Brian's NYC

Here is my speech I wrote for Sean & Tina's wedding...

It takes a great man to put another's life before his own. It takes dedication to follow through on one's career goals, and endure whatever hardships may come along the way. It takes humility, kindness, compassion, patience, and love to always be there for your brother...

But enough about me. This occasion is supposed to be about Sean & Tina. I started thinking about this speech and how I was going to tug on everyone's heartstrings, not leave a dry eye in the house. But then I thought that i should take the opportunity while I had it to roast the sucker.

So while I have everyone's attention, I'd like to say that Sean used to bully me around a lot as a kid. Well, not so much bully as BOSS. I'm surprised he didn't have a time clock for me to punch in and out of when I got home from school. From "Get me a snack," to "Brian, wake up, get up out of bed, and see what is making all that noise outside," it was always something, but he was my big brother, and for some reason I looked up to him. The orders would usually not be followed up with a "Thank you," but rather a, "No, you may not have any of the girl scout cookies you just brought me, " or an, "I'm just going to stay here while you run out of the room screaming from the giant raccoon staring right in your face when you open the curtains. At eleven o'clock. And you're nine. And pretty sure that raccoon is looking for some dinner. And he just found it." Then I remember a distinct moment when I realized that he wasn't giving me a 401K and the only benefit I was getting from him was not being farted on.

After Sean learned how to pour his own glass of juice, the taunting still continued, and included but was not limited to tickling wars (Sean is not ticklish. I lost.), and him jumping out of my closet wearing a Bill Clinton mask right as I'm getting in bed. I wasn't always the victim, however. I still have a very incriminating tape of Sean singing "A Whole New World" in the shower, and I also mastered the art of nailing him from a tree with water balloons. It wasn't until Sean went off to college that we really stopped feuding, and it wasn't until I went to college that we started to really get along. And the fun memories we've made and the amount I've learned form him has made up for all of the brother "love" I endured growing up by tenfolds.

After Sean and Tina began dating, you all probably know how quickly their relationship escalated. They said "I love you," after 1 1/2 months, were living together after 2, had Nola, Rebel, Huckleberry, and Danny the frog by 8 months, and despite the fact that it took 2 years to get engaged, it was clear early on that they were a perfect match.

The first time I met Tina was in Arizona while visiting her family over the holidays in 2005. They picked me up from the airport, and the first thing I saw was the license plate on T's car, which read "LEPRDSS." I'll admit, I was a bit concerned. But Tina won me over with a day of the best shopping, bars, and attractions Scottsdale had to offer. And the chemistry between the two was unmistakable. I said to myself, "Finally! Someone else to take the brunt of the abuse from Sean!" (Don't worry, I gave her some pointers on the self defense I've picked up over the years).

The dynamic of their relationship is quite remarkable. Two of the most focused and driven people I know, it is fascinating to see them naturally go through this 'give and take' sort of process. Tina moved in with Sean after Hurricane Katrina, then he moved down to New Orleans with her when Tulane reopened. Both focused on their own directions in law, they took the Bar exams in cities on the opposite sides of the country. Sean lived in New York working as a temp for a year while Tina began her career as a patent lawyer. Now Tina is hoping to move out of the city and they will both commute to DC and Aberdeen for work while Sean begins his career as a JAG. The amount of 'give and take' and compromise their relationship has seems difficult and sometimes excessive, but it is a true testament to how much they love each other. I'm sure no one looks forward to the time when they can settle down and enjoy their life together more than they do. But until then, I have admired and learned a lot from their relationship together. And Tina? What's not to love? I told my mom when I was six that I wanted a baby sister. She thought it was pretty funny (even thought I wasn't joking). I know she's thrilled now, and I'm happy to have a big sister to bond with and stick up for me. And it's pretty fun to see Sean following the orders for a change. To Sean & Tina!

