Tony Award Predictions Pt 1: Design Awards

For theater fans and those that work in the industry, the Tony Awards are the culimination of the entire season's worth of fun, excitement, and yes, sometimes disappointment. Since the awards are just about 10 days away (they will be broadcast live on June 10th, from 8-11PM on CBS), I thought I would add my $.02 as to who will take home the big prizes.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have seen about 90% of the shows that opened on Broadway this season (among the shows I missed: Translations, 110 in the Shade, Pirate Queen, Inherit the Wind, and Heartbreak House).

First up, the design awards (acting, directing, and the big prizes will follow in the next several days).

Best Scenic Design of a Play
The Coast of Utopia
Journey's End
Coram Boy
Radio Golf

Should Win: The Coast of Utopia -- The barricade? The ice skating? The Vivian Beaumont stage has never looked better.
Will Win: The Coast of Utopia
Possible Spoiler: Coram Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Mary Poppins
High Fidelity
Spring Awakening
Grey Gardens

Should Win: Mary Poppins -- Some of the most high-tech stagecraft ever seen on the Broadway stage (the moving house is breathtaking)
Will Win: Mary Poppins
Possible Spoiler: Spring Awakening

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Coram Boy
Journey's End
Inherit the Wind
The Coast of Utopia

Should Win: The Coast of Utopia -- whether it's a dream sequence, a revolutionary struggle, or a simple domestic scene, the lighting design was always incredibly evocative
Will Win: The Coast of Utopia
Possible Spoiler: Journey's End

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Spring Awakening
110 in the Shade
Mary Poppins
Grey Gardens

Should Win: Spring Awakening -- some of the most inventive lighting on Broadway (those hanging flashlights? Genius.)
Will Win: Spring Awakening
Possible Spoiler: Mary Poppins

Best Costume Design of a Play
Coram Boy
Heartbreak House
Inherit the Wind
The Coast of Utopia

Should Win: The Coast of Utopia -- Decades worth of Russian period garb? Tailor-made for a Tony Award.
Will Win: The Coast of Utopia
Possible Spoiler: Heartbreak House

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Legally Blonde
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening
Grey Gardens

Should Win: Grey Gardens -- in the most open of all of the design categories, I would give the award to Grey for making the costumes a part of the show
Will Win: Spring Awakening -- if a Spring sweep is in the works, you can expect this award to be along for the ride
Possible Spoiler: Mary Poppins -- the most "period" and flashy of all the nominees

Next up...the acting awards!

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