Bruce Springsteen - special Tony Award disgust- Page 2

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 2:38pm

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.   

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 2:41pm

I just love when threads get thrown out of whack and off-topic by the person who started the thread 

[binau]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 2:47pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "I just love when threads get thrown out of whack and off-topic by the person who started the thread"

If you look back you’ll find this isn’t solely the case. I’m only directly responding to the posts of others in this thread. 


But yes to try and get us back on track: the main issue isn’t Bernadette not winning awards - if it wasn’t Bernadette it could be someone else. I am obviously just being over dramatic. The issue is Bruce winning the award he did. Why?

Updated On: 6/17/18 at 02:47 PM

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:03pm

"The issue is Bruce winning the award he did. Why?"

Really, did you actually expect anything else from the powers-that-be who rule the roost nowadays?

A rock star deigns to bring his act to a Broadway theatre. How could everyone not bow, scrape and confer a special award in gratitude?

 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:21pm

TotallyEffed said: "Don’t bother arguing with this delusional, hateful person. Not worth it!

DELUSION!"

I don't think qolbinau's views on religion are delusional. Believing that one can talk to ghosts in the sky, however, is completely delusional.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:32pm

I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about this. Springsteen on Broadway is highly acclaimed and wildly successful Broadway show that doesn't fit into any of the competitive Tony catergories. Why doesn't he deserve an award for it? I bought $75 tickets to see it in September, but, judging from Bruce's Tony performance, it strikes me as far more theatrical than I expected. I'm excited to see it in its entirety.

Updated On: 6/17/18 at 03:32 PM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:35pm

Springsteen has always told a ton of stories on every tour he's ever done, that's why his show runs for like 5 hours.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:36pm

Here's the list of Special Tony Award from 1947 to now.

https://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/history/pastwinners/tonys_results.html?fname=&lname=&show=&award=Special+Tony+Award&year=Year&year=All#1

[Andy51]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:41pm

CT2NYC said: "I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about this.Springsteen on Broadwayis highly acclaimed and wildly successful Broadway show that doesn't fit into any of the competitive Tony catergories. Why doesn't he deserve an award for it? I bought $75 tickets to see it in September, but, judging from Bruce's Tony performance, it strikes me as far more theatrical than I expected. I'm excited to see it in its entirety."

Merely flipping the question at hand is a pretty weak response.  In any case, I've offered an argument above as to why I don't think he deserved a Tony, though I am open to revising my view in light of some well-reasoned response.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:42pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "If his show is as boring as his Tonys performance was, then hedefinitelydoesn't deserve a Special Tony."

^amen

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 3:42pm

A Director said: "Here's the list of Special Tony Award from 1947 to now.

https://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/history/pastwinners/tonys_results.html?fname=&lname=&show=&award=Special+Tony+Award&year=Year&year=All#1"

In that context, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Katzenberg might have received the most questionable special Tony Award. It looks like they got one in 1947 for what sounds like just being enthusiastic audience members. Which also means either they weren't taking the Tonys seriously enough in 1947, or we're taking them way too seriously now. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 4:40pm

First of all, Bernadette already has two Tony awards sitting at home to make her happy. Second of all Bruce Springsteen isn't my favorite singer BUT he has a huge following of people who bought tickets to see him and might not usually be interested in B'way. Third of all I think that of all the Bernadette/Sondheim performances Follies might be the weakest. She was more deserving for Into the Woods, SITPWG. So I don't see what your gripe is. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 4:58pm

Springsteen has always performed, solo or with a band, as a hybrid rock star, folksinger, beat poet and monologist (much like his more indie contemporary Tom Waits). From the start, the shows were as much theatre as concert, and doing a one man version on Broadway is a natural culmination, not a publicity stunt.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 5:16pm

That summary of all those awarded a special Tony is pretty illuminating.

If I read it right, Richard Rodgers was awarded a special Tony in 3 separate years between 1960 and 1979.

Carol Channing and George Abbott were each awarded 2 separate special Tony Awards several years apart too. Huh?

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 5:18pm

i saw springsteen on broadway twice

it was one of the most compelling theatre experiences ive ever had.  A story based artist capturing the magic, thrills and pain of growing up, discovering himself and his gifts, and sharing them with the audience through stories and song. passionate, emotive and brilliantly executed. 

