Newsies: Original Score?

[BroadwayNorth2]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:12pm

Just wondering which category Newsies fits into for the Tonys...





Updated On: 12/26/11 at 01:12 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:17pm

First of all it's Tonys, not Tony's. Second of all, why would would you think that Newsies would be a revival at all?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:21pm

It's a new musical. No doubt about it. It doesn't matter that it was adapted from a movie musical. It will be its first time staged on Broadway, which will make it a NEW musical. (Yes, I'm aware there have been exceptions like The Normal Heart but this would not fall into that category of shows that have been playing on the stage for years)

[BroadwayNorth2]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:23pm

Not sure what I was thinking, to be honest!! I know it hadn't ever touched Broadway before, but I was simply thinking of categories like "original score" (when so many songs had been written 2 decades ago!) But I guess it's in the same boat as "original scores" from The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, etc.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:26pm

"Original" score, as you've noted doesn't always need to mean 100% new for the stage. I'm sure it will be eligible for that category as well. Even if it weren't, that wouldn't preclude it from being a NEW musical (ie. Mamma Mia, American Idiot, Priscilla...and just about any other jukebox musical)

[winston89]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:35pm

There is only one way that a show that is having its Broadway premier would be considered a revival as far as The Tonys are concerned. And, that is if it is a show that has been around, fairly well known etc prior to its Broadway premier. For example, the Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors was considered a revival despite it being the first time the show was on Broadway because it was well known and often produced despite never being on Broadway before.

I feel that if there is any show that would be deemed a revival despite it never being on Broadway before, I feel it would have to be Wit, which is starting up soon at Manhattan Theatre club.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 1:51pm

I believe that a score has to be over 50% original in order to be eligible for best score. I'm sure the "Newsies" team is working to reach that goal. They have a real shot at winning score this year - especially since "Once" will not be eligible. I saw both shows and greatly preferred "Once". That show was just beautiful. The Brantley review certainly took some wind out of their sales, though. It will be very interesting to see how this season plays out.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 2:25pm

I could be wrong here, but I was under the impression that it was 10 new songs or more that qualified you for Best Original Score. As recently as a few years ago, THE LITTLE MERMAID got into the category, and that certainly wasn't an entirely new score...

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 3:15pm

It's based on percentage of material presented, not number of songs. Fences probably didn't have even ten music cues and yet it was nominated for Best Score.

I bet the Newsies team is writing as we speak. They know the Tony is up for grabs and Menken is overdue.

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 11:07pm

Oh...
So if once and nice work don't have original scores, does that mean Bonos horrible spiderman score will get a nom just by default?
Bleah...

[Kad]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 11:13pm

No original score will get in by default this year. There's Bonnie and Clyde, Lysistrata Jones, Newsies, Ghost, and Rebecca, as well. And who knows what might pop up in the spring.

[MrJNLong]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 11:28pm

Oh ya. I forgot about Rebecca...and ghost...
I suck.
Merry Christmas

[CukorLover]

Posted: 12/25/11 at 11:48pm

My guess is that NEWSIES has it in the bag. Best Musical and Music, along with several other awards.You only have to read today's NY TIMES article regarding road show producers. They vote on what will sell in their region, hence The Addams Family, bringing in a bundle in Buffalo. I can imagine the theatre ( SHEA'S BUFFALO)is biting at the bullet to get NEWSIES on their schedule. Seriously, I doubt Buffalo theatre goers would flock to see a show like ONCE, but NEWSIES would fill the place.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/26/11 at 12:38pm

'Newsies' has 5 new songs, and a number of its tunes from the movie now have rewritten lyrics, so I don't think it'll have any problem reaching the Tony rule-of-thumb for 50% new content.

As it's been noted, there are at least 6 original scores to musicals eligible: 'Bonnie & Clyde,' 'Ghost,' 'Lysistrata Jones,' 'Newsies,' 'Rebecca' and 'Spider-Man.' I think 'Newsies' and 'Bonnie' are shoo-ins (even critics of 'B&C' think it's one of Wildhorn's better efforts), and 'Lysistrata' has a good shot, so it could be a battle for that fourth slot. Absent of that, the Tonys could nominate the Score to a play, like 'Stick Fly' (by Alicia Keys) or 'Mountaintop' (by Branford Marsalis, who was nominated for 'Fences'), but I think they'll stick to the musicals.

I also think the road presenters are given way too much attention for their influence in the Tonys. They might make up maybe 10% of the vote? And if they want to vote for whatever makes a 'bundle,' wouldn't they vote for 'Spider-Man'?