Tony Award - Best Musical

[Alex172005]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:50am

I realize there’s a tony thread but my topic, I think, is a bit specific.

So I ask this for selfish reasons because I have a nice little best musical streak going for a few years now, and want to keep it going.

I keep reading that The Band’s Visit is a “strong favorite” for Best Musical, but most reviews I’ve read are lukewarm.

Are Frozen and Mean Girls really not expected to touch TBV?

I’ve got tickets for TBV, Frozen, Cursed Child, and have enough time for one more show. What I’m trying to decide is whether to see OotI, or see Mean Girls.

Again this is for selfish reasons, and if y’all can point me to any answers elsewhere on this board I’ll delete this thread. Thanks and sorry in advance if that’s the case.

[Alex172005]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:51am

Oh and just to be clear I only get 5 days in NYC every year in early June, so I usually binge watch musicals.

Seeing the best musicals with an original cast is what I’m trying to keep going.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:51am

Between OOTI and Mean Girls, i’d Pick OOTI

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:53am

OOTI is a revival and won't be competing agains Mean Girls or TBV

 

 

edited for spelling

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 09:53 AM

[Alex172005]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:56am

Megsamegatron said: "OOTI is a revival and won't be competing agains Mean Girls of TBV"

I realize that. My point is that if mean girls doesn’t have a chance at best musical, then I’d rather see OotI. :)

[Kimbo]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:58am

With several shows yet to open its too early to consider anything the prohibitive favorite. That said, The Band’s visit will win. I believe the only thing that could upset would be Mean Girls - maybe. It’ll take a more imaginative adaptation or a weaker season for a Disney cartoon on stage to ever win again ... and I think looking at recent winners like Hamilton and Evan Hansen and Fun Home we’ve entered a moment when jukebox musicals and standard stage to screen musical comedy adaptations are deemed, rightly or wrongly, slightly less consequential. The Band’s Visit was rapturously reviewed by critics, has only just started to catch on with audiences, and is a show about bridging divides, the exact musical for these times we’re living in.

if you want to keep your streak, be glad you’ve got tickets. 

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 09:58 AM

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:58am

Alex172005 said: "Megsamegatron said: "OOTI is a revival and won't be competing agains Mean Girls of TBV"

I realize that. My point is that if mean girls doesn’t have a chance at best musical, then I’d rather see OotI. :)"

Gotcha, I misread that

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 10:05am

Having seen Mean Girls in DC I love that show! It' very iconic to the movie. However it has the ability to tour very well (even if not the original actors). 

This production of OOTI is not to be missed! It's a great production and the space is perfect to accomplish the storyline.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 10:08am

There are plenty of raves for The Band's Visit in its Previews and Reviews thread. It's an absolutely gorgeous piece that deserves to (and likely will) win Best Musical. Sure, it's not for everybody (it's only 95 minutes and isn't a big, splashy affair), but it's a stunningly beautiful, emotional, funny, human show. I've been now 7 times.

To your question, it's a tough pick, but I'd probably recommend Once on This Island. Per its grosses, it doesn't look like it's going to run for tremendously long, whereas Mean Girls has the potential to set up shop for at least a few years. Both are great options, though.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 10:26am

I'm a huge MEAN GIRLS fan and already have my tickets, but it's not going anywhere. See ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. I just saw it earlier this week and it's honestly one of my favorite theatrical experiences. 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 11:17am

I would be absolutely shocked if The Band's Visit did not win Best Musical. It's a beautifully written, beautifully designed, and beautifully performed show.

I'm one of the ones on this board who actually really enjoys SpongeBob - I think that it's a lot of fun and a quality piece of theatre. That being said, it can't touch The Band's Visit. I have not seen Mean Girls or Frozen, however based on reviews and what I've heard, I don't believe that they will be able to top TBV either.

[TFMH18]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 11:23am

There is virtually no way Band's Visit is not winning best musical (and for very good reason). So keep that ticket and then, as others have said, opt for OOTI over Mean Girls as the latter will almost definitely be here for a while, while the other is not to be missed and could be gone this time next year. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 11:24am

I saw TBV on Broadway and Mean Girls in DC and I can't imagine Mean Girls winning over TBV. It was fun, but it just didn't (at least in DC) have the emotional core that voters tend to go for historically.

Also, I second the notion that Once on this Island in the Circle in the Square space is a special experience that shouldn't be missed. Hopefully, some Tony nomination recognition will keep it running through June.

[Alex172005]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 12:00pm

Thank you everybody for the responses. I was already leaning towards Once on this Island so I’m actually very happy with this response.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 12:23pm

Alex172005 said: "I realize there’s a tony thread but my topic, I think, is a bit specific.


I keep reading that The Band’s Visit is a “strong favorite” for Best Musical, but most reviews I’ve read are lukewarm.

Huh? What reviews are you reading? My sense (confirmed, I think, by the link) was that the reviews overwhelmingly ranged from highly positive to raves. And it seemed to be on every 2017 TOP 10 list for all theater.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/reviews/The-Band-s-Visit

 

[Alex172005]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 4:54pm

Apparently I was reading the wrong reviews haha.

I was reading reviews by just normal people who saw it on show-score. Oops.

Updated On: 2/16/18 at 04:54 PM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 5:08pm

Alex172005 said: "Apparently I was reading the wrong reviews haha.

I was reading reviews by just normal people who saw it on show-score. Oops."

I appreciate your honesty. 

It’s true that The Band’s Visit is not everyone’s favorite show. My fairly educated guesstimate is that about 70% of people who see it like or really love it, while about 30% find it slow or dull.  It’s certainly not your typical musical, but it WILL win the Best Musical Tony  and Katrina Lenk WILL win the Best Acress Tony  

 

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 5:12pm

I highly doubt it. But do you think Frozen could beat out The Bands Visit if they really did clean up the show well enough from denver?

[TFMH18]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 5:19pm

^No.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 7:43pm

I think that The Band's Visit is pretty much locked in for Best Musical. Which I am NOT happy about.

[Mike66]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:50pm

The Band's Visit is this year's Once.

It appeals to folks because it's "written in a minor key" compared to so many other "traditional" musicals.  I'd never recommend either to folks who are going to Broadway for the first (or second time).  But for "the theatre crowd", its a wonderful counterpoint.

I don't see any reason why it wont have the same success in June that Once had.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 9:54pm

I think it's The Band's Visit's award to lose which I am VERY happy about.  A beautiful piece of thought-provoking theatre.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/16/18 at 11:07pm

bwayphreak234 said: "I think that The Band's Visit is pretty much locked in for Best Musical. Which I am NOT happy about."

You should protest quietly outside the theater.

[raddersons]

Posted: 2/17/18 at 8:18am

The Band’s Visit is a slow show that thinks it has more meaning than it actually does because it’s not big and flashy. The best part was the drum player. That being said, it’s Tony-voter bait. It’s gonna win. I’m distressed.

[PopAria]

Posted: 2/17/18 at 9:43am

I disliked Fun Home and slept through ONCE. Both of those years there were much better shows and I think this year will be the same situation with TBV. 

 With Frozen and Mean Girls being assembled by the best of the best, how are we so sure that TBV is a lock for TONYs?