Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
#1Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 1:32am
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/tonynight/presenters/index.html
"Additionally, casts from some of Broadway's hottest tickets will take the stage this year - including:
The 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Memphis"
Were we not put through enough last year?
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#2Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 1:36amWe could get YET another Jersey Boys Tony performance. Or that horrid Mamma Mia! tour performance. It's always a lose-lose.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
JP2
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
#2Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 1:36amThey wont stop until we're all dead.
#3Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 1:38amThey don't have very good grosses. You can pay for a Tony performance so maybe they are hoping people will see it and come?
Wayman_Wong
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#4Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:56amFor the record, 'Memphis' was the show that got most shortchanged at last year's Tonys. Of the four shows nominated for Best Musical, it got the least amount of airtime. For instance, 'American Idiot,' which had just 3 Tony nominations, got to do FOUR musical numbers; 'Memphis,' which had 8 Tony nominations, had only ONE number. (And if it hadn't won, it wouldn't have gotten to do a reprise of 'Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll' over the closing credits.) At any rate, it was the 2010 Tony winner, so it deserves to be on the telecast. ... After today, 'Memphis' will be the only 2010 Best Musical nominee that's still on Broadway. It'll soon celebrate its 700th performance; its national tour launches this fall in Memphis itself, and I hear the HDTV-filmed version looks like it'll air later on PBS. Plus, it does really well in group sales. Thanks to its audiences, 'Memphis' isn't leaving the Shubert anytime soon.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#5Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:59amYeah, but do you like Memphis? That wasn't clear.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#6Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 4:02am
blah blah blah who cares.
MEMPHIS was not shortchanged. They won Best Musical, they got to use that golden press for an entire year.
And while we're at it, the fact that they did that numbers during the closing credits was absurd. It's a poor mans 'You Can't Stop the Beat'
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#7Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 6:54amIdinaBellFoster why don't you do yourself a favor and switch the channel while the cast of MEMPHIS performs on the Tony awards. You can't change change things you can't control. Wayman_Wong answered your question and gave you ALL the reasons why MEMPHIS is performing tonight at the Tonys awards and yet, you still don't get it. Too bad for you. Build a bridge and get over it.
#8Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 8:00am
They don't have very good grosses. You can pay for a Tony performance so maybe they are hoping people will see it and come?
In order to perform on the Tony Awards you have to be invited and then pay for the performance. This includes nominated shows. This includes shows that are asked to perform. You can't just go to White Cherry and say "here's some money, which time slot does my show get to perform in?"
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#9Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 8:44am
You really think an invitation can't be bought?
And Memphis was not shortchanged last year. It got a spot like every other nominee did.
Of course the ceremony was so ridiculously bad and ineptly produced that I can see why it may appear they were shortchanged.
....but the world goes 'round
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 9:10am
I was always under the impression that any "cost" for performing at the Tony Awards, came strictly from whatever costs the producers accrued to GET their production there: paying the actors, moving set pieces, the costume/hair people, etc. Is there also a FEE involved?
That being asked, I'm sure you can buy a performance if you have enough $$$. Otherwise, explain how a show (SPIDEY) get a performance when they haven't even OPENED yet.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
ace33
Stand-by Joined: 8/9/10
#11Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 10:23pm
For the record this is the first time that a Musical has performed two-years in a row on the Tony awards... (altho i guess spiderman will be next year)
I'm a fan of the show so of course i didnt mind (i know many of you do mind) and while i wish they would have picked another song, i think they did a great job with the kids dancing. it seems like they had the entire auidence bopping along, even chris rock.
Now it all makes sense - Audemars Piguet was the company that set up the special performance for city-kids where they learned the choreo and then surprised the cast (link below)... well audemars is a SPONSOR of the tonys, i beleive for the past 3 years... so there you have it, Hate it or love it, Audemars Piguet wanted to feature their handy-work in their partnership with Memphis.
Memphis Audemars Piguet Flash Mob
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#12Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 10:50pmWORST performance of the night. Someone buy them some auto-tuning!
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#13Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:18pm
She was flat. He was charmless. The song was banal. Didn't I say that last year too?
Why did it performing? Because the Tony folks never want to lose their rock 'n' roll, or the chance to make the show worse than it actually is.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#14Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:27pm
The multiple American Idiot numbers were a DESPERATE attempt to lure teenagers and their demographic to 1) the Tony Awards and 2) Musical Theatre in general. It failed on both counts.
MEMPHIS isn't bad, it just isn't good. It's generic rock and roll
styles which a large audience is comfortable with. Audemars Piguet , ya got whut ya payed fur.
I suppose that they did help subsidise the rest of the show so,"lah shea nun".
#15Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:33pm
I also think part of it was because with only two best revival of a musical nominations they had some time to fill.
That being said I really liked what they did with the kids. I bet they'll remember performing at the Tony's forever. What a great thing for them.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#16Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:36pm
That's lovely, but still...
#17Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:36pmLiked the kids, hated the song/performance. I am sure Wayman ejaculated!
#18Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:40pm
ljay, I cracked up when I read that.
Nice to see the kids, I agree. But still, I don't think we're going to lose our rock 'n' roll anytime soon, so let's put Memphis performances to rest for a while.
#19Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 1:06amActually the Color Purple performed 2 years in a row Ace33
Genius lasts longer than beauty.
#20Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:00am
For the record this is the first time that a Musical has performed two-years in a row on the Tony awards...
For the record, NO!
SHOW BOAT performed on the 1994 and 1995 Tony telecasts. EVITA on the 1980 and 1981 broadcasts, and going back a bit NO NO NANETTE performed on the 1971 and 1972 Tony programs (to cite 3 examples. I am sure there are more.)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#21Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:02amAt least Fantasia's performance was good.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#22Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 12:58pm
I don't have much of an issue with the previous winner for "Best Musical" returning for a another performance. Kinda like Miss America coming back to help crown the new Miss America.
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
Updated On: 6/13/11 at 12:58 PM
#23Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 1:06pm
"It'll soon celebrate its 700th performance"
And that was made abundantly clear last night.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
#24Is there a reason MEMPHIS is performing tonight?
Posted: 6/13/11 at 1:25pmChristian Hoff, John Lloyd Young, Bobby Spencer and Daniel Reichard from Jersey Boys also came back the following year to perform Oh What a Night
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
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