On Tony night, 2006...- Page 2

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:29am

I think there's great shows opening this season so-like someone said-unless Tarzan is great visual and creative spectacle like The Lion King it probably won't be nominated for Best Musical, maybe it will get other nominations such as Scenery, Costume, and Choreography.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:59am

Interesting idea Conor, but I see the problem. The same show would keep winning until it closed. And for the last time, Tale of Two Cities isn't opening this season, so its not in the running. Also, just because something is based off a book rather than a "campy" movie, doesn't mean its automatically going to be a good show. (Look at Dracula for proof) I think Wedding Singer has great potential. I wouldn't throw out something that you haven't even seen, heard, or read any reviews of. Just give it a chance. I don't think we'll have any idea of what shows are going to get nominated until all the shows have opened this season. Since Tarzan is opening right in time for the Tony nominations, it might grab the voters attentions since it will be fresh on their minds? Who knows. Did Lion King get nominated for best score (not that it should have).

[Conor]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 2:11am

well hypothetically the award could switch shows if lets say phantom had it a few years but then their cast was sub par one year which allowed LITP to take the award or something. But it would be so much more work because every show would have to be reviewed every year.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 2:25am

I didn't mean to say that a show based on a book is automatically set to get a nod, but a lot of us speculating here since some of the shows we have mentioned have not even opened, I'm relying on creative team and shows that I think will have a deeper artistic value based on their source material. Hairspray is a great show and it did deserve its Tony as Best Musical, so maybe the same will happen with The Wedding Singer, I just believe there are shows that are more likely to get a nod. Sorry if I sounded completely dismissive of The Wedding Singer.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 5:55am

The Wedding Singer has a lot going for it: director, choreographer, producer, talent, up-and-coming writers, and most of all a name.

My predictions...

The Color Purple
The Wedding Singer
Those are the only shows that I think will be there no matter what.

Jersey Boys
Lestat
Woman in White
Drowsey Chaperone
Tarzan
All these other shows will duke it out for the last two spots. Jersey Boys got good reviews, but it's a jukebox and they've been dismissing them, especially with last year's All Shook Up, which deserved some kind of recognition with at least a nomination (Stephen Oremus' orchestrations at LEAST). I think Lestat has the biggest opportunity to get panned, just b/c of the subject matter. It's easy to screw that up. Tarzan has so much money in it that it will look pretty no matter what, but it's a matter of whether the critics like it. Woman in White has the ALW factor going for it, and Drowsey Chaperone would be the little-musical-that-could. Tough year.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:07am

This topic's a bit pre-mature...but I'll join in, none-the-less.

I think everyone's giving a little too much credit to The Color Purple, for one. The preview they showed on Letterman didn't do anything for me. It just looked like another typical African American musical in the same vein as Jelly's Last Jam, Purlie, or Ragtime.

I also don't think anyone's given enough credit to Tarzan. The show is going to be a huge spectacle. Because a little more than half the Tony voters don't have an artistic bone in their body and can only see dollar signs, they'll totally druel over the show.

Finally...the whole Tony thing year to year proposal as a comparison to television. The reason why tv can do that is because each season is different episodes. Since Broadway's shows primarily only change casts, there's no reason to do re-awarding each season...except for replacement casts, which is in the works.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:32am

wickedfreak, come on. It was a LONG time ago. Wicked didn't win. Why do you care so much at this point? I mean, I happen to think that Wicked deserved the Tony over AveQ but that's my opinion. Other people think differently, why does it bother you so much? Something being the "best" is based on people's opinions. Saying that "anyone can see" is just ridiculous.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:36am

I wouldn't necessarily assume that Tarzan will be spectacle alone. Disney has put together a rather unique group of creatives together for that show. Who can say exactly what Bob Crowley, Natasha Katz, Phil Collins, David Henry Hwang, Meryl Tankard and Pichon Baldinu will come up with?

