Should there be a Tony category for best music direction?

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:01pm

I'm just curious why there isn't a Tony category for best musical direction. It seems like music is a somewhat important part of a genre called musical theater. Just curious to hear peoples opinions

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:06pm

The Tony voters would have no idea what constitutes good music direction. They are bewildered enough with the orchestrations award.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:08pm

I think that part of the problem with this idea is that a lot of times the Musical Director of a show is also the person who has done the Orchestrations, which IS a Tony eligible category. So you would have a bunch of people who were up for Tony's in 2 categories. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I do think there should be a Tony for Best Ensemble though, and I don't mean the Best Chorus. I mean the Best overall Cast of a production that includes everyone in it.

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:11pm

Actually the music director is usually NOT the orchestrator. The MD often does arrangements, and is usually the conductor as well

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:12pm

"The Tony voters would have no idea what constitutes good music direction. They are bewildered enough with the orchestrations award."

Ha. Good point

[sidjones09]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:14pm

I guess my question then Don, is what is the difference between Orchestrations and Arrangements?

[Jon]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:22pm

Orchestrator - decides what instrument plays what notes, writes out the individual instrument parts.

Arranger - creates dance music to the choreographer's needs, does much of the underscoring and scene change music, usually creates the overture. Sometimes does choral arranging (assigning harmonies).

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:23pm

Generally it works like this: the composer writes the song for piano and vocal. An arranger will shape the song by tweaking form, rythym, harmony, etc, and will probably start shaping a drum part and bass part. The orchestrator is the one who takes the arrangements and decides who plays what when the 18 piece orchestra plays it. The orchestator also does some arranging, and the arranger will probably do some orchestrating.

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:23pm

oh yeah I always forget about vocals and dancing

[Bdwy24]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:26pm

I remember there was a TONY given out one time for BEST CONDUCTOR. I forget which show. I could look it up i guess......

[sidjones09]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:46pm

I'm sold. There should definitely be a Tony category for Musical Direction.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 2:23pm

There was a musical director/conductor award from the early years of the Tonys through to around 1964. I don't know why it was removed, but there must have been some good reason why it was discontinued. Or knowing the Tonys, perhaps no good reason.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 4:00pm

Why don't we bring back the award for Best Stagehand? There used to be one in the 1950's!

How about Best Usher?
Updated On: 7/9/07 at 04:00 PM

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:19pm

There was an award for Best Stagehand? Who won it?

How would you even determine who was the Best Stagehand? They only come out in blackouts- when it is dark and they are in black.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 8:24pm

There really should be a tony for best musical direction.

[rgaywrites]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 8:40pm

It depresses me that any given category "bewilders" Tony voters. No one can know everything, but shouldn't people deciding theatre awards have some basic knowledge about the various aspects of plays and musicals?

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 8:44pm

rgaywrites --- Thank you for saying that.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:07pm

I think in the past, Tony voters have been mostly correct in their decision of best orchestrator. Generally today, musicals don't use arrangers. Unless the director/choreographer want specific dance pieces or dance breaks in song, they will tell the orchestrator what they want. Orchestrators write the overture, and once again, unless an arranger is completely neccesary the orchestrator will write the underscoring. So basically, there's not enough a musical director does that is worth awarding a tony for. Maybe back in the 60's...

[sondhead]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:08pm

"I think that part of the problem with this idea is that a lot of times the Musical Director of a show is also the person who has done the Orchestrations, which IS a Tony eligible category. So you would have a bunch of people who were up for Tony's in 2 categories. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong."

Even if that WERE true, if they did both jobs and did a fantastic job at both, shouldn't they be deserving of the two nominations? Why is that a problem?

[morosco]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:31pm

Orchestrations are often a team effort. Many of those collaborating on the orchestrations go uncredited. Here's a quote from an Q and A with Larry Blank who has done tons of Broadway, etc:

How common of a practice is it to come in and do un-credited orchestration work?
It is the history of orchestration on Broadway and film and the music business. Many films and the majority of all Broadway shows, were the work of a committee in the orchestration department.


Broadway World: Q&A with Larry Blank

[don logan]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 11:25pm

"Why don't we bring back the award for Best Stagehand? There used to be one in the 1950's!

How about Best Usher? "


Are you seriously comparing the music director of a broadway MUSICAL to an usher? Please tell me you are kidding.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 12:10am

How about Wig and Hair design tony? IT really can make or break the look of a character.