THE OFFICIAL 2018 TONY AWARDS VIEWING THREAD- Page 26

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 9:56am

Some scattered thoughts -

Thrilled for Metcalf, but Gough's performance was absolutely magnificent and I'm a little bummed she didn't take it home.

I am a big fan of MEAN GIRLS, but that performance was terrible. I was having to explain to my party how the number was a cutting and reassembling of two different songs. They should've just done "Apex Predator". Sure it doesn't showcase Gray Henson, but all the other nominees are in it.

I thought MY FAIR LADY came off well. I loved that we got to hear Ambrose sing the high note - just lovely.

SUMMER actually gave one of the better performances.

My head was going with MY FAIR LADY, but my heart is SO happy that ONCE ON THIS ISLAND won Revival. Made up for Arden's loss.

[BJR]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 10:05am

Elfuhbuh said: "I’m still certain that Ethan Slater lost because the Tony committee didn’t want to give too much notice to a “commercial” show. He was snubbed."

This was Tony's 4th nomination. And he's simply wonderful in the show. Trust me, they did not give Tony Shalhoub a Tony to protest Ethan Slater. What's more, SPONGEBOB is a breakout turn for Slater and he will be just fine.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 10:08am

Fine. Let the Tony Awards keep the self-indulgent political outbursts and the sly references to sexual preference, even though Heartland America (and evidently more) is very uncomfortable with it. Entertainers are supposed to please their audience, not themselves.

Give out all the awards to a wonderful, but small play with music that is not aimed at a wide popular audience and will never attract one. Tewfiq's confession to Dina at the end is a harsh business that I'm not sure the audience is prepared for. I know that a mass audience is not going to be prepared for it.

Continue on this course and in a few years the Tony Awards will be telecast on Nickelodeon to an audience of four million, half of them in Manhattan. The early returns on TV ratings show them just a smidge higher than last year, but the news stories are still putting a negative spin on this by alluding to lack of competition from the Stanley Cup hockey finals decisive game last year. Last year's ratings prompted this type of speculation:

At this point, it would be business-logical for CBS to just cease airing the Tony’s altogether, if only it was just a business decision. This move could devastate Broadway’s biggest fans, but the reality is that a TV network like CBS needs advertisers to pay the bills, and without any viewers, it cannot justify supporting a dying telecast. 

https://www.nytix.com/news/15795/tony-awards-2017-cbs

The Tony Awards needs a Czar to remake the program first into one that will draw viewers and second into one that will give out awards. Will all the amazing talent on Broadway, this program could be made into one that viewers would actually look forward to each year. 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 10:15am

If you want to attract more middle America to the Tonys, then changing the Tony Awards is not the way to do it. It's a reactionary solution that doesn't do anything except appease your small-minded political views that people need to stay closeted.

The Tonys are a reflection on how Broadway just isn't part of the mainstream and not part of every day popular culture. Broadway is more of an expensive event that people who are visiting New York go to these days. That is hindering Broadway's reach more than anything. It's all about accessibility and making music that resonates with the masses. Believe me, Mean Girls and Spongebob-like showtunes aren't doing it as they sound like music from musicals. It's not what people are listening to on the radio or even on Spotify for those who are more discerning and selective in their taste in music.

The Grammys and other music awards that capture the public attention like BET and VMAs and iHeartRadio (though I wonder if their ratings are really that much higher than the Tonys) don't need to appeal to middle America and they still get attention and buzz. You're just using it as an excuse to go on some alt-Right tangent.

Updated On: 6/11/18 at 10:15 AM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 10:20am

OlBlueEyes said: "Fine. Let the Tony Awards keep the self-indulgent political outbursts and the sly references to sexual preference, even though Heartland America (and evidently more) is very uncomfortable with it. Entertainers are supposed to please their audience, not themselves.

Sexual preference??? You realize that people don't just wake up one day and say "I prefer to be gay" right? Or maybe you don't.

