The 2022 Tony Awards Part 2: Who I’d Vote For

The 2022 Tony Awards follow another unique covid-impacted year. The talent and creativity on our Big Colorful Way still shines, though. If I voted for this year’s Tony’s here’s how I’d vote. It may not be the most popular choices, and I’m not predicting who WILL win, rather here are my thoughts on why I think these nominees deserve the award.

Best Revival of a Play 

For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf wins this for me. It was beautifully staged. The choreography and costumes were superb. The remounting of this piece today is just as important as I imagine it was when it was first staged in the 1976 (the year I was born!)  Extra points for this piece go to Producer Ayanna Prescod for the grassroots ticket initiative that gifted tickets to women and Non-binary people of color which sparked an extension after the show announced its closing. 

Best Direction of A Play

I’ve written about Camille A. Brown’s direction of colored girls. Sadly I missed Sam Mendes’ direction of Lehman Trilogy but I heard from reliable sources that it transcended the words of the page—which is exactly the director’s job. I saw Les Waters’ direction of Dana H and it was skillfully disturbing. Any of these recipients would be deserving. Ultimately, I cheer for the female director of color. We need more of these voices, and with all things equal, that’s where my vote would go.

Best Revival of a Musical 

I’d vote Music Man. Even if the word on the street is that Company will be triumphant in this category.  It would be hard to find a musical theater fan who wasn’t very familiar with the plot, music, and characters of this “American Musical” cannon favorite. On one of my first dates with my husband we sang all the lyrics to the opening “Rock Island.” (True love, indeed!) Still, I’ve never seen Music Man like this Music Man. This revival boasts an incredibly strong ensemble, Warren Carlyle’s choreography is a leading character on its own, and the talent of the dancers—so many young people— raises the bar of what Broadway will be. Hugh Jackman’s charisma, charm, and pure enjoyment of performing and Sutton Foster’s fresh and updated take on Marion Paroo are all worth the cost of admission

Perhaps because it’s so well known, this revival is even more impressive. For Director Jerry Zaks to find moments from a 1950’s icon that resonates with today’s audience is impressive. My tears freely flowed when Winthrop (Benjamin Pajak) confronts Harold Hill about being a fake. The message that every young person has value-no matter what- is a message we need to write on a banner and fly from every mountain top. Music Man gets a big check in the box for me for Best Revival.

A Few More Shout Outs

Lead Actress Play Deirdre 0’Connell as Dana H was terrific. 

Best Direction Musical,  At age 28 is Lucy Moss, (SIX) one of the youngest directors nominated for a Tony?

Dana H Producers Matt Ross, Sally Horchow, and Dori Bernstein have my respect for their creative energy in being one of the first plays back to Broadway after the pandemic, the creativity of running Dana H and Is This A Room in repertory, and then the reversal of being the first to announce a closing date after the industry’s reopening only to extend past closing because of ticket sales increase. Like the Little Engine That Could, it’s no wonder Dana H was a New York Times Critics pick. 

However the Tony Awards play out, the show is a celebration of the incredible work of so many. Congratulations to all the nominees!