Pages on Stages, Mason Pilevsky

Featured Actress in a Play

Tara Ashe, English

Elham was a challenging character because she struggled the most with the language barrier, and Tara Ashe had to simultaneously convey meaning and an inability to convey meaning. One big challenge of this role was making a seemingly unlikable character pull on the audience’s heart strings, which Tara Ashe did brilliantly.

Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day

The secret anti vaxxer who conspired to create a school where her fringe views would be radically accepted by leftist political correctness. This was a highly nuanced, layered role, and Hecht delivered a poignant performance that gave life to the satirical, hypocritical elements of Eureka Day.

Marjan Neshat, English

The complexity of Maryam is mind boggling, and Marjan Neshat did an incredible job capturing the sadness and bitterness behind the character’s enthusiastic determination. Starting out somewhat in the background, English increasingly becomes her story, and she carries her pain with dignity and grace despite her shame.

Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain

Fina Strazza’s portrayal of the anxious teenager who wants to make her own way but also be protected by adults is very relatable. Fina Strazza’s quiet arc away from assertiveness and need for truth shows a vulnerable naivety is exceptionally accurate and magnificently acted.

Kara Young, Purpose

Knowing Kara Young’s intersectionalities in real life, the character she played in Purpose seems very close to her actual self. Though the queer woman who makes a famous preacher think is an interesting character, this particular role fit this actress like a glove without requiring much stretching.

Pages on Stages Prediction: Kara Young

If It Was Up To Me: Marjan Neshat

Featured Actress in a Musical

Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club

In real life, it is difficult to be stoic in the face of crisis and heartbreak. But it’s not demanding for an actor to mostly be still, wave a hand, and say very little. I’m confused as to why Natalie Venetia Belcon is nominated for a Tony, as the impact of her character is almost completely manufactured by context: lighting, sound, staging, and others’ reactions.

Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw

Julia Knitel plays several roles, and makes a concerted effort to keep them all separate. None of these characters have much depth. She does rise to the challenge of often being the only female voice in musical numbers. This nomination is surprising to me because she doesn’t have that much to do.

Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time

Gracie Lawrence’s voice is absolutely unique, and the power and nuance she packs into her portrayal of Connie Francis is astounding. Her dynamic range is moving— she has several songs with repetitive lyrics, and every time they surface she adds something new that kicks it up a notch. Gracie Lawrence is mesmerizing on stage.

Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves

Carmen Garcia is the character in Real Women Have Curves whose views are the least acceptable to an American audience, and it’s hard to make an American audience like a woman who would prevent her daughter from attaining the American dream of going to college and being successful because she wants her to work in a factory. Yet Justina Machado’s compelling performance humanizes this character in a way that feels effortless. Her standout performance validates that women can be tough and opinionated without being unnecessarily cruel. The show pulls the audience between individual and collective values, and Justina Machado is at the heart of what makes the story compelling.

Joy Woods, Gypsy

What a character transformation! Sing out, Louise! Louise has one of the biggest character arcs of this Broadway season, and Joy Woods handles it flawlessly. She is particularly adept at portraying a conflicted child with divided loyalties as well as her own pain, and her voice is clear, bright, and beautiful.

Pages on Stages Prediction: Gracie Lawrence

If It Was Up To Me: Gracie Lawrence

Lead Actress in a Play

Laura Donnelly, Hills of California

Being a stage mom is a tough job, and Laura Donnelly gets saddled with one who is willing to sell her daughter’s body in order to give her daughter, Joan, a chance to be a star. She hardens the daughters she can and coddles the daughters she can’t. Laura Donnelly’s toughest challenge is, stepping into the role of Joan  towards the end and having to portray the layers of resentment Joan developed about her mother, whom Laura Donnelly just played for most of the show. These roles require intimate and delicate understanding.

Mia Farrow, The Roommate

Mia Farrow’s enthusiasm for playing the naive Midwesterner who wants to have an adventure later in life is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Her character, Sharon, sweetly falls in love with a badass lesbian, and Mia Farrow is adept at making it look like she’s trying everything from marijuana to illegal scam phone calls for the very first time. Watching her come out of her shell is touching, and it really ratchets up when Robin leaves her and breaks her heart in the process.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose

In Purpose, LaTanta Richardson Jackson’s character Claudine Jasper is high stakes matriarch who gets it done no matter what the cost. With flawless delivery, nuance even when not speaking, and sincere content to the role, LaTanya Richardson Jackson is a very serious contender because she delivers both breadth and depth.

Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain

Sadie Sink’s assertive, badass teenager with a dark secret is fun, but the way her character, Shelby, talks about being a teenager with a mental health diagnosis is what really takes the cake. Her frank feeling that she will end up messed up, but for now wants to just live day by day creates a wonderfully touching moment in a cruel world.

Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

In my mind, this is the most demanding role on Broadway. The precision required of Sarah Snook as she plays all 26 roles in this show is mesmerizing. On camera from multiple angles all show, one wrong move, one lean too far, could destroy the entire illusion. Reacting to herself, keeping each character separate and distinct, and having to talk nonstop for the full duration of the play seems impossible to do once, forget 8 times a week. The hyper awareness requires for her flawless execution of this performance is masterful.

Pages on Stages Prediction: Sarah Snook

If It Was Up To Me: Sarah Snook

Lead Actress in a Musical

Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her

There are demanding moments for Madeline Ashton, my favorite being the fall down the stairs. She has lots of comedic moments, and Megan Hilty plays a heartless, vapid diva very well. I was not particularly moved by her performance. It was a caricature role that didn’t give her much to work with.

Audra McDonald, Gypsy

A thoroughly brilliant Mama Rose, but not particularly innovative. Audra McDonald’s voice is as beautiful as ever, but she does not add anything new or exciting to this role to make it her own. She delivers exactly what’s expected of her.

Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical

Though Jasmine Amy Rogers has a beautiful singing voice and incredible dance skills, the character acting elements in the banal book held her back. I’d like to see more from her; she seems to have talent, but is held back by the fact that her role requires her to do a silly voice and be part of a story where nothing makes much sense. Her character doesn’t grow much and isn’t supposed to, so this role is very stagnant.

Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard

While I did not see Nicole Scherzinger live, I did see this production of Sunset Boulevard and have avidly watched Nicole Scherzinger’s promotional performances and listened to the cast album. Her voice is hypnotic, subtly nuanced, and perfect for selling the role of Norma Desmond in a new way.

Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Jennifer Simard’s character in Death Becomes Her, Helen Sharp, was deranged and neurotic, which added an acting dimension to her caricature, giving her a competitive edge over Megan Hilty. After a while it became hard to pity Helen Sharp though, and she and Madeline Ashton both became utterly unlikable and unable to evoke emotions in the audience. They did get laughs though.

Pages on Stages Prediction: Nicole Scherzinger

If It Was Up To Me: Nicole Scherzinger

Next week: Creative Team of a Musical