Posted: 11/3/15 at 9:53pm
I just saw Spring Awakening and I was blown away. I personally cannot imagine anyone winning best director except Michael Arden, because of the entire execution of the show and all he did with the signing and just the entire show. I am yet to see Hamilton, but I am aware of the hype and how amazing it is, so my question is, will Hamilton or Spring Awakening take best director?
Posted: 11/3/15 at 10:01pm
I really think Spring Awakening. Arden recreated the show completely with the deaf themes and gives the lyrics a new meaning. But, he also has paved the way of disabled actors for Broadway, from the deaf performers to Ali Stroker, the first wheel chaired actress ever on Broadway. Hamilton might be ground breaking, but seeing disabled actors like this is something you don't see, every day.
Posted: 11/3/15 at 10:08pm
I agree Arden has done something terrific, but even if I didn't think that Kail's work creating the most important musical of our lifetimes would win head to head, I think the fact that the show will have been closed for about 1/3 of the season before these decisions are made makes it pretty unlikely.
Posted: 11/3/15 at 10:15pm
We've had this discussion in various other threads over the past few months, and I think Hogan sums up well what many others on this board have been saying - and I think it's pretty accurate.
Kail did exactly what he should have done; he directed the show well and in general created a very well-executed production, but for the most part he has allowed the material to speak for itself. Again, that is exactly what he should have done.
However, what Arden has done is really a feat unto itself. Personally, I'd pick him for the win, but I think it seems unlikely. Hamilton will be picking up a lot of steam come Tony-time, and I think when it sweeps, it will probably grab best director in the process.
Posted: 11/3/15 at 10:36pm
I think Hamilton could have looked and felt like a much different show without Kail at the helm. Imagine all of the directions the set, scenery and casting could have gone. Kail worked an incredible score into an incredibly tight production. While I agree that Arden's was a beautiful interpretation of Spring Awakening, its direction didn't quite have the impact that Hamilton has had.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 12:04am
So what exactly did Arden do that wasn't done with Big River? And it's NOVEMBER how is anyone making any assumptions on Tony wins? Especially with a show that selling at 55 percent and will be closed in Jan? Let's live in reality for a moment.
Updated On: 11/4/15 at 12:04 AM
Posted: 11/4/15 at 12:22am
I think Kail's fingerprints are all over the show and if what he did is easy to underestimate, that's a credit to him too. But beyond that, I think the all-but-inevitable sweep is further justified and understandable when you consider the level of ongoing collaboration that is responsible for what we saw and heard. Everyone's work was not only great, but of a piece. These four guys are doing something together that has happened very rarely, and the results speak for themselves. I don't know how the actors will fare at the Tonys but I will be shocked if they don't nail the creative awards and some of the design awards as well. We shall see.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 1:24pm
I felt that Arden's direction was showy and easy to understand what he was going for but really showed the signs of being a new director. He didn't know how to edit his own work or find the event in the scene. He made great stage pictures and had an overall message with the piece (though not an original one based off the work of the company he was with). But did anyone notice how unless there was a deaf subject in a scene, there wasn't an understanding of the text on any other level? It caused the show to have a major pacing issue where there wasn't much drive. I noticed this production ran a full 15 minutes longer than the original afterwards with no additional text. None of the characters (with the exception of the wonderfully smart actors playing moritz) had much depth to them other than their disabilities. When it's such a widespread problem like that you have to look the direction as the source.
In comparison to Kale who really found what Hamilton was about and was able to do it in a much more subtle but just as visually interesting way. He took a show that could have very easily been overblown and confusing and kept it focused and moving, and I really credit him and his collaboration with the choreography team with being the reason why people aren't having a hard time following probably the most complex musical ever written in terms of how much happens in short periods of time. It's a master class in overall flow and visual story telling.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 1:42pm
Posted: 11/4/15 at 2:15pm
Updated On: 11/4/15 at 02:15 PM
Posted: 11/4/15 at 2:18pm
Broadwaystar2 said: "Especially with a show that selling at 55 percent and will be closed in Jan?"
I would hope, rightly or wrongly, that how a show is selling wouldn't impact an assessment of its quality. Gentleman's Guide was doing far less before it won...
Broadwaystar2 said: "I am yet to see Hamilton, but I am aware of the hype and how amazing it is..."
The fact that it is truly amazing sort of means it isn't hype, though, no?
Posted: 11/4/15 at 2:44pm
Haven't seem Hamilton yet (and who knows when that will be) but I would be very surprised to see Arden win for his work. While there were some lovely moments in the staging, I felt that it was unfocused and messy during some of the larger group moments.
