Who Deserves the Next Lifetime Achievement Tony Award?- Page 3

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 7:03pm

Wayman_Wong said: "Julie Andrew is SO overdue for a Lifetime Achievement Tony. She's created two of the most iconic leading lady roles as Eliza in ''My Fair Lady'' and Guinevere in ''Camelot.'' She's known worldwide as the film star of ''The Sound of Music.'' She's always been such a goodwill ambassador for musical theater. She's now 88, and 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of her Broadway debut in ''The Boyfriend.''"

I don't know about Julie Andrew, but Julie Andrews, while an icon, only has 4 Broadway credits to her name and exactly one in the last 60 years. Is she a legend? Yes. But this award is "lifetime achievement in the theatre", not "create two iconic roles early in your career and then mostly avoid theatre after that". This award should be going to someone who has regularly contributed new work to the theatre for at least 30-40 years.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 9:06pm

With Merrily winning Best Revival it should be Jonathan Tunick's year for the award!

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 3/27/24 at 9:47pm

Julie Andrews or Carol Burnett would be amazing !! They might not have a ton of credits but what they have done for entertainment as a whole more than makes up for that! Barbra too! 
 

Also another name that comes to mind Brenda Vaccaro!! She’s never won and has done a lot! 
 

Eileen Atkins !!

Updated On: 3/27/24 at 09:47 PM

[NativeNYer2]

Posted: 3/29/24 at 1:47pm

Lee Grant is still alive and she never won a Tony award. She also might make a good recipient for this award.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 3:16pm

Des McAnuff? I don’t feel like his work on the Tommy revival will earn him a nomination, but he hasn’t won a tony award(as a director) since the original Tommy. It would be a nice “full circle” moment if you will.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 6:20pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Des McAnuff? I don’t feel like his work on the Tommy revival will earn him a nomination, but he hasn’t won a tony award(as a director) since the original Tommy. It would be a nice “full circle” moment if you will."

You don’t give a lifetime achievement award because he can’t get nominated for a Tony.   He has had more than his share of terrible shows on Broadway that he directed: Guys and Dolls got some of the worst reviews ever; he also directed Summer, Dr. Zhivago, the truly awful JC Superstar that only ran for 3 months.  Yes, there was Jersey Boys, but that’s about it for his direction.   There are awards for regional theatres, and he has probably won that, but a lifetime achievement for Broadway.

i will admit that I have no idea what his role in the Dodger group is, so I don’t see him as this generation’s David Merrick (and I can’t think of anyone who has ever ‘replaced’ David Merrick, although one could argue that Cameron MacIntosh did).

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 10:25pm

I have enjoyed Andre De Shields on stage in starring and featured roles for 45 years.  He's brought a brilliant cocktail of class and sensuality to every part he's played.  He gets my vote.  

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 11:19pm

Maggie Smith

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 11:02am

Begs the question: is this a lifetime achievement for Broadway?  If so, does four shows constitute enough of a portfolio for a lifetime achievement award.

i love Maggie Smith, and have seen her in more productions in London than NYC. 

[Dom P]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:08pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "In my latest piece for Gold Derby, I’ve provided a poll asking people which male Broadway veteran deserves the next Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. Among the options are…

Harvey Fierstein
John Guare
John Lithgow
Terrence Mann
Trevor Nunn
Austin Pendleton
Tim Rice
Charles Strouse
Jonathan Tunick
Alfred Uhry

https://www.goldderby.com/article/2024/tonys-lifetime-achievement-award-poll-men/"

YES to Harvey Fierstein

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 3:24pm

Tom Stoppard should be in consideration as well. Only author to write 5 Tony-winning Best Plays (in 5 different decades nonetheless over the span of almost 60 years, showing his longevity). Plus his other works and countless revivals of them. Clearly someone who's earned a lifetime achievement recognition. 

Updated On: 3/31/24 at 03:24 PM

[kingjames2]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 7:36pm

Ken Billington should be on the list by now. Over 100 Broadway credits, including so many highs (the original Sweeney) and lows (The Red Shoes), yet his only Tony award came for Chicago. He’s one of the most influential designers still working today and has trained practically an entire new generation on his own. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 8:15pm

Broadway61004 said: "Tom Stoppard should be in consideration as well. Only author to write 5 Tony-winning Best Plays (in 5 different decades nonetheless over the span of almost 60 years, showing his longevity). Plus his other works and countless revivals of them. Clearly someone who's earned a lifetime achievement recognition."

I didn’t think of him since I don’t actually enjoy most of his plays, but this clearly makes sense.   To me, he moves to the top of the list. 
 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 10:50am

Jarethan said: "I didn’t think of him since I don’t actually enjoy most of his plays, but this clearly makes sense. To me, he moves to the top of the list.
"

Admittedly, I'm actually not his hugest fan either. But I can't deny that someone who's achieved that level of sustained success in theatre should be getting this award. 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/1/24 at 4:34pm

"I don't know about Julie Andrew, but Julie Andrews, while an icon, only has 4 Broadway credits to her name"

Julie Andrews had been referenced numerous times in this thread prior to my post. Clearly, I meant Andrews. No need to be so pedantic and snarky about an obvious typo.

As for Andrews not being worthy of a Lifetime Achievement Tony, there's still a special Tony that can be given. In 1969, the Tonys gave one to Carol Burnett, even though she appeared only in 2 shows in the '60s: ''Once Upon a Mattress'' and ''Fade Out, Fade In.'' In 1970, the Tonys gave a special Tony to Barbra Streisand as ''Star of the Decade,'' though she was only in two Broadway musicals in the '60s. In 1974, the Tonys gave a special Tony to Bette Midler and Liza Minnelli, each for ''adding lustre to the Broadway season.'' Etc. ... The Tonys can do whatever they want. 

Finally, Andrews' history with the Tonys consists of more than her 3 past nominations. She co-hosted the Tonys in 1970, 1984 and 1991 - making her one of the few (if not only) to co-host the Tonys once in each of three decades. In 1996, Andrews declined her "Victor/Victoria'' nomination to stick up for her ''egregiously overlooked'' cast and creative team. But the following year, the Tonys invited her back to recognize her 730th and final performance in ''Victor/ Victoria" and she presented Musical Revival to "Chicago."

Updated On: 4/2/24 at 04:34 PM