I hope the hills of California is there as well. I think it will bring us to five.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. I think it is a five year. I think.

[Mickey Jo]

I know. Well, that would mean George Clooney and Grant Hasloff snubbed for Goodnight and Good Luck. I wouldn't. There's not a lot of other surprises on here. I don't think Stranger Things, the first Shadow gets nominated for Best New Play.

[Erin Jadens]

I don't think Dorian Gray got enough love that it would kick again.

[Mickey Jo]

Not for Best New Play. Not where we're acknowledging the playwright so much.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. I feel like. Seriously, I feel like these. We're mentioning some shows where it's like, I think the actor could get nommed.

[Mickey Jo]

There's elements, for sure.

[Erin Jadens]

As for the nomination for it.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Stranger Things is my question mark.

[Mickey Jo]

Hard to know how well that's going to do. I think those types of plays always do better over here at the Oliviers.

[Erin Jadens]

I agree. Because we have the entertainment category as well. So they don't always have to be viewed as plays.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Stranger Things in the UK went as an entertainment. Didn't go in with a play.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk about musical revivals, then. And there are seven eligible.

[Erin Jadens]

I think it's four.

[Mickey Jo]

I think it's four.

[Erin Jadens]

I believe it's four. Four. Unless there's a time and it goes up to five. I don't think Elf is going to be in this. I'll be honest.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't. No, no. I'm not convinced that Elf's main goal. But do you know what?

[Erin Jadens]

There could be a surprise or a shock because there are five that I could see getting nums. Because people forget about Mattress.

[Mickey Jo]

People do. Well, I was going to say I'm not forgetting about Mattress. Thanks to Hana Gasteyer's brilliant Times Square. But Sunset Boulevard is a lock and Gypsy is also a lock.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

And these are the two heavyweights in this category.

[Erin Jadens]

But I don't. I feel like Pirates has become what feels like a lock now. Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

I just don't think it challenges for that top spot. I think Pirates will get a nomination for sure. And it does a lot because it's an adaptation where it's like, oh, this is a revival of a revival. And the same with Mattress as well because it's new material, so it's a reworking.

[Erin Jadens]

And this I feel comes out important because when looking more so I think again on Broadway than in the West End, these recontextualizing or making a musical work for its future life and how it's been re brought in is really important in the US more than it is I think in the uk.

[Mickey Jo]

Well, yeah, I mean with Mattress it's then like you have a new version that you can license and it's like fixing a lot of the issues maybe that were in the book.

[Erin Jadens]

I think that's what people becomes quite important in getting a nom is are you making this show more accessible or are you improving the material in the show?

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. And where I think those being reworkings new versions helps them. I think the last five years and Floyd Collins may both be a little hindered by the notion of this being their first time on Broadway, even though they are older known shows. It's sort of like classics are all at play here again. But I mean they're both. They've both been produced multiple times. I've known them for a long time.

[Erin Jadens]

And out of the two, I think Floyd Collins, I mean he got a critics pick which is always this.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, I think Floyd Collins way better than the last five years. Haven't watched My Royal already. I love Floyd Collins. Another one. I don't think we mentioned it at the beginning that we haven't had the chance to see yet.

[Erin Jadens]

I think it's between Floyd Collins and Mattress and Mattress. I agree, but with Mattress I'm like, the only way I could see it being snubbed is if you saw a certain in a gnom. I don't think. I don't personally think Mattress is going to be completely forgotten.

[Mickey Jo]

No, I think there'll be some. Yeah, I agree. Let's move on to play revivals. And according to this list I'm looking at here, once again, there are seven of these.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

We're talking Eureka Day, Glengarry Glen Ross Home, Othello, Our town. Not to be Forgotten about Romeo and Juliet and Yellowface, also from earlier in the season. Not to be Forgotten About Yellowface luckily.

[Erin Jadens]

Was filmed and it was having this big PBS release which I think is happening in this period of time now. So good timing. They have clever ways of people being remembered about it.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, I think Romeo and Juliet gets a nomination. I think so more readily than Othello it was reviewed better and it got a different kind of buzz. Othello. The conversations around Othello, around its ticket prices and around its starry casting, not around the production itself.

[Erin Jadens]

I can see Our Town getting in.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Eureka Day has made a clever move to go to revival.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Because I think it stands apart from a lot of. There's a lot of celebrity casting in this category explicitly. And Gary, Our Town, Othello, Romeo and Juliet. All very celebrity led.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

I hope yellowface gets one.

[Erin Jadens]

I can see it happening.

[Mickey Jo]

I think in a perfect world, it does. Have we said four already? I kind of think that's what happens. I mean, Glengarry.

[Erin Jadens]

Glengarry is, I think, the question mark.

[Mickey Jo]

I've not been following it that closely. Othello also could. I mean, it's a capitalist achievement, if nothing else. And, like, you know, there's something to be said for the box office records broken.

[Erin Jadens]

I think that's for half of. This is my one with Goodnight. Good Luck. That's part of their Tony campaign is. It's been so successful financially, so surely it's a massive win. I think I had normal on the back of it.

[Mickey Jo]

I think it brings about a whole nother question conversation, which is, what are we rewarding and what are we celebrating?

[Erin Jadens]

Exactly.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's go straight into creative categories. Which one do you want to start with?

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like choreography is easier to talk about than direction.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's start with choreography. Why not? Okay. Let's look at our little lists of eligible shows here so we don't forget anyone.

[Erin Jadens]

Okay.

[Mickey Jo]

This is interesting because a lot of the best new musical locks aren't choreo heavy. You're making the endings your mincemeats. Not that I know of. Dead Outlaw.

