I'm a Theater Dork and I Promise You One of These Two Women Will Win the Tony For Best Actress

Let me start with McDonald who gives a tour de force performance as Mama Rose in the latest production of Gypsy. (I say "latest" production, as there have been two other iconic productions in recent history—one starring Patti LuPone and the other starring Bernadette Peters. Don't even think about asking me to choose a favorite.) Not only is it impossible to take your eyes off McDonald's Rose, but it's hard not to notice just how much she owns the role, fully making it her own.

The musical follows Rose, a highly involved stage mother, pushing her children to become vaudeville stars. The show features catchy, familiar tunes like "Let Me Entertain You," "You Gotta Have a Gimmick," and "Everything's Coming Up Roses." And, of course, it ends with the eleven-o'clock number of all eleven o'clock numbers, "Rose's Turn."

Yes, the show is good. Yes, the performances and the singing and the dancing and the staging are solid. But this is McDonald's Gypsy. By the time "Rose's Turn" finally arrives, the audience is waiting for it, begging for it. And, man, does she deliver.

At the performance I saw, the audience leapt to their feet at the end of her song, delivering a standing ovation that I expect occurs every single night. A mid-show standing ovation is not a common occurrence on Broadway. Though another recent one comes to mind...

Speaking of standing ovations, Scherzinger received two in the middle of the performance of Sunset that I took in. Was I surprised? For sure. Were they well-deserved? Also, for sure.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical follows Norma Desmond (Scherzinger), a washed-up Hollywood star who resides in an old mansion on, you guessed it, Sunset Blvd. When a young screenwriter shows up at her doorstep, she sees an opportunity to finally launch her big comeback—though tragedy and heartbreak ensue.

Scherzinger is really quite impressive. Her singing is gorgeous and haunting. She makes super interesting choices as Desmond. And she brings a level and depth and nuance to the role that I frankly didn't expect (I likely had preconceived notions related to her time as a pop singer—shame on me!).

I fully expect McDonald and Scherzinger to be nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at this year's Tonys. And I fully expect one of them to take it home. Which will it be? They each deserve it. I just hope both women receive their flowers now, during and long after the Tonys.

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