Bruce Springsteen - special Tony Award disgust — Page 3

Not a religious statement but AMEN! Thanks Moderator. :)

If it's true that the theatre staff are getting paid for eight shows a week, that's great. Bruce does not deserve the plaudits though if he has jacked up the prices disproportionately to pay for it - the staff have the ticketbuyers to thank instead. It's their $$$. How many millions can one guy need? I would love to know the justification for the high ticket prices. Supply and demand does not cut it. He could easily have lower prices and a strict ID policy to stamp out touts - if he is not even paying rent...this is obscene.

I'll say this for qolbinau, he's consistent...

I bet most of the people here complaining about his special Tony did not actually see his show. I also bet it was a much more genuine, heartfelt, and ultimately satisfying theatre experience than some of the scraping at the bottom of the barrel the nominating committee had to do this year. All of this complaining is sort of showing how out-of-touch theatre has become with the mainstream. If it's not a project done in a certain "accepted" way that people think of as "Broadway" then it does not deserve attention or respect.



Jonathan Cohen said: "Unless something has changed from their original deal, Springsteen is not paying rent on theWalter Kerr Theatre. The deal that was struck is he can play therefor 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 manyof 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.

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The only thing I disagree with your post is Amelie being an "unexpected" flop. I think a lot of people expected that. Otherwise, great post.

The reason why Springsteen was even in consideration for a Special Tony was because people kept bitching about shows like Contact and other shows not properly being musicals. Then the Tonys created a special category for them called Special Theatrical Event, and then there weren't enough shows to have a competitive category. And now we have this weird inconsistent thing where one-man/woman shows or events may or may not be eligible for Best Actor/Actress or are eligible but are given special Tonys anyway.

haterobics said: "Now he just needs to write a song for a TV show, and get that EGOT."

Or film Springsteen on Broadway for television.

I guess the major point of contention RE: Bruce is how special it really was as an event. It was certainly special in terms of commercial success. But is it really special for a performer to be singing his same songs telling the same stories in what just happened to be a Broadway venue?

In comparison (and it's not JUST about Bernadette, I'm sure there could be other equally or more special events to refer to)..I just think about Bernadette Peters in Hello, Dolly! At 70 years old Bernadette Peters is one of the few golden age performers still active - she made her Broadway debut in the 50s! She starred in the original production of Mack & Mabel almost 50 years ago by the creators of Hello, Dolly! - Herman and Michael Stewart. She is Sondheim's most premier interpreter and been at the forefront of some of the most important musicals in Broadway history. She has made her mark on Broadway in a way that only a few performers have been able to make before or since. When she walks down those stairs every night it's not just some guy who has opened up shop on Broadway for the first time - but it's celebrating decades of history and innovation in the Broadway theater. And given the small theatre Bruce is in and low number of performances he has given, I'm pretty sure Bernadette has been seen by almost hundreds of thousands more people if my math is correct. Yes - Bernadette is even doing a traditional 8 show per week schedule in two acts at age 70!

I don't understand how some guy setting up shop for the first time to sing some of his old songs and tell his old stories is as 'special' as the example above. One is a true celebration of an amazing career that changed the face of Broadway. One is a concert.

Updated On: 6/18/18 at 03:08 PM

We seem to be harboring a bit of resentment against Mr. Springsteen. One wonders what in the world could trigger such an outburst. What in the world.

givesmevoice said: "geoffreyC said: "We seem to be harboring a bit of resentment against Mr. Springsteen. One wonders what in the world could trigger such an outburst. What in the world."

I assume Bernie Sanders doesn't like The Boss."

Sanders actually Tweeted a Springsteen quote 3 years ago: https://twitter.com/sensanders/status/597138223559651328?lang=en

I don't understand how some guy setting up shop for the first time to sing some of his old songs and tell his old stories is as 'special' as the example above. One is a true celebration of an amazing career that changed the face of Broadway. One is a concert.

Then don't go. Problem solved.

You say it is not about Bernadette but then you go on and on and on and on building a case for Bernadette Time to give it a rest or get a new angle, particular considering the nature of the TONY given to Springsteen.

JSquared2 said: "qolbinau said: "I guess the major point of contention RE: Bruce is how special it really was as an event. It was certainly special in terms of commercial success. But is it really special for a performer to be singing his same songs telling the same stories in what just happened to be a Broadway venue?

I don't understand how some guy setting up shop for the first time to sing some of his old songs and tell his old stories is as 'special' as the example above. One is a true celebration of an amazing career that changed the face of Broadway. One is a concert."



So by your own "logic", how is what Mr. Springsteen is doing (setting up shop for the first time to sing some old songs and tellold stories)any different than what Elaine Stritch did in AT LIBERTY, or Liza Minnelli in her several Broadway concerts?Or Patti Lupone? Or Mandy Patinkin? Or Hugh Jackman?

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There is indeed a big difference between Bruce Springsteen singing in concert vs Broadway stars singing Broadway songs in Broadway theatres. Call me when Bruce is belting out Ladies Who Lunch, Rose’s Turn or Cabaret.

So basically we should all stick to our own kind?"

Absolutely not. But it is perfectly sensible to maintain distinctions between different art forms and restrict giving Tonys to people who are clearly involved in theatre.