How can you be nommed for Best Musical and have no noms for Best Book or Score????- Page 2

[Paul Bland4]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:21pm

Believe me, besty, I'm on board with you on the Tonys.

The situation you mention is also why Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Lion King won Best Musical in their respective years, and Urinetown and Ragtime won Best Score in the same years.

Its going to be so nice for a change to see the 'right' show win both.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:21pm

Okay, okay! I believe you.



(Those damn Flash ads are always glitching my computer, too!)


EDIT: And just to be clear, my example of Wicked winning was ironic, because even though it fits your criteria as much as any show ever has, it didn't win.

Updated On: 5/3/11 at 04:21 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:36pm

I agree- but CMIYC DIDN'T "fall off the list of nominees." It's on there- one of the four best shows of the year.

[mikem]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:41pm

I believe Mary Poppins was eligible for Best Score; if so, that is the most recent example before Catch Me of being nominated for Best Musical without a Book or Score nomination for a show with an eligible score.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:50pm

Honestly, I think the reason Wicked didn't win (aside from Avenue Q having a solid campaign), was the fear that with it's sets and effects, it wouldn't be able to tour to as many theatres.

I think tourability is one of the major factors in what gets the big prize, and I think could be the undoing of Mormon.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 4:51pm

I think that this year's case has more to do with the fact that the nominators were likely down to Priscilla and Catch Me for Best Musical, and felt like they were going with the lesser of two evils with Catch Me, though they felt the Book and Score weren't worthy. I am most upset about the lack of choreo nod for Catch Me, like PJ said. Way more deserving than Ashford copying his own choreo from previous shows in How to Succeed...

As for how Evita won Best Book...I think this is still a mystery to many people.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 11:00pm

The greater mystery is how CATS won for its "book"

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/3/11 at 11:49pm

"Honestly, I think the reason Wicked didn't win (aside from Avenue Q having a solid campaign), was the fear that with it's sets and effects, it wouldn't be able to tour to as many theatres."

I have never heard this before. After Phantom first went on the road many of the major road houses went through huge renovations to accommodate that show, and later upgraded further for The Lion King. It's been a while since I've seen Wicked, but I don't remember seeing anything in it that any theatre that had already hosted Phantom or Lion King wouldn't be able to handle.

The only show I remember in recent memory that people questioned the touring ability of its physical production was Mary Poppins. Pretty much every road presenter knew that they were not going to get a show that looked like the one running in New York, they just didn't know what it would look like once it hit the road.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/4/11 at 10:39am

There is a much larger discussion about what defines a show's book around here somewhere. Meanwhile, the book of a musical does not refer solely to dialogue if that is what people are questioning. Ballets and operas have books as well. I don't think there was anything too mystifying about Evita's win for its book. Barnum was probably the closest runner-up and Hollywood/Ukraine has a great book in the second act, but the first act is no more than a cute revue. Sugar Babies didn't stand a chance.

As for Cats, I get why people take issue with its win for Book, but the show itself was so unique and creative, the competition simply didn't stand much of a chance. It was a weak season for book musicals all around. The other nominees were A Doll's Life, My One and Only, and Merlin.