I have officially given up on Broadway- Page 2

[LostLeander]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:10am

Whoops.

Updated On: 6/12/06 at 01:10 AM

[itstheM]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:10am

I think the Broadway times changed and we have to change with them. The odds of a new musical being something like a Miss Saigon or a West Side Story are so slim. Broadway has become a different place, but we can't let it die.

[I<3bway]

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

Ummm, yeah, how about before you start talking **** about a musical, how about you go see it first. Jersey Boys won the Tony Award for best musical, embrace it and accept it, because the Tony Voters can't change their minds!!

Congratulations to the whole cast!!

[kaboodles041]

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

Oh please. If you're going to give up on Broadway for one stupid award show (that doesn't even really mean anything anyway), what kind of Broadway fan are you? Give up on the Tonys. Not Broadway.

I said it before and I will say it again. Why does it matter so much if a show you liked (notice the "you like" part, denoting its subjective nature) won? If you like it and enjoy it, what does it matter?

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:16am

Yes, there is politics on Broadway, but I doubt Oprah "paid for Lachanze's win. If politics were really thats bad then how come huge corporate Broadway takeover Disney did not have Tarzan nominated for Best Musical? Maybe these people and shows really did deserve to win! Also, isn't the Tony committee comprosed of Broadway performers, writiers, producers, directors, etc? If so, don't you think they would care about the future of Broadway as well and only promote the absolute best Broadway had to offer that season. We all know that a Tony can really help boost sales and publicity, so obviously these people wouldn't want to help promote shows that will ruin what Broadway is. Everything goes through cycles, and, while I do not enjoy this particular cycle, Broadway will be changing again next year and the year after. Ten years from now we will look back at this period and appriciate the the unique style and adventure Broadway took! Appriciate the fact that we have a place like Broadway and people who care enough to even put millions of dollars into shows!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:24am

"rentboy if the golden age is done and you should get used to contemporary theatre why the hell did a a living replica of a golden age show beat a contemporary genius amazing piece of theatre that better in every way for a revival tony? "

I'm not sure what you're trying to say? It doesn't make sense to me. Sorry.

[WordedGrace]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 1:48am

It's over...let's all take our collective grief over the evening.. Take a deep breath...and LET IT GO!!! The Tony awards have a long history with not going in the favor of what people think is popular and heartstopping. It's all about choice. We all choose the shows we are going to see and how they affect us. There are people who adore Wicked and others who loathe it. Apples and oranges people. The tonys were unpredictable tonight as they have always been. Whether or not we all get upset over how they go, they have been this way for 60 years, and here's hoping they never get too predictable.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 2:00am

Yeah I knew the performing awards could have gone either way. I'm sure Patti isn't crying now. She was over the awards when the season started. I'm glad LaChanze won, I think Patti deserves it, but LaChanze def does too. I mean it's freakin CELIE. Freakin hardcore. And people need to realize that the best musical Tony's never about the best musical. It's always about touring power. That's why Avenue Q won over Spamalot and that's what Jersey Boys won over Chaperone. I mean it's political money making honestly. I wonder if all the voters actually went to all of THESE shows lol. Whatever. I mean a show that won best score AND best book is clearly the original winner. I mean Book+Score= musical so in a way Drowsy won. Jersey Boys just won the money maker award.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 2:08am

A few responses:

Mrslovett, get over it, and you probably will. The Tonys are always bound to leave you somehow feeling displeased. It's just an awards show. Politics. Broadway itself is still there, affected but surviving. I like your concept about not giving up if they stop producing ****ty musicals though.

Rentboy, what Theatreboy is saying is that the reconceived and completely modern Sweeney Todd lost out to the utterly "golden age" and anachronistic Pajama Game (arguably a lesser production from the Golden Age), which is doing well on Broadway, proving that there is still a taste among audiences for well made and accessible musical fare of the golden age kind.

Also, the Broadway musical is heading in all sorts of wildly different directions. There's a million miles between the works of LaChiusa and Guettel and The Color Purple and Jersey Boys. Whatever merits those latter shows may have, they are merely better examples of a genre of subpar musicals that are taking over Broadway. The great new musicals by the former aside (they seem to be in and going to another place all together), I would take a golden age musical over a Jersey Boys any day, and as someone who hopes to some day be an active force in the scene, hope to follow it on that yellow brick road.

I do agree that the name Oprah may have helped LaChanze significantly (which she acknowledges) but there's no denying her talent and ability to rise above the material (along with the rest of the cast). I'm not too sure how much Patti deserved it either.

Jimmynysf.... heh.

TheBoyFromChi... yeah, you're right. I know a few people who can attest to that. Too bad the people writing musicals these days can't seem to write a good one! One wonders why these people get the job! Maybe they need to go back to class.

ItstheM, you never know. When West Side Story debuted nobody expected it and it was years before the impact was felt. The next earth shaking musical may have already debuted (Floyd Collins) or is just around the corner and nobody is looking.

