Frances McDormand of 'Good People' Tough To Beat In Tony 'Best Actress' Category
WCBS 880′s Jim Taylor shares his thoughts on Broadway and the 2011 Tony Awards. He will be blogging about his picks and predictions on the nominees up until the awards on June 12.
Best Actress In A Play
Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play definitely should belong to the previously mentioned Frances McDormand in Good People. She is remarkable, and I buy every performance she's in.
But you know who else knocks me out? Nina Arianda in her Broadway debut as Judy Holiday role in Born Yesterday -- a star is born, I think.
Lily Rabe and Hannah Yelland were both fine in Merchant of Venice and Brief Encounter, respectively, but both shows closed sometime ago.
That just leaves Vanessa Redgrave in Driving Miss Daisy -- and she may never be counted out.
Best Actor In A Play, Best Actor In A Musical
Significantly, Redgrave's co-star James Earl Jones is not nominated. Neither is Robin Williams, the eponymous character of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.
Snubbed as well: Daniel Radcliffe for his earnest performance in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
But for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical, it's got to be Catch Me If You Can's Norbert Leo Butz doesn't it? When he's on stage, Catch Me sizzles. When he's not, we're waiting for him to return.