BEST MUSICAL

Neil Patrick Harris delivered the "Top 10 Signs You've Hired a Bad Tony Awards Host" on Late Night with David Letterman on June 4:

10: Spends first twenty minutes tangled in the curtain
9: Only got the gig because Nathan Lane has swine flu
8: Looks like Shrek, but isn't Shrek
7: Lights go up, pants come down
6: Instead of airfare and a modest fee, he demands a fake passport, enriched uranium and a plane ticket to North Korea
5: Thinks the two gangs in West Side Story are the Jets and the 49ers
4: His only qualification is that he's a distant cousin of Tony Danza
3: Quits after ten minutes, citing "mercury poisoning from sushi"
2: Plans to have a bare-assed Angela Lansbury lowered onto Eminem
1: He's straight

I think #2 is my favorite.
Is #1 supposed to be a hit on Hugh Jackman?

Tuesday: Will We Ever Make It?

I'd been waiting for this vacation for a long time. I worked seven days in a row to make up for beinggone for a week, so I'm pretty much over the restaurant, over the city, over sailors (thank you, Fleet Week!), and just ready to escape for a bit. Sean and Tina picked me up and we got to JFK, checked in, and it only took 3 minutes in the security line for someone to notice Tina's poofy garment bag containing THE DRESS, and her shirt with "Bride" bedazzled across the chest. Sean was being a little too sarcastic so early in the morning (well, it was 10:30, but still...). Tina was understandably overprotective of her dress, which got caught up in the front flaps of the X-Ray machine, causing the security guard to lay the pristine white bag directly on the conveyor belt (clearly, she had never gotten married before). It was the only thing I could do to push Tina through the metal detector so she wouldn't dive in after the dress. Sean insisted that Tina pre-board with the screaming children and old people in wheelchairs so as to find the proper spot to store her dress (JetBlue doesn't have coat closets on board). After much bickering and arguing over the subject (you'd think they were already married), Tina was preactically carried on board by the ticket agent. And since he had already been wrong about multiple discussions already in the day (including the size of Dunkin Donuts coffee cups...don't ask) I wisely advised my dear brother to "Wipe that smug look off your face before Tina turns around and sees it. She may call off the wedding." After we got on board and in our seats, I sent a text to my father: "The dress and Tina made it on the plane. Unfortunately, so did Sean."

After an uneventful flight, we arrived in beautiful...cloudy?...San Diego. The weather was 60 degrees, overcast, and remained that way the ENTIRE week, much to our dismay and frequent bickering. I think I came back paler than I left. I met up with Nic, whom I hadn't seen at all the week before because of a leadership conference in Arizona. We didn't care that there wasn't any sun, and i drove with the top down in our convertible rental to the hotel. We stayed at the beautiful, if a little too stuffy US Grant in the middle of downtown. Our suite was spacious, had classical furnishings with a contemporary twist, and the staff frequently used the phrase, "It would be my pleasure." (Q: "Can we have our car brought up?" A: "It would be my pleasure." Q: "Can we have 3 buckets of ice brought up? We're having a party." A: "It would be my pleasure." Q: "Can you quack like a duck while playing hopscotch?" A: "It would be my pleasure"). The day was capped off with a BBQ at my parent's rental condo in Pacific Beach, along with Aunt Margaret, Uncle Bill, and cousins Max and Sophie.

Wednesday: Perhaps A Bit Too Glutonous

We began our day with Tina and Nic needing to shop for rehearsal dinner attire (we met up with Sean and Tina in Forever 21...why T was looking here for rehearsal dinner dresses is beyond me). Then Nic and I resumed the heavy drinking from the night before with HUGE margaritas in Old Town with Mom and Dad. I mean, these things were no fishbowls, but they were pretty substantial. Again, no sun. After gawking at some Mexican wrestling masks (a la Nacho Libre), Nic and I went in search of a grocery store to stock up on some grub (and let's face it, more booze).

