Best Original Score Tony Race!

I think the Tony race for Best Original Score will come down to Stephen Schwartz for Wicked and Jeanie Tesori for Caroline, or Change. I personally feel Stephen Schwartz is due, he has never won a Tony despite his AMAZING work in such shows as Pippin, Godspell, and Workin, and think he will win. What do you guys think?

I was thinking Caroline or Change for Best Score. As much as I want Avenue Q to win best musical, I think Wicked will win that.

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I do like Schwartz, so I hope Wicked wins this year

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I really hope WICKED wins, because I think Stephen Swartz really deserves a Tony. I'm such a huge fan of all his works, and I think this is going to be his year.

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Yeah, I'm not so keen on Wicked winning for best score...most critics seemed to appreciate the talent more than the writing. The score is one of the weakest points of the show. I think Avenue Q's score is clever...so MAYBE it'll win, but I think it's very up in the air.

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But most of the Taboo-score is based on are old Boy George songs...surely thet cannot be nominated as Original...cause it's not! Don't get me wrong...love the music

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Which one wins depends on what they are looking for in a score. (As a correction, most of the Taboo songs aren't old songs, only a few are.) The songs in Taboo are better as pop songs and more memorable, but they don't really move the plot along; whereas Avenue Q and Wicked don't have as many memorable songs, but move the plot along better.

Wicked shouldn't win Best Score just because Stephen Schwartz is "due." He isn't owed anything- he has to earn his awards just like everyone else. I realize I'm sounding like a broken record, but I was seriously disappointed by the score of Wicked. Let Schwartz win when he puts out better work.

The score of Avenue Q is adorable, clever, and fun, but I think voters will find it too simplistic to give it the top prize. Bombay Dreams' score got mixed reviews. So that leaves Caroline or Taboo. I really wouldn't have object to either of those two winning.

Updated On: 5/9/04 at 01:29 PM

I don't know why so many dislike the music from WICKED. "Bland and unmemorable"? There are so many great songs. Sure the lyrics are only okay, but the melodies are so solid and memorable.

For example:
The Wizard and I
Dancing Through Life
Popular
I'm Not That Girl
Defying Gravity
Thank Goodness
Wonderful
For Good (IMHO, the best song in the show. Sooo beautiful.)

I'm not very partial to "No One Mourns the Wicked" and "As Long as Your Mine", but you get my drift.

" "But most of the Taboo-score is based on are old Boy George songs...surely thet cannot be nominated as Original...cause it's not! Don't get me wrong...love the music"

Actually, most of the songs ARE original. There are only three old Boy George songs in the show, all come at the point where George is getting big (thus singing those songs). Everything else was written for the show. I agree with the person who said they don't really move the plot along though, that's pretty true. They do kind of stand on their own fairly well, but I still think they deserve a nod. "

Yes, about 2 thirds of the score is original, in fact, 4 of the songs were even written during the Broadway rehearsal period! The Tony commitee already announced a while ago that it is eligible for a Best Original Score nomination.

"There are only three old Boy George songs in the show, all come at the point where George is getting big (thus singing those songs). Everything else was written for the show. I agree with the person who said they don't really move the plot along though, that's pretty true."

I think the songs in Taboo work beautifully in context. They describe the thoughts and feelings of the characters at that moment in time. "Stranger in This World" is a beautiful and ethereal introduction to young Boy George....I think without it we would not develop the empathy for this character. "Love is a Question Mark" illustrates the love and devotion and yes, ambivalence of the individuals in each set of couples. It is an important moment in the story. If you look at each song carefully in it's moment, you will see it's relevance.

This will all be a lot easier to do, however, WHEN THE CAST RECORDING IS RELEASED. Only crazed multiple-returnees would remember enough of the show to make these observations.

In spite of the in-your-face costumes and subject matter (which is not all that threatening, regardless of what the general public thought) it is really a very subtle and beautiful piece.

That said, I know it doesn't have much hope of many nominations or wins, but I think the score is far stronger than Wicked, which I forget immediately DURING the show as it moved on to the next number. I expected to like Wicked the best of my "See-As-Many-Shows-As-I-Can-Week-In-NY" and I was terribly disappointed. The sets and effects were fabulous, I know the performers were great, but I just never connected with them because what was coming out of their mouths just did not engage me, pull me in.

I haven't seen Caroline, so I cannot comment, and I enjoyed Avenue Q, although I think the lyrics were more memorable than the score. I would be disappointed if they won over Taboo, but frankly I would be outraged if Wicked won over any of them.

So that is likely what will happen. I definitely dance to the beat of a different drummer......

While I'm very fond of the Wicked score, there are several things that may prevent it from winning:

1) It's not quite an original score, it's more of a Stephen Schwartz revue. If you listen to some other Schwartz scores, you'll find a lot of music that's very similar to the Wicked music. In fact, I believe that one of the main themes in Wicked is taken from the title song in "Rags", a show which Schwartz wrote the lyrics for.

2) As many of the other posters have pointed out, the score was not very well received by the critics.

3) One reason the score is so good is that there are some fantastic performers singing it. Think about it: Without Chenoweth, how good is Popular?

The race is between Avenue Q and Wicked but Wicked will win.