How on earth didJersey Boys get the TONY- Page 2
How on earth didJersey Boys get the TONY
#25How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 10:56am
If you go back and watch the 2006 Tony Predictions episode of Theater Talk, Michael Riedel stated that he didn't feel that The Drowsy Chaperone had a lot of support within the industry. On Theater Talk, Riedel predicted Jersey Boys would win, but in his column, he predicted The Drowsy Chaperone.
Because business on Broadway had been struggling for so long, it apparently used to have been a trend to vote for the big commercial juggernaut over the more ambitious work for Best Musical. Such as La Cage aux Folles winning over Sunday in the Park with George, The Phantom of the Opera winning over Into the Woods, Crazy for You winning over Falsettos, The Lion King winning over Ragtime, Thoroughly Modern Millie winning over Urinetown, Spamalot winning over The Light in the Piazzia, In the Hieghts winning over Passing Strange, Memphis winning over Fela!, etc.
But nowadays since business on Broadway has improved, the more ambitious works are winning over the big commercial juggernauts such as Once winning over Newsies, Gentleman's Guide winning over Beautiful, and Fun Home winning over An American in Paris.
#26How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 10:58am
"Des has an interesting career of huge greats and colossal disappointments. High Society, Dracula, Guys & Dolls -09, and Dr. Zhivago come to mind."
That was Christopher Renshaw who did High Society, not Des McAnuff.
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Understudy Joined: 6/25/08
#27How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 11:34am
I saw it after it first opened and it was already a hit. What really turned me off was the audience, the yelling and screaming as if they were at a pop concert. I love theatre and pop music concerts but not at the same time.
#28How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 11:59am
Des has an interesting career of huge greats and colossal disappointments.
That's true of so many directors. Just look at the resume for Harold Prince sometime. His hits are HUGE but he directed over twice as many flops.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#29How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 12:18pm
" But nowadays since business on Broadway has improved, the more ambitious works are winning over the big commercial juggernauts such as Once winning over Newsies, Gentleman's Guide winning over Beautiful, and Fun Home winning over An American in Paris."
For me the idea that the Tonys have only recently begun honoring the more "ambitious" works over the obvious commercial juggernauts doesn't really hold up. In 1993 Kiss of the Spider Woman won over the far more commercially appealing Tommy, and in 1994 Passion beat out Beauty and the Beast. And Ragtime was poised to become a huge commercial juggernaut as well. In some ways you could even argue that The Lion King was a far bigger gamble for Disney, handing off such a huge property to a director primarily known for avant-garde work combining puppets and mask work in a way not often seen in such a mainstream production.
#30How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 1:46pm
^I never said they began honoring the more ambitious works, it's just more often nowadays.
Updated On: 7/15/15 at 01:46 PM
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#31How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 2:39pm
"I never said they began honoring the more ambitious works, it's just more often nowadays."
Actually, that's exactly what you said. It used to be "X" and now it's "Y", not it's always been "Y" just a little more often recently.
Truthfully, I just wish people on this board would stop already with these grand conspiracy theories about Tony voters basing their decisions on which show would be a bigger hit, which show would tour better, which show needs the boost more. Everything EXCEPT which show they just simply thought was a better show. And why people continue to care what Michael Riedel says just confounds me.
#32How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 2:57pm
^ Agreed. I think the Tonys actually have the best track record of all the major arts/entertainment awards. Just the fact that they gave it to Avenue Q over Wicked endears them to me forever. Something like that would never happen with the Oscars.
#33How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 3:09pm
Because Contact wasn't in contention that year?
#34How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 3:13pm
"^ Agreed. I think the Tonys actually have the best track record of all the major arts/entertainment awards. Just the fact that they gave it to Avenue Q over Wicked endears them to me forever. Something like that would never happen with the Oscars."
Amen.
Updated On: 7/15/15 at 03:13 PM#35How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 3:19pm
Truthfully, I just wish people on this board would stop already with these grand conspiracy theories about Tony voters basing their decisions on which show would be a bigger hit, which show would tour better, which show needs the boost more. Everything EXCEPT which show they just simply thought was a better show. And why people continue to care what Michael Riedel says just confounds me.
Ditto all that. Do people really think they sound smart or more knowledgeable regarding "the industry"? Maybe because they like to believe Riedel is something other than a gossip columnist?
#36How on earth did Jersey Boys get the TONY
Posted: 7/15/15 at 3:57pm
Truthfully, I just wish people on this board would stop already with these grand conspiracy theories about Tony voters basing their decisions on which show would be a bigger hit, which show would tour better, which show needs the boost more.
I'm sure not every single tony voter takes business into account, just the 10% of them who are road producers.
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