[Erin Jadens]

But it's interesting because movement can still get in like mincemeat. Got a choreography nom at the outer critics.

[Mickey Jo]

Well, that is interesting. Yeah, that is interesting.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like a lock that I have is Buena Vista Social Club.

[Mickey Jo]

You think Buena Vista.

[Erin Jadens]

I think that Corio has very large moments in the show. It's used heavily.

[Mickey Jo]

Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck.

[Erin Jadens]

And also Justin Peck won last year for Illinois. So he's on people's mind.

[Mickey Jo]

Of course. I think Christopher Catelli for Death becomes. Yes. And also. Is it Josh Bagasse?

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

First smash, I think so it wouldn't.

[Erin Jadens]

Shock me if Jerry Mitchell goes in for boop as well.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Jeremy and I think that's deserved that Act 2 opener alone. Yeah, that's a Tony nom.

[Erin Jadens]

That's a moment Right there. If the show has a moment, you can probably guarantee that it's gonna get a nom.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

We've not mentioned any revivals so far and I think Fabian Eloise could get in for.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, I think Fabian Eloise must.

[Erin Jadens]

I think he must. For some type of lizard.

[Mickey Jo]

I really hope so. I don't know about the dance in Pirates, particularly Gypsy's.

[Erin Jadens]

Interesting.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Because there's been very little conversation around its choreography. And this is one of the first times Gypsy has had new choreography and.

[Erin Jadens]

A very different style. Like for Louise. Like.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Different inspiration because it's more.

[Mickey Jo]

But then I think if you're nominating that rather, just personally, rather than nominated on the back of that Louise moment, I would go back to a show like Wonderful World.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

Which sadly, I don't think has the time had the momentum to get glorious choreography. It had great choreography. But then there's been a lot of talk about all the dance in just in time as well.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. This is the issue is if you're early on in the season and sadly close.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

How much memory will you have? Because when we get to set design, there's a show that I'm gonna bring up and I don't know if it will get the nomination that it does actually deserve. And we've also not mentioned real women have cuffs. Because we haven't seen it.

[Mickey Jo]

We haven't. I don't know. Again, I just haven't heard the conversation there.

[Erin Jadens]

And in Redwood, is this gonna mention. Is climbing trees part of choreography? I've not heard people say it's a technical achievement.

[Mickey Jo]

Certainly the way that they. There is. There's vertical staging or vertical movement direction credited. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there's also dream choreography. There's two separate creatives working on.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Working on the show.

[Erin Jadens]

And genuinely, that is so impressive. It is like probably the most pushing the boundaries of movement in theatre. Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

No, I think choreography has the capacity to surprise us this year and I think we're gonna burn out of this category without really coming up with a conclusive list.

[Erin Jadens]

There is a chance that Romeo and Juliet could get a non in movement.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, you're not wrong.

[Erin Jadens]

Because it is choreographed by a Tony Award winner.

[Mickey Jo]

Uh huh.

[Erin Jadens]

Uh huh. The Queen of Moulin Rouge. But there is a chance that a play could appear in choreography. You never write it out. I mean, dear England, we were rooting for in the uk. Oh, yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Oliviers love to put a play in choreography.

[Erin Jadens]

So I would not vote out the chance that Romeo and Juliet could sneak in as a Play into Best Choreo.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Let's talk about musical directors. In parallel with that, I think Michael Arden for maybe Happy Ending. For sure.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, that type of musical director.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes, sorry. Directors of musicals.

[Erin Jadens]

Here we go.

[Mickey Jo]

Directors. And the thing that they've directed is musicals.

[Erin Jadens]

I was thinking, oh, that's amazing. I didn't know that was a category this year.

[Mickey Jo]

Musicals, orchestrations, directors. That one. Michael Arden. Maybe Happy Ending.

[Erin Jadens]

Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending. As I would really like Christopher Gattelli to get one because I think death becomes hurt.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

I think a lot has to be said for making comedy work so well. And then I'd probably say Robert Hasty for Operation Mincemeat.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Rob Hasty deserves one very much for Mincemeat. But also, we can't forget about revivals.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, Jamie Lloyd.

[Mickey Jo]

Jamie Lloyd for sure, I think is going to get one.

[Erin Jadens]

I hope so. Please do not snap him.

[Mickey Jo]

I do think George C. Wolfe gets one for Gypsy also.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. Big revival, Big moment. Although could we see Sir Alex Timbers for Just In Time?

[Mickey Jo]

We could.

[Erin Jadens]

Boop and Smash are my outsiders of like, could you see a Susan Stroman? Could you see a Jerry Mitchell?

[Mickey Jo]

Not. I think when we've got new and revival in the mix there. We haven't talked about Dead Outlaw and we haven't talked about Buena Vista.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

I think they are both going to be very well represented across categories.

[Erin Jadens]

See, I agree. I mean, my brain sometimes goes, does. Whether fair or unfair, does a director that has a very prolific profile, like.

[Mickey Jo]

A Susan, like a big name?

[Erin Jadens]

This is what I mean. So Susan Strowman and a Jerry Mitchell, when they're back on Broadway with a new show, it does pull focus. And I don't think.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't think Strowman or Jerry Mitchell get nominated every single time they're back on Broadway.

[Erin Jadens]

Fair.

[Mickey Jo]

No, I don't think we see that.

[Erin Jadens]

That's fair. I just wanted to raise it up.

