Tony Musical Numbers Announcement- Page 2

[kec]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 4:01am

"how do you know they are opening with "One Night Only?" "

It was a rumor heard on a NY radio station. Michael Reidel had earlier predicted that Hugh was going to open with "Everything Old is New Again," and that the cast would perform "I Go to Rio." In that same article it was mentioned that the other shows nominated were a bit concerned about BFO having two songs performed in the program. Since the theme is apparently "One Night Only," I guess it makes sense to use that song. But I would have loved to see Hugh and the Rockettes do "Everything Old..."

[SweetCarolineFan]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 4:06am

TABOO should be performing i hope they do

[kec]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 6:02am

SweetCarolinafan, as Taboo is not a Best Musical nominee, they won't be performing.

[BwayLover]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 6:05am

I thought "What Is This Feeling?" would be a good number for WICKED, since it gives both girls a chance to shine and it's also funny- but I agree "Defying Gravity" is more intense, and thus better publicity for the show (like it needs it!).

I, for one, am so excited about the WONDERFUL TOWN choices....Both numbers are great. I have a feeling they'll do "Swing", but I personally wish they would do "Conga" so I could have it on tape! :)

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 8:12am

You're right,bwaylover. "What is This Feeling?" really is equal time for the two witches, and has its charms. I'd thought it the best number for Macy's, but instead they did "Perfect Day..." which really does feel bland, particularly out of context. I'd thought WT would go with Conga, too, because it's a show-stopper in the traditional sense, and "Swing" is so jazz-infused. But Murphy will take the roof off, and it's a place she excells using musical skills Roz Russell didn't have -- it's not just about comedy, but about vocal chops not usually required for Ruth.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:40am

WICKED is doing a modified version of Defying Gravity.

[BroadwayBoy2005]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:40am

I have never seen 'Avenue Q', but I do have the CD and I think it would be cool to see them perform 'Purpose'. But you all are saying that they would perform the abridged version of 'It Sucks to be Me', so would the 'What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?' part of it be included?

My personal faves to see performed would be 'The Money Song' and everyone's favorite , 'Schadenfreude' (I SPELLED IT RIGHT!!). Seeing Nicky and Gary Coleman perform that would be hilarious.....

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:44am

Sounds like some great performances. I am happy that Wonderful Town will be performing Swing...they already performed Conga on the Today Show. I am very excited to finally see Avenue Q perform and not just listen to them on my CD player.

[Tiny_Dancer]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:56am

If you read the entire article, I believe it states that Wicked will be doing Defying Gravity with both girls and BFO will be performing I am not the Boy Next Door.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:00pm

They didn't add the Wicked or BFO bits till today. Great to hear them performing those numbers. I saw Hugh performing "I'm Not the Boy Next Door" on the Today Show, and he performed the hell out of that song.
I'm happy the girls from Wicked are doing "Defying Gravity."

[Plum]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:16pm

Oh darn. I guess that "Rio" staircase was just too big to bring in, but that would have been a really fun number.

Gah, now I just can't wait. Pinkins singing "Lot's Wife" should be amazing.

[kec]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:22pm

I agree Plum. I'm glad Hugh is doing Not The Boy Next Door, but I think it would have been great if the entire cast could have done the Rio number.

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:27pm

Yay for Defying Gravity!

[Fan2]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 12:33pm

According to Playbill.com, to showcase Boy From Oz, Hugh is singing "Not the Boy Next Door."

[Hank]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 1:29pm

It's good to hear that It Sucks To Be Me will be performed! It's a great introduction to the show, and the final line says it all, "welcome to Avenue Q!". There'll be just a couple of minor bleeps, no big deal.
For the record: On the CD, What Do You Do With A BA In English/It Sucks To Be Me is timed at 5:55.

[BroadwayBoy2005]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 2:06pm

Ok, where are you all getting the info on what musicals will be performing which numbers? I'd love to see the list....