I'd like to take a minute to give my opinion on grocery stores. I didn't know how good I had it on the west coast when it came to grocery stores and supermarkets until I got to New York. I miss the days when I could fill up a cart with stuff, completely stock my home with groceries and whatever else I might need (one stop shopping!), and not have to return for another two weeks until it was time to restock. Those days are no more. In New York, one has to practically go to the store every day to purchase food. Sure, there are home delivery opportunities, but they cost, and fresh direct usually isn't so fresh, or direct. The best bet is to only buy what you can carry and return the next day for more. You only buy what you need right then and there. AND, grocery stores never sell liquor, and only sometimes sell wine and beer. When I walked into that Ralph's in San Diego I felt like I was walking into heaven. The largest produce section I had seen in a long time. All of the liquor and beer and wine I could want. An ENTIRE AISLE of cereal. Good lord.

Anyway, we had a little cocktail gathering at our room later that day for some of Nic's friends and co-workers who were in town for a leadership conference, then met up with Alex Moffitt from Naked Voices for a lovely seafood dinner (actually I had a burger. They had seafood). I loved being so close to all of the downtown action in our hotel! The only issue is that it was a little too fratty...like State St. in Santa Barbara on college night. Ah, well.

Thursday: Tux Nightmare

This was the day all of the wedding festivities began. We all met at the Men's Warehouse to pick up our tuxes. We went with MW because we were all coming from across the country, and all we had to do was go to our local MW location, get fitted, and give them the account number that Sean and I set up for the wedding. Then we all got together to pick them up at once. I was a bit nervous going into it because I felt like MW was waiting until the last minute to get us our monkey suits. What happens if something goes wrong? Well, we were about to find out.

Sean, Lynz, and I decided to show up 20 minutes early for the appointment so they could have ample time to pull all of the tuxes for us. It was then that we found out this week was the busiest week of the year for wedding and prom tux rentals. There were probably 20 pubescent high school boys there with their parents, dates, whomever, milling around to pick up their orders. But that was only the first of our worries. All of the tuxes were there except for two: Sean's, and mine. My tux was sent to a different location across town (the store numbers were one digit off, wouldn't ya know it), and Sean's was "still on the truck." He called ahead earlier in the week to confirm everythign would be in order, and they all were "still on the truck." And whose tux would be the most important of all to have, and to have correct? THE GROOMS! They assured us that his tux would be delievered (to the correct store) the next day at 11. So on we went with the day, which concluded with Nic and I attending...

THE BACHELORETTE PARTY. All I will say about the bachelorette party is this: It was a hell of a lot better than the bachelor party. That I organized. I'm not sure what that says...

Friday: Practice Makes Perfect

Friday I met Sean at Men's Warehouse at 11, and low and behold, they didn't have his tux! This is when the snowflake begins to turn into a snowball as the final details and events of the weekend begin and we start to lose control over everything. I still feel bad about the guys who showed up with incomplete tuxes because they had to piece Sean's tux together from other existing orders. But let me tell you, that tux looked pretty sharp on Sean. They did what they could with my tux, reimbursed us for our troubles, and sent us on our way. From there, Nic and I got ready to get to the rehearsal by 4!!

We showed up EARLY to the rehearsal at The Prado in Balboa Park, and as everyone started trickling in the excitement began for the events that were going to ensue. The venue was beautiful, and it was great to see everyone finally together!! Come 4:15, we were all there except for....Sean and Tina. Ugh. I noticed two women walking around with a binder looking at the venue, and could tell that this is a popular spot for weddings and that they too were checking out the venue for a Big Day in the future. Then the younger woman approached my mother and had this conversation:

Woman: Do you have a rehearsal here at 4:30?

Mom: No, it's at 4.

W: Oh. We have one at 4:30...

M: Oh dear. We're just waiting on the bride & groom.

W: Is your reception tomorrow? What time? Is it at 4 or 6? I'm told sometimes they have two ceremonies here on a busy Saturday.

M: Ours is at 6 I believe.