[Mickey Jo]

As a. Yeah, I think it's very cool. Sahim Ali for Buena Vista Social Club. And also, having not yet seen Dead Outlaw, not knowing very little about it. Oh, David Cromer. I think David Cromer for Dead Outlaw. I think we, based on everything we're.

[Erin Jadens]

Hearing, I do think that if a show gets a best musical nomination, it is very weird if that show does not also get a best direction because the two often feel intrinsically together. But for it to be good enough to get a best new musical nom. Surely the direction is also outstanding.

[Mickey Jo]

How can revival and there's not enough.

[Erin Jadens]

Exactly.

[Mickey Jo]

There's not enough. And sometimes that's even more. I mean, like, sometimes you see the vision of a director even more in a revival. Look at Jamie and Sunset.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk about play directors. Directors of plays, directors who have directed plays.

[Erin Jadens]

Or in the uk, this would be called just Best Director.

[Mickey Jo]

Get off the soapbox. Let's carry on. How do I not know off the top of my head, who directed Omari? Sam Pinkleton. Sam Pinkleton, I think Sam Pinkleton for Omari, definitely.

[Erin Jadens]

Daniel Taymor.

[Mickey Jo]

Daniel Taymor.

[Erin Jadens]

John Pochetta is the villain. I could see English, I think, deserves one because the direction of explaining how accents work in English, I think English has to be Canute Adams.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Yep, yep, yep. The Hills of California.

[Erin Jadens]

Sam Mendes also very much would say Locke.

[Mickey Jo]

I hope so. But then we can't forget about the play revival today. Yeah. I would advocate Sam Gold for it. Juliet, but again, it's tricky. I think there's a couple of. Obviously, yes. And then a whole world of it.

[Erin Jadens]

Could go this way or that way.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, partly.

[Erin Jadens]

Just depends on this whole. Does a show have the snowball where it's just any category it's in, it's going to get an envelope? Because that does happen.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

People get caught in the love of the musical and it just appears everywhere. They want it to get that big. It got 12 nominations.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's pick up the pace a little bit and let's talk about best original score. Which shows do you think? Just give me the names.

[Erin Jadens]

Okay. I think we have Operation Mincemeat.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

Maybe Happy Ending.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

Death Becomes Her.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

And Dead Outlaw.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree. Yeah. Buena Vista Social Club. Not eligible here. Not an original score. Just in time. Also a jukebox musical, same as Smash.

[Erin Jadens]

There's not enough original material.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

My outsider, if it went up to five, because it might be up to five, would probably be Real Women have Curves. Probably Real Women have Curves, because I feel like that's. Those are the shows that people have been speaking about.

[Mickey Jo]

I'll say. I love a lot of these shows and I think they're very clever, deceptively brilliant scores. It's not a world of like, oh, my God, that's the most obviously sensational, incredible original score. Like, we don't have that this year. I think they're subtle in that. Not to say that they're not incredibly brilliant.

[Erin Jadens]

I do agree. Obviously, I do agree. I think I just besotted with maybe Happy Ending as I am, as well.

[Mickey Jo]

As you Know, I just don't think it's an eye catching score. That's obvious in its appeal.

[Erin Jadens]

It's very intimate and I think you realize a lot of the cleverness and the charm of it when paying attention and listening to multiple times when you realize motifs that appear.

[Mickey Jo]

How often do we hear like a Tony Award winning best original score that incorporates like jazz and like lounge and like swing stuff.

[Erin Jadens]

Like it's just very. Which is fun.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's not bombastic.

[Erin Jadens]

No. Death becomes probably the closest to a bombastic New school.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Not a word I use enough in my everyday. Let's talk about best book of a musical. I'm happy to rattle these ones off. I think that we are going to see nominations for Operation Mincemeat. Yes. For maybe happy ending. Yes. For Dead Outlaw. Based on everything that we're hearing, I think Buena Vista Social Club does get a book nomination and deserves one as well.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

And then, I mean, there's more that we could see here.

[Erin Jadens]

I could see death becomes the getting one just in time.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, no. I definitely think Death becomes. Should get one.

[Erin Jadens]

I definitely think it should get one just in time.

[Mickey Jo]

Could surprise.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. This is when we don't know, like just in time. And real women have cares.

[Mickey Jo]

Real women. Again, based on what I'm hearing, is the book speaking to people more than the score? Because people are talking about the story and people are talking about the meaning and the messages and the inspiration of it all. Worth saying. If you're on the fence about going to see real women have curves. We can't advocate for it yet because we haven't seen it. But hearing lovely things from some very discerning friends.

[Erin Jadens]

And also there's shows where I felt like the books may be a stronger like a smash.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Death becomes her.

[Erin Jadens]

I think Death becomes the strongest book.

[Mickey Jo]

Delivers better and kind of maybe elbows smash out the way a little. Especially with so many viable options. But we have no time and we need to move on. Let's talk then about orchestrations. Let's talk about orchestrations.

[Erin Jadens]

Maybe happy ending. Thank you.

[Mickey Jo]

Maybe happy ending. Sure.

[Erin Jadens]

The string quartet. It's a moment.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Mincemeat gets one here.

[Erin Jadens]

I think Sunset Boulevard gets one and I think Gypsy gets one.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree. I think Sunset and Gypsy and I hope that Jason gets one for the last five years.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Honestly, there's orchestrations. Slap the exit music. Don't leave that theater in a rush. It's so good.

[Erin Jadens]

And we haven't heard what pirate Sounds like. Or the mattress has new orchestrations.

[Mickey Jo]

Floyd Collins has always been a very celebrated school in the musical theater community.

