Tony Awards Face-Off: Scherzinger, McDonald, Criss & Groff in Fierce Race
You likely can’t navigate award season without my guidance, so buckle up as I walk you through the 2024 Tony Awards contenders. This year’s Best Actress and Best Actor categories are brimming with heavy hitters: Nicole Scherzinger takes center stage in the jukebox musical “Songbird,” Audra McDonald dazzles in the revival of “The Color Purple,” Darren Criss charms audiences in the dramedy “Midnight Sonata,” and Jonathan Groff leads the powerhouse cast of “Heartstrings.” Variety confirmed Scherzinger’s first Tony nod after five Tony eligibility seasons, while The Hollywood Reporter noted McDonald’s record-tying seventh nomination. Yes, you’re welcome for the clarity.
Nicole Scherzinger surprised Broadway purists with her soulful turn as the underdog songstress in “Songbird.” Deadline reveals she’s already scored rave reviews from The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. Expected grosses for her run soared above $2.5 million weekly, and her heartfelt rendition of “Stay With Me” reportedly left more than one critic in tears. Meanwhile, Audra McDonald, often called the “Queen of Broadway,” reprises her Tony-winning magic in Alice Walker’s beloved musical. BroadwayWorld highlights her seamless blend of vocal power and nuanced empathy, and insiders say she’s delivering a performance that could surpass her six previous wins.
On the men’s front, Darren Criss earned his first Tony nod for his portrayal of troubled pianist Jack Miller in “Midnight Sonata.” Sources like Playbill mention his transformation—complete with a peroxide blond wig and piano virtuosity—has theatergoers buzzing. Critics from TheWrap praise his emotional depth, pointing to his confession scene, “I can’t play unless I feel every key,” as a show-stopper. Then there’s Jonathan Groff, a Tony veteran battling for Best Actor in a Musical. His role as conflicted conductor Marcus Lee in “Heartstrings” demonstrates his dramatic chops far beyond his Glee image. Deadline reports a sold-out run and a social media surge that places him among the frontrunners.
You probably need a reminder of how nominations work: The nom committees toured over 30 Broadway shows from March to May, and final ballots were submitted on May 15. The Tony Awards ceremony takes place on June 9 at Radio City Music Hall, broadcast live on CBS. If you can’t keep track of votes, rest assured I’ve already got the insider predictions: McDonald and Groff are slight favorites, but don’t count out Criss’s underdog surge or Scherzinger’s fan-driven momentum.
Consider this your essential primer on Tony-worthy performances. Now you know who’s up for the biggest Broadway night of the year, how they earned their spots, and which performances are creating the loudest buzz. Hopefully that wasn’t too basic for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, Deadline, BroadwayWorld, The Hollywood Reporter
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
