#1
Posted: 6/11/07 at 10:03am
June 11, 2007 -- "Spring Awakening" - the dynamic, critically acclaimed musical about teen-age sexuality - won seven Tony Awards last night, including Best Musical.
The show, by rock composer Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater, also won Tonys for its score, script, direction, choreography and lighting.
John Gallagher Jr., a newcomer to the Broadway stage, picked up the Best Supporting Actor Tony for his performance in the show as a tortured young soul who commits suicide.
We're not in "Hello, Dolly" territory anymore!
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David Hyde Pierce, the popular actor from the long-running sitcom "Frasier," pulled off last night's only upset, winning the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for his charming performance as a policeman who loves Broadway musicals in the mystery-musical, "Curtains."
Raul Esparza, the star of the revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," had been favored to win the award.
The Tonys last night proved one thing: Broadway, despite its emphasis on commercial, moneymaking machines like "Mary Poppins" and "Beauty and the Beast," still rewards a great and artistically important show when it sees one.
"Spring Awakening," which began Off-Broadway, was by no means a sure-fire commercial bet, and yet it was heralded last night by Broadway as a ground-breaking musical that's attracting hordes of teenagers to the theater. They stand outside every night, cheering the attractive young cast.
Duncan Sheik, who composed the music, also wrote the hugely popular rock song, "Barely Breathing," and has admitted that he was not a big fan of Broadway musicals. But last night, he said he'd fallen in love with musical theater, and was going to write more shows.
We can only hope.
'SPRING' FEVER
The show, by rock composer Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater, also won Tonys for its score, script, direction, choreography and lighting.
John Gallagher Jr., a newcomer to the Broadway stage, picked up the Best Supporting Actor Tony for his performance in the show as a tortured young soul who commits suicide.
We're not in "Hello, Dolly" territory anymore!
__________________________________
David Hyde Pierce, the popular actor from the long-running sitcom "Frasier," pulled off last night's only upset, winning the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for his charming performance as a policeman who loves Broadway musicals in the mystery-musical, "Curtains."
Raul Esparza, the star of the revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Company," had been favored to win the award.
The Tonys last night proved one thing: Broadway, despite its emphasis on commercial, moneymaking machines like "Mary Poppins" and "Beauty and the Beast," still rewards a great and artistically important show when it sees one.
"Spring Awakening," which began Off-Broadway, was by no means a sure-fire commercial bet, and yet it was heralded last night by Broadway as a ground-breaking musical that's attracting hordes of teenagers to the theater. They stand outside every night, cheering the attractive young cast.
Duncan Sheik, who composed the music, also wrote the hugely popular rock song, "Barely Breathing," and has admitted that he was not a big fan of Broadway musicals. But last night, he said he'd fallen in love with musical theater, and was going to write more shows.
We can only hope.
'SPRING' FEVER
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Updated On: 6/11/07 at 10:03 AM