[Erin Jadens]

Revivals. Revivals often get in in this section. I mean, I will do a nice little shout out to Buena Vista Social Club as well, because you see that band the whole time and those gorgeous orchestrations.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes, yes, yes. Oh, I hope so. That's a really good point. And then I think any others that we see alongside. I mean, you see a lot of bands on stage this year. That's the theme of Broadway this year as well. I think if you haven't spotted it so many shows, you see the band on stage at one point or another. It happens in maybe Happy Ending. It happens in Boop. It happens in Smash. It happens so many shows. Wonderful World. We saw the band on stage. All those, like Jukebox.

[Erin Jadens]

Just in time as well.

[Mickey Jo]

Diegetic. Yeah. Alongside that old friend's. Oh, God, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

If any orchestrations.

[Mickey Jo]

That's a possibility. I. I don't know that I'm willing to debate that one anymore. I think you have to just bail and start talking about design.

[Erin Jadens]

Set design of a musical.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like this is where if Swept Away is gonna get a nomination, it will appear here.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, yeah. I think Redwood could.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. I just don't know if I'll have forgotten about it.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, Redwood could as well. I mean, there's a few here that could. Boop. Could do well in its design.

[Erin Jadens]

Becomes a good.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes, yes. Again, we're not necessarily talking about the dead outlaws. There may be happy endings. No, sorry, sorry. The operation Mincemeats. Maybe Happy Endings. Happy endings should get a set design.

[Erin Jadens]

Maybe a happy ending should. So I will flag here if you love Sunset Boulevard. This is Sunset Boulevard's category for video. The video design is in set design. This is the same. They have ruled it exactly the same as they did for when it was in London, which is that it is Sutra Gilmour and Nathan and Joe Ransom. So this is their category. So if they're going to get a nomination for the Walk for all of that, outside of Jamie directing, this is that category.

[Mickey Jo]

And I think that. I think that has to get nominated as well. And we've probably said too many. I'll roll in my early grave if we see Gypsy or the last five years. I'm so sorry to the creatives that worked on those shows, but, like, that's. That's not what I'm about.

[Erin Jadens]

Pirate's Tail looks quite cute as well.

[Mickey Jo]

It does. But you know what? We're out of Nominations in this category. So let's talk about the sets of plays. I would unironically like to see one for Romeo and Juliet.

[Erin Jadens]

It was very clever.

[Mickey Jo]

I'm all about the bears. About those bears. No treble.

[Erin Jadens]

I would. Oh, there's a lot of similar. One room.

[Mickey Jo]

It's. Who has the best classroom.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Was it English? Was it Eureka Day English? Was it John Poppins?

[Erin Jadens]

English just spun around.

[Mickey Jo]

It did. But I loved that Eureka Day set. I love any set where you can see light and trees outside. I love purpose for the same reason.

[Erin Jadens]

The purpose set was very.

[Mickey Jo]

But they're just like gorgeous. I mean there were little details on the set that I thought were very clever. The John Proctor is the villain set. I wonder if the Omari set. I don't think the Omari set is like, oh my God, the Omari set. But I think Omari is going to get so much recognition and love.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. And I think Omari's is clever. When you think about it has multiple states.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. I don't actually think we'll get a Romeo and Juliet set design nomination. Having said all of those now I think. Oh, do you know, I would. I would like to.

[Erin Jadens]

I could see this being where we get see like a. The commercial play is like good night, good luck. Oh, sorry. Dorian Gray will be in this category also.

[Mickey Jo]

Dorian Gray will be in this category also. And the hills of California.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, the hills of California is a lock for me.

[Mickey Jo]

All those staircases. Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh my God. Stranger things.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, stranger things will all be there.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Okay, so I think we've kind of reevaluate Stranger Things.

[Erin Jadens]

Hills of California.

[Mickey Jo]

Dorian Gray.

[Erin Jadens]

Dorian Gray. Maybe good night and good luck.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't know about Goodnight again. I think it's who has the best classroom.

[Erin Jadens]

Well then I'd say English.

[Mickey Jo]

You get English out of.

[Erin Jadens]

I think English had a better set because it spun around and they had different.

[Mickey Jo]

I mean I liked that and they had.

[Erin Jadens]

It was. I don't know. I just think they did more.

[Mickey Jo]

Does it seem like a year where just building like a really nice realistic one room set isn't enough? Maybe let's sidestep and talk about musical costume design.

[Erin Jadens]

Death becomes her.

[Mickey Jo]

Death becomes her all the way. And obviously also boop boop.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

And maybe Smash.

[Erin Jadens]

Maybe Smash.

[Mickey Jo]

This could be where we see recognition for some of those shows. And I think A Wonderful World should. But I don't know if A Wonderful World will. I'm gonna talk about that show every time. I think it's deserving because there was Some really great stuff there. Buena Vista. Oh, my God, those costumes of Buena Vista that went to the Tony award for costumes I would most like to own and wear in my day to day life. And again, I think this is where we don't necessarily see Old friends'set design.

[Erin Jadens]

Is very glam as well.

[Mickey Jo]

But we're talking about costumes.

[Erin Jadens]

I said costume.

[Mickey Jo]

You said set design.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, sorry. Old friends's costume design is also very good.

[Mickey Jo]

I mean, it's lovely, glitzy cocktail party attire.

[Erin Jadens]

If this was a different kind of part of the season, I would have highlighted like a Tammy Faye. Although let's not sleep on the Operation Mincemeat costumes.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. And I like the design. I think it's functional. I'm not saying Sunset, but if Sunset gets a costume nomination, you know that they actually really liked Sunset.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

If Sunset gets a costume design one.

