Confirmed Tony Performances (spoilers)- Page 5

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 10:40am

From what I've heard from people in shows: Just about every show is performing in the opening (that's when Guys and Dolls and West Side Story will be performing together) which will end with everyone singing Let the Sun Shine In. As for their indiviual numbers, West Side is doing Dance at the Gym.

I assume Shrek is doing What's Up, Duloc? for two reasons. One: it takes forever to get Brian d'Arcy James in and out of his Shrek gear. Two: Their best chance at a Tony win (besides Costume Design) is Christopher Sieber - they want to do something that will feature him.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 11:41am

Hair is in fact doing "Hair." I spoke to my friend Maya this past Sunday (she's in the Tribe) and she said that's what they're doing.

I still don't think "What's Up, Duloc?" is a good song to represent the show. It may be a fun number, but it doesn't capture the overall feel of the show. Not to mention, it doesn't feature any of the three leads!

~Steven

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 12:06pm

I really don't get why WEST SIDE STORY is doing "Dance at the Gym," especially since the Gennaro/Robbins choreography isn't performed with as much gusto and excitement in this revival. Do the producers of WEST SIDE STORY want to see Pamela Otterson steal the show on national TV too?
I'm never a fan of Medleys but for this show a Medley of "America," "Me Siento Hermosa," and maybe "Dance at the Gym" or "Tonight" would have worked a lot better since the women are the strong part of the production AND they could have featured the bilingual aspect of the revival. Oh well.

EDITED for butchering Pamela Otterson's name. Thanks, givesmevoice.

Updated On: 6/5/09 at 12:06 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 12:22pm

I wonder how they're going to end it. And is Cody Green going to perform at the Tonys? I didn't get to see him when I saw the show recently and a lot of people have said he's been out a lot lately.

~Steven

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 12:23pm

Do the producers of WEST SIDE STORY want to see Pamela Otto steal the show on national TV too?
that'd be a shame, since her name is Pamela Otterson.


I think they'd be better off doing the Tonight Quintet or Un Hombre Asi/I Have a Love. I know Karen is their best chance at winning a Tony, but it'd be nice for them to show off Josefina, too.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 1:54pm

West Side IS doing the quintet for their number,Dance at the gym is part of the opening.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 2:25pm

Is Aaron going to be in the n2n performance, or just Ripley and Spencer?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 2:53pm

Here's the full list from a friend who works for the Tonys:

The opening will include Dolly, Elton, Liza, Poison and the casts of the nominated shows (as well as some from 9 to 5 who will sing with Dolly). It will include Guys and Dolls doing Luck Be a Lady, West Side Story doing the Tonight Quintet, Shrek doing Freak Flag and ending with Hair doing Let the Sun Shine In.

Then each shows does their own number throughout the show as usual . . .
Billy Elliot: Angry Dance
Next to Normal: You Don't Know
Rock of Ages: Medley, ending with Don't Stop Believin'
Shrek: What's Up, Duloc?
Hair: Hair
West Side Story: Dance at the Gym
Guys and Dolls: Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat
Pal Joey: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

And we'll also have the touring shows . . .
Mamma Mia!: Dancing Queen
Legally Blonde: So Much Better
Jersey Boys: Can't Take My Eyes Off You/Oh, What a Night

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 2:57pm

So n2n isn't doing I Am the One too? You Don't Know is so short!

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 3:02pm

You Don't Know is the title on my list, but I assume they are doing I Am the One as well.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 3:15pm

I really hope they're doing both, and I'd assume that's what they'd do.

I wish Martha Plimpton would do Zip from Pal Joey. To me, she was the best thing about that show.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 3:24pm

So is every nominated musical performing in the opening? Or just those four?

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 3:34pm

West Side Story: Dance at the Gym


- Someone just wrote they are doing THE QUINTET for their main number. And the GYM for the opening.

Which is true?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 3:44pm

I'm interested to see how they incorporate all three Billys into the Angry Dance. At least it's different than we've seen. I hope it reads well on TV, which I think it will. It's one of the best parts of the show.

~Steven

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 4:38pm

I was hoping BILLY ELLIOT would do "Solidarity" but "Angry Dance" makes sense.
I too wanted Martha Plimptom to do "Zip" but I don't even think she'll attend the awards ceremony given the unfortunate and very sad passing of her incredibly talented uncle David Carradine.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 4:53pm

All the nominated shows (plus 9 to 5) will be in the opening. Elton John, I'm pretty sure, is singing a bit of Electricty, Dolly Parton (and her cast) are singing 9 to 5, Poision and the cast of Rock of Ages is singing . . . whatever Poison song they sing in the show, plus the ones I mentioned above. The only one I'm not sure on is Pal Joey.

I've heard from 2 people (1 from West Side Story, 1 from the Tonys) that West Side is doing Dance at the Gym as their "main number." They'll be doing the whole thing, including Tony and Maria's first scene together. Of course I could have misheard, but we'll all know for sure at about 8:42pm on Sunday.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 4:58pm

The entire Dance At The Gym is 6-7 minutes. I assume it will be truncated.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 5:04pm

I was hoping Billy Elliot did Solidarity, too. I think it's their strongest number by far.

as much as I think Dance at the Gym isn't their best choice, that's the music being used in the commercials for West Side Story. I doubt it was intentional, but that might be a good marketing scheme.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

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

Well, I think the Dance at the Gym is one of the most iconic sequences of WEST SIDE STORY, and I am guessing that is their logic for doing it as their main number. I just think a Medley of some of the most popular songs from the show would make more sense. What's funny is that as much as Arthur Laurents has tried to emphasize the book over Robbins' choreography and staging in this revival, the marketing team and producers still think that Robbins' choreography (a scene in which there are basically no words) is the strongest marketing point for the show.
If they perform the Quintet, that'd make more sense in my mind.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 5:51pm

I was so hoping the Billy's would do "Electricity" the way they did it on that morning show (I forgot the name). It works really well with the three of them.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 5:57pm

Next to Normal is doing both You Don't Know and I Am the One. The songs kind of go hand in hand with eachother.

Also, according to a blog that Brian Yorkey just wrote, Aaron Tveit will be doing something in the opening sequence. My guess is that it's I'm Alive.
http://blog.arenastage.org/arena_stage_blogs/2009/06/the-best-reward-more-n2n-with-brian-yorkey.html

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 6:01pm

I find it so weird that N2N is doing two numbers that showcase Aaron, a non-nominee who will also be out of the show for a few months following the Tonys.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 6:04pm

Will Aaron be in I Am the One as well?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 6:08pm

Well, I guess they could've had Jenn do the opening with Superboy and The Invisible Girl, but I'm Alive is an awesome number. And the reason they chose You Don't Know/I Am the One is because it's one of the strongest numbers of the show and Aaron just happens to be in it. I think the choice to have him do the opening though might have been a bit of a "screw you" to the Tony voters, kind of like Xanadu doing Don't Walk Away last year.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 6:08pm

I'm assuming he will be; was it said that they were possibly cutting out his part?