Holy upsets! The 14,000 people who played Show-Score's Tony prediction game got a lot of things right, but there were a few winners that almost no one saw coming. How should we interpret these shocking victories? What do they tell us about the future, about the theater, about ourselves? Below, let's analyze the gasp-worthy champions one by one. Please share your cheers, jeers, and crackpot theories in the comments.
But first! If you want to see these Tony winners, then come to our Show-Score Socials. We've got tickets RIGHT NOW for "Dear Evan Hansen", "Come From Away," "The Great Comet," and more.
BEST MUSICAL
The Winner: "Dear Evan Hansen"
Show-Score Members Said WILL Win: "Dear Evan Hansen"
Okay, okay. We saw this one coming. Almost 10,000 of our Tony predicters thought "Dear Evan Hansen" would win Best Musical. But here's the surprise: the theater press keep insisting this was a tight race with "Come From Away." Only 1900 of our voters thought that show had a chance, so what did we know that the professionals didn't?
BEST PLAY
The Winner: "Oslo"
Show-Score Members Said WILL Win: "Sweat"
Now this was a tight race, at least according to our members. 35% of voters selected "Sweat" -- which makes sense, since it won a Pulitzer -- but that's hardly a runaway victory. "Oslo" (the actual winner) was close behind at 28%, and "A Doll's House Part 2" got 26%. So why did "Oslo" break through?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
The Winner: Gavin Creel, "Hello, Dolly!"
Show-Score Members Said WILL Win: Andrew Rannells, "Falsettos"
Our voters had Creel in third place (with 2700 votes), behind "Dear Evan Hansen"'s Mike Faist (3600 votes) and Rannells (4500 votes). Is that because "DEH" and Rannells himself are just more popular overall? Did people vote with their hearts, even though they knew Creel would win? Or did Rannells and Faist get unfairly snubbed?
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
The Winner: Michael Aronov, "Oslo"
Show-Score Members Said WILL Win: Danny DeVito, "The Price"
WHOA. Only 8% of our members thought Aronov would win the Tony, meaning he got fewer votes than everyone else in the category. Is it time to give "Oslo" a second look? And what kept Danny DeVito (who snared 47% of our vote) out of the winner's circle?
See the full list of winners here.
Excited for next year's Tony Awards? We've already got tickets for Broadway shows that are opening in the next few months. Who knows... they just might become nominees! Get your seats now for the hit musical "The Band's Visit" and Michael Moore's solo show "The Terms of My Surrender".
Which Tony victories surprised or delighted you the most? Tell us in the comments below!