[Erin Jadens]

The slippers become iconic.

[Mickey Jo]

And again, my. I will roll in my early grave is redwood for this one. I think a Tony for costume design for redwood. I think I would pass out there. And then let's talk about the costumes in play.

[Erin Jadens]

Stranger Things, the first shadow.

[Mickey Jo]

Stranger Things, the first shadow. Oh, Mary.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, Mary.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, easy up there.

[Erin Jadens]

The picture of Dorian Gray.

[Mickey Jo]

The picture of Dorian Gray. Yes. One costume design in the uk. Marge Orwell.

[Erin Jadens]

I did really like the costume design in purpose.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes, me too. But then we're going against that more naturalistic world where sort of it's not in competition with the other plays that we've seen.

[Erin Jadens]

I mean, Romeo Juliet's costume design was fun.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, Again, I liked that.

[Erin Jadens]

I haven't really seen much of I. Othello costume design.

[Mickey Jo]

No, everything looks a little bit gray and sepia. Have we said four.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, hills of California Hills.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Again, very fun for the different time periods.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, I'd like to see one for the hills of California. What haven't we talked about yet? Lighting and sound.

[Erin Jadens]

Lighting and sound.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay, so lighting in musicals. Maybe happy ending.

[Erin Jadens]

Deaf becomes her dead outlaw. Operation Mincemeat.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't know. I don't know.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, Sunset Boulevard.

[Mickey Jo]

Sunset Boulevard. Oh, my gosh.

[Erin Jadens]

For sure and completely Sunset Boulevard. 100%.

[Mickey Jo]

This could really go with how much did they like Floyd Collins? How much did they like.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, just in time. Maybe a really nice design.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Boop.

[Mickey Jo]

Again, we could see just in all.

[Erin Jadens]

Of these boop designs in all the design categories.

[Mickey Jo]

To be fair, Buena Vista should for lighting.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, I love.

[Mickey Jo]

I liked the Buena Vista lighting.

[Erin Jadens]

Buena Vista was beautifully designed.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Let's talk about the lighting in plays Romeo and Juliet. Again, I'm gonna say Romeo and Juliet. Yeah, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, stranger things.

[Mickey Jo]

Stranger things. The first shadow.

[Erin Jadens]

Dorian Gray.

[Mickey Jo]

Dorian Gray. Maybe O Mary. Just with the huge O Mary momentum.

[Erin Jadens]

I really liked the lighting in. Oh, John Proctor.

[Mickey Jo]

John Proctor is the villain.

[Erin Jadens]

And Hills of California.

[Mickey Jo]

But then I think goodnight and good luck. I don't know.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, I did really like all the design for Hills of California I adored.

[Mickey Jo]

So I would be happy to see it getting loads and loads and loads. I don't know if there'll be epic California. An optimistic amount of time.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes. Probably at this point.

[Mickey Jo]

And if it is going to make it in there, I would sooner see it for its performance.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk about sound design for musicals. Where the first words I have to say are Sunset Boulevard.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

It has to be said. It has to be said. They're doing what Zoom. Still can't figure out.

[Erin Jadens]

Sunset Boulevard.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes. Yeah, it sounds terrific.

[Erin Jadens]

And I know we're still in musical, but we're going to say the same by Dorian Gray, so I'm just going.

[Mickey Jo]

To say we are. Those two shows are very much in conversation with the way that they bring the story to the stage. What else are we saying for sound design?

[Erin Jadens]

Maybe happy ending.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, yeah. I think maybe happy ending.

[Erin Jadens]

I think they do a very clever use of fireflies and the robots and. Well, you know what I mean. Like the voices.

[Mickey Jo]

Buena Vista.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

One of the things for sound design, I think Dead Outlaw.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Maybe Question mark. I'm just sort of throwing it in everywhere where it seems like it might be applicable here.

[Erin Jadens]

Old Friends, maybe.

[Mickey Jo]

Because it's a big old friends one.

[Erin Jadens]

There's difficult. Where there's some shows that are just very similar.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. So everything else is doing kind of. I'm trying to think of anything that's doing something wildly different or ambitious with its sound design. Gypsy maybe gets one as like your more traditional. But then I guess we don't often see revivals getting that made. It's normally. Is there slightly more of a focus on new musicals?

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like there is slightly a focus more on new musicals. Sound design of a play.

[Mickey Jo]

Sound design of a play.

[Erin Jadens]

I want to say John Proctor is the villain.

[Mickey Jo]

You can say that. You can say that. I'll let you say that. I think Romeo and Juliet. Stranger Things. Stranger Things. Obviously.

[Erin Jadens]

Doreen Gray.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, Mary.

[Erin Jadens]

There we go. There we go. Next.

[Mickey Jo]

Repeatedly next. Yeah, Next. Moving on.

[Erin Jadens]

Moving on.

[Mickey Jo]

Card print. Moving on. Smash. Then that brings us to the world of performances.

[Erin Jadens]

I apologize now for how in depth this is gonna be.

[Mickey Jo]

This might get heated. You kick us off with a category, and I will promise that we'll stay on good terms.

[Erin Jadens]

Okay. Let's start with leading actress in a musical, because I can at least list quite quickly.

[Mickey Jo]

Bringing the fire. Okay. The big conversation is Nicole scherzinger. Ultra.

[Erin Jadens]

Audrey McDonald.

[Mickey Jo]

Don't count out Jasmine. Amy Rogers from Boop.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like Jasmine has, like, now become a lock.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like that is the one nomination from BOOP that feels a given. Feels like Jasmine.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes. I don't think Idina makes it in. I don't think Adrienne Warren, necessarily.

