So now that Tarzan has opened... predictions?

[bjivie2]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 3:08am

It looks like we've got our three best bets for Best Musical nominees...

JERSEY BOYS
DROWSEY CHAPERONE
THE COLOR PURPLE

Are we thinking close race between WEDDING SINGER and TARZAN for that last spot? I think Wedding Singer got a little better reviews, but Tarzan's got the commercial aspect. Thoughts?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 3:12am

They would have to be drunk and/or blind to nominate TARZAN.

It should go to THE WEDDING SINGER, but I wouldn't be surprised if they threw in THE WOMAN IN WHITE.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 8:53am

I'd be shocked if TARZAN got a best musical nod - even before the reviews came out, the industry and Disney knew they had a turkey on their hands. A turkey that will still run for years, mind you, but a bird that aint gonna win no awards or fans of savvy theatregoers.

[mominator]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 8:56am

Again I ask. They closed Movin' Out for this?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 9:25am

Amen Mom....

I think it would be hysterical if they threw in WIW just to give a big *innapropriate gesture* to Wedding Singer and Tarzan...

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:22am

I agree, WIW would be appropriate. Or if they want to really shock Wedding Singer and Tarzan, throw in "In my Life" for best Musical That would make a scandal, I suppose!

[sharon1]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:30am

WIW above Tarzan or the Wedding Singer.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:35am

Wedding Singer.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:35am

Not a lot of people seem to remember, but WIW got markedly better reviews than either TARZAN or WEDDING SINGER. I would hope it would get nominated.

TT

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 10:55am

3 nominations only
is fine with me

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:02am

Agreed. I'd settle for 3 nominations.

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:33am

Despite the mostly awful reviews, Disney has got enough qoutes to put out a heck of a spectacular ad in the Times, to adorn the sides of buses, and to plant outside the theatre. Even the bad reviews praised the spectacle of it, which is all some people need to hear. I think a lot of people sort of assume that the critics are "out to get" Disney, and don't take seriously their pans. It'll run for at least 3 years, maybe longer. And the TV ad campaign will be designed to make children crazy to see it.

That said, Disney had better start developing some better shows than Tarzan, or they're going to tarnish their reputation. I think alot of people are going to see Tarzan, be bored stiff by it, and think twice before they see another Disney musical.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:39am

I'd love to see Woman in White get the fourth best musical slot.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 11:40am

I really hope Wedding Singer gets that fourth slot. There were few shows I enjoyed less than Woman in White this year.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 1:17pm

I'm really pulling for THE WEDDING SINGER to pick up the final slot as well. I had a good time there. It shouldn't win, but THE WOMAN IN WHITE is one of the worst things I've ever seen.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 1:56pm

Any chance Dancer's Life could fill the last spot? It had pretty good reviews, didn't it? And from what I understand, it's being considered a "New Musical"

And from what I understand, Lestat doesn't have a pray...but I can't figure out what's wrong with these vampire musicals. The video clip I saw of Dracula and of Lestat both made the shows look awesome .I know, they edit it that way, but even so, everything about both these shows (from composer, to costumes/design, to effects, to actors) seemed like it'd be great.

Is Lestat really that bad?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 2:02pm

Yes, it is really that bad. It's not as bad as TARZAN or RING OF FIRE, but it's bad.

All the video show previews make the shows look good. That's the point.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 2:14pm

Maybe Chita's show could take the fourth slot.

[junglered]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 3:27pm

The Woman in White was not a very good musical. I cannot imagine it being nominated for a Tony award for Best Show. I really wanted to like WIW, but the show was not what it could or should have been. There were some excellent individual performances - Friedman, Ball, Christian... but they couldn't overcome their material. The ALW score had a couple of nice highlights, but was mostly very derivative. There were times I expected to hear a line or two from the Phantom score interspersed with the music. Worst of all were the sets - I hated them. The projections on the screen moved much too fast and there was much too little of traditional set design.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 4:25pm

After picking up 8 Drama Desk nominations including Best Musical (and getting several decent enough reviews), I think it's very likely that Wedding Singer will get the last slot.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 4:57pm

The nominees for Best Musical will be:
The Color Purple
Jersey Boys
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Wedding Singer

I highly doubt The Woman in White will get a nod. Maria Friedman is the show's best chance at winning/getting nominated for anything. She's a lock for a nod but I doubt she'll win even though she was brilliant and the only really stand-out part of an otherwise mediocre, half-baked show.


Tarzan could possibly get a lighting, choreography, or set design nod but nothing else. Stephen Lynch will get a nod for Best Actor over Strickland, Gambetese has no shot at all at a nod for Best Actress, Myrle Dandridge (sp??) could have possibly gotten a nod in any other season but the Featured Actress category is already way to jam-packed with possibles, Chestor Gregory II is the show's best shot at getting an acting nod for any member of its ensemble. And his chances are dismal. I'll be shocked if Tarzan gets even two or three nods when the nominations come out. It doesn't matter anyway because it's officially one of the worst-reviewed shows of the year and it won't win anything no matter how big of a public smash it is/will be.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 5:02pm

If they did nominate WIW, then the cast would have to come back to perform, correct? Or would they just show a video montage or something. I hope WS gets it. I think it had pretty decent reviews. Most of the reviews said it was at least a crowd pleaser. And if the producers are worrying about marketing and whatnot, I think WS def. needs it over Tarzan. Tarzan will sell fine on tour, WS maybe need to recognition to sell well.

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 5:09pm

I know it's a bit cynical to say this, but the reality is that the performance of a scene from "Tarzan" on the Tony's (with people flying through the air and singing familiar songs) could sell a lot of tourist tickets to this and other shows. I know there are voters who'll be taking that into consideration.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 5:14pm

I agree, but I don't think Tarzan needs the performance to help boost ticket sales like WS does. And having WiW perform wouldn't do any good because the show isn't touring or anything.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/11/06 at 5:16pm

I agree--I really just want to see them perform a full number since I won't be seeing the show anytime soon.