Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
nmartin
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/3/05
#1Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 10:59am
Great interview. The part about the Tonys is fascinating.
Stritch Interview
#2re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:17am
Thanks, Elaine, for my new signature.
She's one tough cookie.
Interesting what she says about Tina Fey.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Ryan4
Stand-by Joined: 4/13/08
#2re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:25amLove her as I do in pretty much everything she does, she's gotta get over the Tony thing. She sounds like a spoiled brat. She wasn't getting a lifetime achievement Tony - there were other people who needed to make speeches that night too. For someone who's apparently got so much humor about life, she seems to hold a lot of grudges.
#3re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:33am
Amen to that Ryan. It was about a lot of performers and other artists -- it was not Elaine Stritch Night. As an actress she should know that even if she is the star of a show it doesn't give her the right to improvise and take over a production on her own. What part of the speech time limit did she think specifically didn't apply to her because she was the most special person of the night?
And the comment about Radio City Music Hall -- what legitimate theatre is she suggesting would offer the opportunity of seeing the awards to so many people?
#4re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:35am
The funny part is, Elaine Stritch technically didn't even win a Tony.
The award for Best Special Theatrical Event goes to the producers of the show.
They let Elaine make the acceptance speech, but technically she is not a Tony Award winner.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:36amBINGO. I never understand the "Everyone else get 45 seconds, I get to talk as long as I want" philosophy of some winners. She wouldn't have been cut off if she'd gotten up and said her piece in the allotted time like everyone else.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#6re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 11:45am
Regarding her Tony Acceptance Speech, she acts like she's the only one that was ever cut off. Remember Harvey Fierstein getting cut off by the orchestra a few years ago ("That's a scary orchestra")? Remember Halle Berry at the Oscars: "You can't rush me 'cause I'm the first black woman..."
The fact is that the Tony Awards never score big ratings for the networks and as a result they are always pressured to keep it within the time limit. Stritch doesn't care to remember during the 90s when the show was 2 hours and being rushed so that the 11:00 news could start on time. (The year Smokey Joe's Cafe performed, they cut their material to save time).
Perhaps the reason Stritch never got a Tony despite top-notch performances was that everyone was tired of her being such a crank.
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#7re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 12:13pm
Are you thinking of Ain't Nothing But the Blues back in 1999?
As I recall, a number from Smokey Joe's Cafe opened the 1995 show when it was running against Sunset Boulevard. Their opening number resulted in immediate increased ticket sales and contributed to the show's longevity, which ended up being much longer than SB's.
heathurrr
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/06
#8re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 12:23pm
AHAHA. I LOVE her.
Í was sad to hear she doesn't expect to come back to 30 Rock, though.
Dearest, how can this be so? You were dead, you know. - Candide
Oh my god, this show has everything! Half naked guys and girl on girl action! - [title of show]
(My avatar? Why, yes! That is Laura Benanti making out with a chick!)
#9re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 12:29pmLove her (which I do) or hate her. The theater community won't see the likes of her again for quite some time.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#10re: Elaine Stritch Doesn't Know Where Her Tony Is and Doesn't Care
Posted: 6/23/08 at 12:54pm
"As I recall, a number from Smokey Joe's Cafe opened the 1995 show when it was running against Sunset Boulevard."
Yes, the men opened the show with "On Broadway", but I thought later on the whole cast was supposed to perform because "On Broadway" didn't include any of the women. Maybe I'm mistaken.
clintonct
Swing Joined: 10/22/04
#11WFSB - Scot Haney interviews Elaine Stritch on Better Connecticut
Posted: 6/27/08 at 3:17pm
I posted this on talkin'................
Just a heads up, I am a Stritchie fan, and not affiliated with the Hartford Stage..... so ..... .....................
Come on Connecticut. Checking out the Hartford Stage website, and there are still good seats left for this weekend. Ms. Stritch deserves a SELL-OUT!
Hartford Stage
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