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 10:53am

THE BAND'S VISIT was a beautiful and nuanced Tony performance that I will remember for years to come because it was the calm in the chaos. Katrina Lenk has the unique ability to keep me transfixed on her, whether I'm watching it from the rear mezzanine or on a television in a bar. She deserved every accolade.

SUMMER was a terrible show overall, but I even texted my friend who I saw it with and I was really feeling that camera work they did giving each Donna some individual camera time. Also, Ariana DeBose's kicks deserve their own special Tony. That girl is a MACHINE!

Updated On: 6/11/18 at 10:53 AM

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 12:02pm

If you want to attract more middle America to the Tonys, then changing the Tony Awards is not the way to do it. It's a reactionary solution that doesn't do anything except appease your small-minded political views that people need to stay closeted.

Go ahead. Shoot the messenger bearing the bad news. You say, we're not going to change our behavior, the people who don't like what we do are going to have to change. Big talk. Unfortunately, money trumps all other considerations and if the Tony Awards don't change to draw more viewers it will lose its one big annual national platform.

They flew in Kelli O'Hara from London and she and Matthew Morrison presented awards. They should have sung one of the popular duets that they sing when they are together. Bring in Audra to floor everyone with "Summertime" or "Make Someone Happy."

I'm reluctant to criticize Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles, who all around did a good job. They just lack the star power of so many others on Broadway who could have actually brought significant viewers to the show.

The current organizations in control of the Tony Awards are just not cutting it.

[BJR]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 12:29pm

Can we stop feeding the trolls please?

Who cares about their bigotry? The Tonys celebrate the Broadway community and that community is inclusive. You don't like it - well, I imagine you ain't in the Bway community. Next.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 12:37pm

Last night was a complete fairytale for me. It was such a once-in-a lifetime experience for me and I’m still floating over it. And bonus: Tina Fey said hi to me and I gave Marissa Janet Winklour a quick Congrats while I was walking out of the bathroom. They were so nice.

Despite that I had an excellent time, I’m furious with the Tony voters.

If you want to give a serious show Best Musical over three comedies that are based on franchises, that is perfectly fine. However, you can not disrespect the other 6 musicals to make the point that you don’t like commercialism by kissing the show’s butt. And no, the fact that you generously gave all of the musicals (except Mean Girls and Frozen) one Tony each doesn’t excuse your unfairness.

I’m fine with The Band’s Visit getting Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Score, Orchestrations (omg, phenomenal) and Best Lighting Design. I’m fine with Best Book, but shout out to Tina Fey for making a funny book with satire, social commentary, and sass. TBV’s other wins were unfair.

Best Sound Design right there should have been Spongebob’s. The designer himself actually went on stage during commercial break to demonstrate his talent. The choice of sounds for each character’s single movement and other comedic noises were spot on and the sounds were on time each time. Listen to Bikini Bottom Day and see how quick & funny they are. I’m shocked at this point Spongebob get Best Scenic Design and praise God, it did!

With their direction, Arden and Ladeu both created two phenomenal, beautiful fantasy worlds with unique characteristics. Arden took the advantage of the Circle of the Square and used the actors to their full advantage. He brought literal sand, water, and boats to make a post-earthquake Haiti area. He brilliantly used voodoo in his direction to fit in the island theme and explain the power of the gods. For heck’s sake, THERE WERE LIVE GOATS AND CHICKENS TO MAKE THE PLACE AUTHENTIC. He was so dang out of the box. Spongebob could failed miserably easily. Ladeu rose above the challenge and made the show a joy-fest from start to finish. She made the characters human-like as possible with every day outfits with sea twists, more human like voices, and just insane movement. With the set designer’s help, she made Palace Theater unrecognizable. We were immersed in Bikini Bottom all around us with every day objects and brilliant mechanics. If the Tony voters were so ashamed of giving Spongebob another Tony, then hand it to Arden! Cromer’s direction in TBV was nice, but uncomparable to what Arden and Lamar did.