[Fan2]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 2:24pm

It's here

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86385.html

and>http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86385.html>http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86385.html

and here

http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=38995&CT=38http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=38995&CT=38>http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=38995&CT=38

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 2:56pm

To recap:

PERFORMANCES:

Ave Q: "It Sucks To Be Me"
Boy From Oz: "Not The Boy Next Door"
Wicked: "Defying Gravity"
Caroline, Or Change: "Lot's Wife"
Assasins: "Everybody's Got The Right"
Fiddler On The Roof: "Tradition"
Wonderful Town: "Swing"
8 Video Clips from all nominated plays for Best Play/Revival Play
Tony Bennett to sing "Lullaby of Broadway"
Mary J. Blige to sing "What I Did For Love"
Hugh Jackman to sing "One Night Only" as an opener (Unconfirmed).

PRESENTERS:

Joel Gray
Anna Paquin
Nicole Kidman
Carole Bayer Sager
Sean Combs
LL Cool J
Anne Heche
Jane Krakowski
Scarlett Johansson
Martin Short
Helen Mirren
Peter Krause
Nathan Lane
Chita Rivera
Sarah Jessica Parker
Laura Linney
John Lithgow
Billy Joel
Bernadette Peters
Jimmy Fallon
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Phylicia Rashad
Sigourney Weaver
Taye Diggs
Marissa Jaret Winokur
Ethan Hawke
Patrick Stewart

Updated On: 5/26/04 at 02:56 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 3:07pm

You know, as pissed as people are about the non-Broadway folks being brought in, I'm intrigued to see what Mary J. Blige does with "What I Did For Love."

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 5:03pm

I agre Plum this could very well be a highlight of the the show. REALLY looking forward to the show!

[pitrepower]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 5:25pm

So happy to see Wonderful Town picked Swing to perform on the Tonys...I can't wait to have that one on tape. And Donna will definitely blow the roof of Radio City with that final note!!!! Just a little sad that Jennifer Westfeldt will not get to perform too.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 5:36pm

There won't be any bleeps -- CBS requires any profanity to be edited or rewritten for the broadcast (shows typically create a "Tony version" of whatever number they're performing -- I've been watching the Tonys since the 70's and I can remember several instances when certain lines and words were omitted or changed from the version performed in the theatre and on the cast album). This will be ESPECIALLY true now in our post-Janet Jackson environment. Also look for "It Sucks To Be Me" to be edited down to 4 or 4 and a half minutes -- each show is usually allotted about that amount of time for their performance. While there are exceptions (CBS and the Tonys have occasionally been known to let the presumptive winner in a given year have an extra minute or so), it's been YEARS since the days of 6 and 7 and even 8 minute numbers on the Tonys (I have most of the musical numbers from the Tonys on tape from the mid-70's onward and CBS has gotten more and more stingy and strict about time allotments for the musicals since about the late 80's when low ratings became such a huge issue for the show).

Posted: 5/26/04 at 6:32pm

I don't know if it will do any good, but on the website www.cbs.com at the bottom of the home page, they have a feedback link. It says they read the emails. If you have any complaints, it couldn't hurt to email it. I wrote to them about Big River being left out of the broadcast.

[jo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 8:01pm

They will probably re-stage NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR for the TONYs as it is a fairly short song ( slightly over 2 minutes on the CD) - maybe a little more like the number presented on GOOD MORNING AMERICA.

On deeper reflection - this is probably the most suitable number to perform for the TONYs for THE BOY FROM OZ. The song is an essential tribute to PETER ALLEN - and they may have chosen to honor him in the most obvious manner for this event. It portrays Hugh singing a song that tells you about Peter, reliving Peter's piano antics, and even re-creating that iconic Peter Allen pose on top of the piano. And yes, the booty dance will be there, too

As for the songs to be sung by Tony and Mary - they are also part of Broadway's great musical icons!

[jo]

Posted: 5/26/04 at 8:13pm

Check this out - an article from AP's drama critic Michael Kuchawara re the selection of the performance numbers --

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/featr/content/features/entertainment/ap_story.html/Entertainment/AP.V7489.AP-Tonys-Backstage.htmlhttp://www.springfieldnewssun.com/featr/content/features/entertainment/ap_story.html/Entertainment/AP.V7489.AP-Tonys-Backstage.html>http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/featr/content/features/entertainment/ap_story.html/Entertainment/AP.V7489.AP-Tonys-Backstage.html