And the Tony for Best Choreography goes to....

[BroadwayPer4mer03]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 5:42pm

I think it is a pretty tough year for this award. There is no clear front runner and no clear underdog. In my opinion, I think Jerry Mitchell WILL win while Rob Ashford SHOULD WIN. DISCUSS.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:27pm

Rob Ashford! He did really great work in Curtains and seems a likely winner to me. I don't know what everyone else thinks.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:29pm

Rob Ashford's choreographer for Curtains is absolutely horrendous, and I am a supporter of his. This one goes to Jerry Mitchell (but I have a fear Mary Poppins will sneak in there because of the aerial stuff; let's hope not!).

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:30pm

I don't think that Jerry Mitchell will win this year. I think that this year it is going to Mary Poppins with a possible upset by Spring Awakening.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:35pm

i do not think spring awakening should win, from what i've seen. i dont know, but when a show originates in the west end, i dont know if they deserve too many tonys, unless the show is drastically changed, which it almost never is, as much as i support mary poppins. IMO

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:38pm

Why shouldn't a show originated in the West-End win any Tonys?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:38pm

I can't see Spring Awakening getting an upset in this category. The one real number where the choreography grabbed was in "Bitch of Living". I would like for Rob Ashford to win. His choreography was impressive (if not accurate with the time period) and was the one consistently pleasant thing about the production (this only extends to material and production values, not the cast).

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:39pm

Rob Ashfords coreography was a complete let down from his previous work.

The only reason that I think Spring Awakening has an edge is because the coreography is something brand new and something that Broadway has never seen.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:42pm

Yeah, but there was so little of it and it didn't always make sense. "Mirror Blue Night": Melchior suddenly break-dancing? Explain?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:24pm

THE PIRATE QUEEN, oh wait...

[Dre2387]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:29pm

I loved Jerry Mitchell's work in DRS and I have yet to see Legally Blonde (hopefully Friday), but as of right now, Rob Ashford for Curtains gets my vote.

[goofy108]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:32pm

legally blonde's is good but this one goes to curtains. just watching the preview video gets me tired. its unreal how much choreography there is.
there is barely enough to taste in spring awakening.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:41pm

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN', oh wait.....

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:44pm

I would love to see Jerry get it...because I loved LB and I love him.


But I am thinking Poppins (ehh) or SA. I know I know...I mastered the Knees that they do in "My Junk" but you never know with the Tony Voters.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:45pm

I think it'll be Jerry Mitchell - esp. since he was snubbed for best director, and best musical. It'll be the bone they throw to "Legally Blonde"

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:59pm

He wasn't SNUBBED for best director. His direction is nothing special.


Jerry Mitchell will not win.

My money's on Matthew Bourne for MARY POPPINS.

[Trish2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:08am

Too bad Andy Blankenbehuler (sp) can't be nominated for IN THE HEIGHTS. Although i didnt care for the show, his choreography was the best in NYC this season.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:25am

SPRING AWAKENING's choreography is at its best in "Mama Who Bore Me", "The Bitch Of Living", and "Word Of Your Body". It is not glitzy traditional choreography, which is why many people on this board don't get it.

But it is innovative, unique, and fits these characters' emotions in this particular show to a T. Bill T. Jones has been respected in the modern dance community for years. This is his first shot as a full on Broadway choreographer and he scores a home run. Expect him to take home the Tony.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:31am

You're right, Foster. People don't "get" the choreography because it's not glitzy and traditional.

You're so much smarter than the rest of us.

[Chardonnay]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:55am

I'm dumb and biased, but I'd love to see Jerry take this one. Whether he deserved best director or not (I haven't seen the show) the cast members praised the **** out of his unique approach. I'd really like him to at least get some recognition. Besides, the video preview shows some fantastic work by Mr. Mitchell... really new and inventive. My opinion.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 5:56am

i dont see Jerry Mitchell taking the prize, I expected a lot more from the choegraphy in BLONDE

but i have no clue who will take it then, but I'm personally rooting for Rob Ashford and CURTAINS

[Claire4]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 8:41am

I think this, if anything, is the only thing Legally Blonde is going to get.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 8:54am

LEGALLY BLONDE's choreography is Mitchell's least impressive to date. He won't take it. Ashford's crotch-centered choreography is as excrutiating as THE WEDDING SINGER. He hasn't topped or even met the brilliance of his Tony winning choreography since MILLIE. Don't expect CURTAINS to take any Tonys home.

[Claire4]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 8:56am

Oh, believe me, I'm not saying it's his best. Hardly. I just think if they give Legally Blonde anything. This will be it.

[Trish2]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 8:57am

Well, there is clearly no front runner in this category.

Mitchell came up short this time with bizzy, pedestrian, cheerleader choreograpy. With the exception of the synchronized jump rope number, the rest of the pieces were choppy, sloppy and had NO style. Too busy concentrating on the direction I assume, as usually his work is more definitive.

Bourne and Mears have no clue when it comes to Broadway choreography and this only helped that show fail in my opinion. Cast members flapping around in Tap shoes with no phrasing or "steps" is still mind boggling to me. And the walk around the proscenium arch suspended by huge wires was a cop out due to their obvious limited "show" vocabulary. Bourne fares better in other dance mediums.

Ashford's work on Curtains seemed the most solid and true to form. I wasn't a fan of his actual style, but his composition stayed true to the form, and he knows how to build a number in the traditional sense. He's done better work in the past.

Jones' work is SA actually showed the seamless transition form staging to choreography. You didn't know where the director left off and the choreographer took over, which in my book, is a successful collaborative effort. His use of the modern dance form really worked for this show and he was the right choice. Anything bigger, showier or more "Broadway" would not have worked. Though, I still did not come out saying that it was the best choreography on Broadway, only that it Worked. This may be enough to earn it the prize though.


Again, it could go to anyone in this year of lackluster dance.