Continuing Hypable’s Tony predictions, we look at the play acting categories.
There are a lot of fresh faces in this year’s play acting categories. Of the 21 nominees, only four have been nominated before, and only one has a trophy already. Most of these categories are predictable, though Featured Actor will be a race to watch. As for the other categories, we anticipate some very enjoyable acceptance speeches!
Best Actor in a Play:
Steven Boyer, Hand to God
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
Ben Miles, Wolf Hall
Bill Nighy, Skylight
Alex Sharp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
This award is Alex Sharp’s to lose, as he gives one hell of a performance in Curious Incident. He has won the OCC and the Drama Desk, and should complete the trifecta on Sunday. The same role won the Olivier two years ago. Sharp’s fiercest competition is Steven Boyer, who also plays a mentally challenged protagonist, and would walk away with this award in any other year. Ben Miles would have factored into the race in a weaker year, since he does manage to carry a six-hour play on his shoulders, but there’s practically no way Alex Sharp doesn’t win.
Will Win: Alex Sharp (Curious Incident)
Might Win: Steven Boyer (Hand to God)
Should Win: Alex Sharp
Best Actress in a Play:
Geneva Carr, Hand to God
Helen Mirren, The Audience – previously nominated for Dance of Death and A Month in the Country
Elisabeth Moss, The Heidi Chronicles
Carey Mulligan, Skylight
Ruth Wilson, Constellations
There is literally no way Helen Mirren does not win. This is the surest thing ever at the Tonys. Mirren has won the Olivier, Oscar, BAFTA, OCC, Drama Desk, and every other award imaginable for this role. The other actresses are honored to be nominated, but this category was locked down ever since The Audience opened.
Will Win: Helen Mirren (The Audience)
Might Win: No one else
Should Win: Helen Mirren
Featured Actor in a Play:
Matthew Beard, Skylight
K. Todd Freeman, Airline Highway – previously nominated for The Song of Jacob Zulu
Richard McCabe, The Audience
Alessandro Nivola, The Elephant Man
Nathaniel Parker, Wolf Hall
Micah Stock, It’s Only a Play
This is the only acting field that took advantage of the new rules allowing for more than five nominees, which means a close race for all involved. Alessandro Nivola is a commendable actor, but he is also the only one of the lot whom Tony voters cannot see performing at the moment, which will work against him. This is the only nomination for It’s Only a Play, so Micah Stock won’t factor into the race. Matthew Beard may ride a last-minute wave of support for Skylight, but we’re just not seeing it right now. There is a chance Freeman may get the Tony for Airline Highway; he won the Drama Desk, but was also the only one of these nominees to be nominated for the Drama Desk, so that doesn’t tell us how he measures up against the competition.
It will likely come down to the two Brits, Richard McCabe and Nathaniel Parker. Both gentlemen won the Olivier Award in their respective years. Parker (known to readers as Agravaine in BBC’s Merlin) has the advantage of a larger role; he is on stage for a considerable amount of Wolf Hall’s nearly six-hour runtime. McCabe, however, gets a lot of mileage out of his three scenes; playing on viewers’ emotions and funnybones. McCabe walked away with the OCC Award, and likely will barely edge out Parker for the win, but either actor could take it and there’d be no complaints.
Will Win: Richard McCabe (The Audience)
Might Win: Nathaniel Parker (Wolf Hall)
Should Win: Richard McCabe
Featured Actress in a Play:
Annaleigh Ashford, You Can’t Take It With You – previously nominated for Kinky Boots
Patricia Clarkson, The Elephant Man
Lydia Leonard, Wolf Hall
Sarah Stiles, Hand to God
Julie White, Airline Highway – previously won for The Little Dog Laughed
It will be one of Tonys’ great ironies when Annaleigh Ashford, a well-known musical actress, finally wins a Tony for starring in a play. Ashford stole the scene from some of the absolute powerhouses of theatre in her ditzy turn in You Can’t Take It With You, and has been rewarded with the OCC and the Drama Desk thus far. She’s therefore the current favorite to win this category.
Among her competition is Lydia Leonard, stunning in her Broadway debut as Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn is a rich character that gives Leonard a lot to work with, and Leonard puts quite a villainous spin on her. Also a contender is Sarah Stiles, who earns her nomination in a single scene where she not only acts, but puppeteers – and no more can be said about that for fear of spoilers.
Will Win: Annaleigh Ashford (You Can’t Take It With You)
Might Win: Lydia Leonard (Wolf Hall)
Should Win: Annaleigh Ashford
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