The Best and Worst of the 2008 Tony Awards

VIDEOS OF ALL TONY AWARD MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

Every year I look forward to the Tony Awards, and every year I'm just a bit disappointed. Sure, there were some deserving winners (In the Heights, August Osage County, South Pacific, Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, Paulo Szot, Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed), but there were also some ho-hum performances, a no-show from Stephen Sondheim and a disappointing Rent reunion.

Well, you win some, you lose some.

Here's my take on the Best and Worst of the 2008 Tony Awards:

The Best
1. In the Heights performs "$96,000" and wins best musical
Easily the most spirited and well-produced number of the evening, In the Heights likely sold a lot of tickets with this performance, not to mention Lyn Manuel Miranda's charming acceptance speech for Best Score. Oh yeah -- that top musical prize won't hurt the Box Office either.

2. South Pacific takes home the most awards, and beautifully represents itself with a medley
Definitely the classiest performance, South Pacific got to show off it's Tony nominees Paulo Szot, Kelli O'Hara and Danny Burstein in a mostly well put-together number (the transition from "Some Enchanted Evening" to "Wonderful Guy" seemed a bit rushed to me). Kudos to the stellar Lincoln Center Theater production for taking home all of the Design Awards, as well as trophies for director Bart Sher, leading man Szot and Best Revival. And didn't you just love Andre Bishop's speech?

3. Gypsy brings down the house, and picks up three acting prizes
I probably would have given the Featured Actor award to Passing Strange's Daniel Breaker over Boyd Gaines, but other than that I can't quibble with the prizes for Patti Lupone and Laura Benanti. And how about "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? While I would have prefered "Rose's Turn," there's no denying La Lupone -- and her speech was fabulously over-the-top. Loved it.

4. Stew and Passing Strange give the Tony's a jolt
Passing Strange doesn't easily lend itself to an out-of-context production number, but they got to show off the unique energy of the show, as well as the stellar performances of Breaker, Stew and the rest of the cast. And though Strange didn't take home any major awards (and will likely announce a closing date soon), I was happy to see Stew pick up the prize for Best Book.

5. Xanadu brings a light kick to the proceedings
There one shot at taking home a Tony disappeared early in the evening after Douglas Carter Beane's book lost out to Stew, but their production number was easily the most lighthearted fun of the whole proceedings. And don't even get me started on Cheyenne Jackson in those short-shorts!

Honorable Mentions:
-August Osage County's wins for Rondi Reed, Deanna Dunagan and Best Play
-Boeing Boeing taking out Macbeth for the Best Revival of a Play trophy
-Liza Minelli. Just 'cause.

Coming soon...the WORST of this years's Tony's. Stay tuned!

VIDEOS OF ALL TONY AWARD MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

Videos: 2008 Tony Award Performances From Best Musical Nominees

Best and Worst Moments of the 2008 Tony Awards

Videos from Best Musical Revival Nominees

Videos of the original cast of Rent, Along with Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair and Young Frankenstein

In the Heights


Passing Strange


Xanadu


Cry Baby

Best and Worst Moments of the 2008 Tony Awards

Videos from Best Musical Revival Nominees

Videos of the original cast of Rent, Along with Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair and Young Frankenstein

Tony Award Predictions: The Musical Categories

It's an interesting year at the Tony Awards, with big buzz shows (The Little Mermaid, Young Frankenstein) snubbed, and smalled, edgier fare (Passing Strange, In the Heights) hogging most of the nominations.

By my tally, the big winner will be South Pacific -- I'm guessing Lincoln Center Theater's production of the great Rodgers & Hammerstein musical will take home 7 awards.

Here are my thoughts on who should and will win the top prizes on June 15th. Feel free to leave your thoughts below.

BEST MUSICAL
Cry-Baby
In the Heights
Passing Strange
Xanadu

Should Win: Passing Strange
Will Win: In the Heights

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
Grease
Gypsy
South Pacific
Sunday in the Park With George

Should Win: South Pacific
Will Win: South Pacific

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Sam Buntrock, Sunday in the Park With George
Thomas Kail, In the Heights
Arthur Laurents, Gypsy
Bartlett Sher, South Pacific

Should Win: Sher
Will Win: Sher

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL
Cry-Baby, Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan
In the Heights, Quiara Alegría Hudes
Passing Strange, Stew
Xanadu, Douglas Carter Beane

Should Win: Xanadu
Will Win: Xanadu

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATER
Cry-Baby, Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger
In the Heights, Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Little Mermaid, Music: Alan Menken; Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Passing Strange, Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald; Lyrics: Stew

Should Win: In the Heights
Will Win: In the Heights

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Daniel Evans, Sunday in the Park With George
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Stew, Passing Strange
Paulo Szot, South Pacific
Tom Wopat, A Catered Affair

Should Win: Miranda
Will Win: Szot

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kerry Butler, Xanadu
Patti LuPone, Gypsy
Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific
Faith Prince, A Catered Affair
Jenna Russell, Sunday in the Park With George

Should Win: O'Hara
Will Win: Lupone

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Daniel Breaker, Passing Strange
Danny Burstein, South Pacific
Robin De Jesus, In the Heights
Christopher Fitzgerald, Young Frankenstein
Boyd Gaines, Gypsy

Should Win: Breaker
Will Win: Gaines

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL de'Adre Aziza, Passing Strange
Laura Benanti, Gypsy
Andrea Martin, Young Frankenstein
Olga Merediz, In the Heights
Loretta Ables Sayre, South Pacific

Should Win: Benanti
Will Win: Benanti

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Rob Ashford, Cry-Baby
Andy Blankenbuehler, In the Heights
Christopher Gattelli, South Pacific
Dan Knechtges, Xanadu

Should Win: Cry-Baby
Will Win: Cry-Baby

Best Orchestrations
A Catered Affair
In the Heights
Passing Strange
Sunday in the Park With George

Should Win: Passing Strange
Will Win: Sunday in the Park with George

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Sunday in the Park With George
In the Heights
Young Frankenstein
South Pacific

Should Win: South Pacific
Will Win: South Pacific

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Sunday in the Park With George
Gypsy
In the Heights
South Pacific

Should Win: South Pacific
Will Win: South Pacific

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Sunday in the Park With George
In the Heights
South Pacific
The Little Mermaid

Should Win: South Pacific
Will Win: South Pacific

Best Sound Design of a Musical
In the Heights
Sunday in the Park With George
South Pacific
Gypsy

Should Win: South Pacific
Will Win: South Pacific