2017 Tony Award Predictions & Preferences

My predictions and personal preferences for the 2017 Tony Awards, scheduled to be handed out on Sunday evening, June 11:

BEST MUSICAL

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Come From Away

BEST PLAY

Will win: Oslo

Should win: A Doll's House Part 2 (although a case could be made for all 4 fine nominees)

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

Will win: Hello Dolly

Should win: Hello Dolly (not great, but the best of a weak bunch of revivals)

BEST PLAY REVIVAL

Will win: Jitney

Should win: Jitney

BEST LEAD ACTOR, MUSICAL

Will win: Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Ben Platt

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, MUSICAL

Will win: Bette Midler, Hello Dolly

Should win: Denee Benton, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST LEAD ACTOR, PLAY

Will win: Kevin Kline, Present Laughter

Should win: Corey Hawkins, Six Degrees of Separation

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, PLAY

Will win: Laurie Metcalf, A Doll's House Part 2

Should win: Sally Field, The Glass Menagerie

BEST FEATURED ACTOR, MUSICAL

Will win: Gavin Creel, Hello Dolly

Should win: Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS, MUSICAL

Will win: Jen Colella, Come From Away

Should win: Jen Colella

BEST FEATURED ACTOR, PLAY

Will win: Michael Aronov, Oslo

Should win: Michael Aronov

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS, PLAY

Will win: Cynthia Nixon, The Little Foxes

Should win: Condola Rashad, A Doll's House Part 2

BEST SCORE

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST BOOK of MUSICAL

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Come From Away

BEST DIRECTION, MUSICAL

Will win: Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Rachel Chavkin

BEST DIRECTION, PLAY

Will win: Bartlett Sher, Oslo

Should win: Sam Gold, A Doll's House, Part 2

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Will win: Andy Blakenbuehler, Bandstand

Should win: Andy Blankenbuehler

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST COSTUME DESIGN, MUSICAL

Will win: War Paint

Should win: War Paint

BEST COSTUME DESIGN, PLAY:

Will win: The Little Foxes

Should win: The Little Foxes

BEST SCENIC DESIGN, MUSICAL

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST SCENIC DESIGN, PLAY

Will win: The Play That Goes Wrong

Should win: The Front Page

BEST LIGHTING, MUSICAL

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST LIGHTING, PLAY

Will win: Indecent

Should win: Indecent

Sojourners and Her Portmanteau Make a Fine Duet

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/4/17, 8:36 PM

I was deeply engrossed & moved by the wonderfully written, acted & staged Sojouners & Her Portmanteau at New York Theater Workshop.  The plays convey the stories of Nigerian immigrants to America in the late 1970s (in "Sojourners") and the first decade of the 21st Century (in "Her Portmanteau"). The vivid characters are brought to life by a terrific group of talented actors, in service of this compelling immigrant narrative.

A "Julius Caesar" For Our Time

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/4/17, 1:02 PM

#JuliusCaesar ‪the Public Theater's first 2017 Shakepeare In The Park offering, is urgent, current, well acted/staged & timely.  Somewhat truncated, but wisely so, the contemporary political gloss given the show works well and fits the text like a glove.  See it if you can.

Rebecca Hall's Astounding Performance Anchors "Animal"

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/3/17, 11:17 AM

A powerful, piercing & emotionally astute performance by Rebecca Hall ‪anchors Claire Lizzimore's fine new play "Animal" at the Atlantic Theater Company.  The opportunity to see Ms. Hall give this astounding performance in the intimate Atlantic Stage 2 should not be missed.