Does SPELLING BEE have a chance to win Best Musical? — Page 2

I think the problem so many of us have is not that its time for something bigger, but that to a lot of us Spamalot was just bad. The Tony can go to something that should be a big show over a more deserving smaller show, but how much quality can be given up.
I can't speak for BobbyBubby but I also saw it as taking a very negative mean spirited view of Musical Theatre in general. I like spoofs and Forbidden Broadway but Spamalot seemed to have no flow and just lashed out at everything.
Also a cheerleading scene, all the actors sitting around in circle on stage, the "lead" spending most of the show on a stool on the side of the stage, and taking 10 minutes with nothing hapening while they work in the gimmick all taken together was very disrespectful. Or at least royally boring.

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Wow when was the last year we had so many original musicals and so few musical revivals. Things are looking up.

and yet it's the opposite this year on the play side mb, with 13 revivals and 5 new works.. and let's not forget the countless special events we have this year.

what i'm hoping is that most of the voters are theatre people, like us, like critics... those are the people that don't enjoy spamalot as much. yes, it is a tourist's darling, WHICH IS FINE, but when it comes to theatre people voting on "better" theatre... i just don't think spamalot has what it takes... if it weren't for the names and money involved i wouldn't even say it gets a nomination.

yes. which is why this year i hope that voters decide based on theatre, not money and promises...






(i'm kind of still bitter from last year)

You're bitter that the better show won last year?

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Pop, I'm bitter because the best new musical in the past 10 years didn't win. Q was fun but CAROLINE was brilliant.

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Caroline never stood a chance though, did it?

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popcultureboy, I love Avenue Q, but it wasn't the Best Musical last year. Not even close.

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Caroline was ahead of its time I think, and when it's revived in 20 years or so, it will be recognised more willingly then. And please, award shows have never been about the best or most deserved shows actually winning, have they now?

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LOL Smartpenguin, seriously everyone in the library is staring at me.
I fear for the future of broadway if Spamalot wins, just as I celebrated for the future of broadway when Avenue Q won. (Granted I didn't see Caroline) It will be a travesty if Spamalot wins when there are multiple choices that are just plain better. And DRS could be a good touring draw if anyone ever realizes that it's playing!

i'm in full agreement that Spelling Bee has one hell of an uphill climb if it's going to even have a prayer at winning Best Musical, but dont annoint Sara Ramirez as the newly crowned Tony winner just yet--wait until Spelling Bee opens--you've got some great great ladies giving some fierce performances.

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what we need is a new award that isn't so strongly married to the industry's desire to make money and compete with movies as a commercial venture. money is good, theatre needs more money. so that's why we could keep the tony's around to be run completely by the jukebox musicals, film adaptations, and stunt-casting idols.

then everyone who really is interested in theatre, and not just the idea of being seen "doing" theatre, can have a new award that includes Off-Broadway, maybe has categories like Best Non-Profit, Best New Playwright, Best Benefit, Best Concert Staging, Best Workshop, Best Fundraising Effort, Best Understudy/Standby/Swing, Best Orchestra, Best Youth Outreach, Best Equity Showcase, etc.

two different awards, with all the money from both being combined into a single General Theatre Pool, completely tax-exempt of course. It would be counted, photographed by Bruce Glikas in various sexy poses, then distributed among the productions by a 4-person council. half the funds would be at the discretion of Paula Vogel and Encores' Jack Viertel to allocate as they see best. The other half would be decided on via a process where John Simon and Michael Riedel would stand outside the Olive Garden and literally throw horse crap toward the TKTS board, to see where it sticks. ok maybe I'm going a bit far afield. but we do need a new award system.

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Updated On: 4/18/05 at 04:40 PM