I think Jazzysuite puts it best. It could have gone any way. It wasn't the kind of year with lots of clear winners (besides anything concerning The History Boys, a show about which I have become very enthusiastic). I also really appreciated the producer of Jersey Boys's speech, acknowledging everything on Broadway, of which his show is one aspect.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 2:47am

"concerts with dialouge should never have been allowed to win"

But what if they're actually good? Did I not just read a post on BWW where a person reviewed Wicked, Altar Boyz, and Rent only to say that AB was the tightest, most put together show of the three?

And I do also recommend Altar Boyz, haha. I just love my Boys/Boyz.

~Steven

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 2:53am

"That's why Avenue Q won over Spamalot"

Jazzy

And LaChanze deserved that Tony, and any others.

She rocks.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 2:55am

"Mornin', Mornin' in the air, silver sparkle on the green! World awaken to prepare for the consequence unforeseen"

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 3:29am

"That's why Avenue Q won over Spamalot"
Jazzysuite82

I think you got confused. Hehe.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 3:57am

Kids, see the shows then let's discuss. LaChanze was the CLEAR Best Leading Actress in a Musical of this past season. Patti did a great job, but she gets a lot of additional attention because she is Patti and this is her big return. Justice was served. Jersey Boys was the Best Musical this past season. It is a tightly constructed story brimming with talent. I am thrilled with every winner tonight.

You guys need to hop on a plane from out in Idaho and actually come to New York City and see every nominated and winning show you're whining about.

And if you have seen each of these shows, you need to grow a critical brain and learn about the makings of a strong acting performance and production. Acting Tonys are awarded to the best performances that season, not to the most well-known actors.

Updated On: 6/12/06 at 03:57 AM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 4:02am

So do you then stand by the decision of the Tony voters tonight in all the categories? Just want to make sure because making a statement like that implies that you honestly found all of their picks to be the best in their respective categories. I wanted to give you the chance to answer before I made any judgements.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 4:33am

"Lestat" was robbed!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 5:42am

How rude of us, MrsLovett has given up on Broadway and no one said goodbye. Goodbye!!!

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 6:16am

Really? After ONE awards show, to give up on Broadway?

Seriously, if you think that Oprah "bought" LaChanze's win then you cleary have not seen her in the show and have no idea of how the Tony voting process works. And honestly, if Oprah was going to buy any award (if that was possible, which it is not), wouldn't she have bought herself a Best Musical trophy?

Jensen... Broadway IS Commercial theatre, nowhere is that more apparent than in the revival win. The one TRUE risk this season (Sweeney - produced by a commercial entity) lost to a commercial show (Pajama - produced by a non-profit entity). Broadway has always been commercial, and with shows costing millions of dollars, it will only get worse...

LostLeander - if you think LaChanze won because she's black... I don't even know what to say, but I thought that your comment needed highlighting. Oprah came in late, and LaChanze's performance was already brilliant before Oprah came in less than a month before they went into performances. She was then and remains brilliant in her role. If you think she won because of her race, I can only hope that you don't vote for anything... ever.

Was I happy with all of the results this evening... to quote Sophia "Hell No!" Do I understand why the awards went the way the did, not entirely. Am I a Tony voter? No. Will I wake up tomorrow and like theatre? Of course. It's up to you whether or not you want to take the Tonys personally. I can tell you that a lot of the people who lost tonight will be on Broadway again, and soon. Follow their example. Come back, see a show. If you don't, then you support the terrorists

[JemimaPearl]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 6:38am

And what was that with Phantom? Someone explain to me why wedding singer got to perform an entire number when a fantastic show like The Phantom of the Opera, which broke records just a few months ago had, oh, about 3 SECONDS??!!!

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 6:48am

Here's a crazy thought....perhaps because "Phantom" wasn't nominated?

Honestly, Phantom shouldn't have been performing at all.


And to those who say "see all the shows and then you'll understand". How completely pretentious of you.

I have seen both TCP and Sweeney and felt Patti deserved the award. I have seen Drowsy and Jersey and also felt Drowsy deserved the award. There are MANY people here, New Yorkers and non who HAVE seen all the shows and feel the same way. To suggest that people who are upset with the decisions just have not seen the other shows is absurd.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 6:52am

Well I'm upset with all of Jersey Boys wins, but I am very very happy LaChanze won. She finally got one and she deserved it more than any of thos women. She pours her heart out every night onstage, and its about time she won!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 6:56am

"And what was that with Phantom? Someone explain to me why wedding singer got to perform an entire number when a fantastic show like The Phantom of the Opera, which broke records just a few months ago had, oh, about 3 SECONDS??!!!"
-JemimaPearl-

There is no need to put down an amazing show like The Wedding Singer. Phantom wasn't nominated for an award. It is an old show, remember? TWS was indeed nominated for a Tony Award. Only Tony nominees for a best musical/best musical revival get to perform.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 7:09am

The performance by the cast of "The Wedding Singer" was the highlight of best musical numbers. "Drowsy" looked like a big bore from the number they performed.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 7:43am

god i love the morning after.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 6/12/06 at 8:32am

I wish I had recorded the show so that I could repeat the performances over again! They were fantastic, especially The Wedding Singer's.

Phantom didn't get a lot of time because it isn't a new show. It got it's time when it was a new show.