The 2020 Tony Award Nominations

Crazy year, crazy season, right? Well, at this point I'm just thrilled to have some positive Broadway-related news to talk about. This afternoon, The 2020 Tony Award Nominations were announced. As always there are upsetting omissions, surprise inclusions, and "what were they thinking?" nominees. But isn't that always part of the fun for theater fans?

This year has some special qualifications, and that has caused some grousing on social media. Perhaps the most ridiculous complaint is that "everyone knows that all the best plays and musicals didn't open, so why bother?" Well, there were plenty of quality productions that did open, and in any given year, shows that open in the first half of the season in any given year are just as high quality as those that open in the spring. Remember, eight of the ten longest-running Broadway shows of all time opened early in their perspective seasons. 

Another opinion I keep reading about this year's Tony Awards is that not enough shows opened. I'm old enough to remember full seasons that were similar in number of eligible productions to this shortened season. There was 1985 where whole categories were eliminated for a lack of viable choices. Then there was 1995, when a total of four musicals opened - one book musical, Sunset Boulevard, one jukebox musical, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and two revivals: How to Succeed... and Show Boat.

So, here's what I think. I am thankful for anything that resembles normalcy. And I am grateful for something that is both theater-related and positive. I hope that we can all be happy for what is, not being negative over what could have been/should have been. "Normal" debate over the nominations, rooting for who we want to win, sure! Being ugly (and rude) over the fact that is happening at all, not so much. To each their own. I'm choosing gratitude.

How did we do?  When we first found out there were going to be awards, Mike and I posted our list of who we wanted to see being nominated. We only saw the 4 musicals that opened, so that's what we guessed about. You can read that HERE.

Jagged Little Pill  - 15 Nominations!

Moulin Rouge! The Musical  - 14 Nominations!

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical - 12 Nominations!

We were right on - we only missed 1! 

Jeff & Mike's 2020 Tony Award Nominations Predictions
CATEGORY	NOMINEE	SHOW	NOMINATED
Best Musical		Jagged Little Pill	x
		Moulin Rouge!	x
		Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
CATEGORY	NOMINEE	SHOW	NOMINATED
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical	Chris McCarrell	The Lightning Thief	n/a
	Aaron Tveit	Moulin Rouge!	x
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical	Karen Olivo	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Elizabeth Stanley	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Adrienne Warren	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical	Danny Burstein	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Sean Allan Krill	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Daniel J. Watts	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical	Celia Rose Gooding	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Robyn Hurder	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Lauren Patten	Jagged Little Pill	x
CATEGORY	NOMINEE	SHOW	NOMINATED
Best Book of a Musical	Diablo Cody	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Katori Hall	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
	John Logan	Moulin Rouge!	x
Best Score Written for the Theater*	Rob Rokicki	The Lightning Thief	n/a
Best Orchestrations	Tom Kitt	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Justin Levine, with Matt Stine, Katie Kresek & Charlie Rosen	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Ethan Popp	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
CATEGORY	NOMINEE	SHOW	NOMINATED
Best Choreography	Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Sonya Tayeh	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Anthony Van Laast	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
Best Direction of a Musical	Phyllida Lloyd	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
	Diane Paulus	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Alex Timbers	Moulin Rouge!	x
CATEGORY	NOMINEE	SHOW	NOMINATED
Best Scenic Design of a Musical	Riccardo Hernández & Lucy Mackinnon	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Derek McLane	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Mark Thompson & Jeff Sugg	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
Best Costume Design of a Musical	Sydney Maresca	The Lightning Thief
	Mark Thompson	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
	Catherine Zuber	Moulin Rouge!	x
Best Lighting Design of a Musical	Bruno Poet	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x
	Justin Townsend	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Justin Townsend	Moulin Rouge!	x
Best Sound Design of a Musical	Jonathan Deans	Jagged Little Pill	x
	Peter Hylenski	Moulin Rouge!	x
	Nevin Steinberg	Tina: The Tina Turner Musical	x

NOTE: We are THRILLED with the fuller featured acting categories!

#2430