Every critic who publishes a “Best Theatre of the Year” list in December is a Benedict Arnold to the counter-culture of their chosen art form.
On second thought…since today we’re talking about the best of Broadway…the least counterculture sector of New York’s theatre scene; thanks, Disney!..um…can we at least agree the medium’s ROOTS are counter-culture through and through?
Which is why no one should evaluate theater seasons conforming to the calendar year; each begins and ends around the Tony Awards in June!
But should that stop us from sharing half-season awards? Of course not (I want those #clicks just as much as everyone else)!
As such, it’s time for the Half-Stevens!
(…you know, like the Tonys, except I’m the one and only voter?)
19 shows opened between last summer’s Tonys and the end of 2018 (sorry, Choir Boy, the only show that’s already opened not on this list, because A) it opened in 2019, and B) I haven’t seen it yet).
Below, I start with the Musical awards, and then the Plays, and then Miscellaneous awards of my own invention, ending with my power rankings of all 19 shows.
As you’ll see, I simplify how the Tonys word their official categories to avoid needless confusion. Oh, and also, if you don’t see one of their categories, that means I don’t think anyone’s work so far this season deserves recognition in that category. Harsh, I know.
On that note…
Let’s do it!
MUSICALS
Best Actress
- Samantha Barks, Pretty Woman
Best Actor
- Andy Karl, Pretty Woman
Best Supporting Actor
- Eric Anderson, Pretty Woman
Best Choreography
- Light Balance, The Illusionists—Magic of the Holidays
- Spencer Liff, Head Over Heels
- Jerry Mitchell, Pretty Woman
- Faye Driscoll, Straight White Men
Best Costumes
- Light Balance, The Illusionists—Magic of the Holidays
- Arianne Phillips, Head Over Heels
- Gregg Barnes, Pretty Woman
Best Lighting
- Peter Mumford, King Kong
- Light Balance, The Illusionists—Magic of the Holidays
Best Orchestrations
- Will Van Dyke, Pretty Woman
Best Score
- Eric Sleichim, Network
- Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance, Pretty Woman
- SHOOT THIS GLORIOUS TRASH STRAIGHT INTO MY FUCKING VEINS!!!
Best Sound Design
- Peter Hylenski, King Kong
PLAYS
Best Actress
- Elaine May, The Waverly Gallery
- Laura Donnelly, The Ferryman
Best Supporting Actress
- Joan Allen, The Waverly Gallery
- Mercedes Ruehl, Torch Song
Best Actor
- Lucas Hedges, The Waverly Gallery
- Bryan Cranston, Network
- Jim Parsons, The Boys in the Band
- Mike Birbiglia, The New One
Best Supporting Actor
- Robin De Jesùs, The Boys in the Band
- Zachary Quinto, The Boys in the Band
- David Cromer, The Waverly Gallery
- Michael Cera, The Waverly Gallery
Best Costume
- David Zinn, The Boys in the Band
Best Director
- Ivo van Hove, Network
- Lila Neugebauer, The Waverly Gallery
- Joe Mantello, The Boys in the Band
- Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
- Seth Barrish, The New One
Best Lighting
- Jan Versweyveld, Network
- Aaron Copp, The New One
- Peter Mumford, The Ferryman
Best Set Design
- Jan Versweyveld, Network
- David Zinn, The Boys in the Band
- Beowulf Boritt, Bernhardt/Hamlet
- David Zinn, The Waverly Gallery
- Beowulf Boritt, The New One
- Todd Rosenthal, Straight White Men
Best Sound Design
- Eric Sleichim, Network
MISCELLANEOUS
- Head Over Heels
Best Comedy/Funniest
(Truthfully, I’m unsure of the difference, but I feel like there IS one. Luckily, since yucks are rare on Broadway nowadays — shamefully so! — this egregiousness affords me some more time to keep thinking about it…)
- The New One
- The Waverly Gallery
- The Boys in the Band
- The Ferryman
Best/Most Hamstrung Ensemble
- To Kill a Mockingbird
Best Pre-Show Soundtrack
- Straight White Men
- The Boys in the Band
Best Projections
- Tal Yarden, Network
- Tal Yarden, The Waverly Gallery
- Peter England, King Kong
Best Title
- The New One
- Straight White Men
- The Ferryman
Best Transitions
- The Waverly Gallery
- Straight White Men
POWER RANKINGS
- The Waverly Gallery
- The New One
- Network
- Straight White Men
- The Boys in the Band
- The Ferryman
- Lifespan of a Fact
- King Kong
- The Prom
- Pretty Woman
- The Nap
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Torch Song
- Bernhardt/Hamlet
- American Son
- The Illusionists—Magic of the Holidays
- Head Over Heels
- Gettin’ the Band Back Together
- The Cher Show
WRITE ALL NITE 