"Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life" to be considered a Musical by the Tonys- Page 2

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:21pm

Sorry for my stupidity, but what is Cindy Lauper in? I've completely forgotten.

[boxers7]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:23pm

The Threepenny Opera

[Sluggy]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:07pm

Forgive my ignorance, but who decides these things? Do the show's producers submit suggestions to the Tony committee, or is it all the committee's doing?
I read the Playbill article, but I'm still a little confused and would appreciate your help.

Updated On: 1/26/06 at 10:07 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:16pm

The Producers are VERY SMART for even thinking about this. Now they are assured more than 1 nomination. She'll definately be nominated for best actress and choreography will also get a nod.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:44pm

I think the producers made a stupid choice. It would more likely than not have the Best Special Theatrical Event award in the bag. Now it's risking everything (it wont be nominated for Best Musical) for a possible win for Chita in a crammed, hard-to-call category. It's a big risk.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 10:51pm

Has anyone ever won a Tony for playing themself?

This decision puzzles me. If A Dancer's Life is a musical, then presumably, other actresses could take on the role of Chita Rivera. Does anyone think community theatres will put on productions of A Dancer's Life?? The show was written as a vehicle for Chita. It's the same principle that was applied to 700 Sundays. Only Billy Crystal can play that role.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:16pm

I think the only reason this show was not considered a Special Event was because it had an ensemble, an actress who wasn't Chita plays the role of Chita in the show, and new songs were written. I make this assumption because if Chita's show is considered a musical then I don't see why Elaine Stritch's flawless "At Liberty" was considered a Special Event. The Tony people make no sense whatsoever. Will Bridge and Tunnel be considered a play too? I remember John Leguizamo's great show "Freak," was nominated for Best Play when it opened, but the Special Event category didn't exist back then; his new show "Sexaholix" was considered a special event though, so now I'm all confused.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 11:37pm

This could possibly be Chita's last time on broadway and the fact that the producers are taking a chance on a tight catagory for her to get a tony compared to a 99.9% chance of winning special event puzzles me. I still think with Chita nominated the tony is Lupone's and I dont see why they want multiple nomination that have slim chances of winning. However I agree the brightside to it being best musical nominated would be she'd perform. It's too bad she already did Where You Are at the Tony awards because Id love to see her do that again.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:18am

"And this is how shows that deserve nominations don't get nominated."

Or vice versa, which is even worse.


Mayella Ewell
Maycomb, Alabama

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:22am

"And this is how shows that deserve nominations don't get nominated."

Or vice versa, which is even worse.

In the end, it's pure desperation.

Mayella Ewell
Maycomb, Alabama

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:37am

with a book by Mcnally
they sort of locked themselves into the new Musical category
the score is what 2 new songs?
and Chita's Final role on B'way
I think not
Just give Her a Tony for being Chita
She is Amazing!!!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:40am

and why are they making these decisions with so many shows yet to open?

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:43am

Well, maybe the committee was thrown off by the fact this show is listed as "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life - A Musical"? Isn't that what appears in the show's logo?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:43am

Foscas --- "an actress who wasn't Chita plays the role of Chita in the show" --- who plays her in the show besides Chita? Or is it like a "younger chita" type thing?

Color Purple / Women in White / Wedding Singer / ?

Not sure who the fourth will be but I can't imagine it'd be Chita's show, but I guess ya never know.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:50am

Rentboy, yes, I was referring to the little girl (completely blanked out on her name) who plays Chita as a young child.
I'm pretty sure this show won't be nominated in the Best Musical category unless 1. The new shows yet to open are in the line of "In My Life," 2.Tony voters decide to give Chita the chance to say her show was nominated for Best Musical. I am still so shocked by what I consider a ridiculous decision. Oh, and remember the only way Chita will perform at the Tonys scenes from the show is if it gets nominated in the Best Musical category, so far the show is only ELIGIBLE, that doesn't mean much yet.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:54am

Holy Crap, I think I predicted this months ago.

Sorry, but this is one of the very few times Margo was wrong.

