Best & Worst Best Book of a Musical Tony Winners? — Page 2

Sunset Boulevard’s book reads like they put the movie quotes into ChatGPT and instructed it to write a two act musical. But that year, the only other new musical was the revue, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, so it was a very uncompetitive year. While SB is one of my favorite shows and many productions have overcome the book, it remains incredibly weak.

Awards season that year was a mess. Out of all the questionable wins for Sunset, it didn’t snag best costume design, which actually was award-worthy.

Updated On: 3/29/23 at 11:30 AM

Subject to personal opinion...

We had a pretty amazing run of Best Book winners from 2011-2016: Mormon, Once, Matilda, Gents Guide, Fun Home <3, Hamilton.

Similarly great from 2001-2006: Producers, Urinetown, Hairspray, Ave Q, Spelling Bee, Drowsy Chaperone.

djjd007 said: "Sunset Boulevard’s book reads like they put the movie quotes into ChatGPT and instructed it to write a two act musical. But that year, the only other new musical was the revue, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, so it was a very uncompetitive year. While SB is one of my favorite shows and many productions have overcome the book, it remains incredibly weak.

Awards season that year was a mess. Out of all the questionable wins for Sunset, it didn’t snag best costume design, which actually was award-worthy."

Sunset Boulevard drives me crazy because it's like watching the movie at three quarters speed, particularly in the second act where you're just kind of waiting around for the inevitable conclusion. If they were able to shave fifteen minutes off, it would be a killer one-act, and a much better vehicle for those incredible melodies.

It says something that when I think of JLP, I don’t remember the book or the characters or even the Alanis songs… I just remember the choreography and physical staging. It kept me saying “whoa, I’ve never seen anyone do anything like this in a musical” again and again.

Which means non-replica productions are going to be dire.

djjd007 said: "Sunset Boulevard’s book reads like they put the movie quotes into ChatGPT and instructed it to write a two act musical."

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. I've read quite a few books and have much to compare it to. The result lacked originality and depth, relying too heavily on familiar lines instead of creating a compelling narrative. As an educator, I am concerned about the potential use of AI in student texts, books, and other forms of creative work. While it has benefits, I believe genuine human creativity and experience should be valued. That's why I appreciate platforms like https://ca.edubirdie.com/buy-an-essay where qualified authors write quality texts. It's important to balance using technology and ensuring that it enhances our creative efforts, not diminishes them.

Updated On: 6/30/23 at 04:27 PM

Best (both great books & very deserving the year they won):
Fiddler on the Roof
Into the Woods
Ragtime
The Producers
Avenue Q
Spelling Bee
Drowsy Chaperone
The Book of Mormon
Matilda

Worst:
Cats
Rent (sorry...)
Spring Awakening (should have been Legally Blonde or Curtains)
Tootsie (should have been The Prom)

BEST

Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay Abaire

WORST

memphis joe dipietro how does this dude get work?

Updated On: 6/19/23 at 07:44 PM

DaveyG said: "The book (and score) for Tootsie - total dreck. Awarding it Best Book was a low point for Tony voters IMHO."

I remember that spring that everyone seemed to be RAVING about the Tootsie book. Then I saw that and The Prom in the same weekend that summer and was like "um, did I miss something here?" The Prom was so superior in general including Book & Score. I would have still given Hadestown Best Musical & Score but I would definitely have given Book to The Prom.

There's one great song and I liked the supporting performances but the rest was meh (Isn't the show they do inside the show basically the storyline for &Juliet?)