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Celeb Secrets Predicts the 2018 Tony Award Winners

The 2018 Tony Awards are coming at us soon: Broadway‘s biggest night all will be happening live in New York City on Sunday, June 10, 2018. Before we see which of our favorite dramatic plays, high-energy actors, esteemed musicians, and more take home this year’s Tonys, Celeb Secrets thought it would be fun to try to predict the winners ahead time, based on critics’ picks, buzzworthy reviews, and our own thoughts on the shows we’ve seen this season!

Check out our 2018 Tonys winner predictions below, and stay tuned for more award show coverage throughout the coming days leading up to the ceremony.

Best Play
The Children, by Lucy Kirkwood
Farinelli and The King, by Claire van Kampen
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two, by Jack Thorne
Junk, by Ayad Akhtar
Latin History for Morons, by John Leguizamo

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Do we love Harry Potter enough to watch a two-part (read, two-day) show dedicated to the Cursed Child storyline? Of course we do, and thrilled audiences agree, so we see this creative work being honored at the Tonys.

Best Musical
The Band’s Visit
Frozen
Mean Girls
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: While many of the nominees in this category do an amazing job bringing our childhood nostalgia to life (and are incredible successes at the box office thanks to family viewing), and I’d cast a personal vote for Disney-backed Frozen, the most critically-acclaimed show among the listed musicals is certainly The Band’s Visit. I see either show picking up the Tony this year, but I’ll put my official vote on the latter.

THE BAND’S VISIT ON BROADWAY

Best Revival of a Play
Angels in America
Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women
Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh
Lobby Hero
Travesties

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Are audience attention spans longer than ever? Because we can’t believe that we’re picking another hours-long two-parter here. Angels In America is sure to be the victor here, thanks to its groundbreaking topic.

Best Revival of a Musical
My Fair Lady
Once On This Island
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: My Fair Lady has always been a crowd-pleaser, and this stage production is certainly a critic’s pick. We see this show winning big in many categories this Tony Awards season.

Lerner & Lowes My Fair Lady Lincoln Center Theater

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Andrew Garfield, Angels in America
Tom Hollander, Travesties
Jamie Parker, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Mark Rylance, Farinelli and The King
Denzel Washington, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: A lot of strong contenders here, of course, and there’s a case to be made for Denzel. But I am casting my metaphorical vote for Andrew Garfield as his work in Angels In America is such a strong moment in this season.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Glenda Jackson, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women
Condola Rashad, Saint Joan
Lauren Ridloff, Children of a Lesser God
Amy Schumer, Meteor Shower

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Condola Rashad slayed in Saint Joan for sure. But Glenda Jackson is favored across the board to take home the Tony in this category for her triumphant return to the stage, and I can definitely see it happening!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady
Joshua Henry, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Tony Shalhoub, The Band’s Visit
Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: There is definitely such a variety in performances here, but Ethan Slater‘s work in SpongeBob is just so infectious and fun that I am really hoping to see him honored with this one.

SPONGEBOB ON BROADWAY

Best Book of a Musical
The Band’s Visit, Itamar Moses
Frozen, Jennifer Lee
Mean Girls, Tina Fey
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Kyle Jarrow

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Tina Fey is the wizard behind all things Mean Girls, and it is genius how she transformed her work for the stage.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Lauren Ambrose, My Fair Lady
Hailey Kilgore, Once On This Island
LaChanze, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Katrina Lenk, The Band’s Visit
Taylor Louderman, Mean Girls
Jessie Mueller, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Again, it’s exciting to see how much variety is represented in this year’s categories. The Band’s Visit is so special that I can picture voters honoring Katrina Lenk with this esteemed prize.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Anthony Boyle, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Michael Cera, Lobby Hero
Brian Tyree Henry, Lobby Hero
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
David Morse, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Brian Tyree Henry was so phenomenal in Lobby Hero that it would be an absolute joy to see him honored at this year’s Tonys.

LOBBY HERO By KENNETH LONERGAN Directed by TRIP CULLMAN With MICHAEL CERA, CHRIS EVANS, BRIAN TYREE HENRY, BEL POWLEY

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Susan Brown, Angels in America
Noma Dumezweni, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Deborah Findlay, The Children
Denise Gough, Angels in America
Laurie Metcalf, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Laurie Metcalf is on fire right now, and everyone just loves her. Including me.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady
Alexander Gemignani, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Grey Henson, Mean Girls
Gavin Lee, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Ari’el Stachel, The Band’s Visit

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Norbert Leo Butz is a Broadway staple, and this is such a beloved role. It’s the perfect combination.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Ariana DeBose, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Renée Fleming, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Lindsay Mendez, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Ashley Park, Mean Girls
Diana Rigg, My Fair Lady

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: So many incredible performers in this category, but we’re just a little bit too obsessed with Ashley Park‘s Gretchen Weiners to even function right now.

