Combing The Stars

I correctly predicted only ten of the twenty-six categories (Best Musical, Best Actress Musical, Best Actress Play, Best Musical Revival, Best Play Revival, Best Scenic Design Play, Featured Actor Play, Best Costume Design Play, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations).

But not bad considering I haven’t seen any of the shows nominated this season. See you next year, kids!

• Matt Stone and Trey Parker will never not be funny. They’re also here to present Best Musical. The Once / Newsies battle is about to be settled… It’s Once! Both shows are so deserving, but I think Once has the upper hand as far as meatier roles
• It’s hard to beat last year’s closing number, but I’ll give them credit for trying.

• And now the man who charmed everyone at the Oscars presents the Actress awards. I would have liked for Cynthia Nixon to have won, just because W;t is in my top five favorite plays, but if you didn’t bet on Nina Arianda you are not very smart.
• Audra wins her millionth Tony Award. I can’t think of anyone who deserves this more than her. The talent of this woman never ceases to amaze me. And I think she just announced her engagement to Will Swenson. Adorbs.

• So that’s Hugh Jackman’s wife! I’m like 4 degrees of separation from Hugh Jackman through my dear friend Madeline. Awesome.
• Ms. Jackman could have picked a prettier dress. That is awful.
• Candace Bergman presenting the Leading Actor in a musical and a play. Steve Kazee wins! I wanted him to win, but I thought Norm Lewis would win. Yay for Steve (and his dead mom)! AND JAMES CORDEN WINS BEST ACTOR PLAY. One Man, Two Guv’nors is based on one of my favorite silly plays, The Servant of Two Masters.
• Guys. I think you know how I feel about Raul Esparza. HOT DAMN that man looks good with a beard.

• I like that Corbin Bleu is interested in being in the theatre, but I want him to be better at it. I’m sorry guys, but Hair pretty much wins at going out into the audience during the Tony performance. You can’t beat those crazy hippies.
• Patti and Mandy (they don’t need last names) giving the award for best revival of a musical. The Tony goes to The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess! What do those buttons say? Easily one of the great American musicals.
• Harvey. What are you doing? OH. The cruise performance. Blah. I would have put money on them doing You Can’t Stop The Beat. Let’s talk about how much I dislike this Corny Collins.

• Jim Parsons is presenting the award for Best Play. I’m disappointed that Peter didn’t win, but if anything else was going to win, I’m glad that it’s Clybourne Park.
• And now the performance of Evita. Let me tell you how glad I am that they didn’t do Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.

• Cheryl (Sheryl?) Crow (Crowe?) is here to present Best Original Score. One more for Newsies! It’s hard to believe that this is Alan Menken’s first Tony. In college, my friends and I used to say that Alan Menken is god. So brilliant.
• Finally! The performance by Porgy and Bess! I could easily listen to Audra McDonald all day, every day. Simply gorgeous.

I just realized I’m missing a lot of the Creative Awards! Ah, well.

• James Marsden is presenting for Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. I went with Jane Houdyshell because of that last name. Come on. It’s a good last name. “
• “I guess chandeliers have been very, very good to me.” Judy Kaye, you are a delight. You also just made me tear up a little.
• Starstuff makes you what you want to be, indeed.
• James Cordon! I can’t imagine doing that for eight shows a week. That looks positively exhausting.

• I’m sorry. Neil Patrick Harris hanging out behind Angela Lansbury and the President of the ATW is too funny. I appreciate silliness
• Jessica Chastain is presenting Best Actor by a Featured Actor in a Play. If Christian doesn’t win this, I will be angry.Very very angry. FINALLY one for Starcatcher! Twice on Sundays, man.
• Matt Morrison is introducing Nice Work! Kelli O’Hara is amazing! But can we get some light on her? I feel like we’re watching her in the dark.

