It’s not just the humidity that has Midtown Manhattan sweating bullets — it’s the Tony Awards! While several races on Broadway’s biggest night are all but wrapped up, the most coveted prize, Best Musical, is going right down to the wire. Nobody is totally sure if “Hell’s Kitchen” or “The Outsiders” takes it. I guarantee this year’s telecast will be a lot more fun than the bump-free road to “Oppenheimer” at the Oscars.
Here’s who I predict will win at the Tonys, which air Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Yes, there are five nominees: “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Illinoise,” “Suffs,” “Water For Elephants” and “The Outsiders.” But the real competition, as it has been since the day the nominations were announced back in April, is between Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” and the twangy adaptation of S.E.
Hinton’s young-adult novel “The Outsiders.” I’ve spoken to voters for all of these shows, and it’s the Greasers and Socs that get the most impassioned responses. “Everyone says ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ but I say ‘The Outsiders,’” one voter told me.
“It’s a work of art.” More blasé was a “Hell’s Kitchen” advocate who was not as effusive about the reason they clicked the box next to that show. “Not sure why!” they said.
The “Outsiders” voter also made a historical observation: “It’s so much better. It’s like ‘Wicked’ and ‘Avenue Q’ — everyone predicted ‘Wicked’.” Broadway still talks abou.
