Special Reports

Predictions: Who Will Win a Tony Award for Direction in 2019?

Our critics predict the winners for Sunday, June 9.

We've shared with you our predictions for female and male actors. Here is who we think will win the two Tony awards for direction. Check back on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for our predictions about revivals, Best Play, and Best Musical.

In the meantime, cast your vote here for your predicted winners of the Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play and Best Direction of a Musical.

Best Direction of a Musical

THE NOMINEES:
Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
Scott Ellis, Tootsie
Daniel Fish, Oklahoma!
Des McAnuff, Ain't Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations
Casey Nicholaw, The Prom

David Gordon:
Will win: Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
Should win: Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
If there is any justice, this category will end in a tie between Rachel Chavkin and Daniel Fish — Chavkin for the extraordinary world she builds for Hadestown, Fish for the mind-bending ways he reimagines a 76-year-old classic. But Chavkin will take it home, and I'll be very, very happy.

Hayley Levitt:
Will win: Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
Should win: Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
Voters made a mistake not giving Rachel Chavkin the Tony in 2017 for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, but Hadestown will be her redemption. If it's not, there is no justice in the world.

Zachary Stewart:
Will win: Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown
Should win: Daniel Fish, Oklahoma!
With both The Great Comet and Hadestown, Rachel Chavkin has proved herself to be the most exciting director of new musicals currently working on Broadway, but Daniel Fish makes Oklahoma! feel like an entirely new musical in his thrilling revival.


A huge cast appears in Sam Mendes's production of The Ferryman.
A huge cast appears in Sam Mendes's production of The Ferryman.
(© Joan Marcus)

Best Direction of a Play

THE NOMINEES:
Rupert Goold, Ink
Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Bartlett Sher, To Kill a Mockingbird
Ivo van Hove, Network
George C. Wolfe, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus

David Gordon:
Will win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Should win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Sam Mendes will take home the gold for his sterling direction of Jez Butterworth's drama The Ferryman, if only because the 6-month-old babies in the cast are perfectly behaved.

Hayley Levitt:
Will win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Should win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Sam Mendes had to wrangle an army of Irishmen, a soccer team of children, a bunny, and a goose to make The Ferryman run like clockwork at the Jacobs Theatre. The end result is magnificent, and he deserves all the accolades coming his way.

Zachary Stewart:
Will win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Should win: Sam Mendes, The Ferryman
Mendes has not only marshaled a battalion of performers, but his production keeps audiences absolutely transfixed for over three hours. In an age of limited attention spans, that merits a Tony.


Do you agree with our predictions? Do you disagree? Either way, cast your votes for the likely winners here.

For the complete list of Tony nominees, click here.

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