Schwartz talks about his "bitterness"- Page 2

[PleaseChangeMe]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:24pm

"::shivers at the thought of Caroline winning a Tony for Best Score::"

Why? It was miles above Q and had more emotion than Wicked would ever have.

[lovettespies]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:24pm

At least he's had sucess. There are hundreds of composers who are trying to make a break in New York, and he's upset because he didn't win a Tony? A nomination is still quite an honor. I understand he has the right to be bitter, but walking out is something a cranky child would do. He should be grateful and proud of what he has and stop sulking.

I didn't think that Wicked's score was anything stellar or special, but Avenue Q was different. Riv, that's the point. A pardoy of an idea, is still unique. I still think it was the right decision to go with Q. Schwartz should suck it up and move on.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:25pm

I just didn't like it. I thought it was poorly put together, with songs that made very little musical sense.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:25pm

The music to "Wicked" is glorious in spots..no doubt. In my mind, "Wicked" was more of a conventional musical however. "Avenue Q" was original, fresh, and smart. Was the music as pretty as "Wicked?" As majestic? As thrilling? No. But it was something very new. The characters, the story, and the clever lyrics are what carry "Q" and I do think that the Tony voters made the right choice.

I will say though, that Schwartz is understandably upset in that he has written very good scores such as "Godspell," "Pippin," and "The Magic Show" and they all, including "Wicked" have been overlooked. Perhaps he was looking for a bit of a lifetime acheivement award for "Wicked." I might not have argued that. I know I'm condradicting myself here. I belived that "AQ" had a more original score than "Wicked," but I do feel that Schwartz has made many a valuable contribution to the theatre.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:25pm

How about a Forbidden Broadway number featuring Big Bird singing "Magic To Do ?

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:26pm

You people make me sick.
Avenue Q deserved to win and they did. And if the situation was reversed, Jeff Marx would be gracious about it.
It is very disappointing how Schwartz is behaving.
He is talented. Wicked is doing well. Get over it.
I know Jeff would never behave like he is.
Snap out of it.

[lovettespies]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:26pm

That's genius Mr. Roxy! There's just so much potential fun to be had with a huge yellow canary.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:27pm

"He is talented. Wicked is doing well. Get over it."

exactly!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:29pm

He should continue writing & counting his money.

The fact that he is entertaining the masses with his work should be reward enough. Many more people will remember Wicked than will recall Avenue Q & will probably run longer

If he gets nominated again & wants to boycott the awards that is his prerogative

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:29pm

Schmaltzy and frivolous? Try dynamic, powerful, moving, funny, inventive, and even addictive. I couldn't take the CD out of my car CD player for a week; it was playing constantly. And that never never happens to me. And a friend of mine said the same thing happened to him. I was so sure that Wicked would win the Tony, I felt that it was the kind of score that could beat any score any year, that I was quite shocked when Avenue Q (which I really like, but nowhere near as much as Wicked) took the prize. But I guess that goes to show that (as I've said before) "good" and "bad" are totally subjective when it comes to the arts.

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:30pm

And now i love the IT SUCKS TO BE YOU SKIT in FB even more.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:32pm

I dunno, I think Schwartz has the right to be bitter. If the Q producers had been honest about their intentions for the show, Wicked would have won Best Musical, if not the triple crown all together.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:35pm

I just don't get it. You can argue that Avenue Q's book is stronger , cause it is, but I think Wicked's score is so utterly fantastic. The beginning notes of No Good Deed for example, send chills up my spine.

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:35pm

Well it is over and Schwartz can write another musical.
I still think Pippin is his greatest musical. Time to bring it to Broadway.
I sometimes wish Q was not as big a hit as it is. I still have not been able to take my best friend to see it. We lost the lottery yet again. It was her 4th loss and my 19th loss.
I only win when she is not there. (won once and was lucky that another friend won once)
I won Wicked on the first try and never had the urge to go again.
Updated On: 3/13/05 at 12:35 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:36pm

Ten years from now, people will look back at the 2004 Tony awards and realize that it was an absolute crime that Tesori did not win Best Score for Caroline, or Change.

