The "musical director" Jim and I are talking about is the conductor in the pit who supervises the orchestra and works with the composer and arranger on the overall sound of a score.
i.e Paul Gemignani who has legendarily collaborated on and been in the pit for nearly every Sondheim show, among others.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Unfortunately, I can't agree with you there. I'm a huge fan of the "Into the Woods" revival.
The Musical Director should receive recognition. What would a Sondheim show be without Gemignani? Although, I'm not really that fond of the way that the orchestra at Studio 54 are in the boxes. The illusion is kind of lost when you see the violinist reading the Language column in the Sunday Magazine.
Ann Harada not being nominated for Avenue Q (WTF??????)
Rick Lyon not being nominated for Avenue Q
Marc Kudisch not being nominated for his work in The Wild Party or Assassins
James Barbour not being nominated for Jane Eyre OR Assassins (Really. Wha???)
Shuler Hensley winning Best Featured Actor in 2002 against ANY of the other performers in his category (Kudisch, Brian d'Arcy James, Gregg Edelmann, Norbert Leo Butz) -- ALL of those performances were superior IMO
Marla Schaffel's performance in Jane Eyre losing to Christine Ebersole in 2001 for Best Actress
The Full Monty being completely snubbed/The Producers winning every category it was eligible for in 2001
Phantom beating Into the Woods in 1988 for Best Musical (really, wtf)
This thread is about being most angry right? if it isnt i feel so sorry for this...I was just upset when Wicked didnt win...im not saying it is right or wrong and want no arguments...i was just upset. i really like the show so....but now ive listened to avenue q also, i like that too. i was just upset.
I think JANE EYRE's score is just genious and gorgeous at every turn. If you didn't like JANE EYRE, I hope you agree that anything else should have won that year BUT The Producers.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
In regaurding Raúl Esparza's Tony-loosing performance, here is my opinion... I absolutely 100 percent believes this guy deserves a Tony, but in all honesty, I feel Michael Cerveris deserved to win. So better luck to Raul in this years ceremony. Perhaps this year the person announcing his category will know enough about musical theatre to pronounce this very well known actors name right...
I was actually very angry that Hugh Jackman beat out Hunter Foster this past year. But, I'm biased because I thought he should have won for Urinetown.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
I'm all for a musical director Tony Award, and wonder too why it was dropped after its brief stint in the 60s. Still, I wonder if the Tony voters would have any idea on how to judge the work of a musical director, just as they seem ill-equipped to judge the Best Orchestration category.
Paul Gemignani received a special Lifetime achievement Tony in 2001.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
In response to the Musical Director Award...I totally agree that they should be recognized. However, I can see how it would be hard to tell how much was the musical director and how much was the performer simply by watching the performance. At times, there is nothing a musical director can do to make a performer change something, so unless you saw the rehearsal process, it would be hard to tell.
I know how Herman's remarks at the '84 Tonys have been construed over the years, and I was disappointed that Sondheim didn't win for Sunday, but I've never thought that Herman's acceptance speech was meant to be a dig at Sondheim.