TONY Time: ONCE versus NEWSIES — Page 3

"Once" is this year's "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot". It will win a a few Tonys and be gone in 16 months. A Best Musical Tony will do nothing for it.


Yeah, too bad the Tony did not help Spring Awakening recoup its investment and more. I wish people would think a bit before posting random facts.

A friend of mine sent me a note after seeing NEWSIES yesterday. He described it as pre-packaged dreck meant to please the kinds of people who like the shows on Disney cruises.

So I'm thinking ONCE may fare better.

You think Once will do better because of a note your one friend sent? Ok...

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I'm curious as to why people think it's only between Once and Newsies for the Tonys? There are two new musicals that haven't gone into previews yet that people know little to nothing about.

I saw Newsies last night, and while it was super fun during the large dance numbers, the book is a mess and Jeremy Jordan was the weakest part of the show in my opinion. Having now seen Once and Newsies, let's pray to the theater gods that there is a better show coming this season!!

(Note: I know I am new to this board and my opinion probably doesn't matter to anyone :) )

Good points blaxie, it's funny how NICE WORK... has low expectations when it has a TONY winning Marshall at the helm (I don't think much of her work), TONY winner Broderick (who used to be BWay's Darling) the ever-popular extremely talented and likable, O'Hara, TONY book writer DiPetro, TONY winning designers, Gershwin music and still the expectations are low.
Maybe it will surprise us all.

Nice Work could be the surprise smash hit of the season and the next Crazy For You, but Marshall is so uneven, it's impossible to guess. I've a feeling the preview period will consist of nightly changes. That show is the biggest question mark of the season.

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Blaxx: "Once" is this year's "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot". It will win a a few Tonys and be gone in 16 months. A Best Musical Tony will do nothing for it.
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I'm sorry, but when I saw this I had to login and say something.
Spring Awakening has a bigger fanbase than you think. Spring awakening received 11 tony nominations, and won 8. including Tonys for best musical, direction, book, score and featured actor.
It is BY FAR one of the most memorable musicals I have seen and it sends a HUGE message for parents and teens.

now american idiot, I can't speak for. but seriously, all this talk about "Ghost" really has me stumped. Belter and Tenor leads, SO over it. and what's the message behind it anyway?

Sorry, I'm team Newsies all the way. It takes incredible talent to do half the things they do in their performances. and it has an alright message, "Seize the day"

Blaxx said:

"You think Once will do better because of a note your one friend sent? Ok... "

If it is as he described it, and we do have similar tastes, they yes, I do think Once will fare better at the Tony's. So Blaxx, you don't have a friend whose opinions you trust? Or were you just being BWW snarky because it in some way satisfies you?

"However, Leap of Faith already had a try out run and the material did not seem to be focused enough." - uh, I *think* Leap of Faith has some pretty experienced names behind it who've honed a show or two - my feeling is that people are in for a delightful surprise.

Although I'm adding little to the discussion, I have to wonder how someone can call Kathleen Marshall's work "uneven."

She's directed/choreographed 3 very well received revivals of classic musicals. Of her last 4 Broadway ventures, only one ("Grease") was underwhelming.

I certainly wouldn't count out NICE WORK until we've seen it.

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mcdjustin, I didn't write that, I was quoting it. amoni2 wrote it.

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Updated On: 3/22/12 at 06:11 PM

Thanks for the welcome blaxx and After Eight!

And After Eight, only if you agree with everything I say... :)

JoanBennett, I hope you're right about Leap of Faith. I'm ready to be moved and excited by a musical, which hasn't happened since I saw Book of Mormon last spring.

Blaxx: No, love, I do not know anyone whose single opinion determines for me if a show does good or not.

Nor do I, nor did I imply any such thing. This is a conversation about opinions leading into the Tony's. I just happened to have heard one that I thought relevant and a little kicky. (He also mentioned that five people near him did not return after intermission, which is also relevant IMO.)

As per Paul Whitty and Steve Kazee at the stage door last night, they are going to be performing on Letterman on Thursday. They are going to do Te North Strand and a couple verses of Falling Slowly.