Closed Shows Winning Tony

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:41pm

I posted this in another thread but it was slightly off topic so I thought I'd ask separately because now I'm really curious. When (if ever) has a show that was closed before the nominations came out won the top Tony for which it was eligible (whether it be best musical/play/revival)?

 

I know everyone says Spring Awakening was a long shot because it closed so long ago. I'm sure that's true but it was critically acclaimed and I think a lot of people remember it. Just made me wonder if it had ever happened. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:44pm

Sure. It usually happens with revivals.

The reason it doesn't really apply to Spring Awakening is not only is it closed, there are open revivals that are better or just as good. Closed shows that win are usually because whatever is still running doesn't compare. Does that make sense?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Musical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Play

For example, in 2013, Virginia Woolf won best revival when it was already closed, because nothing else came close that year. Lots of people thought Golden Boy might take it because it was still running, but Virginia Woolf was just so good.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 1:46pm

Correct me if I'm wrong but did "Hallelujah, Baby!" win the Tony for Best Musical after it closed? 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:00pm

That's correct.

Also, it is not uncommon for closed plays to win, since they tend to have shorter runs, but with musicals, usually they are not limited engagements (unless it's the Roundabout) and will try to make it through the Tonys.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:04pm

neonlightsxo said: "Sure. It usually happens with revivals.

The reason it doesn't really apply to Spring Awakening is not only is it closed, there are open revivals that are better or just as good. Closed shows that win are usually because whatever is still running doesn't compare. Does that make sense?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Musical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Play

For example, in 2013, Virginia Woolf won best revival when it was already closed, because nothing else came close that year. Lots of people thought Golden Boy might take it because it was still running, but Virginia Woolf was just so good.

 

"

Pippin won.

Updated On: 5/11/16 at 02:04 PM

[toofunktastic2]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:13pm

Call_me_jorge said:
Pippin won.

For musical. Virginia Woolf is a play.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:20pm

neonlightsxo said: "Sure. It usually happens with revivals.

The reason it doesn't really apply to Spring Awakening is not only is it closed, there are open revivals that are better or just as good. Closed shows that win are usually because whatever is still running doesn't compare. Does that make sense?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Musical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Play

For example, in 2013, Virginia Woolf won best revival when it was already closed, because nothing else came close that year. Lots of people thought Golden Boy might take it because it was still running, but Virginia Woolf was just so good.

 

Golden Boy was already closed by then too.

 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 2:41pm

The very lauded but long-closed Virginia Woolf revival won, but the following year the still-running Raisin in the Sun beat the more worthy (but closed) revivals of Glass Menagerie and Twelfth Night.

This year, Spring Awakening suffers greatly from not only being closed, but also being among the strongest roster of musical revivals in recent memory. In another year, any of these shows would have been a standout and likely winner. But they all happened in the same season.

[Sertzo19]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:15pm

"Pippin won."

Pippin wasn't closed when it won Best Revival... 

Updated On: 5/11/16 at 03:15 PM

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:21pm

Thanks!  This is all very interesting. 

 

I understand what you're saying about the chances being diminished because this is such a strong year for revivals--that makes sense since the other 3 are all so good. What a strong year overall!  Embarrassment of riches. :)

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:26pm

Yeah, I dont think it has zero shot (it did get a coveted Best Director nom after all) but pulling out a win is unlikely. So Id put it in 3rd place above Fiddler. But I think the race is between The Color Purple and She Loves Me. The still-open shows are just too strong this year. It is a shame such an ingenious production will prob go home empty handed, but the flipside is that we have truly been spoiled this year with stellar revivals.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 3:27pm

little_sally said: "neonlightsxo said: "Sure. It usually happens with revivals.

The reason it doesn't really apply to Spring Awakening is not only is it closed, there are open revivals that are better or just as good. Closed shows that win are usually because whatever is still running doesn't compare. Does that make sense?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Musical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Revival_of_a_Play

For example, in 2013, Virginia Woolf won best revival when it was already closed, because nothing else came close that year. Lots of people thought Golden Boy might take it because it was still running, but Virginia Woolf was just so good.

 

Golden Boy was already closed by then too."

 

Oops! Thanks for the reminder. In that case, nothing open was worthy, I guess.

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 5/11/16 at 6:51pm

Kad said: "The very lauded but long-closed Virginia Woolf revival won, but the following year the still-running Raisin in the Sun beat the more worthy (but closed) revivals of Glass Menagerie and Twelfth Night."

Of course that same production of Raisin in the Sun (remember, this was a remounting) had previously lost the Tony to the already-closed Henry IV in 2004.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 9:06am

What? Raisin in the Sun was not a remounting.

[smidge]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 9:39am

Lol. I think we all had a late night with the misinformation in this thread 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 10:07am

neonlightsxo said: "What? Raisin in the Sun was not a remounting."

It was not indeed. It was just again helmed by Kenny Leon. Everything else- cast, design- was new.

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 10:11am

Kad, I was responding to Broadway61004 who said it was a remounting. (in case you didn't figure that out.)

[Kad]

Posted: 5/12/16 at 10:14am

I know. I was just providing more information.