Confirmed Tony Performances (spoilers)- Page 3

[jagfkb]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:57pm

Here's what I'd LOVE to see:

Billy Elliot:
Medley of Solidarity, Expressing Yourself, and finally Electricity.

Next to Normal:
Light

Shrek:
What's Up Duloc/ I Know it's Today/ Build Me a Wall/ Freak Flag

Rock of Ages:
Don't Stop Believing

Hair:
Hair

West Side Story:
Somewhere

Guys and Dolls:
Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:09pm

Dance at the Gym is an awful idea- they should do something that viewers will hum along to and say "oh i wanna see that"

the tonight quintet is perfect for that, i think. stupid.

[afaye11]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 9:32pm

I think Next to Normal should do "Just Another Day", it's exciting, makes the show look great, and shows off the four stars wonderfully.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 10:17am

Historically, medleys on the Tonys never come across well, so I'm puzzled about why Billy Elliot is doing that.

According to the Playbill article, Next to Normal is definitely doing "You Don't Know/ I Am the One."

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 10:50am

The Playbill article also makes it sound like PAL JOEY is performing and it says that MAMMA MIA, JERSEY BOYS, and LEGALLY BLONDE are all performing as well (interesting since they didn't allow LEGALLY BLONDE to perform when they actually were ON Broadway).
I'd have preferred not to have the touring shows and instead get some scenes from the nominated plays. That would have been wonderful.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 11:37am

legally blonde is doing a shortened rendition of "oh My God" with the lead girl from the tour.
Why do they have a touring production perform which lost about 75% of its investment on bwy, is beyond me but hey, do what you want.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 12:03pm

I think having the touring companies perform is an awful idea.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 1:36pm

Agreed.

Why can't they have 9 TO 5 do a full-on number instead of the touring companies performing? I mean 9 TO 5 is the only non Best Musical nominee that is still running...it deserves to perform before JERSEY BOYS, LEGALLY BLONDE, and MAMMA MIA!'s touring casts. I mean, really....

[Kad]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 1:37pm

And why these three touring companies?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 1:43pm

I'm assuming because they appeal to middle America and because, one would assume, from here on in, the Tonys will keep plugging recognizable names for virtually no reason (RENT and LION KING last year, JERSEY BOYS, MAMMA MIA!, and LEGALLY BLONDE this year).

I guess RENT and LION KING's reasons for performing made a bit more sense, but come on. They both got to perform at the telecast already and both went home with the big prize.

They're clearly just doing all this sh*t to get more viewers. It's kinda funny and ridiculous though because that's just not gonna happen.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 2:01pm

I wish the Tony producers would just attempt to appeal to people who actually care about the awards because they are the only ones who are going to watch the Tonys.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 2:10pm

All I'm saying is that if I were a producer of 9 TO 5, I would be pissed off.

I don't understand where the powers that be at the Tonys get off allowing the touring companies of LEGALLY BLONDE (which they adamantly refused to let perform the year it was eligible for Tonys), JERSEY BOYS (which got to perform the year they won Best Musical --and I believe performed the next year as well if memory serves--), and MAMMA MIA! (which already has major exposure due to the success of the movie and also performed the year it was eligible for Tonys) to perform this year but it is going to keep the ONE non Best Musical nominee that is still running from performing.

And it's not like 9 TO 5 isn't going to appeal to middle America, I think it would. They should seriously let 9 TO 5 do a full-on production number. The producers of 9 TO 5 should be, and probably are, fuming.

Whatever you may think about the show, hate it or love it, I don't think there's much denying how ridiculous it is that 9 TO 5 can't perform but the touring companies of JERSEY, BLONDE, and MAMMA can.
Updated On: 5/28/09 at 02:10 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 2:11pm

Yep, Jersey Boys did perform in 2007.

Posted: 5/28/09 at 2:55pm

I completely agree rOcKS!

This ceremony is supposed to be celebrating this past year on BROADWAY.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 2:57pm

I think the reason 9 to 5 is not performing is because it is the ONLY new musical (currently running) that is not nominated for Best Musical. It is not as if there are 3 or 4 other non-nominated musicals to showcase along with it. It would have been different if, say, Tale of 2 Cities, [tos] and Story of My Life were still running and also not nominated. Then they could have showcased "the other new musicals of the season. But to showcase 9 to 5 by itself, without a Best Musical nomination, would have been strange.

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 3:36pm

Do you think the powers at be really just want to snub 9 to 5 in any possbile way? I mean come on there the TOURING companies. There not even the Broadway Casts!!! I mean don't get me wrong I have seen touring companies of some shows and they all have been wornderful, but it is just not right to leave 9 to 5 out of the Tony telecast.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 3:38pm

I love that they will milk Dolly for a commercial, but they won't let her show perform.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 3:41pm

I could see that side of the argument, WestVillage, but the way I'm thinking is that since it IS the only non Best Musical nominee still running, why not showcase it? It's probably much less work to ask one show perform as opposed to a bunch like they did last year with MERMAID, AFFAIR, and FRANK.

Why snub the only non-nominee? To me, it's a bit crazy.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 3:42pm

Not to mention the extra labor of trucking in TOURS to NYC. Something smells rotten in TONYland.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 4:28pm

Here's a thought re: 9 to 5 not performing. Since it is the ONLY non-nominated musical, to have it perform with all the nominated musicals could bring negative focus to itself, i.e., middle America (all 12 people) watching and thinking, "gee, all these other shows were nominated, and 9 to 5 wasn't ... it must not be as good as the ones that got nominated." It gives the impression that is the one show that didn't get nominated (mid America not realizing there were other musicals this season that have already closed), and therefore of all five new musicals (4 nominated and 1 not), it must be the worst of the bunch. In that respect, its better to leave it out altogether than have it be the one show to perform that wasn't nominated. Put it in a group of non-nominated shows and there is no issue, but as a stand-alone non-nominated show, it looks bad for 9 to 5.

Re: trucking in tours to NYC .. .I would bet they are filming them remotely; highly unlikely they are going to bring cast members, sets, costumes, etc. to NYC.

[broadwayboy522]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 4:45pm

I'm pretty sure atleast Becky Gulsvig from Legally Blonde will actually be at the Tony Awards because her scheduled time out of the show happens to fall around the Tony Awards. Very strange that these touring shows are performing but the inner Becky fan in me is happy. It's great she gets to perform along with other tours but I don't really understand why, especially since this keeps 9 to 5 from performing.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 4:49pm

Becky will be on vacation then. I think...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 5:36pm

I disagree, WestVillage. I don't think middle America will really think that it's the "worst" or that it's getting some kind of special treatment because it's not nominated. If they had Dolly introduce it and just say that it's nominated for four Tonys, they would sell a crapload of tickets. Plus if they do a number like the opening number, that in and of itself will sell a load of tickets.

I think middle America buys tickets based on the performances and based on who wins Best Musical. And that's really all they take into consideration.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 6:17pm

Does Middle America even watch the Tonys?

[Marianne2]

Posted: 5/28/09 at 6:29pm

That's what I was thinking. I was disappointed that E! does not do a red carpet for it, but it makes sense. Nobody would know who most of the people there are anyway, plus it isn't trashy enough for that station either.