Drowsy- A Dark Horse?

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:23pm

A couple of people I know have said Drowsy Chaperone is "a dark horse." While I agree it came from humble beginnings, it has gotten press raves, and Bob won a drama desk. SO IS it a dark horse, neccessarily? And do you think it will win best musical? I REALLY want color purple to win. So much. I like it as an ensemble though, I don't necessarily want Lachanze to win the tony, becuase I like everyone in the category. But, I'm rambling. So, what are your thoughts?
Is it a darkhorse?
And does TCP win over Drowsy?

[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:32pm

It is a dark horse, and will surprise quite a few people when it steals the award for best musical away from the front runners, Jersey Boys and Color Purple.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 4:51pm

Hm, I don't see The Color Purple being a frontrunner. I see this as a race between Jersey and Drowsy with the Boys slightly ahead.

~Steven

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:29pm

I think the way people will vote for Best Musical this year depends on whether or not each voter thinks the strength and originality of the score are the defining factors of a musical's quality. After all, to vote for JERSEY BOYS would mean saying that the Best Musical of the year is a show with no original songs actually written for the show itself. That's a big departure from tradition, though at least the songs are GOOD. On the other hand, it's also arguable that the score itself is the least outstanding aspect of COLOR PURPLE. Don't get me wrong, I liked the show a lot and I even cried when the sisters reunited at the end, but with the exception of a few high points the score is generic and derivative; I didn't hear an identifiable, unique composer's voice animating this musical.

I do think either JERSEY BOYS or COLOR PURPLE could win Best Musical on the theatrical strength of the overall "package". Sometimes the Best Score and Best Musical awards don't go to the same show -- obviously, most famously back in 1988, when Andrew Lloyd Webber's effective but endlessly derivative pastiche music for PHANTOM didn't win for Best Score but didn't hold the show back from winning Best Musical.

[Just_John]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:31pm

.... or when Light in the Piazza won eevrything anf than Spamalot undeservingly won BEST MUSICAL. I don't think the tony voters necessarily like jukebox musicals so I'm thinking Drowsy will win, and they also seem to always go with the comedy. Updated On: 6/5/06 at 05:31 PM

[rflpfl2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:40pm

Out of all of the musicals nominated- I would love TCP to win over Drowsy because it tried to tackle a much greater and difficult subject and story- which is where I find most of the flaws lie.

Drowsy is practically a one-act that is rather mindless- and while entertaining- is only that.

I think Drowsy has a good buzz around it though- and think it will win over Jersey Boys.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:46pm

Ain't Misbehavin'
Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Crazy for You
Fosse
Contact

None of these had original scores, yet that didn't stop the voters from awarding them Best Musical. And a bunch of songs that were cleverly written into an actual story won't stop them from voting for Jersey Boys either.

~Steven

[Just_John]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:52pm

Yea but they were not Jukebox musicals. and You forgot 42nd STREET. Even though Jersey Boys is far better than any of the past jukebox musicals I still feel Drowsy will win, but i donon we'll see.

[AnnaFabulous]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 5:56pm

Dark Horse is such a weird term. Honestly, I feel like it isn't because of it's casting names, and it's widely talked about (whereas Ave Q totally was a dark horse since it really started with nothing but people, puppets, ideas, and valid points). I think it's very likely that it could win, but it's too commercial to be a dark horse.

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:01pm

ok, i'm sorry to be the retard to join the discussion.. but what does dark horse mean?

(:

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:05pm

Well, what makes Jersey Boys different from a jukebox musical (or perhaps what makes it not a jukebox musical) is that it is a biographical musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. They are singing songs the characters actually would have sung. It's based on a true story. They're not random songs fitting into a random plot like the others.

~Steven

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:07pm

I'd love to see what wins this year. It seems to have been a comedy streak lately, eh? Hairspray. Avenue Q. Spamalot. All were the 'hilarious' ones of their fellow nominees, so I just have a feeling Drowsy might win this one. :)

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:17pm

Drowsy, if a horse, is a horse of many colors.

Posted: 6/5/06 at 6:53pm

It's such a wonderful experience, I do hope Drowsy wins!!

[musicman89]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 8:01pm

At this point, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE and JERSEY BOYS are the two front-runners with THE COLOR PURPLE behind them. THE WEDDING SINGER is pretty much out of the running.

It is possible for any of the three to win Best Musical (there have been previous unexpected upsets before). I honestly think the awards are going to be based on which shows win Best Book and Best Score. The voters could evenly distribute one element to each of the three shows (similar to last year), give them all to one show (which would be DROWSY), or go the RAGTIME/THE LION KING, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE/URINETOWN route and give Best Book and Score to DROWSY and Best Musical to JERSEY BOYS or THE COLOR PURPLE.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 8:05pm

I very much doubt Drowsy will win Best musicals because the road presenters will vote for Jersey Boys.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 9:29pm

New Question...
Would Drowsy be better as a play? I say no.

[jdixon69]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 9:30pm

Drowsy was the dark horse two months ago. Now it is the favorite.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 9:49pm

I don't think it's a Dark Horse at all. And, while I didn't see Color Purple, I heard a few tracks and...it didn't strike me as amazing. I love the book but I didn't see any need for it to be a musical. But, who knows, people could have said that about Les Miserables.

I think a lot of Drowsy's poignance is overlooked. It is entertainment, but not purely so. I saw Mame this weekend and thought "The Man in the Chair would have liked that show!" Martin's performance was SO real, and his lines were so beautifully touching in a strange way. I didn't just walk out wanting to dance and grin, I was touched and found the Martin's performance nad lines deeply sympathetic. I think it had everything: fun numbers, comedy and a big heart.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 9:53pm

"Ain't Misbehavin'
Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Crazy for You
Fosse
Contact

None of these had original scores, yet that didn't stop the voters from awarding them Best Musical."

Perhaps, but most of those shows debuted in incredibly weak seasons for new musicals - this is a very strong season.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:12pm

I really believe the race is between Drowsy and JB. The thing is, the music in Drowsy is not very good - I am really baffled by how it won Best Score at the Drama Desks. I thought that honor should've gone to The Wedding Singer. Jersey Boys has a good story along with the great music, and I think that's what best musical is:

Best Book + Best Score (or Best Direction if not nominated for Best Score) = Best Musical

I think Drowsy should take Best Book while JB goes home with Best Musical. The only fact I could see with Drowsy winning is if the Tony voters are so sick of musicals using other sources that they just want something new and fresh, and will award it to Drowsy as an incentive for more people with original ideas to mount their productions.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:39pm

I Hope the Best Musical
is the Best....
DROWSY!

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:47pm

Like most posters here, I agree that The Drowsy Chaperone isn't a dark horse; it's a strong contender that has the edge right now in my opinion. I think it will beat Jersey Boys in a very, very close race for best musical (I'll be happy to see either one win because I loved both shows, but I slightly prefer Drowsy).

Jess, I don't think anyone directly answered your question yet, so I will: a dark horse is a contender that is not favored/expected to win but has a good chance of pulling an upset. It's like the underdog.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/5/06 at 10:49pm

Maybe Drowsy is a horse of a different color...