2008 musical revivals

In hindsight was 2008 an exceptionally strong year for revivals? A lavish revival of SOUTH PACIFIC that was previously thought unrevivable with an exceptional Tony-worthy lead actress performance; An innovative award-winning prestigious London transfer of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with an exceptional Tony-worthy lead actress performance; A deep revival of GYPSY with an exceptional Tony-worthy lead actress performance. Has there ever been a stronger year? What memories do you have?

I feel like this season can be just as strong, especially if Sweeney and Camelot live up to the hype.

I saw each of the nominated musical revivals in 2008 and I enjoyed each of them, including the 2nd revival of Grease. I was happy that South Pacific won the Tony, but I wouldn't have minded if Gypsy or Sunday... took the prize. Interesting side note: I took my nephew at age 15 to see South Pacific as part of his Christmas present. He didn't understand why Nellie ran off at the end of Act I when she learned that Emile's wife was "colored." I had to explain it to him and was pleased to see that he was surprised at Nellie's attitude.

I think the first year that the Tonys separated the Revival of a Play and Revival of a Musical categories, 1994, was a particularly strong one for musical revivals. LCT's Carousel, Damn Yankees, the first revival of Grease, and Roundabout's first revival of She Loves Me were nominated that year, and each of those shows was pretty good, with Carousel definitely deserving the Tony and Damn Yankees coming in a close second (in my mind, I don't know if it actually got enough votes for it to rank in second place). That revival of Carousel was so wonderful, I couldn't help but compare the dreadful 2018 revival to it.

Updated On: 9/21/22 at 05:31 PM

I also thought 2010 was a great year for revivals- I saw all four nominees and loved them all, with the winner (La Cage) actually being my least favorite.