PRAY FOR REIGN
Hows do whatever it takes to win heated Tonys race
THE sequined-covered gloves are off. Voting began last week for the 2022 Tony Awards, which will honor the best of Broadway on June 12 on CBS. The race — capping off a bizarre year — is closer and meaner than it looks.
The battle that’s tightened considerably is Best Musical, pitting the late Michael Jackson vs. the composer Michael R. Jackson.
‘Every vote counts’
“A Strange Loop,” R. Jackson’s meta-musical about a young, gay, black musical theater writer, has been in the lead for weeks — buoyed by strong reviews in April. But sources said the race is now neck and neck between “Loop” and “MJ,” the musical about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Some voters who The Post spoke to aren’t as enamored with “Loop” as the critics were. Said one: “I think ‘MJ’ is a better musical than ‘Strange Loop,’ which is so very talented, but small.”
“Six: The Musical,” the royal pop concert from Britain, can’t be counted out, either, although as
that same voter observed, “It might be this year’s ‘Wicked’ [a famous Best Musical Tony loser] and make the most money.”
Participation is the dilemma du jour. The always slim pool of about 846 voters — from theater landlords to actors, directors, producers and critics — has been decimated due to a reluctance to go back to the theater, especially during the fall and winter Omicron surge.
Because each person must prove they saw every nominee in a category to vote, a source estimated that there are just 500 eligible people to decide the musical winners (possibly even less for revival) and a meager 200 for the plays. That’s two-thirds of a dinner service at Sardi’s.
“This year, every vote counts,” the source said.
And so do the tactics to get ’em. Productions that had been hesitant to host traditional openingnight parties threw boozy bashes this month when the 100 out-oftown, so-called “road voters” came to New York to see the nominees.
“Six” hosted them for a bash at
Sony Hall; “A Strange Loop” brought the fun to Margaritaville in Times Square; “Company” premiered a documentary about its creation at the SVA Theatre and had a soiree at a nearby art gallery, where nominees Patti LuPone and Matt Doyle held court. “MJ,” meanwhile, secured Tavern on the Green and had Andrew Lloyd Webber play DJ.
“If there are only 500 voters for musicals, does it make road votes more important? I bet it does,” said one producer. “That bodes badly for ‘A Strange Loop.’ Good for ‘MJ.’ ” As another source put it: “‘A Strange Loop’ makes ‘Fun Home’ look like ‘The Sound of Music.’ ” Not everyone is convinced of the power of “MJ,” with a source noting “its terrified producer and cautious estate” have been tiptoeing due to Jackson’s controversies.
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Best Actor in a Musical is another fun fight. Myles Frost, the charismatic 22-year-old actor who’s been a breakout star as Jackson,
is “unbelievably ambitious,” a source said. Frost is duking it out with another celebrated newcomer, Jaquel Spivey, 23, the excellent lead in “A Strange Loop,” who has been out sick for several days, forcing producers to beg voters to reschedule. And, of course, there’s “The Music Man’s” Hugh Jackman, who opened the road conference with a “delightful” speech, according to one swooning visitor.
The rare spot of stability is Best Play — a lock for “The Lehman Trilogy.” But that isn’t stopping its competition from airing their grievances. Jeffrey Richards, producer of “The Minutes,” sent out an email Wednesday to voters ripping the New York Times for its scant coverage of Tracy Letts’ dramedy — and boasting how his show managed to open despite the Armie Hammer sex scandal.
On Hammer, whose part was taken over by Noah Reid from “Schitt’s Creek”: “We overcame the obstacles of . . . [having] to replace a major artist who had been involved in a scandal that led to his decision to depart the production.”
Sorry about Arts & Leisure, Jeffrey. But you’re always welcome to complain to The Post!