Stunning audio disasters at the Tony's

I'm sitting in a room with a group of musicians and sound people out here on the West Coast watching the Tony's and we are stunned by the number of technical flubs. Open mikes abound and during the last number (Sit Down...) a dead mike was king.

Fire the sound guy.

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There were major audio issues, but I'd hardly call them "stunning disasters."

Somebody got their ass handed to them when the show was over, I guarantee it. I would totally agree that they were indeed "stunning disasters," considering that this is an annual, nationally-broadcast awards ceremony.

It was very annoying. I was wondering at first if it was something happening with the feed here to Denver but realized that wasn't the case.

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also, (not that i mind, check my avatar) i couldn't really hear gavin creel just will swenson for about half of HAIR.

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Yes. it was a disaster. Every musical number had problems. The broadcast is a promotional tool for every one of those shows. Plus, the performers were having trouble with the feedback. Elton actually stopped when he was introducing BE. For a second, I thought he might have a diva moment, but he carried on. The sound folks were abysmal and shows who paid for spots deserve some money back...

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Well, at least we know it was sung live and wasn't Ashlee Simpson-ed!

The sound problems were disasters and there's really no excuse for the many many problems. There were so many awkward open mic moments. I kept thinking, "We can HEAR you." There were balance issues that made some of the numbers downright uncomfortable. It's a real shame because it was otherwise one of the best Tony telecasts I've ever seen.

New producers, but White Cherry Entertainment Inc produced it for television. And a web search shows them doing the show since 2004 in association with the Tony producers.

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I knew we were in for a rocky ride when they chopped Elton John's first two lines of the opening number. Not a good start.

The mix was all over the map, unbelievably uneven. I wonder how it sounded in the hall? Was it just the teevee feed that sucked or was it bad at RCMH too?

And the camera work - sloppy, horrid directing - for example - cutting to a shot of Dolly backstage immediately after the announcement of best score, rather than the winners.. Oy - low class...

The Mamma Mia! bit was as uninspired a piece of filler as I've ever seen? Did they forget to bring the costumes in from the road shows? And why were half those chorus kids form the B'way cast?

But the sound was the most annoying - not just mics cutting in and out - live mics backstage, vocals being drowned out by instruments, harmony vocals drowning out leads, more snap crackle pop than a month of breakfasts...

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Haha yeah that was funny, allmylife. I agree that the sound was dreadful and so was the camera work. I was quite shocked really with them both. During the In Memoriam half the time I didn't know who they were showing pictures off because the one camera was lined up without the names in frame...

Next year the orchestra is replaced with a Close 'n Play.

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A technical disaster! In the opening number, Elton John's mic was off, the West Side Story cast was barely audible, Stockard Channing's mic was off...and they hadn't even gotten to the "Guys and Dolls" mishap yet. And whoever directed the show shouldn't direct traffic in a cornfield. "West Side Story" and "Billy Elliot" showcased dance numbers from their shows, but both times the camera angles meant the dancers kept dancing out of the frame. During the "Hair" number, much of the screen time seemed to be given to the elbows and knees of the dancers as they marched through the auditorium. And the "In Memorium" section must have been based on a suduko puzzle for the viewer to figure out because seeing the names and faces of those honored was an ordeal. It's a shame because this is Broadway's big night to show the nation what they can do and this was horrible.