The 2025 JKTS Awards: Editors' Choice Part Two

 Editors' Choice, Part Two

Yesterday, we presented the first part of our 2025 JKTS  Awards honoring those theater people - new faces and familiar faces - that made the 2024-2025 Broadway season the special one that it was. Today, we offer more fun recognition for the lighter side of the season.

Spotlight Awards

  

Best Logos: 

• Musical: Swept Away 
• Play: Our Town

Both are visually interesting, and both perfectly captures the content, mood and themes of the shows they represent.

Extra! Extra! Broadway's Biggest Headline:

• The Rise of Gen Z - Romeo + Juliet, John Proctor is the Villain

The youth came in droves to see both. Many came to see their favorite TV stars, but I'll bet most of them came away with much more than a stage door autograph and a photo op for social media. They got to see, in both productions, sublime acting and shows that spoke to them. As an "old guy," I loved the energy the audiences brought, and the relief that the future of Broadway is in good hands.  

Best Showstopper:

• "Rose's Turn," Gypsy

Seeing this live in the theater is an experience I will never forget. Audra is more than an icon, she is living Broadway history. 

Best Special Effects Sequence (TIE):

• The Memories, Maybe Happy Ending
• The "Opening Credits," Sunset Blvd.

When I say my jaw dropped when the HelperBots connected and memories were read, I mean my mouth was actually agape. I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing.

Like many of you, as I was watching the Jamie Lloyd bare bones approach to Sunset Blvd., I was wondering how they'd do the car chase scene. Would they even do it? Well, they did, and it was a clever way to show us what we were really seeing: a movie in Norma's mind.

Sorry We Missed It: 

• Boop!

Maybe I'm saying this prematurely, but I have a feeling I won't get to see Broadway's next big thing: Jasmine Amy Rogers. And every clip I see and hear from it makes me smile. These days, that is a big loss.

 

"I'm Still Here" Award for Longevity: 

• Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
• Bonnie Langford, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

Both of these outstanding performers made their Broadway debuts 51 years ago, in 1974! Brown made his debut as The Child in a revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Langford made her debut as Baby June in the Angela Lansbury-led revival of Gypsy. How wonderful that half a century later, she's back in another Sondheim show, singing "I'm Still Here."

Best Non-musical Dance Number: 

• Final Scene John Proctor is the Villain

When Sadie Sink and Amalia Yoo began their presentation about The Crucible, the tension was palpable, and you could hear a pin drop. As it escalated into an all out dance, and more cast members joined in, the shock and awe of it all was a cathartic burst of energy on both sides of the proscenium.

Six Award for Best Actors Playing Real-life Characters: 

• Andrew Durand as Elmer McCurdy, Dead Outlaw
• Natasha Hodgson as Ewen Montagu, Operation Mincemeat
• Jak Malone as Hester Leggatt, Operation Mincemeat
• Taylor Trensch as Skeets Miller, Floyd Collins
• Joy Woods as Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy 

Brilliance all the way around! I would hope that somehow the people they were playing would heartily approve.

One Actor/Two Roles Award:

• Tommy Dorfman as Tybalt and the Nurse, Romeo + Juliet

If I didn't see it actually happening right in front of me, I'd never believe it. They were amazing in both roles - both in type and gender. Come back soon and often, Tommy.

 

Mother Nature Award: 

• Beauty: Redwood 
• Wrath: Storm and shipwreck, Swept Away

Hana S. Kim's stunning video work and Jason Ardizzone-West's cutting edge scenery brought the majestic beauty of the titular trees to jaw-dropping life.

The extreme weather event that was the impetus for the events of Swept Away were a true group effort on the part of Rachel Hauck's Tony-nominated scenic design, Kevin Adam's lighting and John Shiver's sound design. If you didn't see it, you really missed something.

Suffs Empowerment Moment:

• "Real Women Have Curves" Solidarity Strip, Real Women Have Curves

Somehow, people find issue with this. I found it delightful and empowering, and deserving of its mid-show ovation.