The biggest insult in my book are the acting winners. Keep in mind, I’ve seen all of these shows except My Fair Lady, so I’m not saying this out of being bias. Ari’el Stratchel was lovely in TBV and I honestly did feel happy for him. His happiness was contagious and his speech was beautiful. However, all he had going on was two recurring jokes and a nice solo that was it. From what I saw in the Tonys, Norbert Leo Butz was unrecognizable by voices and looks and his solo was amazing. Gavin Lee was the true winner. He was an incredible Squidward with a spot-on voice, amazing movement (Watch his Tony performance!), and just a knockout, comedic presence. Grey Henson was hysterical as Damian. Full of sass, spunk, and great great solos for him. Like Ari’el, Alex G from Carousel was fine and didn’t deserve the last spot at all. That should had been Alex Newell’s spot and he deserved that Tony as well. He was just magnificent and everyone went crazy during Once on this Island because of his incredible vocals. Second time I’m saying this: If the Tony voters were that ashamed of giving Spongebob another Tony, then hand it to Butz or Henson.

Tony Shalhoub winning Best Leading Actor was infuriating. I actually saw his replacement. Shalhoub’s role is gorgeous, but it isn’t nearly as hard as what Henry, Patton, and Slater does 8 Times a week. Like Ari’el’s role, he gets one song and one dramatic moment and that’s it. Somehow, they made Shalhoub win the Tony. Can’t speak for Patton, but I saw Carousel on Friday. Joshua Henry was moving as Billy, oozing with desperation, shame, and confusion. His Soliloquy was a treat from start to finish. And Ethan as Spongebob. He 100% deserved that Tony. Being my older sister’s age and making a debut like this acknowledges how brilliant he is. Slater transforms completely into Spongebob. He IS Spongebob. He may have the voice down, but the physical stunts that he does in this show is incredible. He climbs a mountain, singing upside down completely. Ethan is always on the go on the stage, running, clowning, and doing aerobatic stunts. Above all, Ethan’s Spongebob must be the most joyful performance I’ve seen. Period. So endearing, uplifting, sweet, and hopeful. For the millionth time and say it with me now, if the Tony voters would rather die than giving Spongebob another Tony and celebrating an actor’s work, then give it to Henry or even Patton!

I don’t care if TBV is a serious piece of art. Yes, it is a moving show with a great message and we do need a show like this in Trump’s America. But, 1) We can’t overlook comedies that have great energy and a great heart like Spongebob, Mean Girls, and Frozen. They’re just as needed as TBV to give people a smile and laughter and a message of hope. 2) I don’t care if the biggest competition is Spongebob freaking Squarepants. If a show has extraordinary elements that’s better than your previous play, you give it. You give ALL musicals their recognition it deserves: funny, dramatic, romantic, or edgy. That’s what it should be. No politics! Only equality and fairness.

Again, congrats to Band’s Visit for its awards. It is a good show that deserved some of its wins. But, shame on the Tony voters for being unfair, bias, and possibly damaging to the other shows.

Updated On: 6/11/18 at 12:37 PM

[kmissa]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 1:01pm

I’m amazed by the bigoted and homophobic comments on this board. I haven’t even see any on the reddit broadway board. Not to feed the trolls, but I don’t understand how one can be a Broadway theater “fan” and dislike gays and minoeities. They’re good enough to entertain you, but don’t dare acknowledge those when they are getting recognized. What kind of self absorbed entitled ish. I can’t imagine how terrible shows would be if they were trying to appease the “heartland”.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 1:05pm

kmissa said: "I’m amazed by the bigoted and homophobic comments on this board. I haven’t even see any on the reddit broadway board. Not to feed the trolls, but I don’t understand how one can be a Broadway theater “fan” and dislike gays and minoeities. They’re good enough to entertain you, but don’t dare acknowledge those when they are getting recognized. What kind of self absorbed entitled ish. I can’t imagine how terrible shows would be if they were trying to appease the “heartland”."

