Grade the 63rd Annual Tony telecast performances! — Page 2

NEXT TO NORMAL: A-
BILLY ELLIOT: B
HAIR: A-
MAMMA MIA!: C
LEGALLY BLONDE: C
JERSEY BOYS: C
OPENING NUMBER: C+
WEST SIDE STORY: B+
GUYS AND DOLLS: F
ROCK OF AGES: C
Shrek- B-

It did seem like the Next to Normal music was going faster than normal, didn't it? They still had a solid performance. Hair turned it out (and saved the mess of an opening number). The touring companies really were the worst.

Opening Number: C. They tried. They did. But whatever the sound issues didn't muddle still ended up muddled and distracting.

Billy Elliot: B+. An incredibly odd choice, but little Trent danced his face off.

Guys and Dolls: C-. In the show, it was a stunner. Taking it out of that horrible context revealed that it only SEEMED strong because it was surrounded by such a dud of a production.

Hair: A+. They nailed it. Plain and simple.

Mamma Mia: F. Yowza! They were the WORST.

Legally Blonde: C. They fared the best out of the touring productions, but it still felt totally inorganic.

Jersey Boys: D. The five Frankies went together like oil and water. Love the show. Haaaaated the number.

Next to Normal: A: It seemed a bit off at first, and I question why they chose that pair of songs out of contect. But, hey, I loved it.

Rock of Ages: B-. Some corny fun that only partly worked. They tried to get too much into too little space.

Shrek: F. One of the only shows this season I didn't see. Am now glad I made that choice.

West Side Story: C+. Points off for the hellacious camera work. Loved this number live, though.

NPH Closing: A+. Ah, Doogie. He was the perfect host, and this was his shining moment.

Opening Number: C. Sort of a mess; interesting idea but it looked and sounded sloppy.

Billy Elliot: B. This number works great in the show, but as a standalone, it did not draw me in.

Guys and Dolls: F. Ouch, it sucked. Who ever knew G&D could stink?

Hair: A. Best performance of the evening. The fun is so obviously infectuous.

Mamma Mia: F. Why?

Legally Blonde: F. Another why?

Jersey Boys: D. None of those Frankies can hold a candle to JLY.

Next to Normal: B. Came off well, but didn't entice me to want to see it again (I've only seen it at 2nd Stage).

Rock of Ages: C. I liked ROA in the theatre (surprisingly!), but if I hadn't already seen it, the number would not make me want to buy tickets.

Shrek: F. One of the most idiotic and stupid things I have ever witnessed on stage. Haven't seen it, and have zero interest after seeing that number.

West Side Story: D. What should have been exciting was dull, although it is not exciting at the Palace either. Completely lackluster production.

NPH Closing: A. Very cute ending to the show.

Opening Number- Kind of choppy, but actually suprised how well some of the songs flowed together. They could have used a few more blocking rehearsals. B-

Shrek- Hate the movie, have no desire to see the show on Broadway, but that number was entertaining. B

Guys and Dolls- I knew from the second Tituss' microphone wasn't working that this number was only going to go downhill from there. The cast looked exhausted after an 8 show week and looked bored. How can you be bored when you're performing on the Tony Awards. And I guess I have to see the show to understand this, but Mary Testa...WTF was that? C-

Rock Of Ages- I hate 80s music more than anything in the world, so this show is clearly not for me. The vocals were pretty good...but what was with the NFL Cheerleader choreography? B-

West Side Story- Seeing Dance at the Gym performed live on the Tony Awards was pretty incredible in itself. As been said, Karen Olivo is not the best dancer, but she has incredible star power that draws your eyes to her. Pamela Otterson is incredible as well...would have been nice for her to get an Astaire nomination. And loved the Tonight ending. A

Next To Normal- That was intense. All I have to say. A

Billy Elliot- This show really blew me away when I saw it in NY....BUT WHY THE ANGRY DANCE?! This does not work out of context, and for some reason, I remember the choreography being much more exciting live. I was truly hoping for Solidarity, but instead got this mass of confusion. C

Hair- Ok....so they really got screwed with the camera angles in this one. I would have preferred more footage of the ensemble cast than of 30 seconds of Gavin awkwardly playing with Anne Hathaway. I know they performed Let The Sunshine In during the opener, but I would have REALLY loved if they did they always amazing Aquarius/Sunshine. And the microphones were turned up way too loud on Will and Gavin...I could hardly ear the ensemble. An A for effort, but an F to the camera and sound crew, so overall a B+

Opening Number- A for Intentions and Last Segment, B- for Execution

New Musicals:

Shrek- C (Just didn't translate well to the screen, despite it being a great song)

Rock of Ages- B for Mitchell Jarvis, A for everyone else

Next to Normal- A- (I thought it worked quite well.)

Billy Elliot- B-/C+ (Would have liked to see some singing, or all three Billys)

Revivals:

West Side Story: B (I was intrigued, and thought the dancing was great.)

Guys and Dolls: D for Mary Testa (Anachronistic and overdone), C for everything else, F for Sergio Trujillo's choreography, A for Titus's ability to hang in there.

Hair: A+ (Absolute perfection, and totally true to the show.)

I won't comment on the touring performances, other than to say that none were horrible, but none were particularly good either.

Closing Number: A (I agree that NPH was a bit underused, but its ok for me- they fit in a lot of material into this year's show.)

