Spelling Bee Tony Perf. - Why did they choose that song?

[hawkeyemania]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 9:57am

I don't know, I mean you could say the same for any show that performed. But I think it was great.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:08am

i think it was the best choice because pandemonium would have ended up with everyone going and looking crazy (ie great big stuff from drs) and it would not be inviting to the audience. this way they showed some great bits of the score, the wittiness of the show, and every member got a chance on stage. i thought it was great. it was like a mini-preview of the whole show.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:21am

Spelling Bee was the only performance on the Tonys that made me want to buy a ticket.

[TGIF]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:35am

I thought it was great. Having never seen the show it made me want to. All of us watching were laughing so hard, I think it was a perfect choice (unlike DRS - oy).

[Beanwannabe]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:36am

I think it was a great choice. It showed how fun Spelling Bee is and from the news sites, really seemed to boost ticket and cd sales. I think the only performance of that evening that helped the show. DRS was a disaster. Spamalot was cool to showcase Sara, but I heard it was dubbed because she was so sick. Granted that girl can sing, but still to sick to be in the show?

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:37am

I thought Bee did a great job representing what the show was. Having Trump on would have been better than Sharpton though, but Al did a great job!

[TGIF]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:40am

My sister was asking if Sharpten was really in the show (as in regularly) and my grandmother (who, well, isn't all there) was like "YEP! THATS HIM!"

[magruder]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:42am

I thought it was really ballsy of them to eschew a traditional musical performance. I think the approach they took, using substantial sections of the show's dialogue, gave a TV audience a much better sense of the style of the show. To me, it was the most successful of any of the show segments.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:44am

exactly. and rachel did win for her book, so that was showcased a little instead of only the score. it was unique and done really well. cheers to spelling bee.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 10:46am

They did many different songs.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:02am

I'm totally with Magruder on this one. I really enjoyed Spelling Bee when I saw it and I'm very happy that they chose to 'show off' a bit of the book too. Because let's face it, that's what this show is all about, they have the most amazing book and really deserved that Tony. On the other hand, the score is definitely not the best, so they did exactly the right thing!

QM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:05am

qm, although yes, i think the book is stellar, the score really is perfect for this show and i think many people are overlooking it simply because they don't think of it as being as "sophisticated" as piazza or other things. but this show is about 11 year olds! it is a perfect synthesis of book and score. you can't make the score something that book is not. i think william finn is a genius for writing this score the way he did (let alone his other works.)

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:15am

O the score works really well for the show. I wouldn't change it if I were Bill Finn.

I think the performance was perfect at capturing everything that Spelling Bee's about. What a lovely way to preview a wonderful night at the theatre. And a great way for people to want to go see the show.

~Steven

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:23am

Apdarcey, I understand what you're saying about the show being about kids and I agree with you. Obviously, I can only speak for myself but the score didn't do anything for me, especially comparing it to the other four big shows this seasons.

The numbers were good, funny and touching but I had a bit of a 'so what' moment with some of them. At the risk of sounding amateurish but I always judge a score by how much I remember it afterwards, who did what number and what they were all about. I was unable to do so after having left Spelling Bee... So in a few words, I found the score forgettable. And don't forget, I LOVED the show.

QM

Updated On: 6/7/05 at 11:23 AM

[Drew7810]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:32am

I think that their performance was something that really showcased the talent and the show to encourage ticket sales! And although I have seen it, I wanna see it again!

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 11:37am

Drew, is that Charo in your avatar?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 12:16pm

qm.. i obviously can't argue with the fact if you found the score forgettable. i didn't. i thought it was the most memorable of the season and i loved it.. oh well.

[thibodeaux]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 12:27pm

I think it was a really good choice; definitely the best of the night!

And they probably chose that one cuz whats-his-name was up for the Tony (which he deservingly won!)

Great performance, can't wait to get the obcr and hopefully see the show soon!

[TiMoune]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 1:37pm

I loved the performance and now want to see the show?
BTW: WHO was the singer at the end..the one who walked Al Sharpton into the audience? What a great voice!

Posted: 6/7/05 at 2:13pm

I loved this performance!! My entire family wants to see it now (they are non theatre-folk) They were all saying "I really liked the one with the guy and the foot!"

Posted: 6/7/05 at 2:13pm

Double Post Updated On: 6/7/05 at 02:13 PM