1997-2006 Tony Shouldabeens

[Big Magilla]

I couldn't find anything on it on the WNET (New York PBS station) and hadn't heard anything about it locally, but these things are usally aired long after they're shot. For example, the South Pacific Concert at Carnegie Hall that aired in April of this year was shot June 8, 2005. The hi def is probably intended for the DVD release which will likely follow the airing.

[dws1982]

I forgot to mention it earlier, but PBS is airing a live telecast of tonight's Light In The Piazza performance. Matthew Morrison and Kelli O'Hara are of course, long gone, but Victoria Clark is still there. Check the official website though for your local listings; I think it'll be reaired some time this weekend.

It's ridiculous though, that it isn't being simulcast on PBS-HD, since it's obviously being shot on High Definition Video.

[Big Magilla]

How is Brian Stokes Mitchell anything but the lead in Ragtime? And of all the wonderful songs in that show (by far my fave in decades), the nomination for Atlantic City is a major head-scratcher for me. I'd place Wheels of a Dream, Make Them Hear You, Your Daddy's Son, Back to Before, Ragtime, Sarah Brown Eyes, Our Children, Gliding, New Music, Crime of the Century, Gettin' Ready Rag, and Henry Ford ALL before Atlantic City.

OK, listened to the Ragtime score for the first time in years - moved Brian Stokes Mitchell to lead replacing John Cameron Mithcell, replacing him with Peter Friedman in featured and giving the featured award to Ron Rifkin. I then gave Mitchell the Best Actor award for Kiss Me, Kate over Craign Bierko for The Music Man. Also replaced Atlantic City with Wheels of a Dream and gave it my Best Song award.

[FilmFan720]

I made a Theatre Trek to NYC a few weeks ago with my sister and managed to see three of this years nominees...Sweeney Todd, Threepenny Opera and Awake and Sing. All three were pretty fascinating revivals of well-loved pieces, but all three also had their flaws as well.

Sweeney Todd: The first-half is pretty scattershot, mostly being brought down by John Doyle's rapid-fire pacing. I know the show backwards and forwards and actually was slightly lost in this first part. Once it hits A Little Priest, however, Cerevis and LuPone are at their finest and the second act soars. It is one of the most perfect meldings of music and drama I have ever witnessed. All 10 actor/musicians are phenomenal and Feliciano is remarkable in the piece.

Threepenny Opera: I know this show a little, but not nearly as well as Sweeney Todd. Therefore, I cannot comment on the new translation as much as the chopping Doyle did with Todd. Neadless, I found it a quite thrilling afternoon at the theatre. While a little lost in it's direction, and never forget that the idea of Commercial Brecht is a ridiculous idea in itself. Still, a phenomenal cast makes this well-worth the trip. Led by Cummings, who is right at home in this seedy musical theatre, and held up by the unbelievable Jim Dale in a scene-stealing performance (he deserves to win tonight in my book). Cyndi Lauper and Nellie McKay give amazing performances as well, equalling their strong voices with vibrant acting. The biggest weak side is Ana Gastayer, who has a strong voice but is miscast amongst such performing powerhouses.

Awake and Sing: I was not familiar with the Odets piece at all going in, so I really can't comment on the version here in relation to other productions. However, this is an acting powerhouse, with Barlett Sher doing the best thing a director can do here -- making some pretty stage pictures and letting the actors do their thing. Zoe Wanamaker, Ned Eisenberg and Jonathan Hadary are their usual wonderful selves, but the real hit of this play is Pablo Schreiber in a star-making turn. This man needs the Tony now. Ben Gazzara is phenomenal, but doesn't seem to quite connect with the material, Lauren Ambrose is slightly miscast and Mark Ruffallo gives a moving Brando impression.

We also saw Avenue Q and Light in the Piazza. Two very deserving previous winners.

Tripp

[Okri]

Felciano sings the best version of "Not While I'm Around" I've heard. I'm rooting for him tonight.

[Big Magilla]

I haven't listened to the Ragtime score in years so you may be right on that one. I was torn between listing Mitchell for lead and Peter Friedman for featured which is a bit different than supporting or vice versa. I ended up with Mitchell in support and Friedman left out together.

I stand by by Hairspray and Avenue Q picks, though neither score is among my all-time faves.

[The Original BJ]

Awesome. Thank you for posting these.

I do have a couple questions, though. How is Brian Stokes Mitchell anything but the lead in Ragtime? And of all the wonderful songs in that show (by far my fave in decades), the nomination for Atlantic City is a major head-scratcher for me. I'd place Wheels of a Dream, Make Them Hear You, Your Daddy's Son, Back to Before, Ragtime, Sarah Brown Eyes, Our Children, Gliding, New Music, Crime of the Century, Gettin' Ready Rag, and Henry Ford ALL before Atlantic City.

