Best original song Tony Award

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 5:38pm

Do you guys think that there should be a Tony category for best original song? What would be the nominees for this year?

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 5:42pm

Only if they have a Best Original Monologue category for plays.

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 6:43pm

I've thought about this before, but I think overall, it would always end up going to a song from the winner of Best Score. Even though it may not deserve it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 6:51pm

I want a best show curtain category.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 7:35pm

I always thought that there could be a lot more Tony awards given out each year than there are now
ie: best lyrics, best cast, etc.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 7:43pm

Best Cast would be nice. Maybe Best Ensemble as well.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 8:27pm

I don't think it would always go to the score winner. Frank Wildhorn could probably win a Tony Award for writing an amazing song in a show the critics rake over the coals. Celebrity nominees (in the Cyndi Lauper/Boy George vein) could probably be counted on to be nominated. Shoot, tiny little shows like [Title of Show] would probably sneak in as another category to remind people the show existed. It's an interesting concept.

The execution would be the killer. Would the show have to submit possible nominees? Or would the voters be responsible for, theoretically, listening to every song in every new musical (or play) to come out in a season? Would it only be open (Oscar-style) to songs with music and lyrics or would they allow the instrumental songs to get in, as well?

I think it's probably too broad a category to add, sadly.

mjohnson, the two years they split Best Music from Best Lyrics, Sondheim won both categories. Not that they would always go to the same show, but it sure looked like that's where the category was heading.

I want to see the return of Best Conductor and Music Director. Lumping all of that in with Orchestrations and Score (or ignoring it with Conductor) isn't any fun.

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 8:32pm

I think an added benefit is that a "Tony Winning Best Song" could get performed on talk shows, promoted to radio, etc., a lot easier than an entire score can. Would be a very good marketing move.

It definitely wouldn't always link up with the Best Score winner -- "When I Grow Up," "Defying Gravity," and "Gimme Gimme" would have been likely frontrunners in their respective years, despite not being part of the Best Score.

Picture "Send In The Clowns" versus "Magic To Do" in 1973, "Hello, Dolly" versus "Don't Rain On My Parade" or "People" in 1964, "Unusual Way" versus "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" versus "Not A Day Goes By" in 1982, "I Am What I Am" versus "The Story Goes On" versus "Move On" or "Sunday" in 1984. Very interesting to consider!

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 8:34pm

Not necessarily Best Song, but maybe Best Lyrics as separated from the music. Last year Kinky Boots took home score but Matilda's lyrics are infinitely better. The benefit of a Best Song category would be recognizing that When I Grow Up is leagues above anything out of the Kinky Boots score, but I doubt we'll ever see such a category.

[philly03]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 8:45pm

I also think it would be a much more viable marketing tool to use (Something that is needed - IMO). I'd also be curious to see how they'd manage to get 5 nominations out of so many songs yearly.

Updated On: 2/23/14 at 08:45 PM

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:18pm

And the 2014 Tony for best Original Song from a musical goes to Rocky for "My Nose Ain't Broke".



Updated On: 2/24/14 at 09:18 PM

[justoldbill]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 10:36pm

I miss the Best Stage Technician Award.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 11:12pm

Can't wait to see who wins Best Audience Cell Phone Ringtone

[tazber]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 6:10am

There should be a Best Stage Door Signer award also.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 7:17am

I hope they give an award for Best Belted Note.

And in all seriousness, I don't think it's a good idea to give an award for a piece of a musical theatre score, any more than you would give a Best Hat award in addition to Best Costumes, or a Best Prop award in addition to Best Set Design, or Best Strings Section award in addition to Best Orchestrations, or a Best Body Mic award in addition to Best Sound.

I think the musical theatre medium is different than movies with songs in them.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 9:36am

"Best Hat" should definitely be a category.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 9:50am

Best 12 Bars