It's sort of like all the bigots whose favorite sports stars are Lebron James or Kevin Durant. They don't see them as people, just there to "entertain" them.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 1:10pm

Will you people please stop taking the bait, you are doing exactly what he wants you to do.

You don't have to justify yourself to these 'people'.

Ignore it.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 1:42pm

OlBlueEyes said: "Fine. Let the Tony Awards keep the self-indulgent political outbursts and the sly references to sexual preference, even though Heartland America (and evidently more) is very uncomfortable with it.

[...]

The Tony Awards needs a Czar to remake the program first into one that will draw viewers and second into one that will give out awards."

Again I ask, and I hope you'll answer this time: do you think the Tony producers should tell winners that they'll cut off the microphone if they say anything too gay?

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 1:52pm

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "TBV’s other wins were unfair."

I appreciate your taking the time to explain your own preferences in such detail! However, in some cases, the Tony voters disagreed with you. That doesn't make the result unfair.

I didn't see Spongebob, but based on what I did see, Shalhoub's and Stachel's wins were entirely justifiable. I myself favored Joshua Henry for Leading Actor, but Shalhoub's performance was perfect in its own way. The role is a quiet one and he barely sings, but to paraphrase the truism said often around here, the award is for the best acting, not the most acting. As for Stachel, he was easily my pick over the fun but rather gawdy performances of Butz and Henson.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:06pm

^ This. It’s not like the voters got together and decided to collectively decided to snub Frozen and Mean Girls. Those shows were just collectively decided to be subpar shows by critics and lots of regular Broadway patrons (although each had its super fans. See last year’s Groundhog Day).

And as far as best actor in a musical goes, Shaloub’s competition was a guy playing a sponge, a guy (Henry) who many felt sang well, but didn’t act the part with conviction, and another guy in a revival who received mixed reviews. There was no great conspiracy. Every year the musical that wins best musical wins lots of other awards. This year, TBV may have won more because it’s competition in some (but not all) categories was so weak.

And as far is the best director of a musical, an argument could be made that if a show deserves the best musical Tony then it probably should win best director. Otherwise, what? It directed itself? it’s only other competition in the director category would be the winner of best musical revival. I was pulling for Cromer, but would have been delighted for Arden, too.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:14pm

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Again, congrats to Band’s Visit for its awards. It is a good show that deserved some of its wins. But, shame on the Tony voters for being unfair, bias, and possibly damaging to the other shows."

If each voter, for WHATEVER REASON, truly decided their vote goes to TBV (or whatever show) then there is nothing "unfair or biased" about that choice.  They have to make a decision the show they THINK is the best overall production (or individual)  that in itself IS bias.   

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:15pm

And lastly art is subjective which is why award shows don’t always align with our own tastes. It’s an imperfect system because of that. There’s no way it could not be. But it is one the happiest 3-4 hours of my year (next to actually being in NYC - be there in 8 days).

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:15pm

And lastly art is subjective which is why award shows don’t always align with our own tastes. It’s an imperfect system because of that. There’s no way it could not be. But it is one the happiest 3-4 hours of my year (next to actually being in NYC - be there in 8 days).

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:22pm

Usually there is a separate thread for venting outrage.  It's certainly needed this year!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:32pm

devonian.t said: "Usually there is a separate thread for venting outrage. It's certainly needed this year!"

Agreed although I count at least 10 “Tony related venting” threads on the first page alone. Lol

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 2:40pm

''CBS’ broadcast of the Tony Awards was up slightly over last year, scoring a 1.0 in adults 18-49 and 6.32 million viewers vs. 0.9 and 6.05 million in 2017.''

Well, good for them!

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 3:44pm

Nothing will top Neil Patrick Harris hosting the 2012 Tonys for me, and the first Broadway season I was really into was the 2003-2004 season thanks to hearing Kristin Chenoweth sing a song Wicked (yes I was a total teenaged Wicked fan back then and not so much anymore), so Hugh Jackman hosting 2004 has a special place in my heart (first time I heard "One Night Only" from Dreamgirls too!). That said, I think Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban did an admirable job. They went with a different direction and did what hosts were supposed to do. Keep the show moving, be entertaining, and show up every so often and not disappear for a long time.