[Erin Jadens]

Tatiana Cordoba has started to appear a lot.

[Mickey Jo]

She's been getting nominations.

[Erin Jadens]

Like, she seems quite likely.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Then you have the world of two. Two shows that have doubles, which is Death becomes her. With Megan Hilton, Jennifer Simard.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

And Stephen Sondheim's old friends with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't think neither from old friends.

[Erin Jadens]

I'm just saying there's two pairs which have two leads.

[Mickey Jo]

There's also Robin Herder to be talked about in Smash and Sutton Foster.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Back in Once Upon a Mattress. I think we're gonna see Audra, Nicole, Jasmine, Megan, Tatiana, and Sutton. And Robin Hurd is gonna miss out.

[Erin Jadens]

Okay.

[Mickey Jo]

And I think given that, like, the likes of Robin Herder are missing out, in my mind, I think it makes it very difficult to break into the category for, like, Helen J. Shen and Natasha Hodgson and so many performances.

[Erin Jadens]

I would love Helen J. Shen to be there.

[Mickey Jo]

I would love them all to get one. There's so many performances that deserve a nomination.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. Because I feel like. I feel like everybody knows that Jack Malone is going to get a nomination, and it feels like Natasha is like the next most likely person from that show.

[Mickey Jo]

I agree.

[Erin Jadens]

But I think it's such a difficult category, and there is a world in which I think we might see Meghan and Jennifer. I think there is a world in which both definitely come see. But I still think this could be a wicked situation. So I don't think Sutton gets in the master of. Is the mold. Okay. But I just have this feeling that the two of them. There's this little bit of me that's like, I think both could get in.

[Mickey Jo]

Okay.

[Erin Jadens]

I think there's. There's a momentum enough of both.

[Mickey Jo]

The possibility is there. But it's. It's a wild year. I mean, Katy Brabin would be a real.

[Erin Jadens]

Her performance should be.

[Mickey Jo]

I don't think she's getting it that will. Her performance alone, because she should be getting talked about. Yeah, let's. While we're exhausting ourselves, then, let's talk about leading actresses in a play. And this has also been a really contentious.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. The ladies have brought it this year to Broadway.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes. We still don't know if Sadie Sink is leading or featured.

[Mickey Jo]

No, we don't know.

[Erin Jadens]

We don't know. This could be they're trying to give them all featured or Sadie's in leading. That's my. Like, we don't know.

[Mickey Jo]

There's a lot of women who I think gave leading performances who are ruled as featured this year because everyone's featured in Eureka Day.

[Erin Jadens]

And English.

[Mickey Jo]

And in English.

[Erin Jadens]

I think a lock is Sarah Snook.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, yes.

[Erin Jadens]

A lock is Sarah Snook.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Laura Donnelly gets one as well.

[Erin Jadens]

I think Laura Donnelly gets one as well.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Natalia Richardson Jackson gets one for purpose.

[Erin Jadens]

Fully agree. All three of those looks.

[Mickey Jo]

I think Mia Farrow for the Roommate.

[Erin Jadens]

I was about to say this. I think Mia's a lock because.

[Mickey Jo]

Luminous.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. I think people were so taken in by her performance and so layered.

[Mickey Jo]

I was, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Eureka Day. Everybody's featured.

[Mickey Jo]

Do you know, there's not actually as many leading actresses as I think featured actress in a play is really what it is.

[Erin Jadens]

I feel like you said you think would be them a lot via the lock. If she's leading.

[Mickey Jo]

If she's leading, I think it's a lock. Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

But then your outsider is like a Rachel Zegler.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk then about leading actors in musicals. And there's a little bit more space here because the roles have been there for. Well, not to say that men haven't done as good a job as women this year, but the roles have been there for women.

[Erin Jadens]

But also some of the leading male roles closed early.

[Mickey Jo]

Sure.

[Erin Jadens]

It's like a James Monroe Iglehart. Will he be remembered normally when you.

[Mickey Jo]

Lead those kind of biopics?

[Erin Jadens]

Well, no bio musicals.

[Mickey Jo]

Normally it does well. Did well for Jesse Mueller. Did well for Stephanie J. Block. Did well for Jersey Boys.

[Erin Jadens]

Probably might do well for Jonathan Groff.

[Mickey Jo]

Might do well for Jonathan Groff. I think Jonathan Groff is a lock. And James Monroe Heart is a possibility because it's a bit of a quieter year. You also have Jeremy Jordan in the conversation for Floyd Collins.

[Erin Jadens]

I think Darren Criss gets in. I think there's a lot of love for the Happy Endings.

[Mickey Jo]

Gets in. Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, I think so.

[Mickey Jo]

Is he considered leading? Yes. Yes. We had a lot of female led shows.

[Erin Jadens]

I don't know where. It depends on where Brooks is.

[Mickey Jo]

Have they ruled this yet?

[Erin Jadens]

We haven't had a ruling yet. If Brooks is leading all features.

[Mickey Jo]

Brooks Ashmanskas for Smash. Brooks Ashmanskas also seen on Broadway in Once Upon a Matches this season.

[Erin Jadens]

I think if Brooks is leading, I think we'll be seen there. Oh, Tom Francis. Tom Francis will be there.

[Mickey Jo]

Tom Francis, Sunset Boulevard.

[Erin Jadens]

The walk. The walk.

[Mickey Jo]

The walk. Yeah. Yeah. He's walked his way to an award before. Let's jump over to the leading men in place, where I agree with you from before. Kit Connor, Romeo and Juliet. Absolutely. Cola Scola has elected to be nominated in the leading actor category.

