Tight Race for Best Musical at This Year’s Tony Awards

As Sunday’s ceremony approaches, ‘no real front-runner’ for Broadway’s most-coveted prize

June 5, 2019

by Charles Passy

In the last few years, the Tony Awards contest for best musical, arguably Broadway’s most coveted prize, has largely been a one-show race.

In 2016, “Hamilton” swept the Tonys, winning 11 awards, topped by best musical. Last year, “The Band’s Visit” did almost the same, earning recognition in 10 categories, including best musical.

And this year? Theater professionals say all bets are off.

As Sunday’s Tony ceremony approaches, the race for best musical appears to be one of the tightest in recent history, with members of the theater community saying it is a three-way contest among “Hadestown,” “The Prom” and “Tootsie.”

“There’s no real front-runner,” said W. Lee Bell, senior director of programming at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.., a prominent presenter of touring Broadway shows. Mr. Bell is a Tony voter, though he declined to name his best-musical pick for this year.

The trio of musicals seen as the top contenders vary greatly in tone and subject matter.

“Hadestown” is considered the most serious-minded of the group, a jazz-inflected musical based on a Greek mythological tale of a trip to the underworld. It has also proved itself a cult favorite and plays regularly to capacity crowds.

By contrast, “Tootsie” and “The Prom” fit more squarely in the tradition of musical comedy. The former is based on the 1982 film that starred Dustin Hoffman, while the latter is an original show that combines a wink-wink look at the ego-laden world of Broadway with the story of a lesbian couple hoping to attend their high-school prom.

Each of the shows has been recognized in other award ceremonies and critical platforms, including those that are often viewed as a bellwether for the Tonys.

“The Prom,” for example, was named outstanding musical at the Drama Desk Awards, held this past Sunday. “Hadestown” wasn’t eligible to compete, however, because it had been considered previously during its off-Broadway run. (The Drama Desk Awards recognize Broadway and off- and off-off-Broadway productions, whereas the Tonys concentrate only on Broadway.)

Many theater professionals give the best-musical edge to “Hadestown,” saying it fits the mold of what Tony voters have recognized in recent years: a creative show that speaks to modern-day Broadway’s artistic aspirations.

“I think ‘Hadestown’ has a pretty secure lead,” said Oliver Roth, a Broadway producer.

At the same time, professionals note that Tony voters often see the best-musical award as an opportunity to recognize a show that could use a boost at the box office. In that regard, “The Prom” might prove the winner because it has not enjoyed the same financial success as other shows.

As for “Tootsie,” the show’s advantage may simply be that it delivers the laughs that Broadway audiences very much want and need, said Ryan Stana, chief executive officer of RWS Entertainment Group, a New York-based company that specializes in theater and live events.

“‘Tootsie’ is the return of the all-American musical,” said Mr. Stana, who predicts the show will grab the top honor.

Some theater-world veterans said there is even a possibility that the three shows could split the vote to the point that a different contender takes the best-musical prize.

The two other nominated shows in the category are “Beetlejuice,” based on the 1988 movie, and “Ain’t Too Proud,” a jukebox musical about the Motown group the Temptations.