Bruce Springsteen - special Tony Award disgust

She may have been the only one of the 4 leads in Follies to not get nominated, but she was also the only one of the 4 to walk away with a Tony that night. Don't forget she was given the Isabelle Stevenson Tony that year.

Broadway IS a rental space. Anyone with the money (and timing) can get that done.



Sorry for your outrage. I'm pretty sure Ms Peters holds none of the animosity that you do. It's totally different people that determine noms v special Tonys.

I still tend to think it is a category mistake to treat the Springsteen show as theatre. Many musicians (particularly folk musicians) incorporate a good amount of autobiographical material (and other reflections) into their shows without anyone believing that they have just witnessed theatre. Theatre, at least as I (non-dogmatically) conceive of it, involves at least some element of the actor's craft. Springsteen may be a good storyteller, but part of his appeal is that he is presenting his authentic self rather than acting. I have no problem with Springsteen performing on Broadway. But I do think the Tony perpetuates what is arguably a problematic conflation of performing in a theatre on Broadway with performing theatre.

Unless something has changed from their original deal, Springsteen is not paying rent on the Walter Kerr Theatre. The deal that was struck is he can play there for free, the alternative was the theater remaining closed because of Amelie's unexpected flop, and Jujamcyn keeps all of the concession sales.

Which makes the high ticket prices for Springsteen on Broadway that much more offensive. Other than his wife appearing for a couple of songs, Springsteen is doing a one man show meaning low overhead, but despite his working man persona, most tickets are between $300-$800. (I paid $800 for a pair of tickets which is no one's fault but my own, but it's still greedy. Both things can be true.)

Having seen the full show, I thought the self indulgent endless intro to My Hometown was the most irritating part the entire night, and have no idea why they used it on the Tonys.

All of that said, Bruce Springsteen's show was still better than many of the shows that were nominated, and as he was given a Tony out of competition, his award is not taking one away from anyone else. He wasn't even the only person to receive a special Tony for a one man show this year, John Leguizamo did too.

If his show is as boring as his Tonys performance was, then he definitely doesn't deserve a Special Tony.

Bernadette's croaking and warbling just about ruin that album of Follies for me. Next I bet you're going to bring in how it's all the fault of the liberal progressives and their tolerance of other religions as the reason Bernadette didn't get a Tony for Follies.

poisonivy2 said: "Bernadette's croaking and warbling just about ruin that album of Follies for me. Next I bet you're going to bring in how it's all the fault of the liberal progressives and their tolerance of other religions as the reason Bernadette didn't get a Tony for Follies."

Well three things:

1. I obviously mentioned Bernadette because it's me, but it's not my main point. I would rather the award have gone to no one than Bruce Springsteen. It was just an example of a real Broadway legend who could be deserving of a special Tony Award. I do understand the reasons why they probably gave it to him though, which I believe Hogan et al. have covered well in the thread.

2. I only would claim that tolerance of intolerance, such as in the example you provide, relates to outcomes such as oppression of gay people and women. But I realise that so called progressives prove time and time again they don't care about gay people or women, especially if they happened to be born in a muslim community.

3. The reason Bernadette didn't get a Tony for Follies is because of bad taste, that's all (and looking back, it was quite a competitive year). If you listen to "In Buddy's Eyes" and can only hear 'croaking and warbling' I actually feel sorry for you, lol. But when it comes to taste I guess you either got it, or you ain't.

Updated On: 6/17/18 at 01:43 PM

Yes, exactly.

PThespian said: "I can’t speak for all the Unions, but I can tell you that the Front of House staff gets paid for eight shows a week even though it doesn’t play that many.

If it’s similar for the other unions that might help explain part of the reason why ticket prices are so high."

Not working in the industry, it wouldn't even occur to me that the staff at the Kerr were being adversely affected by Springsteen's lighter performance schedule, but I'm glad to hear that doesn't appear to be the case.

I'm sure that's not the main reason I was paying $400 a ticket for mezzanine seating but at least the profits from those crazy high ticket prices are getting spread around a little.