I get the hurt from the Mean Girls and Spongebob and Frozen fans. I remember my reaction when Wicked lost. It was bad. However, I got over it and because I fell in love with Broadway I expanded my knowledge of musical theatre (it was the perfect time to become a Broadway fan with PBS' Broadway the American Musical, Show Business documentary chronicling the opening of the 2003-2004 season's new shows, and PBS showing Tony performances that were little seen before then (YouTube did not exist back then), and then they started selling them in DVDs). 

Hopefully, they will get over it and leave The Band's Visit alone and realize the Tonys are just the Tonys. A great honor and amazing to win, but it won't define one's career or the show's success or impact on its audiences and what it will bring to American musical theatre canon. It may feel like it validates your opinion, but really winning a Tony does not really. It's just a group of 800+ people who make a choice for reasons beyond anyone's control. There are tons of things I liked that were not well-received and it doesn't hurt my enjoyment of them. 

Now for my thoughts on the Tonys, The Band's Visit would not have been my first choice in some of these categories, but I cannot say it's not a deserving winning either. It really was something unique and special. It's hard to put it to words, but it really provided me with a night of theatre I would not forget. I loved the Tony Awards performance and especially seeing Tony Shalhoub either being in character or just being so happy to see Katrina Lenk get her moment to shine on national primetime television, or both. That was a genuine moment.

Lauren Ambrose is my favorite Eliza Doolittle and I'm glad she got to show off what she can do. She was sensational in her number. Harry Hadden-Paton is the consummate actor and my favorite Henry Higgins as well. I truly with My Fair Lady was recognized more, but it is what it is. A seriously wonderful production that I personally felt was taken for granted.

Once on this Island blew the roof off the place and that entire show was just a lovely image to show off what musical theatre can be. Michael Arden is a talent and I hope to see him direct more productions. I've had the feeling that London has been much more ambitious and thinking out-of-the-box with their straight play productions and I think New York can do the same with its musicals and this production shows that it does not have to mean "scaled down", which was so popular with so many 2000s revivals.

I didn't understand the choreography for Carousel. Maybe it makes more sense in context, but it just seemed like ballet dancers showing off choreography more than storytelling. I wish I could have heard the cast sing though.

Gavin Lee is great, but I felt that tap dance wasn't as impressive as it was meant to be. Maybe other people thought it was.

The Parkland students were a highlight.

Chita and Andrew Lloyd Weber deserved better, much better.

 

[BJR]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 4:00pm

VIETgrlTerifa said: "I didn't understand the choreography forCarousel. Maybe it makes more sense in context, but it just seemed like ballet dancers showing off choreography more than storytelling. I wish I could have heard the cast sing though."

Nope, that's how I felt the entire time. Gestures not grounded in truth of character and dances that danced for their own sake and abandoned the plot for 7 minutes.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 5:05pm

Riedel's Tony column.

https://nypost.com/2018/06/11/the-bands-visit-bucks-trend-by-sweeping-tony-awards/

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/11/18 at 5:27pm

@OlBlueEyes I've had just about enough of you. You do realize that Steven Reineke, the conductor of your beloved NY Pops, is a happily married gay man?

There were plenty of viewers when Hamilton was up for awards. I agree with Scotty about popular music. It's not like I think everything on Broadway should be trap or electronic but my disappointment with Mean Girls is that it could have so easily been a pastiche of more popular modern genres instead of whatever cacophony of noises that was in their Tony performance. A Meghan Trainor/Alessia Cara/Daya sort of sound would have been totally fine for Mean Girls and not stretched too far from contemporary musical theater. I hope Sara Bareilles continues writing for the theater because I thought she did great work blending her own style with traditional theater with Waitress.