1996 Tony Awards

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:52pm

I was wondering if anyone knew the story with the Julie nomination. I am assuming it is Julie Andrews' nom for Victor/Victoria, but Nathan Lane opened the show stating the controversey behind that years Tony's. He talked about the Julie nomination and the tabloids behind it. Can anyone explain this story? Thanks so much!

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:55pm

To the best of my knowledge, Julie was the only person nominated at all from Victor/Victoria, and that pissed her off, therefore she refused the nomination. Or something like that...help me out here folks!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:57pm

She refused to nomination but was still on the ballot.

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:58pm

right, thats what i meant...she boycotted didn't she?

[adamnyc]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:59pm

Good for Julie! I always knew she was a class act

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 3:59pm

Julie was nominated for Vic/Vic but the show recieved no other nominations. She felt Tony Roberts at least deserved one to say nothing of her husband.

She declined her nomination and asked that her name be removed from the Tony ballot. Her name stayed on and Julie stayed home.

Rarely have you heard a hush in a theatre as it was when that envelope was being opened. When Donna Murphy won there was a bit of relief, and Julie later gallantly said something to the effect that the result was as it should be.

To show there were no hard feelings Julie did appear at the next year's Tonys. It was the instance and not the awards themselves.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:00pm

Broadway Nick is correct. She made the announcement from the stage of the Marquis during curtain call that she did not want the nomination because of the "eggregiously (sp?) overlooked. It was taped and shown on news programs. Her nomination stood and she lost to Donna Murphy in the King and I.

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:00pm

Thanks! I must say after watching the 96 Tony awards I was extremely suprised on the nominations for best musical. Rent was the best by far. The others being Bring in da noise.., Chronicles of a death foretold, and Swinging on a star. All three of them seemed like theatircal events and reviews. I felt Rent was the only choice that year, however definatly deserved it and would have won even if they were up against tougher competition!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:02pm

Victor/Victoria was supposed to get all sorts of nominations (at least in Julie's mind) but the critics only liked her...I felt the same.

When nominations came around, they got only one, for her performance (hee hee) and she went out onstage and made a speech after the show that the rest of her team were "egregiously overlooked" and she refused the nomination...but alas, she was already on the ballot! She'd have won, but the sourpuss act cost her and Donna Murphy rightly took the Tony that year.

BTW, I am a HUGE JA fan and think v/v the movie is the best, just think this was silly of her...the show stunk!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:02pm

BroadwayNick got it right. She was Victor/Victoria's only nomination which she found outrageous. Since everyone else affiliated with the show (including her husband director Blake Edwards) was snubbed, she publicly declined her nomination, which basically handed Donna Murphy the Tony that year.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:07pm

Not everyone felt that Rent was the only choice that year. If I had had a ballot, I'd have given my vote to "Bring in Da Noise" (which won Best Direction, Choreography, Lighting and Featured Actress). I thought it was a more original, better put-together and more thought-provoking show.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:12pm

Here here, Margo...

Lots to love about Rent, but the direction was terrible...

Noise/Funk was brilliant all around...

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:16pm

Speaking of the 1996 Tonys....does anyone have them available and can make me a copy? I've been trying to find a copy.

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:19pm

I have it....If someone tells me how to transfer vhs to dvd I can make a copy.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:19pm

The direction of Rent is beyond terrible.

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 6/7/05 at 4:21pm

It could just be me, but the Rent exceprt sounded as if it were in a different key.