I think this is a GREAT decision. Saw the show tonight, am blown away.

If CONTACT and FOSSE could win Best Musical. Chita DEFINITELY has a chance (of being nominated, and possibly a win.) And I've been saying this since the start.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 12:55am

Yeah, I mean it could have a shot at getting nominated. If Drowsy Chaperone sqeezes in this season, i'm pretty sure it will take the last slot, but as of now, i'm not sure what other new musical that's still left to open would take the spot. Oh, wait, I totally blanked about Tarzan. Surely the commitee will nominate a Disney show regardless of its "crappiness."

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:01am

Ljay, I was blown away as well when I saw Chita's show, BUT while she was magnificent (she is Chita Rivera after all) the show is not well-crafted and I felt it didn't do her justice. Graciela Danielle's direction is far from mind-blowing, McNally's book is interesting at times but it fails to soar. Of course Chita makes you enjoy the night, she is a stage veteran, and she can sell the material very well, but the material itself is not spectacular. I believe Fosse was a very well-crafted show that deserved the award that year. I think Jersey Boys with its seamless staging, beautiful acting, and incredible book deserves to win over a show like Dancer's Life. Just my opinion.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:02am

So she is going to be considered for Best Actress also?

If she is - Sorry Friedman and LaChanze, their chances may shot. It will most likely be Rivera vs LuPone (that's if Chita is considered for Best Actress.)

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:07am

As soon as a show is eligible for Best Musical, it becomes eligible for all the categories attached: Best acting, Best Direction, Best Book (if there's one), Best Score (if it's original, I'm guessing in the case of Chita's show, only the new songs will be considered eligible), and all the technical awards as well.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:10am

Wow, I see. Thanks!

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 1:17am

You're welcome.
I actually agree with you that it will come down between LuPone and Rivera, UNLESS the Tony voters decide that they already have their Tony and give the award to someone like Friedman (most voters I asume have seen her in her West End engagements and couldn't wait for her to do Broadway, her cancer experience might play a role in their minds), or LaChanze (a promising actress who gets to play the role that any other season would have locked her a Tony, except for this season, but you never know), or Laura Benanti (who could pull a Marissa Jaret Winokur on all of us). However, I'm with Ljay, IF Chita gets nominated then it will come down to her and LuPone.
Updated On: 1/27/06 at 01:17 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:26am

I actually completely agree with their decision - just like I agreed when they named FOSSE and CONTACT musicals.

I was thinking last night while watching the show that it should be considered a new musical - especially because they all suck so far this year - so glad they decided to go with that.

But CHITA up for best actress? Well, you can't act if you're playing yourself.

Margo: Did they definitely announce that Chita would be up for best actress? That is just bizzare...you can't ACT when you're telling your life story. But then again, it's not best actress, it's BEST PERFORMANCE by and actress. When worded taht way, it makes sense.

I always felt that 700 SUNDAYS also should have been considered a new play - because really, that's what it was.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:36am

Wow...actually, my first instinct when I thought about the best actress category is that Chita would take votes away from Patti, giving La Chanze a better shot. I mean, both are wonderful performers and give great performances, particularly Patti in a new take on Mrs. Lovett but I've seen all of these performances to date and IMO when you take out who they are and other asides(which is hard b/c I absolutely love Chita) I personally feel that so far La Chanze has given the performance of the year, and am crossing my fingers for her Tony.

Rentboy, I know the Tonys haven't been kind to the jukeboxes but considering the great reviews they got, I think Jersey Boys is very likely to get a best musical nomination.

Ljay, Contact, Fosse, and Jerome Robbins' Broadway(god would I have loved to see that) for that matter won in years where fields were very weak. I think there's stronger shows this year, so I doubt Chita has a chance of winning best musical.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/27/06 at 2:40am

Patti LuPone deserves the Tony for her brilliant performance.
Chita deserves it because she's Chita - one of the last true legends.

In my opinion, especially with company like LuPone, Friedman, and Rivera, La Chanze pales into comparison. Her performance is unfortunately hindered by the direction and writing of the show.