Mean Girls Broadway
MEAN GIRLS on Broadway featuring Erika Henningsen, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park, Kate Rockwell, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Grey Henson, Kerry Butler, Kyle Selig, Cheech Manohar, Rick Younger. Photo via Joan Marcus

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Angels in America, Adrian Sutton
The Band’s Visit, David Yazbek
Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Mean Girls, Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., and Domani & Lil’C

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: I am OBSESSED with the way the SpongeBob musical brought together so many top artists across genres to create this show’s music. I’m dying to see all of these bands and songwriters honored with Tonys!

Best Direction of a Play
Marianne Elliott, Angels in America
Joe Mantello, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women
Patrick Marber, Travesties
John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
George C. Wolfe, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Joe Mantello has been behind some of my favorite Broadway productions over the years, and he’s currently doing so much this season. It’s so incredible to see this show helmed by three powerful and mature women, that it’s a moment deserving of all highlights.

Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Once On This Island
David Cromer, The Band’s Visit
Tina Landau, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
Bartlett Sher, My Fair Lady

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Mean Girls jumped from screen to stage so beautifully: it’s not an exact copy, yet it stays true to the story and explores the benefits a live theatrical production can have.

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Miriam Buether, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King
Christine Jones, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Santo Loquasto, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh
Ian MacNeil and Edward Pierce, Angels in America

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Farinelli absolutely transported audiences back in time: from the candlelit stage to the on-stage side seating, this staging was a pure theatrical delight.

Farinelli
“Farinelli and the King” on Broadway. Photos by Marc Brenner and Simon Annand.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Dane Laffrey, Once On This Island
Scott Pask, The Band’s Visit
Scott Pask, Finn Ross & Adam Young, Mean Girls
Michael Yeargan, My Fair Lady
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Every kid (and grown up kid-at-heart) has secretly dreamed of visiting Bikini Bottom, and the SpongeBob musical makes it even more magical IRL.

Best Costume Design of a Play
Jonathan Fensom, Farinelli and The King
Nicky Gillibrand, Angels in America
Katrina Lindsay, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Ann Roth, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women
Ann Roth, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: As I shared above, Farinelli and the King is just a marvel for period pieces.

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Mean Girls
Clint Ramos, Once On This Island
Ann Roth, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
David Zinn, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Catherine Zuber, My Fair Lady

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: It’s absolutely beautiful how Clint Ramos turned the idea of discarded trash and post-natural disaster destruction into artistic looks for Once On This Island.

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Paule Constable, Angels in America
Jules Fisher + Peggy Eisenhauer, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh
Paul Russell, Farinelli and The King
Ben Stanton, Junk

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: I genuinely can’t rave enough about Farinellis magical candlelit stages and historical setting.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Jules Fisher + Peggy Eisenhauer, Once On This Island
Donald Holder, My Fair Lady
Brian MacDevitt, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Tyler Micoleau, The Band’s Visit

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: All about that SpongeBob magic.

Best Sound Design of a Play
Adam Cork, Travesties
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Angels in America
Gareth Fry, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Tom Gibbons, 1984
Dan Moses Schreier, Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Thanks to some confusing regulations, 1984 was deemed ineligible for Tony Awards nominations this year. What we do know is that the show was intense and captivating, and Tom Gibbons‘ sound design is the only nom to come from the play — and we think it deserves a win!

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Kai Harada, The Band’s Visit
Peter Hylenski, Once On This Island
Scott Lehrer, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel
Brian Ronan, Mean Girls
Walter Trarbach and Mike Dobson, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: Carousel‘s sound design is just impeccable.

Best Choreography
Christopher Gattelli, My Fair Lady
Christopher Gattelli, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Steven Hoggett, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Casey Nicholaw, Mean Girls
Justin Peck, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: All of these musicals are standout productions, and the dance numbers are a huge part of that distinction. But if there could be such a thing as a shoo-in among such a prestigious group, it’s Carousel.

Best Orchestrations
John Clancy, Mean Girls
Tom Kitt, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Annmarie Milazzo & Michael Starobin, Once On This Island
Jamshied Sharifi, The Band’s Visit
Jonathan Tunick, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel

WHO WE THINK WILL WIN: All of the above about Carousel being a treat to the ears.

What do you think of our predictions? Make sure to leave us your reactions below, and keep an eye out for more 2018 Tony Awards coverage coming soon!

Author

  • Kristine Hope Kowalski

    Kristine is a writer and celebrity entertainment news journalist with a specific obsession with Nickelodeon + Disney Channel shows, boy bands, K-Pop, Broadway, and international series dramas. If she's not writing or tucked away in a good book, she is most likely traveling the world and spamming her friends' Instagram feeds with photos from her adventures. Kristine has a BA in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University (2011), and an MA in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Thought from NYU (2013). She is currently pursuing her second Master's in Journalism at Harvard.

Kristine is a writer and celebrity entertainment news journalist with a specific obsession with Nickelodeon + Disney Channel shows, boy bands, K-Pop, Broadway, and international series dramas. If she's not writing or tucked away in a good book, she…

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