Then again, I'd also argue that Hairspray's nod should be for You Can't Stop the Beat instead of Good Morning, Baltimore, and Avenue Q should be represented by Everyone's a Little Bit Racist or Schadenfreude instead of My Girlfriend. But that's just nitpicking.

[Big Magilla]

1996-1997

Best Musical
*The Life
Steel Pier
Titanic

Best Actor
*Robert Cuccioli, Jekyll & Hyde
Daniel McDonald, Steel Pier
James Naughton, Chicago

Best Actress
*Pamela Isaacs, The Life
Bebe Neuwirth, Chicago
Karen Ziemba, Steel Pier

Best Featured Actor
Chuck Cooper, The Life
Joel Grey, Chicago
*Sam Harris, The Life

Best Featured Actress
Marcia Lewis, Chicago
Debra Monk, Steel Pier
*Lillias White, The Life

Best Song
“No Moon”, Titanic
“Second Chance”, Steel Pier
*“Use What You Got”, The Life

Best Score
*The Life (Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman)
Steel Pier (John Kander, Fred Ebb)
Titanic (Maury Yeston)

1997-1998

Best Musical
Cabaret (Revival)
The Lion King
*Ragtime

Best Actor
*Alan Cumming, Cabaret
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ragtime
Douglas Sills, The Scarlet Pimpernel

Best Actress
Marin Mazzie, Ragtime
*Natasha Richardson, Cabaret
Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Side Show

Best Featured Actor
Gregg Edelman, 1776
Peter Friedman, Ragtime
*Ron Rifkin, Cabaret

Best Featured Actress
Betty Buckley, Triumph of Love
*Audra McDonald, Ragtime
Mary Louise Wilson, Cabaret

Best Song
“I Will Never Leave You”, Side Show
“Serenity”, Triumph of Love
*“Wheels of a Dream”, Ragtime

Best Score
*Ragtime (Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Fred Wildhorn, Nan Knighton)
Side Show (Henry Krieger, Bill Russell)

1998-1999

Best Musical
The Civil War
A New Brain
*Parade

Best Actor
*Brent Carver, Parade
Malcolm Gets, A New Brain
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kiss Me, Kate

Best Actress
*Carolee Carmello, Parade
Marin Mazzie, Kiss Me, Kate
Sian Phillips, Marlene

Best Featured Actor
*Roger Bart, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Matt Bogart, The Civil War
Chip Zien, A New Brain

Best Featured Actress
*Kristin Chenoweth, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Penny Fuller, A New Brain
Valarie Pettiford, Fosse

Best Song
“All the Wasted Time”, Parade
*“I’d Rather Be Sailing”, A New Brain
“Tell My Father”, The Civil War

Best Score
The Civil War (Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy)
A New Brain (William Finn)
*Parade (Jason Robert Brown)

1999-2000

Best Musical
Aida
*James Joyce’s The Dead
The Wild Party

Best Actor
*Craig Bierko, The Music Man
Mandy Patinkin, The Wild Party
Tom Wopat, Annie Get Your Gun

Best Actress
Toni Collette, The Wild Party
Audra McDonald, Marie Christine
*Bernadette Peters, Annie Get Your Gun

Best Featured Actor
Anthony Crivello, Marie Christine
Marc Kudisch, The Wild Party
*Stephen Spinella, James Joyce’s The Dead

Best Featured Actress
Sally Ann Howes, James Joyce’s The Dead
Eartha Kitt, The Wild Party
*Rebecca Luker, The Music Man

Best Song
“Beautiful”, Marie Christine
*“Every Story Is a Love Story”, Aida
“When It Ends”, The Wild Party

Best Score
Aida (Elton John, Tim Rice)
*James Joyce’s The Dead (Shaun Davey, Richard Nelson)
The Wild Party (Michael John LaChiusa)
 
2000-2001

Best Musical
The Full Monty
*The Producers
Urinetown

Best Actor
Matthew Broderick, The Producers
*Nathan Lane, The Producers
Patrick Wilson, The Full Monty

Best Actress
Christine Ebersole, 42nd Street
Kaitlin Hopkins, Bat Boy
*Marla Schaffel, Jane Eyre

Best Featured Actor
*Gary Beach, The Producers
John Ellison Conlee, The Full Monty
André De Shields, The Full Monty

Best Featured Actress
*Kathleen Freeman, The Full Monty
Randy Graff, A Class Act
Cady Huffman, The Producers

Best Song
“I Wanna Be a Producer”, The Producers
“Let It Go”, The Full Monty
*“Run Freedom Run”, Urinetown

Best Score
The Full Monty (David Yazbek)
*The Producers (Mel Brooks)
Urinetown (Mark Hollman, Greg Kotis)

2001-2002

Best Musical
Mamma Mia!
*Sweet Smell of Success
Thoroughly Modern Millie

Best Actor
Brian d’Arcy James, Sweet Smell of Success
*John Lithgow, Sweet Smell of Success
Patrick Wilson, Oklahoma!