 

Death Warmed Over Award:

• Group: The Immortals, Death Becomes Her
  
• Individual: Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw

Death was a big theme in a lot of shows this year - the word appears in the titles of TWO shows! Was immortality ever sexier and more appealing than in Death Becomes Her? And no one plays dead better than Andrew Durand in an iconic performance.

 

Best Entrance (TIE): 

• Joe Gillis (Tom Francis) in a body bag, Sunset Blvd.
• Princess Winnifred (Sutton Foster), Once Upon a Mattress
  

Emerging from a body bag? Another thing you had to see to believe. A stunning start to a stunning show.

When the princess finally makes her entrance, drenched after swimming a moat, and coming all the way from her swamp kingdom, the litany of things that emerged from her gown and hair was a joy to behold. Sutton was perfection.

Best Place to Spot a Diva: 

• 44th Street

Come on! Audra, Joy and Tyson (not to mention Lesli) at the Majestic. Jasmine making a storied debut at the Broadhurst. Nicole in a Tony-winning turn at the St. James. And LaTanya and Kara at the Hayes. A historic embarrassment of riches.

Best Kiss of the Season:

• Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, Romeo + Juliet

Probably the most illegally photographed smooch in Broadway history, it was also sexy AF. 

 

Bloody, Bloody Broadway (There Will Be Blood):

• Juliet, Romeo + Juliet
• Joe Gillis and Norma Desmond, Sunset Blvd.

Oh, happy dagger!

Oh, violent death...she kisses his mouth...

The Kimberly Akimbo Award for Best Aging: 

• "Millicent's Song," sung by Julia Knitel in Dead Outlaw

I loved this song, both revealing and blisteringly funny, she went from young child to grown woman in a matter of minutes. 

 

The Thenardier Award for Most Suffering Spouse:

• Play: Mary's Husband, played by Conrad Ricamora in Oh, Mary!
• Musical: Helen's Husband, Ernest Menville, played by Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her

I think the photos above say more than I could possibly come up with.

Best Abs in a Musical: 

• Leading Role: Tom, Diego and Jimin, Sunset Blvd. 
• Supporting Role: Jacob Dickey, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

I mean if you are going to die in your underwear, why not look hot doing it?

And a sexy wolf? Of course. But bare-chested in a tuxedo jacket? Woof, indeed! 

Grin and Bear It Award: 

• The Cast of Real Women Have Curves

The hard working ladies and the men who love them are not being seen by enough people. Why??? Easily a top three musical in a crowded season of great shows, people need to see it!

 

Grin and Bare It Award: 

• The Strippers from Gypsy: Mylinda Hull, Lesli Margherita, Lili Thomas
• The Strippers from Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends:Beth Leavel, Bernadette Peters, Joanna Riding

Two takes on the same song in the same season (not as rare as it once was), and both hilarious for different reasons. Stopped the show at both the Friedman and the Majestic, and rightly so.

The Final 2025 JKTS Awards Tally

Between your Readers' Choice Awards and our Editors' Choice Awards, we honored 19 shows that opened this season with a whopping 79 awards!

Sunset Blvd. - 17

Maybe Happy Ending - 11

Romeo + Juliet - 6

Floyd Collins - 5

Dead Outlaw - 4

Gypsy - 4

John Proctor is the Villain - 4

Operation Mincemeat - 4

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - 4

Boop! - 3

Real Women Have Curves - 3

Swept Away - 3

Death Becomes Her - 2

Oh, Mary! - 2

Once Upon a Mattress - 2

Our Town - 2

Buena Vista Social Club - 1

Purpose - 1

Redwood - 1

The 2025 JKTS Awards: Editors' Choice, Part One

Editors' Choice, Part One

Last week, you had your say with The 2025 JKTS Readers' Choice Awards (HERE). Now it is our turn! Today, we offer up our more serious awards, honoring those theater people - new faces and familiar faces - that made the 2024-2025 Broadway season the special one that it was.

Show Folk Awards

Movers and Shapers: 

• Playwrights: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Purpose) & Kimberly Bellflower (John Proctor is the Villain) 
• Musical Writers: Will Aronson & Hue Park (Maybe Happy Ending)
• Designers: Dane Laffrey & George Reeve (Maybe Happy Ending)

These greats represent the present AND the future of Broadway. They have their fingers on the pulse of relevancy, and continue to stretch the boundaries for their respective crafts.