W: Oh, so is ours. Are you in the large or small banquet hall?
M: The large.

W: Shoot, so is ours! It appears as though everything has been double booked! I'm going to go find the venue coordinator and see what is going on. What is the bride's name, so I can tell her?
M: Tina Hanson.

W: OH MY GOD (flips binder around, showing sign saying "Mahoney-Hanson"), I'm Kiley, the wedding planner.

After we all cleaned up the messes we made from soiling our pants over the whole ordeal, Sean and Tina arrived, saying the rehearsal was at 4:30 but they were instructed to tell everyone 4 so we could actually start on time. That's a great idea, except it should also apply to the bride and groom, we were getting a little worried. Needless to say, the rehearsal went well, didn't take too long and wasn't very painful. Then it was time to partaaaay!

The rehearsal dinner was my parent's domain, and took place at the Woman's Rowing Club in San Diego, right on the water. It was a gorgeous, intimate cabin setting, open bar (with Abita Amber and Purple Haze, thankyouverymuch), lots of fun people and fun times! I was getting a bit down on myself because I didn't feel like I was doing much for Sean as his Best Man. I was discussing this with our friend Barbara, who recently got married herself, and she advised me to just let him know that I am there for him if he needs anything. She also recommended that I take his cell phone the day of, to make sure he can focus on the event and not the subsequent stresses, and make sure he remembers to eat and drink before the ceremony, etc. I thought that was very poignant and practical advice, and it really made me feel better about the situation. It was at that moment that I felt a shift and really took charge of my role in their big day. The dinner was capped off by a sweet little toast by Dad and Sean, and we all headed out to continue the celebration! Tina and the bridesmaids went off to Sean & Tina's suite to prepare for the next day, while Sean and a few PACT folks (and our significant others) headed to an awesome rooftop bar to catch up and enjoy the evening.

Saturday - I Do!

The wedding day started off for the guys with a 'groomsmen brunch' at The Tractor House. It was certainly a Man's Brunch with bloody mary's and margaritas, and dishes served in skillets featuring elk, wild boar, and the largest servings of corn bread I have ever seen! We headed back to Shar's apartment and got ready for the ceremony and headed over to the venue! Sean and Tina had a 3PM photo call. Of course everyone was running behind, but thankfully wedding coordinators always take this into account! Sean has some precious moments of adrenaline rushing and anxiety over the day going smoothly...and it did, with the exception of a minor freakout over thinking we lost the rings. :) Everyone had a fantastic time, we ate amazing food, enjoyed the open bar, we danced the night away...I sang for them and read my Best Man speech, both of which were amazingly received. The day couldn't have been more perfect!!

Sunday - Recovery and Wrap-Up

The next morning, we headed over for 'brunch' (Sean and Tina, in my opinion, if it's held before 10AM, it's still breakfast) with the family, and to see S & T off on their honeymoon. We enjoyed a quick meal with them (best way to battle a hangover? Mimosas!), and saw them off. Nic and I tried to convince them that we were going to meet them there, and I think they almost bought it, up until I blew it with a comment like, "I hope you guys don't mind sleeping on the cot we ordered for the room."

After the breakfast, Nora joined Nic and I for an exploration of Coronado Island, one of my favorite areas of San Diego. Sure, it's super touristy, but can you imagine actually living there! It'd probably get a little old having to drive over the bridge every day to get into the city, but it was so beautiful and laid back there. I could get used to it :) We had a fun time invading the souvenier shops and taking photos with the repulsive merchandise and attire they had for sale. After we outstayed our welcome at a few shops, it was back over to the family condo for one last gathering, where my mother spent most of the time trying to stuff beer, snacks, burgers, and leftover wedding cake down our throats. That woman just never wants to end up with anything to take home with her! It was a great evening, everyone really loved Nic (how could you not?), and it was fun coming full circle and ending the trip right where it began.

To Sean & Tina!!

