SUNDAY - best musical to ever get shut out?- Page 2

[singingtobesold]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:30pm

Exactly. That's why I *personally* Raul didn't win for Homecoming, because it closed in April. It's about promotion.

The next time I'm seeing Sunday is the 25th, when is it closing? The 29th or something?

Anyway, I feel it was genius. I'd say that Daniel and Jenna don't have this "sexual chemistry" because of George's character -- very closed off and withdrawn. You can tell that Dot is trying, but George has a hard time expressing emotion. But that's just my opinion. Other than that, I agree.

And I also think that it deserved far more. I was routing for them in every category, and I feel like they never got their moment for an incredible production.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:34pm

Only was Sunday overlooked, but XANADU and A CATERED AFFAIR also walked away with nothing. This is why I love/hate great seasons.

[nonplussed]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:40pm

Millie dillmount
I think you could have the answer there regarding marketing. Has anyone else noticed that of all the twenty-six awards given last night, including the early ones not televised, just two were given to shows that have already closed or are about to close - The Seafarer (where all the other nominees were also in shows that had closed) and Liaisons? So the awards went to shows that would benefit from winning Tony's. It seems like the Tony's were very commercial this year!

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:44pm

Maybe an "overall achievement" category, to the show that got the most votes in categories it didn't win?

One can hope, right?

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:48pm

BUMMER!

All this...and not one person answered the original question.

Was SITPWG the only Best Musical nominee to get shut out at the Tony Awards???

Any others come close?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 12:58pm

I wuold love Sunday if the second act didn't make me so darn sleepy. After Putting It Together/Art Isn't Easy, I get bored until the finale. The first act is brilliant, however.

As for being shut out, it depends on how you look at it. The revival may not have won any awards, but then it would have fewer nominations than a new musical and would probably win for different reasons as a revival than a new musical if it took home anything. The original production won two Tonys. So I guess the question would be: Is it the best revival to ever get shut out?

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:18pm

I feel the production also suffered from being the new kid in town- it just couldn't compete with the behemoth of the Lincoln Centre.

Sunday was a beautiful production and I think that it is a real shame it's quality has now not been acknowledged by the Tonys TWICE!

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:27pm

I'm with best12bars here. SUNDAY is one of my favorite Sondheim shows, but I was less than enthralled with Jenna and Daniel. I thought they were personality-free. Roscoe is right. They had no chemistry at all. Compare them to the video of Mandy and Bernadette (never looking more luscious) which fairly smokes with a mutual carnal interest.

And for all the eye-popping digital effects, they ultimately overwhelmed the show, going overboard with with the animated dogs. It became SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH TRON.

[fosca3]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:35pm

I absolutely adored the dogs

[Jon]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:37pm

DancingThroughLife - the question has been answered numerous times.


Dozens of musicals are nominated for Best Musical and win nothing.

Last night, Cry Baby and Xanadu won nothing. In 1997, Steel Pier was nominated for ELEVEN Tonys and won nothing. In 1976, CHICAGO was shut out.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:39pm

The only thing the revival of Sunday was robbed of was ... a wonderful production in the first place. Sunday is a beautiful and moving show, but the revival was a snooze fest. It wasn't robbed of any Tonys .. it didn't deserve any.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 1:42pm

Dozens of musicals are nominated for Best Musical and win nothing.

The funny thing is, when Sunday was nominated for Best Musical, it won 2 Tonys that season.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:04pm

OK, unfortunately this thread has degraded into yet another "what did you think about SUNDAY?" thread where the people who didn't like it post the same reasons why they didn't like it and the people who did post the same reasons why they did.

Obviously, Tony nominators felt it was one of the top musicals of the year to give it 9 nominations. It ended with no wins.

In 1997, Steel Pier was nominated for ELEVEN Tonys and won nothing. In 1976, CHICAGO was shut out.

Interesting. How many other musicals were as well, if not better received my critics, only to win 0 Tony awards?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 2:14pm

I remember Xanadu and Mamma Mia receiving mostly positive reviews and not winning any Tonys. I don't know what all the reviews of the original production of Gypsy were like, but it received 8 Tony nominations, but was awarded none of them. I'm sure there are others.

Updated On: 6/16/08 at 02:14 PM

[DrewBill]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:34pm

I absolutely love "Sunday," and was very moved by this revival. However, I'm not surprised it was passed over at the Tonys.

This was the year of the big orchestra -- the giant sound of "Gypsy" and "South Pacific" reminded everyone of how Broadway used to be. And it was wonderful. I know a lot of people who love "Sunday," but thought the scaled down orchestra sounded cheap and was just a cost-cutting measure. Personally, I'm not sure I agree, but I understand their point.

And further, many theater folks who I know and respect have always had issues with this show. The two acts just don't hold together as a complete show. (I'm sure most of you know that "Sunday" started life as a one act show.) I think that's the real reason it didn't win the Tony back in 1984, and why it was passed over now.

[singingtobesold]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:48pm

I agree, DrewBill. I knew it wasn't going to win much. Gypsy had definitely stole the spotlight; there wasn't really much hope. What I was a little surprised about was South Pacific winning over Gypsy. I can understand why... and that was Broadway's golden era and it's great to see it come back, but over Gypsy? Oh my.

I still feel that the revival deserved something more. Maybe it's because I'm biased being that it is a music-all-by-Sondheim show. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much. I don't know, theater is pretty much entirely subjective, right?

Anyone think South Pacific was deserved? I'm not saying it wasn't, I'm just curious.

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 3:50pm

It was completely robbed. One of the best performances/ shows I've ever seen. It should have won best revival hands down.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 6/16/08 at 5:29pm

^^ Here, here.

I'm still sad and a little angry.