[TinyDancer]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 10:43am

While i would tend to agree with you on the argument that shows based on established literature are more sure to receive Tony nods- I was never more disgusted than when MAMA MIA received a Tony nom for 'best book' over BY JEEVES which was based on the legendary stories by PG Wodehouse and written by Sir Alan Ayckbourn himself.

Granted, BY JEEVES was in no way a commercial success on Bway, especially in comparison to MAMA MIA which has many strengths and is a fun show....but 'best BOOK'?

For MAMA MIA?
Over Wodehouse AND Ayckbourn?

I believe things like this- point to the 'Tony agenda' of supporting shows that are successful and not really as 'deserving' artistically...which business wise makes sense-
Throw support behind the shows that can still bring in audiences- and don't waste the effort on shows that are dying or dead.

But this theory also totally throws this kind of guessing game into a frenzy if you're basing these noms purely on what you consider to be artistically deserving talents. Better to wait and see what's still open and what shows stand to gain the most from the TV advertising they get from the Tonys (which you are aware they have to pay for, btw).

If your show gets nominated-
your producers have to PAY for the honor of performing on the show because, at it's base- the Tony Awards are national advertising. You pay for your 'air time' as you would for any other kind of 'commercial'. That's what goes behind most of the decisions and the noms and the awards at the Tonys. Who stands to gain the MOST from 2-3 hours of national advertising.

This is why if shows are (rarely) nominated after they've closed they either send a tape or don't perform live bceause there's no monetary gain. Believe me, if it was free you would have no problem getting that OB company together to do it onw last time. Only if the show is closed on bway but going on the road will they spring for the thousands of dollars for the privelege.

I don't know about you-
but when i found that out, i was heartbroken. I thought it really WAS a celebration of the best and brightest on broadway. But it's not. It always comes down to money, sadly. Not that the best and brightest don't sometimes MATCH UP with the chances of monetary gain, or just really really swing it by sheer personal undeniable talent-
and when they do of course, it's thrilling.

But sadly, if there have been tony noms/awards in the past that have made you go 'huh?'- follow the money trail. And there's your answer, usually.


TinyDancer

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 11:13am

Ain't Misbehavin
Crazy For You
Mamma Mia
Moviin' Out

all jukebox musicals...

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 11:31am

Smaxie,

I care becuase Wicked is a rare find. A family show that can appeal to just about ayone. That kind of show has not come along in a wile. When I saw it a few weeks ago in Houston I saw people from the ages 5 - 95! Where else can you find that?! Plus, The music is so great! And i still care becuase it really makes me sad that this wonderful show lost to Q. A show with one main demogrphic.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 12:16pm

nydirector2 --

"I think everyone's giving a little too much credit to The Color Purple, for one. The preview they showed on Letterman didn't do anything for me. It just looked like another typical African American musical in the same vein as Jelly's Last Jam, Purlie, or Ragtime."

All those shows you named were nominated for Best Musical and won Tonys. That's all anyone is predicting for Color Purple. So how is it giving Color Purple "too much credit" if you say it's in the same vein as those other Tony-winning shows?


Thesbijean --
Ain't Misbehavin is a revue, not a jukebox musical. It doesn't have a plot (or a lame attempt at one).

wickedfreak --
A rare find because it's a family show with broad appeal? Huh? MOST longrunning Broadway hits have broad appeal or else they couldn't run for years. There are a couple of these shows EVERY season -- perhaps you're too young or wicked-deluded to have noticed. Ever hear of Lion King? Go into almost any big musical from Hairspray to Mamma Mia to Phantom to Spelling Bee to Fiddler and you'll see an audience from 5 to 95. Wicked is hardly the first, the last or the only show with broad appeal.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 12:21pm

wickedfreak, how many Broadway shows have you seen? I have seen MANY shows with audience members age 5 - 95. And just because a show is targeted to a more specific demographic (ie AveQ) does not mean that it is a WORSE show than something that is targeted to a broader range.