Best Play:
Dividing the Estate
God of Carnage
Reasons to be pretty
33 Variations

Who I think will win: God of Carnage
Who I think should win: God of Carnage

While the only show I've seen from this category is Labute's Reasons to be Pretty, the buzz around God of Carnage is such that I think it will take the prize. The only thing standing in its way is the contemporary subject matter...I believe 33 Variations to be less controversial subject matter.

Best Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical

Who I think will win: Billy Elliott
Who I think should win: Next to Normal

I think it's terrible that 9 to 5 was not nominated (apparently there are political reasons why it wasn't). While I think Shrek was nominated because of its spectacle, 9 to 5 ranks as high in my book with the quality of the show. Billy Elliott is definitely the favorite to win, but I had some issues with it (I have yet to write a review on it, but plan to! really!). Haven't seen Rock of Ages, but I'm going to agree with the musical theatre purists in terms of nominating such a different theatrical experience (i.e. mixing theatre with a casual drinking atmosphere) for Best Musical. Next to Normal is my favorite show out of the bunch, but everyone I've talked to has said they weren't sure what to make of it the first time they saw it. The subject matter stands in the way, as well as its scale. Billy Elliott should take the prize politically and because of its favoritism in the Broadway world.

Best Book of a Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Shrek The Musical

Who I think will win: Billy Elliott
Who I think should win: Next to Normal

Next to Normal is the only original book in the category, but I would rather see it win a music award. While Shrek did a clever job of working in theatrical references, a lot of the lines from the movie stuck (same with 9 to 5 which, oops, wasn't nominated again). Billy Elliott did a seemingly good job adapting the book from the movie as well as the original London production, and is succeeded in conveying the political unrest of the period, as well as the social and familial issues surrounding a boy studying ballet.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
9 to 5: The Musical
Shrek The Musical

Who I think will win: Next to Normal
Who I think should win: Next to Normal

Elton John's score for Billy Elliott was not met with rave reviews, and I only liked about half of it myself. It's not the type of score that you really leave the theater humming every tune. 9 to 5's music was fantastic, but Dolly Parton adapted a number of her original songs to fit into the show. And Shrek also did some adapting, but while some of it was a lot of fun, the complexities of the score don't match up to NTN's.

Best Revival of a Play:
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot

Who I think will win: Mary Stuart
Who I think should win: Mary Stuart

This is a complete shot in the dark, as I will not have had the opportunity to see any of these shows before the awards on June 7. All of these shows got positive reviews, but I'd say Mary Stuart has gotten the best, as has the most buzz. The Norman Conquests could also take the prize though, seeing how it is 3 separate plays billed under one name. Very impressive accomplishment.

Best Revival of a Musical:
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Who I think will win: Hair
Who I think should win: Hair

I have come to care so passionately about the musical revival category for some reason. I feel like a successful musical revival (and the DEFINITION of it) comes along when a show is remounted and reconceived/restructured to appeal to the current generation of theatregoers, rather than simply mimicing the previous production. Therefore, I think that Hair should win over West Side Story. Although the actual material still remains dated, the experience trancends the period in which it was written. The performers and audience are simultaneously aware of its relevance, and it succeeds to convey its message in the current societal setting as well as provide a glimpse at the original production. Is this making any sense?


Best Special Theatrical Event:
Liza’s at The Palace
Slava’s Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush


Who I think will win: Liza's at The Palace
Who I think should win: You're Welcome America


Sure, she already has a few Tony's of her own, but the return of such a revered Broadway darling should get her another prize. You're Welcome America, on the other hand, mocks our previous Commander In Chief, and while the theater community is comprised of mostly liberal individuals, to award such a production might prove to be too political of a statement.