Maverick of the Season: 

• Cole Escola, playwright and star of Oh, Mary!

Much has been written about all of the wonderful things they've done. All of those accolades are well-deserved. We join them in celebrating the creation of art for yourself and your community, and for trusting that a larger community will embrace it as well.

Welcome to Broadway: 

• Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, Romeo + Juliet
• Zoey Deutch, Our Town
• Dez Duron, Maybe Happy Ending
• Lizzy McAlpine, Floyd Collins
• David Thaxton, Sunset Boulevard
• The Original Broadway Cast of Operation Mincemeat

Every season brings a wonderful new crop of Broadway debuts, but these folks really stood out to us. Some came from other areas of the arts, others from across the pond. All of them generously shared their talents and unique personalities. We really hope they will all come back often.

Welcome Back to Broadway:

• Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
• Jason Gotay, Floyd Collins

It's just as wonderful to see favorites from years past return. These two actors came back in a big way: Belcon, last seen 12 years ago in Matilda, was a magnetic presence that commanded the stage - she even earned a Tony Award for her efforts. Gotay, last seen 12 years ago in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, came back with a riveting, emotional turn in a huge supporting role. 

Stars on the Rise: 

• Tatianna Cordoba, Real Women Have Curves
• Adrian Blake Enscoe, Swept Away
• Lizzy McAlpine, Floyd Collins
• Diego Andres Rodriguez, Sunset Blvd.
• Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain 

These five performers are all going to be big. Really big. Mark my words!

Outstanding Understudy Performance:

• Diego Andres Rodriguez on as Joe Gillis in Sunset Blvd.
• Sydney Jones as Betty Schaeffer in Sunset Blvd.

What great fortune we had seeing the magnificent work of these two! We didn't see them at the same time, so it was really interesting to see how they compared to the actors they covered. Both were spectacular, offering performances that left us thrilled and on our feet cheering. Can't wait to see them both again.

The Egregiously Overlooked:

• Jason Gotay, Floyd Collins
• Lea Salonga, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
• Helen J. Shen, Maybe Happy Ending 
• David Thaxton, Sunset Blvd.

While we know that the Tony committee can't include everyone, especially in a packed with quality season like this one, but these people should have made the cut! Gotay really grew up with his layered take on Floyd Collins' brother, Salonga showed incredible range, Shen was brilliant all the way around, and Thaxton was a commanding presence on a stage full of commanding presences.

Breakout Star: 

• HwaBoon, Maybe Happy Ending

Without ever saying a word, this young plant steals every scene he is in, and has become the star everyone wants to have their picture taken with. He makes appearances at all of the big events. Alas, he does not stage door. The biggest and brightest rarely do

Some Thoughts on the 2025 Tony Awards

It's been a few hours. The dust has almost settled, and I've gotten my thoughts together. The good, the bad...the baffling.

Some Thoughts on the 2025 Tony Awards

The Show

The Tony Awards: Act One Preview (Pluto TV - Entertainment Tonight): 

• Delightful interview with host Cynthia Erivo. Fun ET vault interviews with nominees, like one from 2015 with Nicole Scherzinger vowing to return to the stage, where her training lies. Talk about a return! Other clips include Audra, George Clooney, Jonathan Groff and Darren Criss. Naturally, though it's definitely about the Tonys, ET lays it on thick with the Hollywood connections to the season. My favorite segment? A look back at the first awards ET covered: 1982, the year of Nine vs Dreamgirls. A snarky Tommy Tune, a humble Cher, and an excited Jennifer Holliday. 

The Tony Awards: Act One (Pluto TV): 

• It goes so smoothly when everyone is prepared, and when there isn't such a huge rush to get all the "thank yous" in. And no real surprises here, either.
• What a great speech from the MUNY. I really need to get there.
• The Educator Award is so moving every year, what a great man. His students are very fortunate, indeed.
• What a wonderful speech by Sara Bareilles, and what a wonderful human being Celia Keenan-Bolger.
• Harvey. Nothing else needs to be said. Thank you.

