Tony Awards "Grand Hotel" and the Greatness of Tommy Tune

With all the talk going on about the Tony Awards, who and what will be nominated, etc. I want to take a moment and acknowledge the versatility, brilliance and true Broadway visions of Tommy Tune. I am too young to have seen some of these shows and from what I'm finding in online histories and video clips, I am amazed with joy sometimes to the point of tears. From "Grand Hotel" to "My One And Only" to "The Will Rogers Follies" " A Day In Hollywood" and more, will Broadway ever be able to offer productions like these again? I think I remember "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" just a little bit and loved it. We know he has won multiple Tony Awards and this scene from "Grand Hotel" is absolutely incredible.

It's from the Tony Awards show (and just look at how that show has changed through the years). It stars Brent Barrett, Jane Krakowski in probably one of her first roles, and sadly, the late Michael Jeter, who was openly gay and proud and out, even back then. "We'll Take A Glass Together"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euCvQ4ikZZQ

Updated On: 2/27/16 at 11:50 AM

A great talent and really nice person when you meet him. I also had the pleasure of seeing him on stage before he became a name in such offerings as Baker Street & Seesaw

Updated On: 2/27/16 at 12:10 PM

Several years ago I saw this in London at the Donmar Warehouse and I honestly think the show relies on Tommy Tune's staging to be spectacular. The Donmar production which took a different approach was underwhelming. If this is ever revived, I hope we get to see a recreation of the original Broadway production.

I would love to see a Tommy Tune production of FOLLIES.

Tommy, by his own design, seems to be more or less retired from directing which is a bit of a shame. I know he had that Studio 54 musical he was developing a number of years ago but he seems pretty content performing and being a fixture of the New York theater scene socially without directing anymore. In one of the Broadway.com videos he speaks about how the industry changes at the producing level have made the task of directing less enticing. Years ago, there were more single entity producers like David Merrick, who had artistic savvy, and now a director has to answer to a fleet of producers (some probably artistic idiots) who fancy themselves artistically savvy.

Updated On: 2/27/16 at 04:04 PM