• Don’t get me wrong, I’m always excited to see Caissie Levy whenever and wherever, and this performance really shows off her AH-MAZING voice. But I am very confused. Who is that third guy? ALSO, this direction? Seriously not impressed. I’ve seen better direction in my college directing class. Anyway.
• John Larroquette is giving the award for Best Direction awards. If you’ve followed me since last year, you know I always go with female directors and I had several to pick from this year! Best Direction Musical goes to John Tiffany for Once. Best Direction Play goes to Mike Nichols for Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• What is Ben Vereen doing next season? He’s introducing the performance for Jesus Christ SuperStar. That performance was ELECTRIC. Jesus Christ Super Star has never been one of my favorite shows, but that performance convinced me

• Amanda Seyfried presents for Best Actor in a Featured Role Musical . Honestly, I’m not surprised that Cerveris didn’t win. I AM surprised that Michael McGrath won. Apparently the Tony voters are going for the long shot underdogs. Sigh.
• HOT DAMN. Bernadette Peter looks hot in that gown. She’s introducing the number from Follies. Granted, I don’t know much about Follies, but I’m not crazy about this number.

• Book of Mormon. I love you. This musical will change your life.
• I’ll be honest, I was a little confused when I saw that Mormon was performing, but I am totally on board.
• 50 Shades of Gay? I AM DYING. SO FUNNY.
• What if life were more like theatre? I would be one of those mysterious people in black.
• Between Patti LuPone and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, I loved every second of that opening number.
• FIRST AWARD! Paul Rudd presents for Actress in a Featured Role Play.
  If Celia doesn’t win, I will be angry. Very, very angry.
  It goes to Judith Light. I’m sure Judith is a lovely person, but Celia owns this category.
• Nick Jonas introduces the performance of Newsies! Can we talk about how great this choreography is? I get chills. SO GOOD.

Commercial Break

Keep in mind, these are mostly who I WANT to win, not necessarily who I think WILL win.

• Best Sound Design Musical : Acme Sound Partners - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
• Best Sound Design Play : Paul Arditti - One Man, Two Guvnors
• Best Lighting Design Musical : Hugh Vanstone - Ghost the Musical
• Best Lighting Design Play : Kenneth Posner - Other Desert Cities
• Best Costume Design Musical: Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark
• Best Costume Design Play : Paloma Young - Peter and the Starcatcher
• Best Scenic Design Musical : Rob Howell and Jon Driscoll - Ghost the Musical
• Best Scenic Design Play : Donyale Werle - Peter and the Starcatcher
• Best Orchestrations : Martin Lowe - Once
• Best Choreography : Christopher Gattelli - Newsies
• Best Direction Musical : Diane Paulus - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
• Best Direction Play : Roger Rees and Alex Timbers - Peter and the Starcatcher
• Best Performance by a Featured Actress Musical : Jane Houdyshell - Follies
• Best Performance by a Featured Actor Musical : Michael Cerveris - Evita
• Best Performance by a Featured Actress Play : Celia Keenan-Bolger - Peter and the Starcatcher
• Best Performance by a Featured Actor Play : Christian Borle - Peter and the Starcatcher
• Best Performance by a Leading Actress Musical : Audra McDonald - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
• Best Performance by a Leading Actor Musical : Norm Lewis - The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
• Best Performance by a Leading Actress Play : Nina Arianda - Venus in Fur
• Best Performance by a Leading Actor Play : Philip Seymour Hoffman - Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) : Peter and the Starcatcher - Music: Wayne Barker, Lyrics: Rick Elice
• Best Book of a Musical : Newsies - Harvey Fierstein
• Best Revival of a Musical : Follies
• Best Revival of a Play : Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
• Best Musical : Once
• Best Play : Peter and the Starcatcher

I think it’s pretty obvious that I have my favorites.

I’ll be live blogging the Tony’s again this year! Here’s how this’ll work:

• I’ll post updates every commercial break
• That’s about it
• I’ll give you an update when I get another drink (Play along at @Tonys_drinking)