Lack of interest this season?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 12:51am

Is it just me or is there a general lack of interest in this season's shows and Tony nominations this year? It seems like there was so much more excitement and buildup in previous seasons, especially on the eve of Tony nominations. Granted, I haven't been able to see many shows this season because grad school has taken over my life, but the overall consensus about this season seems to be very "meh."

Anyone else notice this?

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:03am

Come back tomorrow at 2pm, love :)

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:07am

LOL! True.... But I do always remember the night before being more exciting.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:11am

Not really. I think this is actually one of the more exciting years.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:11am

Perhaps beceause there was more suspense?

Last year we had the Newsies vs Once debate, anything could have happened. And wondering if Bernadette was getting a nomination, Ricky Martin, etc.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:13am

I think the fact that the Matildas are out of the running made this season a bit more exciting.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:13am

I think that's a good point! This year appears to be quite predictable.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:17am

There's always the one nomination and the one omission that makes everyone go on a huge telenovela-style rampage.

[ForPoland]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:19am

I feel like I should be more excited than I am. But I've been out of the loop for awhile, and I think I might have accidentally become a fuddy duddy who doesn't care about awards.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 1:33am

"I think the fact that the Matildas are out of the running made this season a bit more exciting"

Indeed!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 5:36am

From where do you think the excitement is waning? Here on the boards? There hasn't been a day gone by without some yahoo posting a thread about their prediction or starting a debate over some category. (Granted, many have deleted...but you couldn't swing a cat around here without hitting one.)


Personally, I can't wait.

Updated On: 4/30/13 at 05:36 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 6:07am

I'm with ljay. This season has been pretty blah for me too.

I also thought last season was pretty dull.

Having said that, there are few of contests that are shaping up to offer at least a modicum of suspense, including:

actor/musical
actress/play
supporting actress/play
director/musical

Updated On: 4/30/13 at 06:07 AM

[binau]

Posted: 4/30/13 at 6:21am

It has also been the first season in a very long time that there has not been a Sondheim revival. I feel like they tend to attract a bit of interest on this forum.

[hanabana]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 1:10am

I wouldn't know if the theater community has not been as excited about this season, but I personally think that there are many great shows this season! Already there are so many I want to see: Pippin, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Cinderella, Motown, Jekyll & Hyde (I really loved the original production, but am a bit afraid that this new one will be too much rock and roll - don't get me wrong, I love rock but just don't think the score for that show is supposed to be like that). So personally, I'm excited about this season!

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 1:30am

It has also been the first season in a very long time that there has not been a Sondheim revival

2011? I know people have short-term memory problems around here, but that's pretty recent...

[binau]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:57am

If you read my post again carefully you will find that it claims it has been a long time since there has NOT been a Sondheim revival.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:46am

Discounting, of course, PASSION and also MERRILY at Encores!

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 07:46 AM

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 8:24am

>> "If you read my post again carefully you will find that it claims it has been a long time since there has NOT been a Sondheim revival."



*******SPOILER ALERT!*******
(This post reveals plot elements that include examples of pedantry)







Using the negative ("not") is what's killing your argument. There's no clear time frame established.

I could accurately say that it's been 3 seconds since there has not been a Sondheim revival. My statement would remain accurate until there *is* a Sondheim revival. Updated On: 5/2/13 at 08:24 AM

[BWFan101]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:22pm

The problem for me this season was no Rebecca!

[Musical Master]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:37pm

To me this was one interesting season, much better than 2010. There was a lot of interesting musicals and plays, some of which didn't even make it to this year. Hands on a Hardbody is the Taboo of the season, a musical that a group of people liked but failed in the end of it all. But it will have life with countless college and regional theatre productions. Cinderella, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Pippin, and Motown got my attention the most and I would love to see any of these shows if I ever get the chance to go to NYC again since spring 2004. The award nominations and debates have begun as well, so I wasn't lacking interest in the slightest.

Oh and the whole Rebecca thing.



Updated On: 5/2/13 at 07:37 PM

[binau]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 11:43pm

"I could accurately say that it's been 3 seconds since there has not been a Sondheim revival. My statement would remain accurate until there *is* a Sondheim revival."

I don't think you could. You could accurately say that 3 seconds ago there was not a Sondheim revival, but saying "It's been three seconds since there has not been a Sondheim revival" suggests that the last Sondheim revival ended 3 seconds ago, in my opinion.

In any case, if my point needs more explanation - for basically every year since what, 2001, there has been a Sondheim revival. Sondheim revivals tend to gather interest on this forum because people here like the shows and they gather Tony interest. Because there was not a Sondheim revival this year, there is one less show for members to be interested in. I mean, look at FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, GYPSY, WEST SIDE STORY, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, SWEENEY TODD etc.. all would have gathered quite a bit of interest. I think we are missing that this season.

[JuanValjean72]

Posted: 5/3/13 at 3:15pm

I can say that there is less STAR buzz this season, in the new musicals at least. All or most of the new musicals: Motown, Matilda, Pippin, Kinky Boots, Chaplin, etc. were led by Broadway actors/singers. They didn't need huge stars like Broadway attempted last season like Ricky Martin in Evita. They were driven by the true talent and new, greatly written material. Yes none of the musicals are really original concepts, but it's great material nonetheless. Looking very forward to seeing the new shows!

[mikem]

Posted: 5/3/13 at 4:18pm

I don't know if I would say "lack of interest," but I would say that there is less PASSION this year than usual for a lot of different reasons:

- a big debate happens when there are two different candidates whom people feel passionate about

- the main show that people seem passionate about is Pippin, but it's a foregone conclusion that it will win Best Revival, so nothing to debate or argue about

- the main performer people seem passionate about is Kristine Nielsen, but it seemed obvious that she would win Featured Actress and now seems obvious that she will lose for Leading Actress, so again nothing to argue about; there is also no other Leading Actress in her category whom people are passionate for, so there is no back-and-forth battle

- many of the usual actors with passionate fanbases, like Raul Esparza, Sutton Foster, Bernadette Peters, etc, are not eligible this year

- the main battle appears to be Matilda vs Kinky Boots, but I think people find them enjoyable (or not), but they don't seem to be lighting a fire in people in the same way that some other shows do

- the season was so back-loaded that many people have not seen many of the shows (and the crazy ticket prices don't help)

Just my two cents...

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/3/13 at 8:21pm

I saw more off-Broadway this past season than I saw on Broadway. I'd be more excited if we could have a Best Musical showdown between Matilda, Kinky Boots, Giant, Dogfight and Murder Ballad, instead of digging through the dreck to come up with place-fillers like Bring It On.