#1
Posted: 5/14/08 at 6:24am
Broadway Snubs Young Frankenstein
If I were a betting man, I would have found a bookie and put money on this — Mel Brooks’s “Young Frankenstein” would be snubbed by the Tony Awards.
The show didn’t get a nomination for Best Musical. The Tony panel picked instead “Cry Baby,” which is said to be quite awful, and the hoary “Xanadu.” The other nominees in that category are “Passing Strange” and the atrociously derivative “Into the Heights.”
Why is “Young Frankenstein” so loathed by the American Theater Wing? Simply because the producer, Robert F. X. Sillerman, wouldn’t play ball with them. He wouldn’t publish box office numbers, and he stayed open during last fall’s strike. The result: I was told by everyone I knew in the Wing that “YF” would fall to spite and get as little as possible.
It’s too bad, although I am happy for Andrea Martin and Christopher Fitzgerald, who got supporting actor nominations. They should win, but I doubt they will. It’s also too bad because Mel Brooks’s decision to come to Broadway with “The Producers” and now “YF” has been a boon to the theater district economy, profile and popularity. Did I say that only the record business shoots itself in the foot? Don’t get me started.
Meantime, kudos to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Famed for getting Oscar nominations in the past (like zillions), he now has 20 Tony nominations thanks to his producer status in “August: Osage County” (7); “Boeing Boeing” (6); Tom Stoppard’s wonderful play, “Rock n Roll” (4); and “Young Frankenstein” (3). The former play, too, should win Best Play at the Tonys (June 15th) which means Harvey has now cornered the legit market as well.
Hoary? I had to do an online search for that definition:
from Merriam-Webster.com:
hoary
Main Entry: hoary
Pronunciation: ˈhȯr-ç
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): hoar·i·er; hoar·i·est
Date: 1530
1 : gray or white with or as if with age
2 : extremely old : ancient
— hoar·i·ness noun
I personally wouldn't categorize "Xanadu" as hoary... with the possible exception of Zeus. It may be set in a decade gone by, but it seems to have a vibrant and exciting personality. I can't wait to see it on June 11th, in less than a month.
I'm looking forward to seeing some BWW members out and about during my Big Apple journey. from RC in Austin, Texas
If I were a betting man, I would have found a bookie and put money on this — Mel Brooks’s “Young Frankenstein” would be snubbed by the Tony Awards.
The show didn’t get a nomination for Best Musical. The Tony panel picked instead “Cry Baby,” which is said to be quite awful, and the hoary “Xanadu.” The other nominees in that category are “Passing Strange” and the atrociously derivative “Into the Heights.”
Why is “Young Frankenstein” so loathed by the American Theater Wing? Simply because the producer, Robert F. X. Sillerman, wouldn’t play ball with them. He wouldn’t publish box office numbers, and he stayed open during last fall’s strike. The result: I was told by everyone I knew in the Wing that “YF” would fall to spite and get as little as possible.
It’s too bad, although I am happy for Andrea Martin and Christopher Fitzgerald, who got supporting actor nominations. They should win, but I doubt they will. It’s also too bad because Mel Brooks’s decision to come to Broadway with “The Producers” and now “YF” has been a boon to the theater district economy, profile and popularity. Did I say that only the record business shoots itself in the foot? Don’t get me started.
Meantime, kudos to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Famed for getting Oscar nominations in the past (like zillions), he now has 20 Tony nominations thanks to his producer status in “August: Osage County” (7); “Boeing Boeing” (6); Tom Stoppard’s wonderful play, “Rock n Roll” (4); and “Young Frankenstein” (3). The former play, too, should win Best Play at the Tonys (June 15th) which means Harvey has now cornered the legit market as well.
Hoary? I had to do an online search for that definition:
from Merriam-Webster.com:
hoary
Main Entry: hoary
Pronunciation: ˈhȯr-ç
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): hoar·i·er; hoar·i·est
Date: 1530
1 : gray or white with or as if with age
2 : extremely old : ancient
— hoar·i·ness noun
I personally wouldn't categorize "Xanadu" as hoary... with the possible exception of Zeus. It may be set in a decade gone by, but it seems to have a vibrant and exciting personality. I can't wait to see it on June 11th, in less than a month.
I'm looking forward to seeing some BWW members out and about during my Big Apple journey. from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
