HADESTOWN and NY Drama Critics

I can count on one hand the people I know who saw Hadestown in the summer of 2016, including myself. It was a very quiet showing, and didn't make much of a splash in the larger sense. Not even sure there was a big thread on here? It's only picked up traction, truly, since February. Even a year ago people weren't talking about it.



Dear Evan Hansen got votes because of course it did.

Lazarus, while also at NYTW, was a David Bowie show, with Michael C Hall, and got lot's of press, unfortunately due to Bowie's passing.

First Daughter Suite was written by LaChuisa, well known and loved in the industry, and ran at the Public, for a longer time than Hadestown.



Those are my thoughts. The new production is also incredibly different. The NYTW one was essentially a concert, with some staging. It was glorious, but not at ALL like what we have now in terms of concept or execution.

the DCC is looking and sounding a lot like the OCC these days. Maybe they should merge.

Further proof that we're in an arts journalism crisis now. And only 5 of the 18 DCC members are women.

(Though I think too much weight is being put on the DeShields situation: the special award usually goes to institutions, offstage talents, or people like Lois Smith and Angela Lansbury)

Updated On: 5/9/19 at 10:43 PM

uncageg said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Man, that was a read. I was wondering why Hadestown didn't win the NYDC Award. Now it makes sense. Can not wait to see it on Wednesday and reading about DeShield's performance gave me chills."

The article left out that he was The Wiz in THE WIZ. LOVED Cote's earrings remark!

I would see HADESTOWN again just for DeShields.

me too...The majesty of DeShields' story telling...he commands the stage with an authoritative swagger~ he's having so much fun on stage...you can't keep your eyes off of him.

He deserves the TONY and I do hope he wins it!




"

HogansHero said: "SomethingPeculiar said: "Further proof that we're in an arts journalism crisis now. And only 5 of the 18 DCC members are women."

Actually, arts journalism is thriving; there is more than at any time in recorded history. What's in a crisis is the top tier old school print media that was once the exclusive club that the DCC represented. Interestingly, all of the women currently on the DCC have top tier outlets for their writing, which is a lot more than can be said of the men."

And the Tony Award for man-splaining goes to...

SomethingPeculiar said: "Yes, my complaint was more about PAID (full-time) critic/journalist positions, at major publications. Anyone with a WordPress blog or a Facebook page be an arts journalist today -- not a bad thing for letting other voices be heard, but not the same as publications employing trained critics."

Well I was not referring to bloggers, but full time positions at old school outlets are a relic and the conversation among "trained" critics has never been higher. (I put trained in quotes because I am not sure what training you are looking for here. Many/most of the top tier critics pre-crisis were not trained in anything specific to their criticism.) To me the metric is the refinement of the conversation.

@OhHii it is best to know the definition of "mansplaining" before using it in a sentence.

Kad said: "Oy, just Riedel and his dwindling "sources" trying to stir drama where none exists. Hadestown's Broadway run wasn't eligible for many awards because, as it stands, the show as written has not substantially changed from off-Broadway. Only awards that are able to make a distinction between off and on Broadway have honored it this year."

Michael's "stirring" is kinda laid bare by the old vs. young nonsense. There are no youngsters in this group, and only 3 that might be called old. In context it is pretty clear who is the source for this, and as I have suggested before, some of the voting members (including that one) are dubious at this point.