by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.
The 2023 TONY nominees were announced this morning, celebrating the biggest & brightest that this Broadway season has to offer.
The roundup, however, wasn’t without drama fitting of the great white way. While we’re on the subject of nominees, by the way - and really just wondering here - do… you think they’d like me? Like, if they got to know me? What do you think?
Some pleasant surprises included nominations for Almost Famous, KPOP, and Ain’t No Mo’ - shows that closed during Broadway's notoriously wretched winter stretch. It’s inspiring to see that TONY voters didn’t forget about these productions amongst a sea of high-profile revivals and debuts.
And in terms of these specific shows - would the people involved like me? They don’t have a reason not to, right?
If we met, for example, at an event with passed hors d'oeuvres, would they walk away from the chat being like “hey I liked being around that person”? Or would they make up a reason to end the conversation early, like “I have to go to the powder room” or “I forgot tonight is also my mother’s christening”. I can handle the truth, I just need to know. For better or worse, surprises inherently mean the presence of their nasty step-sibling: snubs.
Missing pieces such as Prima Facie for Best Play; an acting nod for either of Phillippa Soo’s performances; or zero nominations for shows such as Pictures From Home, Dancin’, or A Beautiful Noise, are stinging reminders of the tight competition each season brings.
But just because they were’t nominated doesn’t mean the folks involved wouldn’t like me, right? I didn’t have anything to do with it. They know that, right?
Like obviously I’m not gonna try to get them to like me TODAY. They might be in a bad mood, so I’m setting myself up for failure.
But maybe in a few weeks, for example, at an event with passed hors d'oeuvres, we might get to talking and they might think about how fun and friendly I am. I’m a good listener, I don’t chew with my mouth open, and when I go out I wear this button down from Kohl’s that looks really good. What’s not to like? I can handle the answer by the way.
I don’t mean “like” like by the way. A lot of these people have romantic partners, as do I. I just mean on a basic human scale: would they like me? I’m not perfect, but I’m trying my very best, and understand that life is about little improvements along the way.
Broadway’s biggest night is ahead of us, and while it won’t be without heartbreak, it’s all at the service of celebrating a beloved art form - both at the show, and the afterparty events, which will likely include passed hors d'oeuvres.
Last thing tho: would everyone attending the TONYs like me? Would the 3,350 individuals who will make up the United Palace Theater audience, ya know… like me? They probably would, right? Please assess each one individually on your own time and let me know ASAP.