Final Tony Predictions: Score & Choreography – Could ‘KPOP’ Snag One of the Music and Dance Categories?
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
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UPDATED: June 8, 2023
2023 Tony Predictions:
Best Original Score
Weekly Commentary: In general, the voters who are checking the best musical box for “Kimberly Akimbo” are also casting their vote for Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire’s score, which finds a musical match for the show’s mix of comedy and wistfulness. Although Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s songs for “Some Like It Hot” get some love too, the competition here seems to be “Shucked,” which brings new-to-Broadway songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally to the boards with a score that successfully lends a country-music twang to old-fashioned musical theater. But it looks like this one will go to “Kimberly Akimbo” – and if it does, expect the best musical award to follow.
Gordon Cox’s Picks
Will win: Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Could win: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “Shucked”
Should win: Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Should Have Been Nominated: None; no other musical had an eligible score
Clayton Davis’ Picks
Will win: Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, “Kimberly Akimbo”
Could win: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, “Some Like It Hot”
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Tony Awards predictions in all categories.
The 76th Annual Tony Awards are scheduled for June 11, 2023, at the United Palace in New York City. It will air on CBS and Paramount+ and be produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, with the latter also serving as the director.
And the Nominees Are:
“Kimberly Akimbo” (Booth Theatre) — Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire
“Shucked” (Nederlander Theatre) — Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
“Some Like It Hot” (Shubert Theatre) — Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
“KPOP” (Circle in the Square Theatre) — Helen Park, Max Vernon
“Almost Famous” (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre) — Tom Kitt, Cameron Crowe
All Eligible Shows (Unranked)
“Almost Famous” (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre) — Tom Kitt, Cameron Crowe
“Bad Cinderella” (Imperial Theatre) — Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Zippel
“Cost of Living” (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre) — Mikaal Sulaiman
“Death of a Salesman” (Hudson Theatre) — Femi Temowo
“KPOP” (Circle in the Square Theatre) — Helen Park, Max Vernon
“Kimberly Akimbo” (Booth Theatre) — Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire
“The Kite Runner” (Hayes Theater) — Jonathan Girling
“Leopoldstadt” (Longacre Theatre) — Adam Cork
“New York, New York” (St. James Theatre) — John Kander, Lin-Manuel Miranda
“The Piano Lesson” (Barrymore Theatre) — Alvin Hough Jr.
“Prima Facie” (Golden Theatre) — Rebecca Lucy Taylor
“Shucked” (Nederlander Theatre) — Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
“Some Like It Hot” (Shubert Theatre) — Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
2023 Tony Predictions:
Best Choreography
Weekly Commentary: Director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw is the clear favorite in this category: His is the name that comes up most for his polished, razzle-dazzle work in “Some Like It Hot.” The Broadway veteran has also never won a choreography Tony, and the former dancer seems like he’s overdue. The closest thing he has to competition is another Broadway veteran, Susan Stroman, who staged one of the spring season’s most memorable sequences with her construction-girder tapdance in “New York, New York.” Jennifer Weber, double-nominated for “& Juliet” and “KPOP,” also comes up in conversations with voters, but overall, it looks like Nicholaw has this one in the bag.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Tony Awards predictions in all categories.
Gordon Cox’s Picks
Will win: Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot”
Could win: Susan Stroman, “New York, New York”
Should win: Jennifer Weber, “KPOP”
Should Have Been Nominated: Steven Hoggett, “A Beautiful Noise”
Clayton Davis’ Picks
Will win: Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like It Hot”
Could win: Susan Stroman, “New York, New York”
The 76th Annual Tony Awards are scheduled for June 11, 2023, at the United Palace in New York City. It will air on CBS and Paramount+ and be produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss, with the latter also serving as the director.
And the Nominees Are:
“Some Like It Hot” (Shubert Theatre) — Casey Nicholaw
“New York, New York” (St. James Theatre) — Susan Stroman
“& Juliet” (Stephen Sondheim Theatre) — Jennifer Weber
“KPOP” (Circle in the Square Theatre) — Jennifer Weber
“Sweeney Todd” (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre) — Steven Hoggett
Tony Awards Predictions Categories
BEST MUSICAL | BEST PLAY | MUSICAL REVIVAL | PLAY REVIVAL | ACTOR (MUSICAL) | ACTOR (PLAY) | ACTRESS (MUSICAL) | ACTRESS (PLAY) | FEATURED ACTOR (MUSICAL) | FEATURED ACTOR (PLAY) | FEATURED ACTRESS (MUSICAL) | FEATURED ACTRESS (PLAY) | DIRECTOR (MUSICAL) | DIRECTOR (PLAY) | ORIGINAL SCORE | MUSICAL BOOK | CHOREOGRAPHY
About the Tony Awards
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, better known as the Tony Awards, is given out annually by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, recognizing excellence in live Broadway theatre. The ceremony, held annually in New York City, was founded by theatre producer and director Brock Pemberton and is named after Antoinette “Tony” Perry, an actress, producer and theatre director who was co-founder of the American Theatre Wing.
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