Book of Mormon to do "I Believe" on The Tony Awards.

[HBBrock]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 12:54am

From Michael Reidel's column in the New York Post today:

* Tony Talk

After much wrangling with Tony officials, the producers of "The Book of Mormon" have decided to do the song "I Believe" on the telecast.

It's an anthem sung to the rafters by the Tony-nominated Andrew Rannells.
The "Mormon" people were angling to open the telecast, and came up with a brilliant idea centered on the first song in the show, "Hello!"

The cast, dressed in Mormon suits and ties, were going to knock on the dressing-room doors of all the stars on Broadway -- Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Daniel Radcliffe, Robin Williams.

(Since none of them was nominated, it would have been funny if they slammed the doors in their faces.)

The final door would have been opened by Tony host Neil Patrick Harris, dressed in a Mormon suit and tie. And then an army of Mormons would have descended upon the Beacon Theatre, singing and dancing down the aisles.

What an exciting and theatrical idea.

Alas, the Tonys are immune to anything exciting and theatrical, and so the telecast will open instead with -- surprise -- a medley led by Harris.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/julie_spide_on_way_Ia93z77Tl5N5t7hAXIamyH#ixzz1NKtbhFIL

[willep]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 12:56am

Ugh, that would have been fantastic.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 12:58am

Fantastic choice! My favorite song in the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:01am

The dreaded NPH medley. Ugh.

[BwayTday]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:04am

I think "I Believe" is a great choice even though it isn't an ensemble driven number. I wonder if they will alter the staging, such as having the offstage voices onstage or something.

"Hello" sounds much more exciting and original then a medley. Led by anyone.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:11am

Go. Away. N.P.H.

[julesboogie]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:15am

Wow thats gotta sting for the cast, if they just do it as a solo. Offstage singers or not, the show is nominated (whole cast)...not just Andrew.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:16am

That "Hello" opening would've been great. Yet another missed opportunity by the Tonys....

And "I Believe" is sort of a strange number to do on the telecast. I'm disappointed it's not "Man Up", though I suppose I understand their reasons...

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:32am

Shoulda done Tomorrow Is a Latter Day. Or Turn It Off. Or Two By Two. Yeah, upbeat ensemble numbers...

[julesboogie]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:40am

bwayfan

what were their reasons?

[JP2]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:41am

Well, it's my absolute favorite song in the show, so I'm not upset.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 1:50am

I wish they'd do something else, but I guess I'm okay with this.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 2:00am

They'll do 'I Believe' into the finale, where it is reprised. There's no way in hell the biggest show of the year will perform a complete solo.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 2:02am

I want that Hello opening. Simply brilliant.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 2:06am

I would be completely satisfied if they did that, IdinaBellFoster. I hope they do...

@julesboogie- I guess their reasons are that they want a non-controversial number that isn't incredibly plot connected, which is why other numbers weren't possible for them. Which, to me, is a shame, if they had a good number that was like that, which they did. Several. Oh well...

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 2:09am

I would have preferred that they knocked on the doors of the characters as opposed to the actors. Rather not see them so overtly play to the celebrity.
Updated On: 5/25/11 at 02:09 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 2:23am

The characters don't have dressing rooms.

The actors do.

[HBP]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 6:35am

i won't lie, i'm pretty disappointed. i hope reidel's wrong. i thought that they might do 'joseph smith: all-american prophet", "hello", or a medley..

[nexttotheheights]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 6:36am

The 'Hello' idea was brilliant, but of course the Tony's are trying to be as boring as possible. I mean another medley, really?

[tazber]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:24am

God the Tonys suck.

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:27am

The Hello idea would have been perfect. WTF Tony producers??? Honestly I really hope they reconsider it and add a NPH medley later on.
Updated On: 5/25/11 at 07:27 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:52am

"I guess their reasons are that they want a non-controversial number that isn't incredibly plot connected, which is why other numbers weren't possible for them."

In my opinion "Two by Two" would fulfill that statement better than "I Believe."

[bud2]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 8:15am

Sorry, a bit off the "Morman" topic, but does anyone know if there will be a performance on the Tonys by the cast of "Priscilla"? I'm pretty sure shows that are not nominated for best musical are not invited to perform, but would they really pass up this opportunity?

[JP2]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 8:20am

What opportunity?

[bud2]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 8:42am

Costumes, for one...