The Tony Awards (CBS):

The Numbers

• Opening Number: "Sometimes All You Need" - What a voice! Classy opening number! And funny, too. Love the Sunset walk around and the cameos! (Go, HwaBoon!)
• Buena Vista Social Club: "Dos Gardenias" is a powerful showcase of everything that is great about the show. Perfect use of this platform.
• Dead Outlaw: "Opening/Dead" The perfect choice to showcase this oddball really-not-made-for-television musical, both in terms of the sound of the show and the terrific ensemble cast.
• Death Becomes Her: "Do It For the Gaze" The best production number in the show seemed perfect for the Tonys. The sound, as usual, was spotty at best. Megan is a trooper.
• Floyd Collins: "The Ballad of Floyd Collins/The Call" It sounded so beautiful, and the company sounded so great. 
• Gypsy: "Rose's Turn" Wow. No more bitching about Patti's enunciation. And just like Patti, riveting anyway.
• Just In Time: "Mack the Knife, etc." Groff, as always, oozes charisma. The band sounded great. Still not interested.
• Maybe Happy Ending: "Chasing Fireflies/Never Fly Away" Not the song I'd have chosen, but it sounded beautiful, and Helen J. Shen was robbed.
• Operation Mincemeat: "Born to Lead" Still hard to believe that's only 5 people. Having seen the show, I think it was the best choice to sample the show, but I doubt it'll sell many tickets.
• Pirates!: What absolute fun! Best washboard choreo since Crazy For You in '92!
• Real Women Have Curves: "Jugglin'" Great flavor of the show! PLEASE go see it!
• Sunset Blvd.: Great intro by Glenn. "As If We Never Said Goodbye" this brilliantly performed aria tells you everything to know about this stunning revival. Chills every single time.
• Hamilton 10th Anniversary: "Mix Tape" I had chills. It was better than the actual show. (Don't bother writing...)
• In Memoriam: "Tomorrow" A gorgeous arrangement, vocalized in stunning harmony by Bareilles and Erivo. I'm sure Gavin is pleased.

The Surprises

• I don't know if it was really a surprise, but Kara Young sure seemed shocked.
• I don't know if it was really a surprise, but Sam Pinkelton sure seemed shocked.
• Personal surprise: I loved the Hamilton number.
• I was shocked at Audra's performance. I'm glad we didn't sit too close when we saw it.

The Misses

• Not really a miss, but it saddens me that the play John Proctor is the Villain was not recognized.

The Best Moments

• I thought Cynthia was a great host!
• Jake Malone's speech - fast, furious & righteous! Bravo!
• Natalie Venetia Belcon - funny and heartfelt. Brava!
• Cole Escola's dress. They looked so pretty!

How Did We Do?

• Mike and I tied this year! We each got 3 wrong.

Here's to next year!!

The 2025 Tony Awards: Our Predictions

The 2025 Tony Awards: 

Our Predictions

At last the Super Bowl of theater is upon us! As usual, Mike and I have given thought to all of the shows we've seen this season - including 2 new plays, 2 play revivals, 4 musical revivals and 9 new musicals. As such, we'll do our best to predict the winners in the musical categories at The 78th Annual Tony Awards, plus some thoughts on the play categories.

Below are our picks for "Will Win" and "Should Win," as well as notes for each. We've also included a few "Overlooked" nominees. Of course, we congratulate all of the nominees and winners. It was a great season!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Jak Malone - Operation Mincemeat	Will Win:	Jak Malone - Operation Mincemeat
Should Win:	Taylor Trensch - Floyd Collins	Should Win:	Danny Burstein - Gypsy
Overlooked:	David Thaxton - Sunset Blvd.	Overlooked:	David Thaxton - Sunset Blvd.
Jeff's Notes	Too many viable choices - I loved them all. Malone's subtlety in an ocean of craziness was perfection. Burstein broke my heart. Trensch was superb, but he's the newest kid on this block, so...
Mike's Notes	I'd also put Taylor Trensch up there with Malone and Burstein for a trio of performances that would easily win in leaner years.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Natalie Venetia Belcon - Buena Vista Social Club	Will Win:	Natalie Venetia Belcon - Buena Vista Social Club
Should Win:	Justina Machado - Real Women Have Curves	Should Win:	Justina Machado - Real Women Have Curves
Overlooked:	Lea Salonga - Old Friends & Natasha Hodgson - Operation Mincemeat	Overlooked:	Lea Salonga - Old Friends
Mike's Notes	Again, there are several Tony-worthy performers here, including Belcon and Machado.

