Rant about the 2014 TONY NOMINATIONS here- Page 9

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:11am

Sorry… I didn't know there was a reputation

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:13am

Do you think Hunter Foster somehow threatened the committee as almost everyone with a whiff of Hollywood was shut out?

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:13am

I am most disappointed in these awards because I really thought that the love would be more widespread this year. I had high hopes for the Tony Awards this year – I thought that many more musicals would get a chance to shine (with not all of the focus on only one or two shows) and it really could be anyone’s game (and, therefore, awards wouldn’t be given out as a result of what, I feel, is sometimes based off of a show’s overall momentum in the awards as opposed to truly be deserving in every category).

The Best Musical category is my biggest complaint. It’s just…boring. The nominators clearly favor musical comedy over serious musicals. Also, 2 of the 4 nominated don’t have original scores (and, “Aladdin,” for that matter, has about only half of a new score).

Heartbroken for “Bridges,” more because of the fact that this means they will likely be closing soon and won’t get a chance to expand their audience. I truly feel this show deserved more recognition. Also sad that we probably won’t be getting a performance on the Tony’s from them.

Nevertheless, congrats to all nominated!

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:17am

Just saw this tweet from Chicago Tribune critic, Chris Jones:

“No Tony reward this year for (a) shows about life as it is lived; (b) shows that took real risks.”

Very much how I feel about the nominations.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:19am

"The nominators clearly favor musical comedy over serious musicals."

Or... maybe their aesthetic opinion is different from yours?

There's a very small but very vocal group of Bridges fans who just don't want to acknowledge that maybe (just maybe) not everyone thinks the show is as good as they do (despite the fact that it's one of the worst-selling musicals in years).

It's just a question of different people holding different opinions on what's good or not so good.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:21am

"Heartbroken for “Bridges,” more because of the fact that this means they will likely be closing soon and won’t get a chance to expand their audience. I truly feel this show deserved more recognition. Also sad that we probably won’t be getting a performance on the Tony’s from them."

My question would be has there been a Best Musical winner that was doing as poorly in sales has Bridges has been doing that has been saved by winning the award? I know a good majority of the winners would see bumps, if their sales weren't already on the super high end, but that would be quite a deficit that Bridges would have had to pull out of.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:24am

I will be seeing BRIDGES tonight with a past dated ticket. I wonder if there will be a somber mood, but then again, these are professionals. Also curious if Steven Pasquale will be back in the show.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:27am

The nominators clearly favor musical comedy over serious musicals.

Huh?

The musical version of Bridges of Madison County is considered serious?

The original book was considered soap opera.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:28am

After hearing the score changed my mind on BRIDGES, I was all ready to buy a ticket for three weeks from now. I wonder if it'll hang on. And I wonder, if it doesn't, if making a special trip before then would be worth it.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:28am

ljay, he was back on Sunday. JRB is conducting tonight

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 11:28 AM

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:29am

Or... maybe their aesthetic opinion is different from yours?

When I said they favor musical comedy, I wasn’t saying they were biased toward them. I was simply pointing out that the musical comedies got more love than the serious shows. I wasn’t inferring that simply because the nominators preferred the musical comedies this year while I was more drawn to the serious musicals of the season that they are wrong.

And, please don’t think that just because I felt that “Bridges” deserved more love means that I think that everyone else should think that way, too. I know that all opinions are subjective, which is why I try my best to always make sure I include phrases such as “I truly feel” or “I believe.” Never would I think my opinions are right over others’.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:33am

"I was simply pointing out that the musical comedies got more love than the serious shows."

Or it might be better to put it thus: "the nominating committee preferred what they saw as higher-quality shows to those they felt were inferior, having nothing at all to do with said shows being 'serious' or 'comic'."

[avyrocks]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:33am

I'm going to the show tonight too! I'm excited to see JRB conducting.

I, personally, think it's worth making a special trip to see BRIDGES. It's my favorite musical of the season. Really something special.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:33am

Even though I really enjoyed After Midnight, I still think Bridges is a much more completely and fulfilling show than either that or Beautiful. I wouldn't have left off After Midnight, but I would have put Bridges above it.

[avyrocks]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:36am

newintown - You need to calm down. Nominations aren't always about "higher quality" shows. It depends on various factors (marketability of the show, personal biases, ect.).

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:38am

If there was anything I would rant about a little bit is that I wish that Jonathon Freeman had gotten some recognition in any of the award shows this season. Yes, he's been doing Jafar for so man years now, but he really has mastered the part and he was already brilliant when he voiced him 20 years ago.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:39am

I'm just pissed that Steven Pasquale got shut out but Andy Karl and Bryce Pinkham made it. Their performances weren't bad, but they didn't effect me the way Pasquale did. He gave a true leading man performance. Sad it wasn't even recognized. But I'm happy I got to see it.

And super surprised Timbers wasn't nominated for Rocky. I thought he was a sure bet. Looks like Gentlemen's Guide will win everything.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:42am

avy, I think I'm pretty far from not calm. What you may have missed in the exchange was my reaction to the suggestion that the nominating committee preferred simple musical comedies to "serious" musicals. That's it.

Having known many people on past Tony nominating committees, though, I'm pretty sure that (perhaps unlike some voters) their primary concern actually is quality. (As they perceive it.)

[avyrocks]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:42am

^ I was pissed about Steven Pasquale not getting nominated. Wish he would've gotten nominated over Andy Karl as well. Crazy that Gentlemen's Guide got two nominations in one category for one show.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:49am

Wilmingtom, I had the exact same thought.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:51am

Really upset about Bridges not being in the best musical category and Big Fish getting zero love, but other than that I have no complaints! This is my first year that I have been trying to follow closely what each show is about etc., I feel like a little kid today!

[PJPan]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:56am

Danny Burstein's a had a great last few years...noms for Follies/Golden Boy/Cabaret within 4 years.

Super happy for Bryce Pinkham - it was a crowded year and I'm glad he was able to make the cutoff. Bummed about Ian McKellan - his performance in No Man's Land was a study in realistic stage acting. Happy for the 3/4 of the Glass Menagerie ensemble - to me, Quinto was the weakest and in a tough year, it would be difficult for him to squeeze in. And I just love Chris O'Dowd in anything, can't wait to see his Lennie.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:57am

I forgot all about Norbert! He should have def. bumped the two guys from Gentleman's Guide (which I did not like, but could see why people love it). I think Mays should have gone into the supporting category.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 11:58am

@lolileve. 3 actors nominated in the same category isn't common, but it has happened a few times. Since 2000:

Morning's at Seven (Elizabeth Franz, Estelle Parsons, Frances Sternhagen)
Nine (Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chita Rivera)
Glengarry Glenn Ross (Alan Alda, Liev Schrieber, Gordon Clapp)
Producers (Gary Beach, Roger Bart, Brad Oscar)
Kiss Me Kate (Michael Berresse, Michael Mulheren, Lee Wilkof)

[PapaGe]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 12:10pm

I was pretty happy with the nominations overall. Thrilled for Gentleman's Guide, which I love, and especially glad to see Bryce Pinkham nominated alongside Jefferson Mays (though NPH will take the award). I don't think Linda Emond deserved a nomination for Cabaret (she's very popular on this board but I found her completely bland) and I was surprised If/Then got one for score since I found the show painful to listen to in the theater.

Updated On: 4/29/14 at 12:10 PM