It is lightyears ahead of Q and Wicked, musically, emotionaly, intellectualy and in mere theatricality.

(And Schwartz needs to get over himself. I'm a fan of most of his work, but seriously...)

Updated On: 3/13/05 at 12:36 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:39pm

I loved Caroline and adore Tesori. But Q is my favorite musical of all time.
It really blows me away.
I wish they tied as i adore Jeanine. But i am glad Q took the prize.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:40pm

The Q producers WERE honest! They had every intention on touring until Steve Wynn approached them and pitched an idea that is better suited for the show. I agree with the choice not to tour. If Q toured it would wind up in some massive theatres that are not suited to showcase Q properly. People would not be able to enjoy it in those theatres and wouldn't get the full appreciation. So when someone approached the producers and offered to BUILD a permanent house suited for the show in exchange for rights to the second of two exclusive national productions of the show. Who would pass that up?

Updated On: 3/13/05 at 12:40 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:43pm

i was just about to post that, who would pass up an offer like that?

[sabrelady]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:43pm

The Q is Sesame St Meets The Feebles. We have stated this b4. It is a WONDERFUL show for a College revue, certainly NOT worth 90+ $$ for Bdway. YES WKD is a more conventional show but frankly I enjoyed it more. I would be willing to see Wkd repeats but u cna't pay me to sit thru the Q again!!!

[PleaseChangeMe]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:44pm

Thank you, Priest.



It's an opera (technically an operetta, but pretty close to an opera), so it's constructed as such. It's different, and doesn't follow the traditional musical structure of scenes, which makes it stand out as such. Bring me Lot's Wife over Defying Gravity or It Sucks To Be Me anyday.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:45pm

Man, he sounds like a spoiled little child. Wicked has its charms, but the score is quite weak. I guess it didn't occur to the jerk that he just didn't deserve to win?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:47pm

sabrelady, just because you stated it doesn't make it true. The Q producers have never been quoted as saying anything close to that. And...I like Wicked...but the more I see it, the more plot holes I find in it...Q is a much more fresh and tight production of a MUSICAL...not revue.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:48pm

I wish Annette Benning would have shouted "F*CK YOU, HILARY!" when she was making her speech and walked out of the Oscars.

She hasn't been awarded for what many would say were Oscar worthy performances and according to many of you, she would have had the "right" to do that.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:50pm

I understand where Schwartz is coming from, but I think he needs to get over it.

Frank Wildhorn, who is hated by critics and most in the theater world, understands he's hated, but admits he's trying his best. He smiles and says he'll continue to write from his heart and what he thinks is good, not what the critics think is good.

At least Schwartz has successful shows on Broadway. Yes, Jekyll & Hyde ran long, but Scarlet Pimpernel, Civil War and Dracula did not run long at all. I don't see Wildhorn pouting about his shows. He's going to his piano and popping out new shows with EVEN BETTER scores, like CAMILLE CLAUDEL, HAVANA and SCOTT & ZELDA. The new works he has been working on will blow everyone away because they're definitely nothing like his previous shows.

Schwartz needs to understand that he's successful with his musical. Something some other composers can not say.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 3/13/05 at 12:50pm

I understand where Schwartz is coming from, but I think he needs to get over it.

Frank Wildhorn, who is hated by critics and most in the theater world, understands he's hated, but admits he's trying his best. He smiles and says he'll continue to write from his heart and what he thinks is good, not what the critics think is good.

At least Schwartz has successful shows on Broadway. Yes, Jekyll & Hyde ran long, but Scarlet Pimpernel, Civil War and Dracula did not run long at all. I don't see Wildhorn pouting about his shows. He's going to his piano and popping out new shows with EVEN BETTER scores, like CAMILLE CLAUDEL, HAVANA and SCOTT & ZELDA. The new works he has been working on will blow everyone away because they're definitely nothing like his previous shows.

Schwartz needs to understand that he's successful with his musical. Something some other composers can not say.