Best and Worst Tony award performances — Page 2

Menzel sounds great on the CD of Wicked, though when i saw her both in the live theatre and on the tonys she sounded horrible. I also thought the cast of "Hairspray" was going to give themselves a heart attack with their "You can stop the beat" number. I was like, woa, calm down--the tony is yours. Also agreed on Pinkins performance last year.

I dont know if its from the Tonys but Michael Jeters Grand Hotel performance that was shown on Lost treasures II is absolutely amazing. Thatd be my vote for best.

Wicked was bad because it was rushed and crammed. I thought, ok, maybe theyre just trying to cram for time but then Wonderful Town came on and did a 837490123402134 year performance of the worst song in the show. So that part beats me.
-Also: Idina was bad because she was raised two times higher in the air than at the Gershwin so she couldnt hear the orchestra and stay in tune. I felt awful for her.

Bernadettes Roses Turn was REMARKABLE!

Luckily, a friend gave me a tape that included Dorothy Loudon doing "Vodka" from a Tony Awards broadcast. She was simply captivating. Hilarious, really throwing herself into the material. A full bodied, full voice comic performance. I was on the floor. And the audience just ate it up.

I also seem to recall her doing Broadway Baby complete with ad lib - "betcha didn't know what ya had when you wrote this one, Steve - key change..." She was thrilling - again the audience adored her.

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Everyone knows how much I adored CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, but Tonya Pinkins' "Lot's Wife" was terrible.

The song simply DOES NOT work out of the context of the show.

WORST:

"Wicked" last year was byfar one of the biggest turn-offs I've ever seen. If I hadn't already seen the show, that performance would've made me decide to NOT see it.

"Hairspray" - Hated it. That performance was what kept me away from the show until January of 2005. I saw it and just decided I had no desire to see the show. But, I finally went when it was on TKTS and fell in love with the show. Carly Jibson was phenomenal and I think THAT was what made me love the show in the end.

BEST:

"Caroline, or Change" last year was what convinced me to go and see the show. Byfar one of the best performances I've ever seen.

"Gypsy" (Bernadette) was a wonderful performance and, in my opinion, blew away her performance in the actual show.

"We'll Take a Glass Together" (Grand Hotel) - What a pheomenal, incredible performance that we are all SOOOOOOO amazingly blessed to have a recording of forever.

"Anything Goes" (Patti Lupone) - Loved this choreography and the stellar excitement of the cast. But what in God's name was with the color of Patti's hair? She looked AWFUL.

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These are only highlights because theres just tooo many to pick ONE:

BEST
1) Bernadette Peters doing ROSES TURN
2) Alan Cumming doing CABARET
3) Angela Landsbury & Bea Aurtur doing BOSSOM BUDDIES
4) (at the time) the orginal co. of LA CAGE doing WE ARE WHAT WE ARE & I AM WHAT I AM - although I think the girls will blow them out of the water this year!
5) Patti Lupone doing ANYTHING GOES
6) Sutton & Cast doing FORGET ABOUT THE BOY & Title Number!
7) The Cast of RAGTIME doing their title number.
The Cast of THE LION KING doing THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
9) Nathan Lane & Co. doing SIT DOWN YOUR ROCKIN THE BOAT!
10) Brian Stokes Mitchel doing THE MAN OF LA MANCHA!
11) Cathy Rigby flying in the Gershwin during IM FLYING from PETER PAN
12) The cast of 42nd STREET doing the title number & opening the Tonys!


WORST
1) James Joyce's THE DEAD! Ugh! (Im afraid we'll get something like this if LITP is nominated this year - BOOORING!)
2) Tonya Pinkins screeching out LOTS WIFE! I actually do think it works in context - I just think she killed the song and over shot and hence cracked every note in the number.
3) Marissa Jarret Winoker was so awful and out of breath in YOU CANT STOP THE BEAT from HAIRSPRAY (not to mention FLAT at time) that her win was all the more undeserving!
4) JANE ERYE - whatever that song was! (Marla Shaffel was amazing, but as a Tony Nominated Best Musical it fell very short of a stunning performance)
5) And forgive me, I know MANY Tony Voters & Board Members will disagree, but CONTACTS number bored me to tears! Much prefered SWING or THE WILD PARTY that year (performance & show wise)

Updated On: 4/24/05 at 05:20 PM

Favorites: Crazy for You from 1992
Guys and Dolls from 1992
Contact from 2000
Hairspray from 2003
42nd Street Revival from 2001
Chicago Revival from 1996

Least Favorites: Caroline or Change from 04

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Yes, Yes - Walter Bobbie doing Sit Down Your Rockin the Boat (Nathan was there as Nathan Detroit).

Oh, If he only could have gotten Charity right the way he did with GUYS & DOLLS!