As as far as plays go, it would be great to see van Hove win, given his incredible track record in off-Broadway and international theatre. But obviously it's far to early to guess anything now.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 2:50pm
I don't know who would get the fifth slot yet, but I think four of the nominees for Best Direction of a Play will be:
Rupert Goold-King Charles III
Joe Mantello-The Humans
Liesl Tommy-Eclipsed
Ivo van Hove-A View From the Bridge
Posted: 11/4/15 at 3:03pm
Updated On: 11/4/15 at 03:03 PM
Posted: 11/4/15 at 3:12pm
haterobics said: "I would hope, rightly or wrongly, that how a show is selling wouldn't impact an assessment of its quality. Gentleman's Guide was doing far less before it won..."
without getting into whether economics ever gets in the way of merit (and we both know it does) the difference between GG and SA is that Joey Parnes found a way to keep his show running until the Tonys whereas Ken Davenport opened his show knowing it would not be around for the Tonys.
Memories are like John Adams. 
Posted: 11/4/15 at 10:33pm
When Kail works with Miranda is he a true director or a collaborator who directs? He's directing Miranda's vision, not his... His solo ventures were good but nothing spectacular. I think Arden is more deserving.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 10:42pm
Hellob, I think a "true director" is someone who collaborates. When theatre succeeds at the highest level, it almost invariably is the product of the free-wheeling, generous, unpigeonholed, symbiotic efforts of everyone involved. That notion seems to evade you.
Posted: 11/4/15 at 11:39pm
Wow, you're usually so helpful and nice. Your last sentence is mean. Anyway, obviously a production isn't a dictatorship but the director should be the captain and I don't think that's the case when working with Miranda. In the future, don't get rude with me or presume what evades me. That was unnecessary.
Posted: 11/5/15 at 12:03am
I've been considering all of your responses after my comment about Kail's direction not being as significant. I definitely see where you are coming from. I suppose I would say now that Michael Arden's direction struck me in a really strong way, whereas in the case of Hamilton, the material struck me in a very strong way, which was aided by the direction. That's just me though. Upon further reflection, I do actually think that Kail's direction, while less impactful for me personally, is objectively more clean and consistent. Also, as others have said, we have yet to see many of the other directors' work this season. I hear Doyle's production of Color Purple is something incredible as well (though I don't think he'll beat Kail)
Regarding plays: I think the two big frontrunners at this point in the season are Van Hove and Goold. I think it's interesting to compare the Play Direction race with the Musical Direction race: my thoughts on Goold vs. Van Hove are similar to some of the discussion around Kail vs. Arden.
On one hand we have Van Hove and Arden, who have made really bold choices to completely re-define the material they're working with. In my opinion, both have created excellent productions, though I find some of their directing choices to be kind of bizarre and out of left field.
On the other hand we have Kail and Goold, are are both working with (in my opinion) extraordinary new material. I feel that they have both left their marks on the material to create an outstanding production, while still very much allowing the material to take center-stage.
Just an interesting thought I had. Take from it what you will.
Updated On: 11/5/15 at 12:03 AM
Posted: 11/5/15 at 5:11am
FutureDirector said: "None of the characters (with the exception of the wonderfully smart actors playing moritz) had much depth to them other than their disabilities."
That is absolutely ridiculous. The deaf actors were beautifully talented and expressive, and brought so much depth to their characters. I'm kind of shocked that you would write that.
Updated On: 11/5/15 at 05:11 AM
Posted: 11/5/15 at 11:31am
The clarity of the direction in HAMILTON is staggering; how it maintains it's form through wall-to-wall choreography, guiding your eye and emotions exactly where it was it to go.
Not to mention, he guided the piece through readings and workshops. If you read interviews with Miranda, almost every one includes an idea that was suggested to him by Kail.
Downplaying Kail's work on the show bares an ignorance of what great direction is.
Separately, Arden's work is lovely, and I think he's likely to get a nod. And for a directorial debut on Broadway, that's impressive. But add into the mix the show was not a financial hit, and will be long-closed by June, and I don't think a win is likely. And oh, yes, HAMILTON.
Posted: 11/5/15 at 11:40am
FutureDirector said: "None of the characters (with the exception of the wonderfully smart actors playing moritz) had much depth to them other than their disabilities."
Wow. I'm sure you're just going to be a wonderful director. In the future.
Posted: 11/5/15 at 11:44am
Posted: 11/5/15 at 12:05pm
Hellob, I did not mean to be rude; what I meant was simply that I thought you were viewing Kail's role too narrowly in the context of the actual process (and I also don't think you correctly observe what that process is in this case). But I don't know, and I assume you don't either, so I certainly didn't mean to say anything you'd read as "mean." If it came off that way, I am sorry.
Posted: 11/6/15 at 2:35am
HogansHero said: "Hellob, I did not mean to be rude; what I meant was simply that I thought you were viewing Kail's role too narrowly in the context of the actual process (and I also don't think you correctly observe what that process is in this case). But I don't know, and I assume you don't either, so I certainly didn't mean to say anything you'd read as "mean." If it came off that way, I am sorry.
"
Thank you. :)
Updated On: 11/6/15 at 02:35 AM
