Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
#1Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:28pm
should've been this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNcSF6xGHyI
I know they performed "Electricity" at the beginning, but if you really wanted to showcase your musical and your jointly nominated actors, it should've been this one!
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#2re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:32pm
Actually they should have done this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjJ1ow3XJl4
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#2re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:34pmI agree with heo.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Man in Chair
Swing Joined: 10/13/07
#3re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:34pm
I think Trent looked ridiculous. The number is much better in context. And the Tony Winning choreography is not at its best in that number.
The visual of the wall falling and the guards mounting themselves behind it was very nice, though.
#5re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:47pmGlad I saw this show around Thanksgiving...but I sure wouldn't have bought a ticket from what was shown on the telecast.
#6re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:47pmI must be in a minority, but I liked this performance (and no, I haven't seen the show). I found it really impressive and thrilling to watch.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#7re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:50pmI was watching the Tonys with a friend of mine and he and I both thought that it was okay that they did Angry Dance for thier number. But, they should have let Tommy dance it because he is the 4th Billy on Broadway and because he came in after the show opened he wasn't nominated for the Tony like the other three.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#8re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:55pm
I think they should have done "Expressing Yourself". Can you imagine some little boy staying up late, watching the Tony Awards, seeing that and being inspired.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRanzpVYx-s
DrewBill
Stand-by Joined: 4/22/08
#9re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 4:09pm
The "Angry Dance" is amazing in person, but just didn't work on TV. Kind of sad, because there are so many other numbers in the show that would have been better.
I know it would never have been chosen, but I love the grandmother's song in the first act -- it's just so moving, and has great choreography. But obviously, it's in the best interest of the show to pick something that centers on Billy.
#10re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 4:13pm
I liked the performance as well. It was dramatic, had action, and the projection onto the boards was very cool and gave insight to the historical conflict in the show. All this in one performance. My family was impressed with Trent, as well.
I believe most people think of the family aspects of the show when they think of Billy Elliot, so I think the performance might appeal to others who might of had an unfavorable "bubblegum" image of the show.
sgv123
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/06
#11re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 4:23pmLike I said in an earlier thread--the problem with doing that second performance is the amount of people it took to pull that off.
#12re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 4:33pmI think they should have done Solidarity. more people involved. great number.
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#13re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:12pmI do think that Angry dance was a poor choice for the Tony's because there was no singing, it only featured Trent, and it was strange out of context /and without the actual set of the show. I think the catharsis of the scene is much important than the dancing, and there is no emotional response from this number out of context.
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Me: "Would you like that with all the colors of the wind?"
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#14re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:16pm
but it's not like BE needs the help to sell tickets.
I know a number of folks that were pretty impressed with it.
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winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#15re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:23pm
I do think that the dramatic build up to Angry Dance got lost out of context. What with emotion after emotion layering one on top of the other towards the end of act one only to end with Angry Dance is something that gets lost when it is on its own like they did it last night.
But, then again, this is someone who heard great things about the dancing in that number prior to the show's bow on Broadway that I did youtube the scene and saw a video from the London production that left me impressed with what I saw and loving every second of that which I was seening that I was looking forward to seeing it live on Broadway. And, I was very happy when I did see the show for the first time and that scene started.
But, I can see how it would not work out of context. Like I said before, if they had to do The Angry Dance then they should have gotten Tommy to do it due to the fact that he is in the show and he is Billy, but due to the fact that he became the fourth Billy in the rotation he didn't get nominated. I think that if they did it that way, it would have showcased the hard dancing that is involved for the role of Billy that people are going gaga over as well as giving another actor who is playing the same Tony nominated role a chance to shine as well considering that the other Billy's got a chance to shine during the opening number of the awards.
Either they should have done that, or have done that amazing montage that the show did at The Helpman Awards.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
siny
Broadway Star Joined: 2/8/07
#16re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:40pm
I liked it. Like someone said, some people think of BE as a bubblegum show and this number certainly dispells that impression. It was dark and edgy and showcased the choreography, which, let's face it, is BE's strong poing (not that their singing is bad, but you know....).
I don't know if it will help sell the tickets (like, for example the "Hair" performance undoubtedly will for their show), but it certainly won't hurt. And it's not like BE needs any help anyway.
But I also think that Expressing Yourself would have been a better choice. I wonder why they did not do that one.
#17re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:29pm
"some people think of BE as a bubblegum show and this number certainly dispells that impression. It was dark and edgy and showcased the choreography."
Absolutely right.
#18re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:15pm
i am just glad they did not repeat a full blown Electricity performance. that is what they have been using in every way to promote the show. There are at least 10 videos of all three boys doing the Electricity number.
I thought they should have done the Solidarity and transitioned itself into the angry dance, and then maybe a tiny bit of electricity. I always thought the Margret thatcher dialogue makes a huge impact.
Herbie: "Honey, Don't you know there's a depression?"
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Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
#19re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:24pmI would have preferred "Electricity" again over that crap. But, not with all three of them. They always sound horrid when they sing together.
ZONEACE
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#20re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:39pm
some people think of BE as a bubblegum show and this number certainly dispells that impression. It was dark and edgy and showcased the choreography.
Or it made them think its a bubblegum show about a child with epilepsy and leg cramps.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
siny
Broadway Star Joined: 2/8/07
#21re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 9:16pm
Can you have a bubblegum show about epilepsy ?
And I am glad they did not do "Electricity". I think everyone is pretty much sick of it being performed on every single show they've ever been on.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#22re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/8/09 at 9:28pm
It also didn't help that the camera work was dreadful.
While not the best selection, for the reasons already cited (taken out of context it loses meaning), at least if we had been permitted to view the full stage of activity it would have added texture. But the close views and tight shots took much away.
I think the camera work all night was dreadful...
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Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#23re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/9/09 at 10:46am
"I do think that Angry dance was a poor choice for the Tony's because there was no singing, it only featured Trent, and it was strange out of context /and without the actual set of the show."
The reason they performed the Angry Dance was because the number they rehearsed was 6 minutes, and the Tony Awards was going to charge them an amount they couldn't afford. This all happened Saturday night. So instead they went with a shorter number. They chose the Angry Dance because it showcases Trent's tapping abilities, and they picked Trent because the other two are leaving the show very soon.
But I agree, the number does not work out of context, and personally I think the choreography, even in context, is horrible.
#24re: Billy Elliot Tony Performance...
Posted: 6/9/09 at 11:11am
If that's true, Fosse76, that's very interesting. Do you know what the number would have been?
I just rewatched the performance last night (only my second time seeing it, calm down), and I actually think it was wonderfully performed. I think it didn't work out of context because of some of the camera work and because Elton's narration was bad. But the performance was fantastic and Trent was dancing his little butt off. On TV it may not have translated all that well, but I'm sure it was thrilling live at Radio City. I can see this as being on one of those compilation DVDs one day.
~Steven
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