Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
PlayItAgain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
#1Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 1:33pm
The fact that like half the shows did a full number from their show. Every other show did medleys and just felt super a.d.d.
Updated On: 6/11/12 at 01:33 PM
#2Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 1:37pmOnce, Leap of Faith, and Evita all did full numbers. Newsies did for the most part doing just a line from Once and For All "And sure as a star, we ain't come this far... to lose" aka a dig at the Tony's then did basically the entire Seize the Day dance break.
#2Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 2:47pm
No, medleys can be effective, if they are designed and presented to capture the essence of their show. Think back to the original sequence from INTO THE WOODS (198
which neatly telescoped a 2.5 hour musical into 4.5 minutes. It was so well done that they used basically the same sequence when WOODS was nominated for Best revival in 2002.
Single numbers are only effective if they play well in excerpted form and still effectively represent the show. Harder to do with today's new musicals where the songs are more skilfully integrated.
Also with very few modern shows spinning off hit songs, it's a tough call to pick a moment that will resonate with TV audiences who barely even know where or what Broadway is.
Which brings me to FOLLIES. When we think of the great moments in FOLLIES we think of songs like "Beautiful Girls", "Who's That Woman", "I'm Still Here", "Too Many Mornings", "Broadway Baby" and "Losing My Mind." I don't think "Buddy's Blues" would be at the top of anyone's list of most spine-tingling moments in the show or even this production.Placing it so early in the telecast did not do FOLLIES or the Tony program any favors.
PROGRAMMING.
So few radio stations bother with this any more but the basic concept of programming is to use familiar songs as a hook to introduce less familiar/new stuff. With 4 nominated revivals represented (plus a number from Godspell) there were plenty of opportunities to do just this.
Coming off a commercial break, showcase a song/number that even casual viewers might possibly recognize. Then, present a few awards and end the segment with one of the new shows. Use your hosts as links: Follow an EVITA number with Patti Lu an Mandy presenting awards then introducing one of the season's new musicals. Eliminate the program "host" who just eats up valuable time with his business. Let the presenters connect us naturally from one show to the next. Use short clips from currently running productions, if need be, to provide context.
Opening the broadcast with A number - appropriately the opening number - from last year's Tony winning Best Musical is an idea I hope they repeat in future years. Remind us where we were when we left off last time.
The Tony broadcasts can only reflect the quality of the just completed Broadway season. There were no smash hits this year - no shows generating that "must-see" buzz - and Broadway has been pretty much off the mass audience radar. So, without gimmicks how can we expect the broadcast to resonate with non-theatre fans? We can't. Best we can do is hope it connects with the true theatre fans.
For me, not having been to New York this year, the show didn't give me much of a sense of what is happening on Broadway. It didn't even feel very New York. (Remember a few years ago they cut to shots of Times Square and people watching there.) Maybe it was because of the awards being presented in such an out-of-the-way theatre. Bring the Tonys back to Broadway (or at least Radio City) and use the air time wisely. I have been saying for years, all awards shows would do well to eliminate acceptance speeches. Stars can post their thanks to family and friend on their blogs. Use the 90 seconds to showcase their award winning performances...and make people want to come to New York and see these shows!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
.jpg?format=auto&width=200)
#3Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:13pmI don't think medleys are effective. (That was one of the things that disappointed me about Jersey Boys.)People want to hear full songs!
"Brevity is the soul of wit"--Hamlet
Featured Actor Joined: 12/31/69
#4Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:20pm
There was not a medley that worked this year. But there wasn't a single number that worked, either.
Neil Patrick Harris was the only entertainment.
Newsies can keep their number. Nice work: Clip off that 15 seconds of "Watch over me" and do the song you did but give everyone a good snort of meth first. Or at least espresso. Porgy should have picked any of the songs they medleyized and do it. Follies- do Losing my Mind or Buddy's Eyes. JC superstar: Recast and re-costume and we'll talk. Once- is there any point? All those songs sound the same.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#5Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:23pm
All those songs sound the same.
That's what I thought when I saw the Once movie, although people have been saying the stage version is better. If I hadn't seen the movie I wouldn't have had any idea what the hell the show was about from that performance.
#6Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:40pmBased on that performance, my guess would be that Once is about a girl with special needs stalking a bar performer.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
Wanting life but never knowing how
broadwayfever
Featured Actor Joined: 6/15/08
#7Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:45pmWell actually, the best performance of the night was a medley...Porgy & Bess.
#8Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:53pm
Based on that performance, my guess would be that Once is about a girl with special needs stalking a bar performer.
HAHAHA!! It's "Once in the Piazza"
I'm also in the minority in that the score is better than xanax for insomnia.
But people seem to love it, so good on them.
....but the world goes 'round
#9Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:57pmI thought Once was about some drunken Irish gold mining town...
#10Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:03pm
Based on that performance, my guess would be that Once is about a girl with special needs stalking a bar performer.
Amazing. Best comment.
Medleys CAN work well. One that immediately comes to mind is Sweeney Todd in '06.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#11Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:05pm
Everyone has beat me to it but yes,
Based on that performance, my guess would be that Once is about a girl with special needs stalking a bar performer.
is a total winner of a comment.
#12Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:07pmI was certain they were going to segue into Falling Slowly so that she would look less...well...bike helmet-y.
#13Anyone think the problem with the tonys this year was this?
Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:09pmAlso a winner.
Videos