NY Times Tony Predictions Are Up- Page 4

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 9:16am

Sons of the Prophet was one of the worst plays I've ever seen. I've never walked out of a show before but if that show had an intermission I would have walked out.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 9:25am

How historically accurate are their predictions (or choices)?

Do they usually pan out as the winners?

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 9:32am

Here are 2011s predictions, they got a good amount right...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/05/15/theater/theaterspecial/20110515-tony-awards-critics-picks.html

I didn't check any of these yet though

2010
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/12/theater/theaterspecial/tony-critic-nominations.html

2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/theater/theaterspecial/17critics.html

2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/theater/theaterspecial/Tonys.html

Updated On: 5/17/12 at 09:32 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 9:37am

Looks like they totally missed on Best Actor in a Musical last year.

Also Best Featured Actor in a Musical

So the winners don't always register on their radar.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 9:44am

Theaterkid == and those comments are just your opinion, no more right than anyone elses.

Honestly, I don't think Newsies deserves any Tony Awards, in every category there were things I thought were better. I think it deserved its nominations, however.

do I think it might win a few? Yes.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 10:08am

Is Nina Ari[a]nda really such a strong contender?

As has been said already, her performance is one that people are going to be talking about for some time. It's kind of remarkable.

ONCE should win the award, hands down. The thing that stands in the way of it winning is the regional voters who are not concerned with the New York theatre crowd. Their only focus is the money and, on paper, a big Disney musical with great reviews is a much more sound financial investment than a small, downtown-vibe musical. That's all it really comes down to: money. If ONCE loses, I'll definitely be sad, but I learned long ago that the Tony Award often carries little weight in terms of artistic merit.

Updated On: 5/17/12 at 10:08 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 10:18am

"Brantley is ridiculous. He can't even write a list without giving it the dramatic "flow" of a review. His "should win" for best score is essentially just a "f*** you" to Menken, which is what he caps the whole thing off on - inferring that the season overall has been disappointing."


...it was.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 10:31am

I don't disagree, Kad - I just think it's ridiculous (and entertaining) that he can't even write a list without snark.

[Patash]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 10:40am

But he does "snark" so well!

[James2]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 10:41am

inlovewithjerryherman, what is so snarky about Ben choosing Lysistrata Jones over Newsies? He really liked Lysistrata and didn't like Newsies. It's simply his personal taste. What can't you see about that?

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 11:02am

A few things...

I personally can't decide which I would vote for if I were a voter, ONCE or NEWSIES........ I dunno... I loved them both... it really IS going to come down to which producers were better campaigners (unfortunately). When it comes down to it, it doesn't matter because they're both movie musicals turned into musicals. Acting like ONCE is on an artistic pedestal is silly. At least Newsies had new music written... and I say that with love because SWELL SEASON is one of my favorite bands. I dunno, I loved them both.

Also I think most of you are TOTALLY wrong about ONCE not having an audience in middle America. I'm from middle America and all my friends out there saw once when it first came out on DVD (some even saw it at movies). They all know falling slowly by heart (it's one of the most covered songs out there guys).... Way more people had seen once back home than had seen once in NYC. Nobody here had watched it when I tried to tell people the movie was coming to Broadway.... I think there's a big audience for a ONCE tour.

I agree about Nina's performance in BORN YESTERDAY. She deserved the award last year (She was robbed) and everyone knows it, which is why it seems impossible to overlook another great performance of her's this year. Sorry Tracy.

I'm totally rooting for Judith Light. She REALLY deserves it. If there's any justice in the world she'll win. Also would LOVE for Jan Maxwell to finally win. Sorry Danny, I don't think it's gonna go your way. If Newsies wins Best Musical, I think Steve kazee will win Best Actor.... and if Once wins there's a possibility Jeremy Jordan could take it.

PS why has no one mentioned that Newsies IS actually an open ended run? (an obvious campaign strategy)

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 3:24pm

Madonna - I agree. I don't understand why everyone is placing ONCE on such a high artistic pedestal. The music was barely, if at all, altered from the movie (save for maybe some orchestrations). Like you said, at least NEWSIES has NEW material and its existing material was completely reworked. With ONCE, all they did was change the setting to a bar and let the majority of the action happen there. While yes beauty can be found in simplicity, I feel NEWSIES has just as many, if not more, artistic merits than ONCE (and I'm saying this as a fan of both shows!). I am so sick of people devaluing something just because it has commercial appeal.

[broadwayfreak4]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 4:45pm

Agreed, TheatreKid3.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 5:35pm

I am so sick of people devaluing something just because it has commercial appeal.


Or maybe some of us just don't think NEWSIES is a good show. It has nothing to do with its commercial appeal for me. I just don't think it's anywhere near as good as ONCE. Period.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 6:25pm

I am so sick of people devaluing something just because it has commercial appeal.

I do not dislike the show because it has commercial appeal. I love lots of shows that have commercial appeal. In fact, several of my favorite shows have had major commercial appeal. I dislike Newsies, and I am sure others do as well, because I don't like the score, book, or choreography. That's just my opinion. Once has a much more enjoyable score IMO. I thought the lighting and set design for Newsies were both very nice. My dislike for the show has nothing to do with its commercial appeal. That is not how I judge a show. I judge a show based on the overall quality of the material and performances. Everyone feels differently about different shows, and that does not make anyone's opinion less valid.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 6:32pm

How historically accurate are their predictions (or choices)?

There are some statistics in the attached article - looks like Isherwood does a bit better!

Brantley Isherwood
2011 75% 81%
2010 63% 63%
2009 94% 100%
2008 81% 81%
NY Times Critics Make Tony Picks; 78% Accurate in 2011

[jv92]

Posted: 5/17/12 at 6:35pm

"I know this opinion will be unpopular, but for me Audra McDonald is a chilly performer despite her vocal prowess."

I've never been moved or thrilled by her in a show. Her Carnegie Hall concert last October was different. She has a lovely rapport with an audience alone and she can act and sing fabulously. But in a book show, I'm coming to terms with the fact that others do it better and I don't worship her the way some do.

I can recount more spectacular moments in Jan Maxwell's performance than Audra's.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 5/24/12 at 5:08pm

"Is Nina Arianda really such a strong contender?"

Have you seen VENUS IN FUR?

[KylePKJP]

Posted: 5/24/12 at 6:42pm

Steve Kazee. That's all.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/25/12 at 7:51am

why is no one talking about Best Actor? Does Corden have a lock on this? for me, Hoffman deserves the award.
And this will be Audra's year again, and I say hooray!
and the Best Musical category is so tepid, who cares?