Best Book of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park	Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park
Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park	Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park
Overlooked:	Real Women Have Curves - Lisa Loomer and Nell Benjamin	Overlooked:	Real Women Have Curves - Lisa Loomer and Nell Benjamin
Jeff's Notes	Exactly what Mike said.
Mike's Notes	All the nominees are strong except for Buena Vista. Again, it's a shame Real Women isn't in the mix.
Best Score Written for the Theater
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park	Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park
Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park	Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson and Hue Park
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	Again, I agree with Mike on this, though the same could be said for Death Becomes Her.
Mike's Notes	Probably the best opportunity for Dead Outlaw to pull off a mild upset.
Best Orchestrations
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson	Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson
Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson	Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Will Aronson
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	There are really no losers in this bunch. I'd be thrilled if Floyd Collins pulled an upset, and I wouldn't be surprised if Buena Vista Social Club won.
Mike's Notes	I'm being pretty bullish on Maybe Happy Ending to have a dominant evening - not as dominant as The Band's Visit but bigger than Kimberly Akimbo. I wouldn't be disappointed if veteran David Cullen (15 credits!) won his first Tony for Sunset Blvd. (I thought he'd win a few years ago for Company).

Best Revival of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Sunset Blvd.	Will Win:	Sunset Blvd.
Should Win:	Floyd Collins	Should Win:	Floyd Collins
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	Gypsy has some exceptional performances, but otherwise it's pretty standard. Floyd Collins was a revelation.
Mike's Notes	Gypsy got the best reviews and seems to be doing well in the precursor awards, so I wouldn't be shocked if it won.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Dane Laffrey & George Reeve	Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Dane Laffrey & George Reeve
Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Dane Laffrey & George Reeve	Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending - Dane Laffrey & George Reeve
Overlooked:	Redwood - Jason Ardizzone-West & Hana S. Kim	Overlooked:	Redwood - Jason Ardizzone-West & Hana S. Kim
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Jack Knowles	Will Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Jack Knowles
Should Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Jack Knowles	Should Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Jack Knowles
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Death Becomes Her - Paul Tazewell	Will Win:	Death Becomes Her - Paul Tazewell
Should Win:	Death Becomes Her - Paul Tazewell	Should Win:	Death Becomes Her - Paul Tazewell
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	It is definitely Paul Tazewell's year. A Tony to go with his Oscar.
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Adam Fisher	Will Win:	Sunset Blvd. - Adam Fisher
Should Win:	Floyd Collins - Dan Moses Schreier	Should Win:
Overlooked:	Death Becomes Her - Peter Hylenski	Overlooked:	Death Becomes Her - Peter Hylenski
Jeff's Notes	The yodeling echoed perfectly... and the balance in the cave that is the Vivian Beaumont was amazing!

Best Direction of a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Jamie Lloyd - Sunset Blvd.	Will Win:	Michael Arden - Maybe Happy Ending
Should Win:	Michael Arden - Maybe Happy Ending	Should Win:	Michael Arden - Maybe Happy Ending
Overlooked:	Robert Hastie - Operation Mincemeat	Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	I really want Arden to win - he created a beautiful miracle. But I think that a perfectly executed gimmick will woo the Tony voters.
Mike's Notes	I'm going against the consensus a bit here; I won't be surprised or disappointed if Jamie Lloyd wins.
Best Choreography
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Buena Vista Social Club - Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck	Will Win:	Buena Vista Social Club - Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck
Should Win:	Buena Vista Social Club - Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck	Should Win:	Buena Vista Social Club - Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck
Overlooked:	Sunset Blvd. - Fabian Aloise	Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	This may be the bone the voters throw Boop.

