Michael Riedel's Views on the Tony Awards- Page 3

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:08pm

<< Xanadu was the best in a season not particularly distinguished for new musicals. When the next buster musical comes along, I think it's goodbye to both, if not before.>>

And by "best", you mean because you liked it the best, correct?

What exactly makes ANY show the "best"- ?

In your opinion, it was the best. And that is fine.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:26pm

So, I NEVER read this board, nor do I POST...but I thought maybe I would check it out the day after the Tony's, thinking something had changed. Big mistake.
You people seriously need to get a life. None of you truly know what you are talking about.
You are all just bitter wannabe show queens and thats why the real theatre community doesn't bother reading your assertions and surmisings.

And if people knew how to analyze text or had any actual theatrical analysis education (beyond seeing Wicked in Chicago ten times...) you would be able to see that Passing Strange is a far superior piece of writing (and production for that matter), than the cheesy, sophomoric 'In the Heights'.

Seriously, there is a lot more to New York, the world, theatre and life than the trivial topics discussed on here.

Do not bother replying to this, cause I will be signing off Broadwayworld forever and will never even read your posts. So if you choose to spew, spew away, but my advice would be to save your breath, because I will be in a theatre doing it instead of posting about it, far from your sad, sorry spew.

[ASOOS04]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:26pm

So, I NEVER read this board, nor do I POST...but I thought maybe I would check it out the day after the Tony's, thinking something had changed. Big mistake.
You people seriously need to get a life. None of you truly know what you are talking about.
You are all just bitter wannabe show queens and thats why the real theatre community doesn't bother reading your assertions and surmisings.

And if people knew how to analyze text or had any actual theatrical analysis education (beyond seeing Wicked in Chicago ten times...) you would be able to see that Passing Strange is a far superior piece of writing (and production for that matter), than the cheesy, sophomoric 'In the Heights'.

Seriously, there is a lot more to New York, the world, theatre and life than the trivial topics discussed on here.

Do not bother replying to this, cause I will be signing off Broadwayworld forever and will never even read your posts. So if you choose to spew, spew away, but my advice would be to save your breath, because I will be in a theatre doing it instead of posting about it, far from your sad, sorry spew

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:30pm

Well this is a new twist.

Last year, there were a ton of letters that basically all said, "Dear Spring Awakening: I Hate Your Show."

And now the show that DIDN'T win is being bashed. Congratulations for moving on, everyone!

Why wouldn't they? They were all expecting critics to bash it and they raved about it, while they were pretty mixed about the winner.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:32pm

Sorry, ASOOS04, I don't speak troll.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:32pm

a season not particularly distinguished for new musicals

I do agree with you there Ed.

Having seen all of this year's new musicals (save A Catered Affair - which I hope to see next week), I did not find there to be one new musical where all the elements came together to create a "wow, that was a near perfect musical."

Many of the shows were teriffic, but somehow flawed. That doesn't mean I hated them, but it just wasn't the best year.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:33pm

The Tonys have politics and an agenda - that's why they're so damn easy to predict.

I'll post my list again, what do these shows have in common?

West Side Story
Gypsy
Follies
Dreamgirls
Sunday in the Park with George
Into the Woods
The Life
Ragtime
Parade
Urinetown
Caroline or Change
The Light in the Piazza
Grey Gardens
Passing Strange

[Weez]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:39pm

They're all BIG FAT LOSERS! At least as far as the Best Musical award goes.

Was that rhetoric? 'Cos I was kinda pleased I got that so near the top of the list...

[barcelona20]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:40pm

Blaxx- Great list!

And in response to how there are no "perfect" musicals this year. What are some recent examples of near perfect musicals exactly? The only one that immediately comes to mind for me is Avenue Q.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:41pm

I wonder--did I sound this bitter and condescending when I was mad over Light in the Piazza losing?

