Emg_sound, I know absolutely nothing about sound design. So was ALNM's sound design an obvious and expected choice for a nomination? I wasn't sure if it was something that came out of the blue or not.
EMG, I was about to say the exact same thing. Subtlety is important for sound design in musicals. In plays, however, it's the execution of sound effects and and blending of other content.
Ljay, to be honest, I wasn't expecting Night Music to get a sound design nomination. I was expecting its design nomination to come in the costume category if anything. That being said, I think the sound design in Night Music is quite good and deserves to be recognized.
I too was expecting Night Music to receive a costume nomination. It makes me kind of sad they nominated Ragtime's already used costumes over Night's lovely costumes. Oh well.
I wouldn't say that the ALNM nomination was obvious (I live in LA and am out here infrequently, when I do, usually I gravitate towards seeing plays, but I did see ALNM, Fela and American Idiot [AI in Berkeley]), but if I were a nominator, I probably would have included it, but would have ceded something to American Idiot as well (which had, in addition to the amplification aspects, some interesting content choices throughout the show).
As far as a win, my money is on Kaplowitz's work in Fela, which has a rather effective wrap around quality to it (much like elements of the scenic and lighting design).
And, returning to the original thread topic, yes, the Enron design was the one nominated design which truly added impact to the show, rather than sound effects called for in the script or only transitional music (all of which is important, but design can [and should be at times] so much more).
The one show everyone on Broadway is waiting to see: Twyla Tharp presents: Big Bottom - The Spinal Tap Jukebox musical!
The Cortland Street subway station, for the R train, is plastered with posters for ENRON, with slogans like "The Play That Stunned London!"
If ENRON stunned London, then London is far too easily stunned. People must be fainting at MARY POPPINS.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
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I found Fela to be painfully loud and harsh. The "surround sound" didn't work for me. Seemed like random elements thrown around the room rather than a surround mix. With all due respect to those involved, not worthy of a Tony nom in my opinion.
I just got back from the last performance. I am solidly in the "OK" camp. It was entertaining for my $36 TDF dollars.couldn't see people paying full price to go see it.
I could relate time wise to part of the story as I was at Club Med three weeks before 9/11 and my room mate was a guy who had just moved to Houston to take a job with Enron.
When he called NY to see how I was , he'd already lost his job.
Roscoe, Cortlandt is my work station as well, and we really were flooded by those Enron posters
'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'