Arthur Laurents Pity Thread

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#1

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:07pm

Poor Arthur. He re-imagined his very own masterpiece musical WEST SIDE STORY and was snubbed of a direction nomination in favor of the director of an 80s rock jukebox musical.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[D2]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#2

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:08pm

My heart bleeds.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

[obsessedjb]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#2

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:09pm

yeah i feel so bad for him

[CurtainPullDowner]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#3

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:13pm

Doesn't there have to be a human there to deserve our pity.

[Eris0303]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#4

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:16pm

While I don't think "Rock of Ages" deserves to be in the "Best Direction" category I don't feel Arthur deserves to be there either.

"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

[Ed_Mottershead]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#5

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:25pm

Amen to that, Eris.

BroadwayEd

[Hest882]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#6

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:41pm

I've gotta say I feel a bit of satisfaction. He re-imagined a classic musical in part by dumbing down the iconic dancing. I hope this snub is a commentary by the Broadway community on the dangers of hubris.
Updated On: 5/5/09 at 01:41 PM

[wickedrentq]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#7

Posted: 5/5/09 at 1:43pm

Happy Happy Joy Joy...

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

[PalJoey]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#8

Posted: 5/5/09 at 2:52pm

As Mary Rodgers said, "Call me when he's dead."

[Bettyboy72]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#9

Posted: 5/5/09 at 2:53pm

He was mean to my Bernadette...I have no pity for that meanie queenie.

"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

[jv92]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#10

Posted: 5/5/09 at 2:54pm

Poor Arthur. Poor, poor Arthur. No really. I wanted to see him ge nominated. It's like seeing the living incarnation of Monty Burns when he's on television and I'm a pretty big Simpsons fan.

[DottieD'Luscia]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#11

Posted: 5/5/09 at 2:56pm

Glad they didn't acknowledge him with a nomination.

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

[Yankeefan007]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#12

Posted: 5/5/09 at 2:58pm

Yeah, my heart breaks for him alright.

[A Director]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#13

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:06pm

Oh, dear! What a pity! Never mind!

Too bad Sam Mendes didn't direct a musical this season. It would have killed Laurents if Mendes got nominated.

Bet his play New Year's Eve won't be coming to Broadway.

[Eris0303]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#14

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:09pm

I feel pity...so much pity..

"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

[PalJoey]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#15

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:17pm

I always thought he would be able to die happy if he received the Tony nom and the award for destroying what Jerome Robbins created.

Now I guess he'll never die. We're stuck with him for all eternity.

[Ed_Mottershead]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#16

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:31pm

He's just plain nasty. The ONLY reasons Gypsy won awards last year was because of LuPone, Gaines and Benanti -- not for anything Laurents contributed. And I'll wager they would have been just as good without Laurents and would have won anyway.

BroadwayEd

[sanda]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#17

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:33pm

what happened? is he dead or something?

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#18

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:34pm

So sad for him.


/sarcasm

[Eris0303]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#19

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:35pm

He's alive and well and probably kicking because he failed to get a Tony nomination for WSS.

It's ever so sad. Do you have a tissue.

"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".

[WithoutATrace]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#20

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:38pm

I thought his direction was excellent and I honestly feel for him. He deserved to be among the nominees for Best Director of a Musical.

I'm seeing the show for the fourth time tonight...and really looking forward to it.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#21

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:40pm

ROCK OF AGES' direction was the most amateurish directorial job on Broadway in years. While Laurents may not have been worthy of being nominated, if the crappy direction of ROA can get nominated, then Laurents definitely deserved a nod.

But it is what it is. Laurents will just have to settle with WEST SIDE being a huge cash cow...not too shabby for a 91 year old.

[CSonBroadway]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#22

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:43pm

He ruined the revival of WSS. I felt more emotion when I watched the film, this production is lacking everything the musical about. He ruined Robbin's beautiful masterpiece just because he hated Robbins.

I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&. "Jayne just sat there while Gina flailed around the stage like an idiot."

[FindingNamo]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#23

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:43pm

He don't need our pity. As Laura enthused last year, "Arthur! You're standing up!!!"

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[PalJoey]

re: Arthur Laurents Pity Thread#24

Posted: 5/5/09 at 3:59pm

As I said in another thread, Arthur shouldn't have gotten a Tony nomination for his direction of West Side Story.

He should have gotten 50-to-life.