So we all know BOM will probably dominate the noms (and ultimately win) but I will be delighted if Scottsboro gets a Best Musical nom.
Of course that means one of the 4 current front runners (BOM, Sister Act, CMIYC, and Priscilla) will lose out. Riedel thinks the snub will go to.....
Link
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
Interesting the predilection for Scottsboro Boys over the other much-praised fall flop, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson. In fact AJ got better overall reviews than SB, with some hats in the air raves. AJ, B+ on Stagegrade, SB, B- on Stage grade. Yet AJ is completely forgotten now.
It's also interesting to note the similarities between AJ and Book of Mormon and their differing fates. Both are sophomoric, jejeune, and labored. Both received many raves, and target a young, hip crowd. And AJ has a far superior score to the jingle jangles of BOM. I think the difference lies in the fact that AJ actually had some bite to it, while BOM is as soft as cotton candy, and so far more comforting.
Seems that with Stage Grade, you are looking at the Off-Broadway grades for Scottsboro and Andrew Jackson. For the Broadway versions, the (improved) Broadway version of The Scottsboro Boys got a B+, while the Broadway version of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson received a B.
Scottsboro
http://www.stagegrade.com/productions/495#
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
http://www.stagegrade.com/productions/614#
Even though the show was far from great, I'd prefer to see CATCH ME nominated over that mind numbingly horrible PRISCILLA.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
Smaxie,
You're right. Thanks for the correction.
I guess AJ's flaws became more apparent on second viewing!
I still think its score deserves a Tony nomination, if not the award itself.
While I loved the set design and the uberly charasmatic performance of Benjamin Walker, I didn't love BBAJ as much as I was hoping to...Walker hopefully will get a shout out on Tuesday...
I hope Walker is remembered, too, Vernon. However, I'm not holding my breath-leading actor in a musical is a tough category this year.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
I too hope Walker gets a nomination. As Vernon says, he has a lot of charisma, and I thought he gave one of the best performances in a musical this year.
Why the dig at Donna Murphy? Don't really get why he picks on her whenever he gets a chance, ugh.
I hope Laura Benanti gets remembered come nomination time
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
I think the difference in critical reception to BBAJ between off-Broadway and Broadway had more to do with some critics thinking the appeal was lost in a bigger Broadway house, thus accounting for the slight drop from a B+ to a B.
It won't happen, but I would love to see John Cullum nominated for Scottsboro Boys. He was so chillingly charismatic (Does that even make sense?) and brilliant. But I don't think he has a shot.
I hope Benjamin Walker gets a nomination. He gave the best male lead performance this year, I think. Up there with Josh Henry. Sad they will both likely be forgotten. If they lose out, I'd hope Josh Gad wins. He is doing hilarious work at Mormon, but he was forgotten for the Drama Desk?
So here's the question of the hour... who will get the shaft in the Best Actress category? Six potential nominees and five spots...oof!!!
If there are 5 nominees, Janet Decal doesn't make the cut. There may, however, be only 4 nominees since there aren't at least 7 women eligible. In that case, I would guess that Janet and Sherie would be left out. But who knows, maybe it'll be Janet and Beth left out.
Given that both Moises Kaufman and Susan Stroman are on the nominating committee, I expect we will see at least some live for Bengal Tiger and Scotsboro
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
Interesting point, Michael Bennett. But wouldn't the committee bring up the bias in those cases?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
How does that work, if the nominators are tied to productions?
Leading Actor Joined: 10/2/08
I didn't like one thing about Andrew Jackson, whereas I liked just about everything about The Book Of Mormon. Populism, yeah, yeah, populism, yeah, yeah, populism, yeah, yeah. Yuck! I didn't laugh once during BBAJ. I laughed constantly throughout TBOM. I admit to being a little disappointed in the score for The Scottsboro Boys, but it's an outright masterpiece compared to BBAJ.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
Riedel made such a big hoo-haa about Murphy's multiple absences from Wonderful Town that I doubt he'll ever stop missing a chance to toss in another barb no matter what she says or does.
Re: Susan Stroman being on the Tony Nominating Committee, I don't think she is. I think people are confusing her and Susan Schulman:
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/news/press_releases/2010-07-19/201007161279307461784.html
Maybe I'm wrong and they've changed the committee since that press release, but it appears that Stroman isn't on the nominating committee. Hope that "Scottsboro" still gets a little of the acclaim it deserves, regardless.
I doubt that Janet Dacal will get a nomination. Wasn't huge on BBAJ, hope Scottsboro gets some nominations.
Riedel's ridiculous, his campaign on Murphy is just pathetic at this point. Wonder if he heard the interview where she called him a gossip columnist.
And Moises Kaufman recused himself (as have Kathleen Chalfant, Hope Clarke, Edgar Dobie, Andre De Shields and Donna McKechnie).
Haha, Stro is definitely not on the committee. I had heard about Kaufman recusing himself. Any idea why the others did, Smaxie?
Haven't heard the reasons - but usually it's that they are either working on a project or are unable to fulfill their obligation to see all of the shows.
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