Did the Tony's get it right? 1988

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:42am

Best Musical went to Phantom of the Opera.

The other nominees were:

Into the Woods
Romance/Romance
Sarafina!

Do you think the Tony was given to the right show?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:44am

Of course I don't, as ITW is my second favorite show ever.

But, this opens up quite a can of worms - Tony often doesn't get it "right." It's a political/business award, just like all the others.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:44am

No. Best Musical should have gone to Into the Woods. Sets, Costumes and Lighting can go to Phantom, but that's about it.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:49am

"Tony often doesn't get it "right." It's a political/business award, just like all the others."

Funny u should say that. I know a lot of people who vote and they never seem to think it is political. However, many people feel that the winner of "Best Score" is usually the REAL "Best Musical" (Into the Woods, Parade, The Light in the Piazza).

What do you think about that?

[timote316]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:53am

Avenue Q over Caroline, or Change?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:53am

Yes, people do often complain that the Best Musical really isn't.

I know a lot of voters as well, or used to, as I used to work in the business for and with many of them. This is the way the Tony voting process is often described:

1. Vote for your show(s)
2. Vote for the show(s) booked into your out-of-town theater for the upcoming season, or that probably will be
3. Vote for your friends' show(s)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:57am

That's exactly why producers shouldn't be the only people that vote. The process is truly stupid. They should have an "Academy" like they do for the Oscars. The people that vote for the Tony Awards should be actors, actresses, composers, lyricists, directors, stage managers, lighting designers, choreographers, writers, etc.

The results would be so much better.

I can certainly see why PHANTOM won best musical, but INTO THE WOODS is undoubtedly superior.

And I have always thought that the INTO THE WOODS set was much better than PHANTOM's.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 10:58am

"Avenue Q over Caroline, or Change?

Of course!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:00am

Munk, I don't think that would necessarily work. With the Academy Awards, the movies have already opened, closed, and made their money.

With theater, they all want their own shows to run as long as possible and do as much business as possible. That includes everyone involved in a production, so they're always going to be skewed.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:02am

Not if there were a panel of 50 lighting designers, 100 directors, 50 composers, whatever. They will never ALL have a work every year.

I truly believe that producers of a show should not be allowed to vote in a category where their show is nominated.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:02am

With theater, they all want their own shows to run as long as possible and do as much business as possible. That includes everyone involved in a production, so they're always going to be skewed.

It's the same with the movies. Do you have any idea how many more dvds will sell with the statement "Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture" on it?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:04am

But Munk, their friends (and in some cases family) very well might. I just don't believe that it would make that much difference. Theater is cutthroat, whether people on this board want to believe it or not. It's not all bubbles and pretty lights and everyone supporting everyone else.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:06am

I don't think that's how it is, but I think that there is a better way to do these awards. The Oscars are a fair representation of the opinion of tons of industry professionals.

The Tonys represent the opinion of mostly greedy, tasteless producers who vote with their wallets. How is that fair? It's not a well-rounded assessment.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:09am

Not all producers are greedy and tasteless - just the ones who get the press - the David Stones, the Jeffrey Sellers, and their mentors, the Weisslers.

I've worked for some wonderful producers who really care about theater. I get tired of all producers being put into one box.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:09am

What do you think about the fact that Chess wasn't even nominated for best score?

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:11am

"Chess" is horrible so I, for one, was pleased.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:12am

What were the other nominations that excluded CHESS?

Rath: I said mostly. Obviously, not all producers are like that. Perhaps mostly is a vast overstatement - so how about "many." I never put all the producers in one box.

But you can't really blame me for thinking that MOST of our current producers lack in the sense department. I mean, look what we have on Broadway. The people who graced the world with IN MY LIFE, GOOD VIBRATIONS, LENNON, DRACULA, LESTAT, RING OF FIRE, and TARZAN are tell us who the best actress of the year is. I just find it a little absurd.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:15am

"What were the other nominations that excluded CHESS? "

Same year.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:15am

I think you will have to run into the woods with that opinion.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:16am

I agree that some show choices have been ridiculous. But, bad business decisions don't mean that they don't have good taste in actors. It's a completely different thing.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:17am

Any show were songs can be switched from character to character sucks! Chess is one of those shows. The music is beautiful. The lyrics are trite and juvenile. I was unlucky enough to see the OBC. Still gives me nightmares. The only good thing to come out of Chess is Emma Kershaw.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:20am

I don't know how people like CHESS. The music is fun and compelling in a very simple formulaic Andrew Lloyd Webber way, but the lyrics? Oh, Christ. They're horrendous.

Rath: No, producing bad shows doesn't mean that those producers have bad taste when it comes to performers - but it certainly makes you question them.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:21am

Chess can be a wonderful show when produced well, but the Broadway rewrites did not deserve a nomination for the score. David Carroll and Judy Kuhn snagged the only nominations for Chess, though Philip Casnoff did win a Theatre World Award for his perfomance.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:23am

Chess can be a wonderful show when produced well

It would need all new lyrics as well.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 11:25am

Of course they got it right.

POTO is still playing. It has beautiful music and more than enough stage magic.

I am sure ITW got plenty of votes. I've said this before, Sondheim could write a show that appealed to the masses, but he won't and he would hide in shame if he ever did.