Brantley and Green's WILL WIN/SHOULD WIN 2019

List: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/theater/tony-awards-critics-picks.html

Conversation: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/theater/broadway-season-tonys-critics-debate.html


Quick highlights:
- Both think The Prom deserves to win Best Musical but won't
- It's a good thing Brantley didn't review Hadestown
- Both think Daniel Fish should win Best Director
- As always, there's so much interesting Off-Broadway stuff that "should" be nominated.

In a year with very, very few obvious frontrunners, I'm taking the predictions of these two fairly out of touch guys with a larger grain of salt than usual.

Kad said: "In a year with very, very few obvious frontrunners, I'm taking the predictions of these two fairly out of touch guys with a larger grain of salt than usual."

Its fun that this year is so wide open but you're right here. I think they're both right that The Ferryman will win though.

I bought tickets to Hadestown based on the mostly great reviews of it posted on this board- and the great reviews most reviewers also gave. Surprised there was not much love for it by the NYTimes guys. I also bought tickets for Tootsie- would love to see Prom- but it ends early October- and I come to NY in late October- and I doubt it will be extended judging by the box office numbers. Might get to NY on a whim and see it some time soon though. Surprised Hadestown is not the frontrunner in the Times- it certainly seems to be on this message board.

I do not understand the love for The Prom. Don't get me wrong, I found it entertaining enough, but winning best musical over Hadestown and Tootsie? No.

HenryTDobson said: "I do not understand the love for The Prom. Don't get me wrong, I found it entertaining enough, but winning best musical over Hadestown and Tootsie? No."

The Prom is much better than Tootsie, imo. I’d rather see that win with its authentic message.

I thought The Prom was enjoyable, but its execution being "nearly flawless" is.. debatable. It's a show that lampoons the very lampoonable idea of East Coast liberal artist types thinking they're changing lives and making a difference with their work and presence... but it's also a show by East Coast liberal artist types that is literally putting itself out there as a show that can change lives and make a difference. It even unironically features a big act two number where one of these smug actors effortlessly opens the eyes of teenagers to their religious hypocrisy by trotting out very well-worn arguments. If only it were so easy.

I think it has some good tunes, and Beth Leavel in a cheetah print trench coat belting her face off is something I will always love, but it's a show that tries to have its cake and eat it, too. I don't think it's authentic- I think it's pretty calculated.

Updated On: 5/14/19 at 11:35 AM

Not that being original so garner a vote for best musical, but do we think that will help The Prom ultimately like it did last year with The Band's Visit? This season seems much stronger in comparison, but still, not sure if they want to award "original" work over movies or greek mythology or jukebox shows we get every year.

Mike Barrett said: "Not that being original so garner a vote for best musical, but do we think that will help The Prom ultimately like it did last year with The Band's Visit? This season seems much stronger in comparison, but still, not sure if they want to award "original" work over movies or greek mythology or jukebox shows we get every year."

The Band's Visit is based on a movie.

They do make a good point about Hadestown, which many reviews highlighted, but didn't emphasize. Its Chavkin's direction that hides the clear flaws of Hadestown, where Orpheus and Eurydice have no character arcs throughout the show despite being the the shows protagonists. Orpheus is simply charming, and Eurydice simply wants to be free of struggle. The later does have some emotional struggle, but it amounts nothing by the plots conclusion. The secondary couple of Hades and Persephone, actually do have character arcs, and should be the shows leading couple, but are relegated to secondary characters... simply because its an adaptation of "Orpheus and Eurydice". Tootsie on the other hand has the exact opposite problem where the book and score work despite a mediocre and boring direction by Scott Ellis. I think the argument they are making is similar to the Lion King vs Ragtime debate as Ragtime is the better musical on paper, but Lion King is the better production. They think Tootsie is the Ragtime, but as history shows Lion King will likely win.

My qualms with Hadestown are its producers, who I overheard discussing their awards campaign and competition in the lobby of the Kerr while I was purchasing tickets before it opened. They were openly trashing other shows, and were making the argument that Hadestown is high art and can't be judged, while every other musical that opened is commercial trash. It simply rubbed me the wrong way, and definitely clouded my judgment when I saw the show. It didn't help that the show increased their standard ticket prices post opening to $249. I honestly just don't want to reward greed. Tootsie and The Prom's producers may be just as bad, but I didn't experience it.

Updated On: 5/14/19 at 11:54 AM

bdn223 said: "My qualms withHadestownare its producers, who I overheard discussing their awards campaign and competition in the lobby of the Kerr while I was purchasing tickets before it opened. They were openly trashing other shows, and were making the argument thatHadestownis high art and can't be judged, whileevery other musical that opened is commercial trash. It simply rubbed me the wrong way, and definitely clouded my judgment when I saw the show. It didn't help that the show increased their standard ticket prices post opening to $249. I honestly just don't want to reward greed.Tootsieand The Prom'sproducers may be just as bad, but I didn't experience it."


Those conversations happen behind closed doors for every show. It's a catty industry, and everyone wants to return their investors' money.

The bigger problem probably lies in the fact that Hadestown's producers have never run a Tony campaign before, whereas Tootsie has longtime Broadway veteran Scott Sanders at the helm. Of course, the ad agencies and press reps do a lot of work during Tony season, but it all starts at the top with the producer.