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:
Jeff Daniels - God of Carnage
Raul Esparza - Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini - God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush - Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski - Reasons to Be Pretty


Who I think will win: Geoffrey Rush
Who I think should win: Geoffrey Rush


Didn't see Raul Esparza (what? Jeremy Piven wasn't nominated?! ha), but the two male actors in Speed-The-Plow have too much of an equal playing field to pin-point one. Thomas Sadoski was great in Reasons to Be Pretty, but his performance seemed so stylistic that I feel its the only way he knows how to act. I haven't seen God of Carnage, so one actor might stand out above the other, but unless it's an impressively and emotionally charged performance, Geoffrey Rush should take the award for bringing his take on the classic character to life.


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:
Hope Davis- God of Carnage
Jane Fonda - 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden - God of Carnage
Janet McTeer - Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter - Mary Stuart

Who will win: Janet McTeer of Harriet Walter
Who should win: ???


Jane Fonda has a difficult category to stand out in. But perhaps she will because the other women are competing against their fellow castmates...on the other hand, Mary Stuart has had nothing but amazing reviews, and the material seems much more daunting than the contemporary text Davis and Harden deal with in their everyday work.


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel - Hair
Brian d’Arcy James - Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis - Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer - Next to Normal


Who will win: Brian d'Arcy James
Who should win: Brian d'Arcy James


I've heard mixed things about all of the Billy's, and it's a big deal to give the award to three actors. Plus, the dancing is what is really impressive about their performances, not necessarily the acting or singing. Gavin Creel definitely stands out in Hair, but the show is also such an ensemble effort, he has a lot of support. Bobby Spencer's is not the strongest male performance in his show (in my opinion), and I have not seen Rock of Ages. But I think James deserves the Tony because he really carries the show on his shoulders, and it's a monster (ogre?) of a task. He completely personifies Shrek, so much so that he transforms himself and I frequently forgot who was working so hard under all that padding and makeup. (is it interesting that James also originated Spencer's role in Next to Normal off-Broadway at Second Stage?)


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
Stockard Channing - Pal Joey
Sutton Foster - Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney - 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley - Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione - West Side Story


Who will win: Alice Ripley
Who should win: Alice Ripley


It's about time. She didn't win the last award she was nominated for, a dual Best Actress nomination with Emily Skinner for Side Show. She is the heart and soul of her show, the standout, and you can see every physical and emotional choice she makes so clearly. This woman is WORKING when she's performing, and the role is such a tour de force for her. While Channing and Janney have the star power on their side, Channing's role didn't stand out as much as Martha Plimptons, Janney has the support of her two co-stars (who also deserve to be nominated and SHOULD have been, btw). Unfortunately, I can't say anything about Scaglione because I haven't seen her perform, but I've heard wonderful things. She is such a newcomer to the scene, however, that I don't think it's going to happen for her this year.


Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play:
John Glover - Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier - 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan - The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter - The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Who will win: Stephen Mangan or Paul Ritter
Who should win: ???


I haven't seen any of these shows yet, but I think one of the two nominees from The Norman Conquests could take it, seeing as how it's a crazy trilogy.


Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play:
Hallie Foote - Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes - The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland - Reasons to be pretty
Angela Lansbury - Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root - The Norman Conquests

Who I think will win: Angela Lansbury
Who I think should win: Angela Lansbury

She's ancient by now, but still as spry as she was in her prime, and steals the show! Smells like Tony to me!

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:
David Bologna - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch - 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber - Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson - Hair

Who I think will win: Christopher Sieber
Who I think should win: Christopher Sieber

He's been nominated for multiple awards and has been overlooked every time. He spends the entire show on his knees, and deserves some credit for his dedication and creativity with his character. David Bologna is great in Billy, and at some points steals the show, but the main acting tour de force in the cast is Gregory Jbara. He is the other contender for the award, in my opinion. Will Swenson, as I said about Gavin Creel, is nominated for a show that is vastly ensemble related, and Marc Kudisch's performance is muffled by the stellar trio of females he performes with.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:
Jennifer Damiano - Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo - West Side Story
Martha Plimpton - Pal Joey
Carole Shelley - Billy Elliot, The Musical

Who I think will win: Haydn Gwynne
Who I think should win: Haydn Gwynne

Jennifer Damiano is decently solid in Next to Normal, but she is simply too young and inexperienced to win the award. Martha Plimpton was the shining star of Pal Joey, but the entire show was just a lackluster completely. Carole Shelley does not stand out as much as Haydn Gwynne, and I am actually confused and surprised by her nomination. Karen Olivo is also a front runner, but I feel like Gwynne's more extensive resume and role in a higher profile show will get her the award.

Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Dale Ferguson - Exit the King
Rob Howell - The Norman Conquests
Derek McLane - 33 Variations
Michael Yeargan - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Who will win: 33 Variations
Who should win: ???

Eh, it's just a shot in the dark.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Robert Brill - Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask - Pal Joey
Mark Wendland - Next to Normal

Who will win: Billy Elliott
Who should win: Guys and Dolls

While I haven't seen Guys and Dolls, I've heard that it is rather glam and glitsy, and it sounds as though it could win. Pal Joey's set was also beautiful and very impressive, but it's lack of color and dated materials may keep it from winning. Next to Normal is a clever and fun set, but its small scale cannot measure up to the other nominees. Billy Elliot's set is technically extremely impressive, but something about its chopiness and contemporary elements made it seem odd to me.

Best Costume Design of a Play:
Dale Ferguson - Exit the King
Jane Greenwood - Waiting for Godot
Martin Pakledinaz - Blithe Spirit
Anthony Ward - Mary Stuart

Who will win: Anthony Ward
Who should win: Anthony Ward

Period pieces and modern designs are almost a given to win costume awards. Mary Stuart should take it.

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Gregory Gale - Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley - Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald - Hair

Who will win: Tim Hatley
Who should win: Tim Hatley

The fantastical costumes of Shrek are extremely ornate and elaborate. You can see every dollar of its $24 million budget, which includes its impressive costume designs. Especially compared to the realist designs of punk rock, 80's Ireland, and 70's hippie-chic.

Best Lighting Design of a Play:
David Hersey - Equus
David Lander - 33 Variations
Brian MacDevitt - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Hugh Vanstone - Mary Stuart

Who will win: ???
Who should win: ???

Ok, the only show I've seen from this category is Equus, and even though the lights were incredibly effective, the sound design of the show was more impressive. If only one technical award is given to the show, it should not be for lighting.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Kevin Adams - Hair
Kevin Adams - Next to Normal
Howell Binkley - West Side Story
Rick Fisher - Billy Elliot, The Musical

Who will win: Hair
Who should win: Next to Normal

Next to Normals lighting design is innovative and effective, but again, the small scale of the show might affect its winning. Hair's design features the most current trents and technology, and perfectly fits the show. West Side Story could also take the prize, but I think Billy Elliots lavish set blocks the lights from shining through.

Best Sound Design of a Play:
Paul Arditti - Mary Stuart
Gregory Clarke - Equus
Russell Goldsmith - Exit the King
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Who will win: Gregory Clarke
Who should win: Gregory Clarke

I'm not sure if live and recorded sound count as sound design, but costume, set and sound design blended so well together in Equus. Horses scraping their metal hooves on metal doors of their stables while Alan Strange is having night terrors and mental breakdowns, paired with haunting and hollow whinnies made the eeriness of the show that much more effective. A complete experience.

Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Acme Sound Partners - Hair
Paul Arditti - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski - Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan - Next to Normal

Who will win: Rock of Ages
Who should win: Next to Normal

Does this category encompass mixing? Rock of Ages is the Broadway equivalent of a rock concert. But the band in Next to Normal is placed all over the stage, and the mixing is incredibly blended mixed so well that they appear to be all playing together in one platform on the stage. There are also multiple mic effects done on the performers to resemble hallucinations and dreams. I don't recall any actual sound cues in any of these shows, so I'm not sure what else to judge the award on.

