The Tonys find its home!- Page 2

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:21am

It looks beautiful, but it seems strange not to have the Tonys at Radio City! I know I'm like, a fetus compared to the institution of the awards, but they've been there for as long as I can remember.

Updated On: 7/9/10 at 10:21 AM

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:37am

Same, luvtheemcee. The theatre is quite beautiful, but I'm upset that it won't be at Radio City next year, I probably won't be able to go to the Tony Awards now. =[

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:38am

Why? You can't cross 96th Street?

[Calvin]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:44am

It is beautiful, Em. I live not too far away from it. It's hardly the fellowship hall of the Assembly of God in Hoover, Alabama, that some are assuming.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:44am

I assume the assumption is that, since they're losing around 3,000 seats by this switch of venue, there won't be any tickets made available to the general public.

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:44am

No, I mean because they won't have as many seats probably. =[

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:45am

Heh. I'm hoping she means that because it's smaller, there will be less tickets available to the public.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 10:47am

As someone old enough to be Emcee's devastatingly handsome and hip uncle, I've never liked the Tonys at Radio City. I feel like they've been dwarfed by that space.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 11:00am

Tony officials had toyed with the idea of going to a Broadway theater next year, but there isn't one big enough to hold all the people billed as producers above the title of a Jeffrey Richards show.

(Richards' production of "Hair" holds the record, I believe, for the most names ever billed above a title -- 40!)


If you have to explain the joke...

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 11:39am

Just have it here in LA if it's a space issue. It'll be more convenient for the Hollywood invasion anyway. Oh.. wait.. Hunter might just go ballistic and may do something even more drastic huh? Perhaps campaign some kind of boycott this time around? =OP

[Brick]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 11:43am

I, too, never liked them at Radio City. It definitely dwarfed the ceremony. Can you imagine performing each night to 900-2000 seats, then looking out on the Tonys and seeing 6,000?

I wish they'd been able to move to a Broadway house again.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 11:46am

Perhaps campaign some kind of boycott this time around? =OP

Give the Tonys back to the non-minority neighborhood of Manhattan?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 12:00pm

"Can you imagine performing each night to 900-2000 seats, then looking out on the Tonys and seeing 6,000?"

^ THIS!

I think most of the musical numbers since the move to Radio City have come off as completely forced and almost desperate-feeling. Trying to reconcile playing the Hall AND playing to the television audience is psychotic. Only Bernadette Peters' performance of ROSE'S TURN seemed to be able to navigate it. I wasn't in the theatre, but it played like gangbusters on the telly...and the audience leapt to its feet, so I guess it worked there too.

Letting the actors perform in a smaller venue can only help.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 12:07pm

This is a video by Josh Cohen, about the new home for the Tonys. from RC in Austin, Texas
United Palace Theatre

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 1:22pm

The United Palace is a terrific concert venue. I think it's logically the best fit in the area. The orchestra at City Center is too small and the opera house at BAM is too small overall.

Without sticking it in the disgusting "Theatre" at Madison Square Garden, where else would they have put it? It's become too big a show to put in a Broadway house, and who knows what will be available come June anyway.

[Brick]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 1:33pm

SonofRobbieJ, exactly.

I've been noticing that for years. And I'm not trying to defend her, but it was what was leapt into my mind when Catherine Zeta was performing. Poor thing simply could not negotiate to TV camera and 5,000 more people.

I also feel this is the main problem with presenting the plays.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 1:42pm

What a gorgeous venue. Not sure why everyone is complaining.

Because it's uptown and that's where [people who call out at Fences] live.


I've always thought the New amsterdam would be a perfect Venue for the Tonys!

Sure, if you want only the nominees to attend. Hunter Foster whining that Levi's date wasn't allowed to walk the red carpet would seem pretty silly if he got his wish that it be in a Broadway house and Levi's date couldn't even attend.

[MusicAngel]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 2:08pm

Because it's uptown and that's where [people who call out at Fences] live.

Seriously? Is this really one of the concerns.. that the Tonys will be held in uptown?!?!

Uhh.. the Emmys, Grammys, Academy Awards, and other events were all held at the Shrine Auditorium which is basically South Central. Didn't prevent anyone from attending these..

[Okayfine]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 5:31pm

Good grief. It was bad enough the show was held in a BARN for so many years. Now this? So many gorgeous Bway houses & they can't find one that won't put them into hock? I find that hard to believe.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 5:58pm

Wow. You guys really hate uptown.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 6:05pm

Guess In the Heights will have to do the opening number

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 7:25pm

Even though it is an inspired choice, I would never have thought it would be hosting the Tonys because of its out of the way location.Somehow,people will get there. It will be a boon for the neighborhood. My guess is Radio City wanted to much & with the ratings a problem they need a cheaper venue . It has about 3,300 or so seats so maybe a few less people can attend.

I have been in the theater a few times over the years. There is an almost twin theater (lobby is somewhat different) in Syracuse NY. It was originally the State but is now called the Landmark theater.

There is lighting behind the filigree side wall decor which looks fabulous when lit. I hope they play the massive pipe organ during the Tonys . The architect, Thomas Lamb did many theaters all over the country. Some in NY were the State,Mark Strand & Capitol in Times Square. He also did the eye popping San Francisco Fox which was demolished in one of the most despicable acts of civic vandalism in memory. Unfortunately, they are all gone.

I wonder where the orchestra will play as the pit was filled in or covered years ago. I will always remember taking a personal tour of the theater a few years ago. What struck me was a little room off the mens room(entered directly from it). It had books & a piano & was a Mens Smoking Room.

I also have an actual opening day program given to me years ago by a friend. It is in full color & looks like it was printed yesterday & not 70 plus years ago. I can hardly wait for next year.

The theater was one of 5 Loew's Wonder theaters. They were tabbed "wonder theaters" for the Wonder Morton theater organs installed in them. The wonder is they are all still standing although the Kings in Brooklyn is basically a derelict & is living on borrowed time. A shame as it is one of the most opulent theaters ever built.

Updated On: 7/9/10 at 07:25 PM

[esparza 333]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 7:29pm

It's a gorgeous venue but I was expecting something more in the heart of the theatre district (A big broadway house such as the Hilton or the New Amsterdam) or at Lincoln Center.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 7:56pm

My god theatre people want it f*cking all! They wanted it out of Radio City (Done) & into an actual theatre (Done). But now it's not right because it's uptown & there won't tickets for the public. Boo f*cking ho, suck it up the awards aren't about you.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/9/10 at 8:40pm

"Even though it is an inspired choice, I would never have thought it would be hosting the Tonys because of its out of the way location.Somehow,people will get there. It will be a boon for the neighborhood."

I don't think it will. The Tony after parties will still be held in chic locations downtown. The only "boon" to the neighborhood will be traffic.

"My guess is Radio City wanted to much & with the ratings a problem they need a cheaper venue.

What do you mean? If I remember right, the Tony people were caught off guard. Radio City booked a show knowing the Tonys would have to re-locate.

"It has about 3,300 or so seats so maybe a few less people can attend."

Which is still 1000+ seats more than the largest Broadway house, so they may still sell to the public, but nowhere near as many seats (obviously). And they get money no matter what. Everyone who attends the Tonys has to pay for a ticket.