HeyMrMusic said: "I imagine this seals the deal for the Tony race. Excited for all involved, especiallyJaquel Spivey, who I assume will be a breakout star if/when he transfers with the production."
I'm super excited this show is headed to Broadway. I caught it at Playwrights Horizons and Woolly Mammoth. I will definitely catch it on Broadway. No, it doesn't have commercial success written all over it, but I hope it does get lots of nomination love (and hopefully wins). There is no doubt in my mind that Jacquel Spivey will become a breakout star when he transfers with the show. (It would be truly crazy if he doesn't go with the rest of the cast.)
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "HeyMrMusic said: "I imagine this seals the deal for the Tony race."
I'm not ready to make any Best Musical predictions.
Knowing the typical demographic of the Tony voters, they frankly might not go for something this unabashedly queer and Black. The musical is arty and weird and book-wise is kind of a mess...but it is ambitious.
Could very well be a situation where this wins Actor and/or Score, while SIX or PARADISE SQUARE or something else wins the top prize. A Sunday/La Cage situation or Billy Elliott/Next to Normal situation would not be shocking (this one being the Sunday/N2N equivalent)."
Then again, a lot of the Best Musical winners from this past decade such as Once, Fun Home, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The Band's Visit, and Hadestown have been shows that really pushed the boundaries of musical theater. I think A Strange Loop would fit into that mold perfectly.
Maybe. But STRANGE LOOP pushes a lot more buttons than those shows. Could easily end up with a Tony night comparable to GREAT COMET, SCOTTSBORO BOYS, SHUFFLE ALONG, IF/THEN, GREY GARDENS, or LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.
I think the fact that it has won the Pulitzer gives it more heft. Maybe the comparisons to Next to Normal or Sunday are more apt, but I don’t think those pushed buttons like this did. A year after a big spectacle won and a boundary-pushing play lost everything, maybe the tides will change again.
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Maybe. But STRANGE LOOP pushes a lot more buttons than those shows. Could easily end up with a Tony night comparable to GREAT COMET, SCOTTSBORO BOYS, SHUFFLE ALONG,IF/THEN, GREY GARDENS, or LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA."
Aside from its own artistic merits, A Strange Loop could benefit from 1. weak competition and 2. being melodically accessible unlike some of the other shows on that list. But I can see the subject matter being too much for even the Fun Home voters. But it's good to at least have solid contenders for the popular vs. artistic matchup this season.
I'm so curious how this plays out. Have they made many changes since Playwrights? I remember admiring it more than anything. The challenge was is a musical about writing a musical and that's a very limited scope to me. I did think some of the music was exciting.
According to an Amex presale popup on the show's Telecharge page, the first preview will be on April 6th. It also says that the presale is going on now, which it isn't.
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "boy is this going to be a bust going up against a musical with Billy Crystal and Funny Girl
also Larry Owens is apparently no longer with the production which is so odd to me"
It won't be a bust when it wins Best Musical and ends up recouping. However, I don't see this lasting longer than Fun Home and The Band's Visit, as all the buzz will fade away after Year One.
As for Funny Girl, who knows. I've heard mixed things about Mr. Saturday Night and quite clearly it's trying to attract to the people who raved about Tootsie. Crystal's star power can only do so much. The show is toast by next January.
EDSOSLO858 said: It won't be a bust when it wins Best Musical and ends up recouping. However, I don't see this lasting longer thanFun Homeand The Band's Visit, as all the buzz will fade away after Year One.
Most TONY voters are old and white you really see them giving best musical to a "unapologitically big black queer musical"
also against SIX and possibly Kimberly Akimbo if it does transfer, its in for a rough road.
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: It won't be a bust when it wins Best Musical and ends up recouping. However, I don't see this lasting longer thanFun Homeand The Band's Visit, as all the buzz will fade away after Year One.
Most TONY voters are old and white you really see them giving best musical to a "unapologitically big black queer musical"
also against SIX and possibly Kimberly Akimbo if it does transfer, its in for a rough road.
"
Completely disagree. A Strange Loop will not only sweep the Tonys but also will without a doubt be revolutionary to Broadway. Just wait!
They voters might "old and white" but they've award Fun Home, The Band's Visit, Rent, etc. They know quality."
I would also argue that the "old and white" Tony voters are probably different than your "old and white" Oscar or Emmy voters. Theater has long been a much more progressive medium.