Best Direction of a Play:
Phyllida Lloyd - Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus - God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus - The Norman Conquests

Who will win: Matthew Warchus
Who should win: Matthew Warchus

God of Carnage and The Norman Conquests are two of the most well-reviewed plays of the year. They are also both London transplants, but so is Mary Stuart. It is interesting that Bartlett Sher is the only American director in the category (and it's a testament to the quality of art that is coming from the West End. So which show will win the award? I think it will most likely go to The Norman Conquests because, you guessed it, it is a trilogy, and a magnificent feat.

Best Direction of a Musical:
Stephen Daldry - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif - Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi - Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus - Hair

Who will win: Diane Paulus
Who should win: Michael Greif

I'm not sure if I'm just really biased toward wanting Next to Normal to win anything possible, or what my deal is, but I think that Michael Greif has done such an amazing job with the evolution of the show, and it is so effective and moving, his vision and direction definitely deserves recognition. Diane Paulus's Hair is also an extremely moving piece and effectively brings the calls for peace from the 70's to today. She could also take the prize.

Best Choreography:
Karole Armitage - Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler - 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner - Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

Who will win: Peter Darling
Who should win: Peter Darling

The most moving moments of Billy is the choreography, and Darling deserves the award. The musical staging is in my opinion the most beautiful part of the show, and Darling masterfully commands the wide array of cast members.

Here are the nominees for the 2009 Tony's! Predictions to come soon--

Best Play:
Dividing the Estate
God of Carnage
Reasons to be pretty
33 Variations

Best Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical

Best Book of a Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Shrek The Musical

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
9 to 5: The Musical
Shrek The Musical

Best Revival of a Play:
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot

Best Revival of a Musical:
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Best Special Theatrical Event:
Liza’s at The Palace
Slava’s Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:
Jeff Daniels - God of Carnage
Raul Esparza - Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini - God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush - Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski - Reasons to Be Pretty

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:
Hope Davis- God of Carnage
Jane Fonda - 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden - God of Carnage
Janet McTeer - Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter - Mary Stuart

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel - Hair
Brian d’Arcy James - Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis - Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer - Next to Normal

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
Stockard Channing - Pal Joey
Sutton Foster - Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney - 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley - Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione - West Side Story

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play:
John Glover - Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier - 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan - The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter - The Norman Conquests”
Roger Robinson - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play:
Hallie Foote - Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes - The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland - Reasons to be pretty
Angela Lansbury - Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root - The Norman Conquests

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:
David Bologna - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch - 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber - Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson - Hair

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:
Jennifer Damiano - Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo - West Side Story
Martha Plimpton - Pal Joey
Carole Shelley - Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Dale Ferguson - Exit the King
Rob Howell - The Norman Conquests
Derek McLane - 33 Variations
Michael Yeargan - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Robert Brill - Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask - Pal Joey
Mark Wendland - Next to Normal

Best Costume Design of a Play:
Dale Ferguson - Exit the King
Jane Greenwood - Waiting for Godot
Martin Pakledinaz - Blithe Spirit
Anthony Ward - Mary Stuart

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Gregory Gale - Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley - Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald - Hair

Best Lighting Design of a Play:
David Hersey - Equus
David Lander - 33 Variations
Brian MacDevitt - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Hugh Vanstone - Mary Stuart

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Kevin Adams - Hair
Kevin Adams - Next to Normal
Howell Binkley - West Side Story
Rick Fisher - Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play:
Paul Arditti - Mary Stuart
Gregory Clarke - Equus
Russell Goldsmith - Exit the King
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Acme Sound Partners - Hair
Paul Arditti - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski - Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan - Next to Normal

Best Direction of a Play:
Phyllida Lloyd - Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher - Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus - God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus - The Norman Conquests

Best Direction of a Musical:
Stephen Daldry - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif - Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi - Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus - Hair

Best Choreography:
Karole Armitage - Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler - 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner - Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

Best Orchestrations:
Larry Blank - Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Martin Koch - Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt - Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy - Shrek The Musical