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 02:41 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:42pm

I thought the best new musical of the year was ADDING MACHINE, which is still playing downtown and is well well well worth a visit. It kicks the hell out of PASSING STRANGE, that's for damn sure.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:45pm

"You are all just bitter wannabe show queens and thats why the real theatre community doesn't bother reading your assertions and surmisings."

I haven't laughed that hard since Sue busted out in Survivor.

[joe5]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:49pm

Spork, They were all bitter before the Tonys. And still they continue to spew today. I think Stew wearing those nose glasses. Must have triggered all this today. I see PS is popping up on every ones list.
Updated On: 6/16/08 at 02:49 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:50pm

Roscoe is correct.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:52pm

Could someone point me to something that shows Stew when he is being supposedly "too cool for musical theatre"? I haven't seen that yet. (Note: I haven't seen the Tonys, hopefully will soon.)

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:58pm

He makes a comment at some point in the show to the effect that "there should be a song here, but we don't know how to write songs like that, so we're gonna do this." I don't have a copy of what passed for a libretto in front of me. His whole attitude during the performance I saw really got on my nerves.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:00pm

Michael Riedel is reading this thread right now and smiling a huge smile.

(But on that note, I did think he was too harsh. I enjoyed both shows very much, pretty much equally.)

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:02pm

Could someone point me to something that shows Stew when he is being supposedly "too cool for musical theatre"? I haven't seen that yet. (Note: I haven't seen the Tonys, hopefully will soon.)

It's mostly him admitting not knowing how to write a traditional musical theater song, so he tells the story as he knows how to - as opposed to him saying "look, what we're doing is BETTER than traditional musical theater" as many make it sound - so not the case.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:05pm

Thanks, blaxx, for putting it more clearly than I could. I'd disagree, though. To me it came off as arrogance, more of a putdown of the artform than what you describe. And the fact that his arrogance was supporting the telling of such a BORING story wasn't helping matters.

I do think the score was very good. If Stew ever gets hold of a good story/libretto he could work wonders.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 03:05 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:05pm

To All the Pitiful Showqueens that ASOO504 castigated, take heart. If he/she reads or responds to this, we will know that he/she is a liar because he/she promised NEVER to visit this board again and he/she wouldn't lie, would he/she? On the other hand, if he/she keeps his/her promise, we're rid of him/her forever, right? So, either way, there's something in it for all us pitiful shows queens. Right?????????

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 03:05 PM

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:14pm

If STEW 'hates' the realm of theatre so-much-so, Roscoe, WHY is PASSING STRANGE playing the Belasco in the first place? WHY hasn't he just packed up his stuff and left already, huh!? What you find 'arrogant' and 'direspectful' I view as a way and means of communicating (to a theatregoing audience) how he went about piecing this beautiful show together. I mean, to each his own, but really? You have NO right to claim the things you're claiming. Maybe make a second trip to the Belasco, hmm? Open your heart, eyes, and mind to that 'something wonderful playing there 8 times a week.

PS - The 'glasses bit' was hilarious.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:20pm

"the road voters might not opt for "Passing Strange" because they couldn't sell it outside of New York: It's black, it deals with sex, the music is awfully loud."

I have not been to see Passing Strange, but I found that part of the article entirely ridiculous if you look back on Spring Awakening taking best musical last year. 2/3 of that apply to Spring Awakening as well, and look at it going on the road a little over a year later - so I do not see why road voters would have their panties in a twist about Passing Strange now being too "revolutionary" or whatnot.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 03:20 PM

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:21pm

IT'S A THREAD WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:21pm

Jesus, Mike. Lighten up. I never said that Stew 'hates' the realm of musical theatre at all.

And as it happens, I do have a right to think what I thought. This is America, after all, we're all allowed to think what we like. You might have heard of this concept. It's just an opinion. If I thought Stew came off as an arrogant ass in his show, which I also thought was a tired parade of coming of age cliches with an admittedly kickass score, I have a perfect right to do so. You evidently thought otherwise. Excellent. Enjoy it.

As it happens, I thought the glasses bit was silly and juvenile, much like the show.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:29pm

this is you:



This is Stew!