[Erin Jadens]

Cole will be getting a nomination and.

[Mickey Jo]

Is the front runner.

[Erin Jadens]

I'm only predicting going.

[Mickey Jo]

I am. Yeah, I think so. I think so.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, we could see, like Louis McCartney for.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. For Stranger Things. The First Shadow. Jim Parsons for. I mean, it's now Battle of the Celebrity Names. It's Clooney versus Denzel versus Gyllenhaal. I think Jake Gyllenhaal has noticed the.

[Erin Jadens]

Best had the best reviews. But then this is George Clooney's debut.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. I would like to see Daniel Dae Kim nominated.

[Erin Jadens]

I would love to see Daniel Day Kim.

[Mickey Jo]

Yellow Face.

[Erin Jadens]

I can't remember the job. Actors. Oh, purpose.

[Mickey Jo]

Purpose. Yes.

[Erin Jadens]

He's been getting. He's been getting nominations across the board so far.

[Mickey Jo]

He has again, I think. Yeah. That kind of brings us to an end of the heavyweight male performances.

[Erin Jadens]

And I don't have as many shock surprises.

[Mickey Jo]

John Michael Hill.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, there's just not been that many other shows where there's like a. Oh, they could be.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. So those are all of the leading performances. Let's talk about featured starting, I guess, with supporting actresses in musicals.

[Erin Jadens]

Cool. So I feel like a look is Natalie Venetia Belcon for Buenavista Social Club?

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, she. I could both get it, but she's the definite.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. By both, I mean also her. And Issa Antonetti, who plays young Amara, her younger counterpart.

[Erin Jadens]

And I just. When watching that show, I was like, if she's in featured, she has won because this is a leading. She takes the final bow.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, it's a substantial enough.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, yeah. And she has the presence.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Like, I can already imagine her Tony winning, like, claps when she arrives on the stage because it's already embedded in that show. Ready.

[Mickey Jo]

Is Justina Machado considered featured in Real Women have Curves and has nominations?

[Erin Jadens]

They haven't made a call on it, but she has had a drama league nom and stuff, so.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes, then I think so. That happens. I don't see, sadly know if Grace Hodgett Young gets one for Sunset.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah. Same with Mincemeat. I don't know.

[Mickey Jo]

Zoe and Claire. Yeah, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Because Zoe got one for the Oliviers, but I don't know whether I'd like to see it.

[Mickey Jo]

But yeah, I don't.

[Erin Jadens]

I mean, we know that Anagastire has been.

[Mickey Jo]

I think the field is weirdly open this year for supporting actress. Oh, normally it's my favorite category. Jinkx Monsoon.

[Erin Jadens]

I think Jinkx Monsoon will get a nomination.

[Mickey Jo]

I think there's a lot of possibility for some surprises here because there's not as many really obvious roles. Normally I'd be saying Louise and Gypsy, but I think they've both. We could see a.

[Erin Jadens]

A June.

[Mickey Jo]

June. Thank you. That's the month.

[Erin Jadens]

Or a Leslie Margarita.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Because people have been petitioning for Leslie to say that Tessie's a very small role.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Did you just say Anagastia?

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Anagastia has been campaigning. She has been like, I am still eligible. I've also seen a Nom go for in just in time for the Sporting because I think it's a decent.

[Mickey Jo]

There's multiple wives from A Wonderful World, the Louis Armstrong musical that I'm apparently the number one fan of.

[Erin Jadens]

I mean, everybody's been saying Beth Leavel smashes it out there with ladies who lunch.

[Mickey Jo]

I think we could see one old.

[Erin Jadens]

Friends performer and I think he'll be Beth Leavel.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk about supporting actor in a musical where I feel there's a little more heat here, actually. And I think the first name we have to talk about was Jack Malone from Operation Mincemeat, which was the recently where Jack got a nomination alongside a lot of leading drama league. Drama league. So they just nominate performances. They don't split by leading supporting. So if you have a supporting track and you get a Drama league nom, that's a great sign.

[Erin Jadens]

That's when we knew that Alex Newell was like gonna win the Tony because Alex was in the drama league. So it's like.

[Mickey Jo]

Is supporting for Smash? It's a lock.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes. Because Brooke's also got a Drama league nom.

[Mickey Jo]

Is there anyone in Dead Outlaw? I don't know.

[Erin Jadens]

Can I remember the name? No. But there has been somebody that's been consistently recently nominated.

[Mickey Jo]

I would like to see a Tony nomination for the marionette artist who puppeteers the dog in Boop. I'm not even joking a little bit. I would also like to see one for David Thaxton.

[Erin Jadens]

Yes.

[Mickey Jo]

For Sunset Boulevard.

[Erin Jadens]

I would just like to mention at this moment somebody that I think really deserves one, and their name is Huabun, is a great featured performer. Justice for Huabun, the comedy from Huabun in maybe happy ending.

[Mickey Jo]

Do you know what you could say? You could say, like, undeniable and Huabun and the dog from Gypsy. But then the dog from Gypsy would be like, I'm the only person in this category who is alive.

[Erin Jadens]

I just think Hwabin should get a special award. I mean, a special Tony award.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Just give Huabin a special Tony award for Huabin. They don't need to go against anyone.

[Mickey Jo]

David Hyde Pierce, if he's featured yet. He's featured. I don't know.

[Erin Jadens]

So the same thing with Ramin. If Ramin's featured, do you know who?

[Mickey Jo]

We didn't say that. I would now like to retroactively add back in John Gallagher Jr. For Swept Away. I don't know if he has. Katy Brabe and Tammy Faye closed too early. Problems.

