Hal Prince Can't Take Half a Day Off?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:20am

to accept an award that could have been given to 100 other people who actually would have shown up? Busy with Phantom in Las Vegas? Oh please!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:25am

"to accept an award that could have been given to 100 other people who actually would have shown up? Busy with Phantom in Las Vegas? Oh please!"

This is just a guess but I wonder if he's going to turn his accpetance speech into a marketing opportunity and appear "live via sattelite from ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S PHANTOM THE LAS VEGAS SPECTACULAR"?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:26am

To be fair, previews start tomorrow, and I think you know flying round-trip from the West Coast in itself is more than half a day.

What I'm surprised is they're not doing a live feed from Vegas, because it would a great plug to have him accept his award from the new theatre.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:37am

Yes previews start tomorrow, but for a show he's directed a billion times? He could easily let someone else take charge for the day...Channing left the Dolly tour (her only missed performance ever) to get her Tony. C'mon Hal!

[Patronus]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:47am

I am surprised that he isn't showing up at the Tonys as well. This is precisely what ADs are for.

However, this sort of dedication to the theatre and his craft is a prime example of why he is receiving this award.

On the surface it is "just another production of Phantom", but I think the fact that Mr. Prince doesn't see it that way is exactly what makes him one of the best theatre directors in the world.

The lack of a "satellite" acceptance though or at the very least a taped acceptance is pretty baffling though.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:47am

Yeah, The Tony or the worst show you've ever done? He's brilliant, but not this time.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:56am

...And yet it's the most successful show he's ever directed.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 11:57am

I think having previews for the major show you're directing starting the next is a perfectly acceptable reason not to fly all the way across the country!

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:01pm

I agree Distinctive Baritone, but I have quite a hatred for Phantom so I think any director staying for its preview instead of accepting a Tony is a waste of time.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:13pm

Actually, the reason has nothing to do with POTO as they are off tonight. The real reason is that he finally scored tickets to Celine Dion's show and he wouldn't miss that for the world.
Besides, what is one more Tony to someone who has more than God?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:17pm

Yeah, I mean, don't get me wrong, I hate Phantom, but with it being a 90-minute version in a new theatre with new effects and a $35 million dollar budget, it is a big deal to get away. Too bad they couldn't just hold off until next year to give it to him. I mean, there's nobody else they could've given it too? Did they just automatically assume he'd drop everything and go?

[PurdyBacall]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:22pm

With twenty Tony Awards Hal Prince needs to answer to no one.

If he feels that directing, fine tuning, shapeing, and crafting this new shorter, reimagined Las Vegas production is what he needs to be doing today-- than more praise for Mr. Prince.
He is not going to lose any sleep or job offers.

We don't know if or whether the people behind the Tonys will have Mr. Prince except his award via tape or live feed. Both are quite possible.

But for a man who's talent has crafted, nursed and produced some of the finest productions to every be enjoyed on a Broaaday stage , a huge Thank You from theatre fans 'ropunf the word is what is called for today.

I will admit that watching him have the wide range of his contributions to the theatrcial scene saluted tonight would have been a treat.


Mr. Prince,
Thank you for all you have given us!

[mateo]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:27pm

I was hoping he would be there. I could listen to that man talk all day.

I hope theydo a nice montage/segment on his work.

[Parks]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:29pm

yes, Purdy.

God bless you, Hal!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:32pm

"However, this sort of dedication to the theatre and his craft is a prime example of why he is receiving this award." Amen.

And I don't think you can compare an actor taking a night off from starring in a show that's been mounted and running to a director taking off the day before a first preview.

[Patronus]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:37pm

Exactly, Rath.

I knew you'd understand. Can I have a hug?

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:43pm

And on top of the fact that he has a multi-million dollar production starting previews tomorrow night, keep in mind the fact that Hal Prince is almost 80 years old.

If you were in the same situation, at the age that you are at now, wouldn't taking two cross country flights within the same 24 hour period put a lot on stress and strain on you while you are already in a stressful situation?

I don't blame him for not doing it.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:51pm

Or perhaps he's not going because he knows his award won't be on the actual show?

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:01pm

"keep in mind the fact that Hal Prince is almost 80 years old."

So?

Mike Wallace is almost 90 and he still travels extensively for 60 Minutes.

George Abbott did shows into his 100's and would probably STILL show up tonight if you offered him an award, despite being dead all these years!

If Prince isn't coming, tell him they'll schedule him in some time that he can schedule them in.

There are lots of other deserving people.

[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:10pm

I think Hal Prince doesn't need the pats on the back. It's fairly common knowledge that he is the greatest director of musicals, bar none. He's happy creating theater rather than attending gala events. Now, I can't stand Phantom, and seriously doubt there's much in the way of artistry going on in Las Vegas. But if he'd rather not attend and create theater productions, who are we to criticize him?

I presume his lifetime award will be presented in the PBS pre-show anyway, which very few people watch.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:11pm

Why should he take the time off? What's more important - doing the work, or receiving accolades for said work? Any real artist will tell you it's the former.

TT (none too sure if PHANTOM qualifies as art, but still...)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:12pm

Any profession is about the work, not the awards. Awards are great, recognition is great, but the work itself is the meat and the reward.

ETA: topher - you and I had the same thought at the same time.

Updated On: 6/11/06 at 01:12 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:21pm

Why should he not showing up bar him out of receiving the award? Maybe he originally planned to attend, but the previews were postponed to tomorrow. Give the guy a break. At least he's doing what he's receiving the award for.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:30pm

You are utterly missing the point about any lifetime achievement award. These awards were created not just to honor the recipient, but to help advertaise the industry. The first of these types of awards were handed out in the film world when the Academy Awards were in the fledgling years. In much the same manner as actors back then realized there is a direct relationship between stars touring shows and audiences in the provinces being influenced to come see a show in New York, or in movie stars making personal appearances, film actors like Douglas Fairbanks allowed the Academy to give them "lifetime achievement awards" to add lustre in the seasons that had very "inward-looking" nominations. The added presence of the superstars of film bolstered the shows.

Now certainly Hal Prince doesn't need another award, but that is precisely the reason that giving him a lifetime achievement award should include his presence onstage.

Few people outside of New York have ever HEARD of the actors who are going to walk away with the best actor awards tonight, but everyone has heard of Hal Prince. Will people tune in for that? Perhaps. Will they be disappointed if they give the guy a tribute and he's not there, perhaps again. Does it make the theater look silly? You can make up your own minds.

Barring being dead, I can't imagine The Kennedy Center Awards being given to people who don't show up.

Surely they could have checked his availability before announcing the award....

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/06 at 1:37pm

People are not going to watch the Tonys for Hal Prince unless they were tending strongly toward watching them anyway. He's not a TV draw - the Tonys aren't missing out on some ratings bonanza because he's not going to be there.