Opening Number:B-
Shrek: B-
Billy Elliot:A+
Rock of Ages:B-
Next to Normal:B+
West Side Story:B
Guys and Dolls:F+
Hair:A+
Legally Blonde:F
Mamma Mia!:C
Jersey Boys:B+
Closing Number:B+

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Updated On: 6/8/09 at 05:45 PM

Opening Number: A

Shrek: B+ (It was cute.)

West Side Story: A- (I thought it was odd how they used a non singing thing.)

Next to Normal: A (The song was good, and it got stuck in my head.)

Hair: B- (I'm probably the only person who was not overly impressed by this. It was fun, but it was the song I disliked. I perferred Aquarius in the opening.)

Mamma Mia!: C- (I like this show, but this was not good.)

Rock of Ages: B (It seems like a fun show.)

Legally Blonde: F (Worst number ever. There was nothing to it.)

Jersey Boys: C (Best of the 3 touring companies, but not necessary.)

Billy Elliot: B (I liked what I saw, for the most part, but it seemed weird out of context.)

Guys and Dolls: C- (Just disappointing all around.)

Closing : A

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NEXT TO NORMAL: B+
BILLY ELLIOT: B-
HAIR: A+
MAMMA MIA!: D
LEGALLY BLONDE: D
JERSEY BOYS: B-
OPENING NUMBER: A
WEST SIDE STORY: C+
GUYS AND DOLLS: C-
ROCK OF AGES: C
SHREK THE MUSICAL: (missed this one)
CLOSING NUMBER: A

Hair and the opening numbers were my favorites.

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I was so happy when Aaron Tveit had that little solo/duet in the opening number. His voice is absloutly incredible and he is gorgeous! I just wished he got to perform that wonderfully as a Tony nominee.

Overall, I thought the performances were good, but wish some of the song choices would have been different.

Opening Number: A-

Shrek: B+/B (it was nice and cute)

West Side Story: B (I would have liked to have seen more singing then dancing. But overall, the dancing was ok)

Next to Normal: A+ (Was such a amazing performance. Despite the sound problems at the beginning, it was outstanding. Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer and Aaron Tveit were all outstanding)

Hair: A (I loved this performance. Very energetic. Now I want to see this show.)

Mamma Mia!: D (The three ladies looked bored)

Rock of Ages: B (Looks like a fun show.)

Legally Blonde: D- (it was whatever)

Jersey Boys: B-/C+(It was nice to see all the different Frankie's but I wanted more)

Billy Elliot: B- (I've never seen this show and had wished that they would have done a number with a little more singing.)

Guys and Dolls: C- (I love "Sit Down Your Rocking Boat" and was very underwhelmed with this performance)

Closing : A (NPH did a great job with the whole show. He was a wonderful host)

i live on the west coast and i always use the Tonys as a guage of what shows i would want to see if i make it to new york ever.. ha

West Side Story- i felt bored during most of it. the dancing felt not so energetic. and do matt and josefina have chemistry in the theater? this is the second time i've seen them perform on tv and they just seem so... not into each other. if karen olivo weren't in the show, i'd probably have no desire to want to see it

Hair- i had no desire to ever want to see this show but now if i ever make it to new york.. i would want to see it

Shrek- eh... it did nothing for me... looked boring

Next to Normal- i want to see this show

Guys and Dolls- Titus Burgess really bugged me for some reason. he seems horribly miscast or maybe i just hated his performance. he seemed to overdo the song to show off. and the cast looked bored. and the projections were ANNOYING

Billy Elliot- that number did absolutely NOTHING to make me want to see this show... it didn't look like the best number to showcase to America

Rock of Ages- probably my fav one of the night. although i can't stand constantine. i just don't get him. i saw him in RENT and he was the worst thing about that production and his facial expression... yeeeesh... he looks constipated and i just don't buy him as a rocker


Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys- worthless... what was the point really... BORING

The Opening- like someone said.. A for effort but the execution was just kinda not that great

Closing Song- brilliant

I had the pleasure of watching the show from Radio City Music Hall so I didn't know about the sound and camera problems - and for that reason, I won't grade them. I was stunned when I got home from NY and read the negative reviews of the Tony Awards show. After more than a half century of watching live performances on stage I could easily place this show in the top 5 of all time best theatrical events. It was fast-paced and fun almost all the way through. I'm terribly sorry that it didn't transfer well via television because it was a real winner when seen live.

If I could have changed anything it would have been:
1. Billy Elliot performing SOLIDARITY. Absolutely, no question about it. I'd heard about the ANGRY DANCE on Saturday and knew it was a bad choice. When taken out of context it just wouldn't work - and it didn't. On the good side, I was happy that Trent was given an opportunity to show his strength.

2. I would have made sure that the mike's worked BEFORE Guys and Dolls started their performance.

3. I would have made sure that her mike DIDN'T work if I'd known that Alice Ripley was going to make her acceptance speech IN CHARACTER. It looked and sounded like a breakdown on stage.

5. Ax the road shows. They don't belong here and they brought the show down.

4. I would make sure that a clear statement is made IN ADVANCE about bringing cameras inside. Neither I nor my friends brought in cameras and so I have no images captured of the event. It looked like almost everybody else there DID have cameras. Flashes were going off all over the place and nobody checked for them at the doors.

The opening was BRILLIANT, EXCITING, THRILLING, and whatever else positive adjective you want to add. At the end the audience was standing and cheering en masse. I thought "they can try all they want - they'll never come close to anything this wonderful again". And now I find out that the sound didn't work on the television coverage and the camera work stunk. Believe me - it WAS fabulous and now it is a testament to those who say that live theatre must be experienced LIVE and not filmed.

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Updated On: 6/9/09 at 08:39 AM