[Erin Jadens]

I was also going to bring up Jason Gauthay.

[Mickey Jo]

Jason Gauthay for Floyd Collins.

[Erin Jadens]

Floyd Collins had great things.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, it's tricky. It's tricky this year. And we are going to get some surprises. We didn't talk about Michael Urie in Once Upon a Mattress, who was so funny.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah, he was so good.

[Mickey Jo]

Let's talk about supporting actresses in place. This category is.

[Erin Jadens]

This is so difficult because there's also people that I would really, really, really like to see.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

And they just don't think I'm gonna.

[Mickey Jo]

Just start throwing some names out there with disregard for how many rooms, how much space there is in the category. Gabby Beans for Romeo and Juliet. Jessica Hecht for Eureka Day.

[Erin Jadens]

A big Ray for Eureka Day as well. Amber's been nominated as well.

[Mickey Jo]

Kara Young and the other brilliant actress from Purpose. English.

[Erin Jadens]

English. The two of them, I can see both getting noms for English.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Beth. And John Proctor is the villain.

[Mickey Jo]

I would like to see a nomination for Bianca Lee.

[Erin Jadens]

That's what I was about to say in Omeria. I agree.

[Mickey Jo]

I think it's really underappreciated, brilliant work that she does.

[Erin Jadens]

She's seen Stills as soon as she's on stage.

[Mickey Jo]

Have you already talked about the hills of California?

[Erin Jadens]

No, because I'm gonna be sad because they all deserve one. And I feel like the sisters in Hills of California, everybody adores them, but there's just. I think because there's three of them, it's so difficult for them to get in. So I feel Like Gloria is the biggest sister, but also the young actress.

[Mickey Jo]

Who plays young Joan.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

It's too hard a category. I'm not even gonna try and narrow it down to however many there might be. I think every name that gets nominated in featured actress, I'm gonna be, like, deserved brilliant. And I'm going to realize afterwards who didn't make it in, and I'm going to go, oh, that's so hard. Finishing then, bizarrely, with featured actor in a play. I don't know how many thoughts I have about this.

[Erin Jadens]

Conrad Rickamora.

[Mickey Jo]

Conrad Rickamora. Oh, Mary.

[Erin Jadens]

Conrad is a. Yes comrade. Is a lock. You know what? We could see all in people getting here in featured play actor, and we could. I wouldn't be surprised. Oh, yeah. We could see Gabriel.

[Mickey Jo]

But for John Proctor as the villain.

[Erin Jadens]

Definitely in purposes, are they all leading or featured? I can't remember what the decision was. I think it was two actors in leading and two the others in featured.

[Mickey Jo]

I think John and Latanya are leading and maybe the dad's leading as well.

[Erin Jadens]

The dad's leading as well.

[Mickey Jo]

Then the other brother.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Could very. I could see him go featured.

[Erin Jadens]

There was. Oh, we could see Karen Culkin.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, sure. Because Glengarry.

[Erin Jadens]

And he just got the Oscar. It's very nice.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

I enjoyed everybody in Eureka Day.

[Mickey Jo]

I was gonna say Bill could get one for Eureka Day for sure.

[Erin Jadens]

Oh, yellowface.

[Mickey Jo]

Oh, the dad in yellow.

[Erin Jadens]

The daddy in yellowface could win it.

[Mickey Jo]

Yes. Yes. Francis Jew.

[Erin Jadens]

Francis Jew was so good.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I'm so glad you remember that. Yes, Yes.

[Erin Jadens]

I. I would be.

[Mickey Jo]

I hope they do as well.

[Erin Jadens]

I would be very upset if they didn't get a nomination.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

Because I thought that performance was.

[Mickey Jo]

I think I'm going to be very upset regardless of what happens, because this is all. This is all too.

[Erin Jadens]

There's just so many shows, and I don't feel like it's. It's not a year where there's specific. Well, we know these are going to go there.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah.

[Erin Jadens]

So you've got this. There's a lot where it could go anywhere, and I think that's harder because then there's more people you care about or you think deserve it. So it's more of an even playing field, which is harder.

[Mickey Jo]

There's so many great shows. There's so many great performances. Some hearts are gonna get broken. This is before we even have to narrow it down to, like, who we want to win and who we think should win.

[Erin Jadens]

And this is also before we've even seen the whole season. So there's some shows where we don't have that personal attachment to you yet.

[Mickey Jo]

Yeah. Oh, gosh, Gosh, gosh, gosh. Anyway, those have been our kind of ramblings. Maybe there's been some huge oversights and we've neglected to mention some people you think are definitely gonna get in. Maybe we're steering a little too hard towards some of the ones we've been or our favorite ones we've seen. So you need to let us know in the comments. Who are you rooting for? And who do you think will get nominated on Thursday for the Tony nominations? As mentioned before, we will be doing our best to react live or possibly very shortly afterwards. I cannot even begin to describe to what a ridiculous day we have on Thursday. Stay tuned. Make sure that you're subscribed here on YouTube with the notifications turned on so you don't miss it when that happens. And I'll be talking a lot about the Tony nominations afterwards, talking about the snubs, because inevitably there are going to be snubs.

[Erin Jadens]

Yeah.

[Mickey Jo]

Thank you for joining us for our thoughts on what might happen later this week. Stay tuned for more Tony's coverage through early June and a few more reviews to come from me as well. In the meantime, we hope that you enjoyed listening to our thoughts and we both hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day. Bye.

[Erin Jadens]

Bye.

[Mickey Jo]

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