It absolutely deserved the special Tony, and if it also had the effect of drawing some theatre newbies in for the show and the tony awards, fantastic.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 8:53pm

He still tries to pretend that he's a hard working blue collar average person even though his net worth is almost half a billion dollars. He's been a phony for years and people still buy into it. One of the most overrated musicians out there in my opinion.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 10:12pm

I doubt think there is anyone that thinks he IS blue collar. Just because he's wealthy doesn't mean he's posh or identifies that way.

You can take the boy out of Jersey...

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 10:46pm

qolbinau said: "The issue is Bruce winning the award he did. Why?"

Well, he is doing a special event, so he got the special Tony. I'm not sure there's more to read into it than this. He's a huge commercial draw, the show is sold out for the entire run, and he is doing what everyone says is a highly dramatic, personal show, unlike say a comedian like Lewis Black or Kathy Griffin just doing their regular standup show in a Broadway theater. He created a theatrical experience shaped by his music, by giving shape to what made him create it. I figured he was getting this award long before they announced it, so not really sure what is surprising about it.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/17/18 at 10:56pm

qolbinau said: "So let me get this straight. Bruce Springsteen usesBroadway as a rental agency - charging obscene amounts of money for some concerts and taking up some prime Broadway real estate in the process - and then get rewarded a Tony Award?

Meanwhile, Bernadette - a genuine Broadway star - doesn't get nominated for Follies. And receives nothing for her amazing replacement performances in A Little Night Music and Hello Dolly. This is bull****!

#givethetonysbacktoBroadway"

 

Speak with Jordan Roth ...he was instrumental in bringing this to Broadway at the Walter Kerr.

Don't Miss this once in a lifetime experience with the Bruce! Extended till 12/15/18

https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringsteenBroadway?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbroadway.news%2F2018%2F03%2F21%2Fspringsteen-staying-broadway-dec-15%2F

https://brucespringsteen.net/broadway/
 

Updated On: 6/17/18 at 10:56 PM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 12:44am

I don't know why I expected anything else from qolbinau but it's still effing hilarious that he linked to Wikipedia articles to justify his Islamophobia. 

Anyway, who cares about the Special Tony Award? It's not as though they *have* to award it every year, and in fact some years they don't, but it's for something that doesn't fit into traditional categories that is deemed "worthy." While the length of Springsteen's run may be longer than a lot of performers' concert runs on Broadway, he's hardly the first musician to play a Broadway house and certainly won't be the last. I don't begrudge him any of it, and it's making a lot of money for Jujamcyn. And certainly better him than Convicted Rapist Mike Tyson or someone equally repulsive, in any case. 

[binau]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 3:20am

I think the gay Muslims being oppressed in practically every single Islamic country and community on this earth because of religious theology is enough to justify criticism towards Islam, or as you might insidiously call ‘Islamophobia’. I am not ashamed for actually caring about ALL gay people. Not just when it’s politically convenient to do so.

If you actually are interested in understanding the victims of Islam I suggest you follow a link to some of those pages, go and look at the Pew research center statistics, head to the reddit page for ex-Muslims, and go and take a look at some of the core theology. Don’t come here as a puppet to the religious right and offer nothing to the conversation if you apparently want to talk about it. It’s depressing to watch this mindless conservatism at play. 

 

Updated On: 6/18/18 at 03:20 AM

[JBC3]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 6:56am

Looks like this thread may end the way it started ... as a total mess.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 7:24am

“Tonight, in Qolbinau laaaaaand....
Huuuuurrrrgh...
Woohoohooo...”

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 7:27am

He didn't WIN anything.  There was no competition.   It was simply agreed it would be bestowed upon him.   Very different then nomination OR actually "winning".

 

And really, with all that goes on in the country, this DISGUSTS you?   

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/18/18 at 9:31am

Religious affiliation - unlike race, sex, or sexual orientation - is a choice, and it is therefore valid to consider it when judging other people. Though there surely are reflexive anti-Muslim bigots, reasoned criticism of Islam is not bigotry, any more than criticizing the Republican Party is bigotry.

Muslim belief has often led to oppression of, and violent acts towards, women and LGBT people. This is also true of other belief systems, of course, but today the worst of these atrocities are indeed committed at the hands of those who profess Islam in places where Muslims have significant political power.

There are more than a billion Muslims and I know that most of them do not support such violence. However, the choice to align oneself with a philosophy that is connected with such violence is not a neutral one. Just as I would use membership in the Republican Party as one factor in sizing someone up, so I would use the choice to affiliate with an anti-LGBT religion. (I am quite certain that some religious people judge me negatively for my atheist beliefs, and that too is fair game.)