This year's Tony performances — Page 2

I doubt Honeymoon in Vegas would perform considering the money they lost in the run. It costs so much to perform at the Tonys now. Unless the producers want to plop down another $100,000 or more depending on number of performers, I doubt we will see any closed shows perform. If they do it will be a solo or duet (a la the Ragtime revival, where they only had to pay Christiane Noll). but they would need a nomination in the top category first...otherwise what's the point?

Aren't the shows that perform generally the ones that are nominated for best musical and best musical revival? Also if the Last Ship gets nominated they should perform the last ship sails. And does anyone think Lin Manuel Miranda will do a hamilton performance? I know its not on broadway yet, but it would be a good build up to the broadway run.

I would be shocked if there wasn't a Hamilton performance.

Jeffrey its not that the Tonys "found a way". The producers paid for those performances. Even if you are nominated for the top category you still must pay. Shows like Rocky, Bullets, Mermaid, etc performed b/c they missed on the big prize but producers still wanted to take advantage of the biggest advertising night of the year.

Will Mamma Mia perform? If the producers say hey Tonys, we've got a few hundred thousand dollars to give you, then yes they will.

Would ottc not be better to do more of a big production number that will please the crowds and highlight their leading lady? So veronique or Babette?

Updated On: 4/12/15 at 12:20 PM

"Would ottc not be better to do more of a big production number that will please the crowds and highlight their leading lady? So veronique or Babette? "

I don't know On the Twentieth Century that well, so I can't speak as to which song would be an appropriate choice, but your line of reasoning there is sound.

Ultimately the performance on the telecast is a commercial. It's a chance to sell the show to a much larger audience, especially tourists outside of the NY area who will most likely have made their choices by the time they get to NY and could be swayed by local advertising. So if a show is really attempting to make ticket sales on its star (as is the case with Twentieth Century and Chenoweth) then they are going to want to make sure she is showcased on the telecast in a big way.

It's not about showcasing who was nominated; the people in the audience who are voters have already cast their votes and made their decision. It's about showcasing the number that is going to make people say "I want to see that show." There have been many cases throughout the history of the telecast where people who were nominated, and ended up winning, didn't perform on the show (Natasha Richardson for Cabaret and Mary Louise Wilson for Grey Gardens to name just two off the top of my head).

No argument from me on that one, Jeffrey, that would be a great opening number. Though when was the last time that they had a show-specific opening number like that? (I honestly can't recall off the top of my head). But I was just thinking along the lines of a director/television producer and the best place to put a Mamma Mia performance/tribute.

One of my favorites is still the year 42nd Street was revived, with the pre-recorded segment of the cast starting on stage at the Ford Center, down into the subway heading uptown to Radio City (loved the associate choreographer as the random subway passenger who starts doing the leg kicks with them), and then cutting back to the live portion as they came down the aisles and up on to the stage. That was the way to do an opening number.

^wonderfulwizard thats a great idea and I hope Hand to God does something like that. Have Boyer perform a small bit to introduce something. If they do show clips from the plays, as they've done in the past, a Jason/Tyronne skit describing the play could be hilarious and sell it well.

"Friend Like Me" also suffered from being shortened, and since both shows have the same director, perhaps he will recall that and pick something else? Plus, if Borle is nominated (anyone know he if he will be lead or supporting?), "A Musical" doesn't include him.

Though when was the last time that they had a show-specific opening number like that? (I honestly can't recall off the top of my head).

2003: Movin' Out
2007: A Chorus Line
2008: The Lion King*
2012: The Book of Mormon*
2014: After Midnight*

*Does anyone of them count?

Thanks for the list, Jeffrey.

The use of The Lion King and The Book of Mormon in 2008 and 2012 respectively would point more towards putting Mamma Mia into the opening, citing those years as precedent for not using shows that are competing for awards that year in the opening. Last year was a bit weird, with that hopping bit that then led to the performance for After Midnight (I missed the first fifteen minutes or so of the telecast last year and had just watched the opening now on Youtube).

In 2007 it made sense to use A Chorus Line as the basis for the opening. For a long time that show was synonymous with Broadway for a lot of people all around the country thanks to the numerous touring and regional productions.

Like I said, I agree that "New York, New York" (or some variation on it) would work great for the opening, but it would also make sense to me if they did choose to put a performance from Mamma Mia into the opening as a tribute to the show's run.

Something tells me that, nominations pending, SOMETHING ROTTEN will be doing a medley. #hearditherefirst

Updated On: 4/14/15 at 11:47 PM

Sorry double post

Updated On: 4/14/15 at 12:14 AM