Plays and Play Revivals: Oh, Mary!, John Proctor is the Villain, Romeo + Juliet, Our Town, Yellow Face
Jeff's Notes	Well, once again, I didn't get to as many plays as I had hoped to, but by and large the ones I did see were wonderful. Oh, Mary! was sublime and perfectly executed Cole Escola's work deserves all of its accolades, and I expect he will be called to the podium at least once. Sam Pinkelton's direction allowed it to breathe and stay in control. But John Proctor is the Villain is the new high bar for excellence for me. A new generation honestly portrayed with timely themes, it still resounded with this Gen-Xer. Excellent drama is timeless. The acting was perfection - I'd be thrilled if Sink, Ebert and Strazza won, the direction even better - Danya Taymor's work is nothing short of perfect. While I didn't really care for Our Town, there were some great performances that were overlooked, namely Zoe Deutch and Ephraim Sykes, who breathed modern vitality into Emily and George. Much like Proctor, the revival of Romeo + Juliet became a vibrant reminder that this classic can appeal to Gen-Z. And I am here for it! That said, Kit Connor was robbed of a Tony nod. I did also see the PBS broadcast of Yellow Face, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Its Tony nominations were all well-deserved. If any of them win, I'd be happy.
Mike's Notes	I saw only maybe a third of the eligible nominees overall, but I can say I'd definitely pick John Proctor is the Villain over the favorite Oh, Mary! for Best Play (though Escola should absolutely win Best Actor to recognize his achievement). On the revival side, Jeff saw more than I did, but based on the PBS broadcast, I'd say Yellow Face is a plausible pick for both "will win" and "should win." Aside from that, acknowledging that I haven't seen enough to make any reliable picks, I'll just list a few performers and other artists I consider absolutely Tony-worthy: Sadie Sink, Francis Jue, Fina Strazza, Danya Taymor, Holly Pierson, Natasha Katz, and Palmer Hefferan.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Darren Criss - Maybe Happy Ending	Will Win:	Darren Criss - Maybe Happy Ending
Should Win:	Darren Criss - Maybe Happy Ending	Should Win:	Jeremy Jordan - Floyd Collins
Overlooked:		Overlooked:
Jeff's Notes	If Nicole wins, Tom Francis just might, too. Should Jeremy be named, I would be very happy, too.
Mike's Notes	Tom Francis has a shot, but I didn't see his performance (along with Groff and Iglehart) so I didn't figure him in.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Nicole Scherzinger - Sunset Blvd.	Will Win:	Audra McDonald - Gypsy
Should Win:	Nicole Scherzinger - Sunset Blvd.	Should Win:	Audra McDonald - Gypsy
Overlooked:	Helen J. Shen - Maybe Happy Ending	Overlooked:	Helen J. Shen - Maybe Happy Ending
Jeff's Notes	A definitive "Rose's Turn" does not a full performance make. Audra's brilliant, but I said what I said. And I wouldn't count out Jasmine Amy Rogers, either.
Mike's Notes	My "will win" shifted recently from Scherzinger to McDonald just based on a gut feeling; I'll be happy either way.

Best Musical
Jeff Predicts:		Mike Predicts:
Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending	Will Win:	Maybe Happy Ending
Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending	Should Win:	Maybe Happy Ending
Overlooked:	Real Women Have Curves	Overlooked:	Real Women Have Curves
Jeff's Notes	It's really disappointing that Real Women didn't make the cut.
Mike's Notes	Real Women is my second-favorite musical of the season, so it's a shame it didn't get nominated.

HOW IT STACKS UP:

Jeff predicts: 6 - Maybe Happy Ending, 5 - Sunset Blvd., 2 - Buena Vista Social Club, 1 - Death Becomes Her, 1 - Operation Mincemeat

Mike predicts: 7 - Maybe Happy Ending, 3 - Sunset Blvd., 2 - Buena Vista Social Club, 1 - Death Becomes Her, 1 - Gypsy, 1 - Operation Mincemeat