[TimeSuckage]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 12:37pm

Is this the first year the new "Replacement Star" category is in effect? If so, who does anyone think will be up in that category?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:09pm

Not sure how much it'll affect any of the races, but it appears Tommy Tune's Doctor Doolittle will make it to Broadway this season. While it apparently was a mess before he took over, he is (or at least was) one of the great director-choreographer-show doctors around, so it wouldn't be wise to count him or the show out until some reviews come in from the road in a couple of months.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=6013

[DiamondGirl]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:23pm

In reference to the literature vs. movie discussion, four out of the last five best musical winners have been based on movies, comedy movies (Spamalot, Hairspray, Millie & The Producers). I'm seeing a bit of a theme. Not that The Wedding Singer is necessarily going to be a hit, just that it'd be in good company.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:26pm

The Color Purple would be blessed to be as good as Jelly's Last Jam or Ragtime. And Ragtime is no more of a "black" musical than it is a "white" musical or a "Jewish" musical.

wickedfreak, you're not winning any support with that line of "reasoning," to use the term loosely.

[wickedfreak]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 1:38pm

I have seen too many shows to count and i am not saying the q is a bad show. I am also not saying that wicked is better just ecuase it appeals to a wider audience. And how long ago was lion king?? also, you normally do not see 5 year olds at phantom a lot of the time. also MAMA MIA......that show has some themes that a of parents wold not want their chirdren to know about. and Hairspreay.....i have not seen it so i cannot comment. Wicked has brought ina new generation of broadway fans and that is somwthing we should be greatful for. ok...im done..

I know i misspeles things.

[LuvBroadwayHugs]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 3:58pm

I'm a little late to jump in on account of the topic evolving but.
The thing about Jersey Boys is that it's not like the other "jukebox musicals" of recent years. It's more like The Boy From Oz, for instance. A biography type show, using the performers music. For this reason, I believe Jersey Boys will be nominated for a couple things (and I'm not just saying this because I'm obsessed!).

Updated On: 11/22/05 at 03:58 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 4:12pm

Agreed LuvBroadwayHugs.

would Dolittle be seen as a revival? How was Chitty treated?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 4:23pm

Doolittle is a brand new show -- it's never been on Broadway before. Tune is supervising changes to the book, score, choreography and staging as we speak.

Chitty was also considered a new musical -- it had never been on stage before.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 4:35pm

So for the people upset with my comment about the Color Purple being just another African American musical...you do understand that I mean there's nothing original about it. Each of the shows I mentioned were landmark musicals in the way they were presented and this one seems to be just taking an old theme and rehashing it with shared musical stylings rather than doing something original with it. Also...is Ragtime an African AMerican historically influenced musical...yes. Is it JUST an African American historically influenced musical....no. Geeze you people get your panties in a wad fast.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 5:13pm

I'm sure if Tommy Tune brings Doolittle to Broadway this season, it will affect the Best Actor and Director categories at least, possibly it will affect the Best Musical category given we are talking about the director of landmark musicals such as Nine.
Wickedfreak, like other people have been saying, just because Wicked appeals to a broader audience than Avenue Q, I'm sure the Tony committee paid more attention to the way Avenue Q was written, constructed, sounded, and looked on the stage rather than the money the show was getting. Not going to get too much on the Wicked v. Av.Q battle though....and also, what are those themes Mamma Mia has that are so deep? I do believe it deserved a Best Book nod. maybe not over By Jeeves, but I insist that it is hard to take a whole bunch of pre-existing songs and turn them into a coherent show, this has been proved by all the subsequent disastrous jukebox musicals after Mamma Mia.

[jv92]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 5:48pm

The Tony Awards? Who cares? After last year's debacle, I don't really care who wins.

[Kevo711]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 5:58pm

Wow why did I not know Crazy For You was a jukebox musical? Who's music was it?