Best Actress
Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Louise Pitri, Mamma Mia!
*Elaine Stritch, Elaine Stritch at Liberty

Best Featured Actor
Gavin Creel, Thoroughly Modern Millie
*Jack Noseworthy, Sweet Smell of Success
Steven Pasquale, The Spitfire Grill

Best Featured Actress
*Liz Callaway, The Spitfire Grill
Judy Kaye, Mamma Mia!
Karen Mason, Mamma Mia!

Best Song
“One Track Mind”, Sweet Smell of Success
*“This Wide Woods”, The Spitfire Grill
“What Do I Need with Love?”, Thoroughly Modern Millie

Best Score
The Spitfire Grill (James Valcq, Fred Alley)
*Sweet Smell of Success (Marvin Hamlisch, Craig Carnelia)
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlan)

2002-2003

Best Musical
Avenue Q
*Hairspray
A Man of No Importance

Best Actor
*Harvey Fierstein, Hairspray
Malcolm Gets, Amour
Roger Rees, A Man of No Importance

Best Actress
Melissa Errico, Amour
*Marissa Jaret Winokur, Hairspray
Bernadette Peters, Gypsy

Best Featured Actor
Dick Latessa, Hairspray
*Steven Pasquale, A Man of No Importance
John Tartaglia, Avenue Q

Best Featured Actress
Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Avenue Q
*Jane Krakowski, Nine
Mary Stuart Masterson, Nine

Best Song
“My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada”, Avenue Q
“Streets of Dublin”, A Man of No Importance
*“You Can’t Stop the Beat”, Hairspray

Best Score
Avenue Q (Robert Lopez, Jeff Marks)
*Hairspray (Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman)
A Man of No Importance (Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty)

2003-2004

Best Musical
The Boy from Oz
*Wicked
Wonderful Town (Revival)

Best Actor
Hunter Foster, Little Shop of Horrors
*Hugh Jackman, The Boy from Oz
Euan Morton, Taboo

Best Actress
Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked
*Idina Menzel, Wicked
Donna Murphy, Wonderful Town

Best Featured Actor
Michael Cerveris, Assassins
Raul Esparza, Taboo
*Neil Patrick Harris, Assassins

Best Featured Actress
Isabel Keating, The Boy from Oz
*Anika Noni Rose, Caroline, or Change
Jennifer Westfeldt, Wonderful Town

Best Song
*“Defying Gravity”, Wicked
“Lot’s Wife”, Caroline, or Change
“Shakalaka Baby”, Bombay Dreams

Best Score
Caroline, or Change (Tony Kushner, Jeanine Tesori)
Johnny Guitar (Martin Silvestri, Joel Higgins)
*Wicked (Stephen Schwartz)

2004-2005

Best Musical
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
*The Light in the Piazza
Spamalot

Best Actor
*Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Tim Curry, Spamalot
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Actress
*Victoria Clark, The Light in the Piazza
Sutton Foster, Little Women
Sherie Rene Scott, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Best Featured Actor
Christian Borle, Spamalot
*Matthew Morrison, The Light in the Piazza
Christopher Sieber, Spamalot

Best Featured Actress
Maureen McGovern, Little Women
*Kelli O’Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Sara Ramirez, Spamalot

Best Song
“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”, Spamalot
“Days of Plenty”, Little Women
*“Fable”, The Light in the Piazza

Best Score
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (David Yazbek)
*The Light in the Piazza (Adam Guettel)
Spamalot (John Du Prez, Eric Idle)

2005-2006

Best Musical
The Color Purple
The Drowsy Chaperone
*Grey Gardens

Best Actor
Michael Cerveris, Sweeney Todd
*Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone
John Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys

Best Actress
*Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
LaChanze, The Color Purple
Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd

Best Featured Actor
Matt Cavenaugh, Grey Gardens
*Manoel Felciano, Sweeney Todd
John McMartin, Grey Gardens

Best Featured Actress
Beth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone
Mary Testa, See What I Wanna See
*Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens

Best Song
*“Another Winter in a Summer Town”, Grey Gardens
“As We Stumble Along”, The Drowsy Chaperone
“I’m Here”, The Color Purple

Best Score
The Color Purple (Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell, Allee Willis)
The Drowsy Chaperone (Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison)
*Grey Gardens (Scott Frankel, Michael Korie)