Tony Performance UPDATE

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 3:01pm

So, I have heard rumblings from a bunch of high-up individuals that as we speak, it is being negotiated that The Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair, and Young Frankenstein WILL INDEED be performing on the Tony telecast. As of now, it looks like should this addition be approved, each show will get approximately one minute to perform a number of their choice.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 3:07pm

I highly doubt this, seeing as how they did not let Legally Blonde perform last year.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 3:09pm

One minute? Seriously!?! How can they possibly convey enough about the show in a truncated performance like that. I think it's a great idea to let the shows perform because the Tonys should really be an advertisement for all of Broadway to encourage a growth in the audience base, but a one-minute performance is almost insulting.

[Elke]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 3:10pm

That's interesting, thanks for posting. One minute is not a lot though. I can imagine the Young Frankenstein performance: "Roll, roll, roll in the..." - "Alright, NEXT!"

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:24pm

That's about enough time to push THE LITTLE MERMAID across Radio City's stage on her heelies.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:27pm

HAH!!!

[James885]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:29pm

That can't possibly be right. I can't believe that they'd actually limit their performance time to ONE MINUTE. What kind of performance can they give in 60 seconds? That's enough time for a verse of a song and maybe a 10-second dance break.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:34pm

If it's only 60 seconds, it should be done all together as one performance as a medley of those 3 shows.

It is only fair since TLK and RENT are performing.

I just HOPE this doesn't mean the nominated musicals will have a shorter performance time!

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 5:36pm

With all the costs just to perform at Radio City, 60 seconds is rediculous.

Updated On: 5/31/08 at 05:36 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:12pm

I actually think it is very fair. Assuming it is true (I have heard that the non-nominated shows would be involved, too, but I thought it was going to be the opening number similar to "One Night Only").

It's better than nothing. They each get a minute to showcase the show - to just give a taste on what they're about. Remember the opening of the Tonys the year Spamalot won? That was about one minute each per show in that opening number. And I thought it was great.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:14pm

I can see it- either live on the show or a pre-taped bit edited together to be a "this is what's on Broadway! Come see a show!" segment. Didn't they do something similar last year?

[scott68]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:15pm

Re: cost, the original poster only said on the Tony telecast, not "at the Tonys." I would assume that they'd do such a short segment pre-taped at their own theatre.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 6:28pm

these are all rumors and "rumblings"

I doubt it will be 60 seconds

[ski2904]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 7:04pm

They may just extend the overview portion when they show snips from each show in the season, with the shows not nominated having more time in the clips.

I know last year when they did the overview they showed small snippets from every show, but specifically had audio (not much, maybe only 10-15 seconds) from the musicals not nominated, i.e. a bit from So Much Better from Legally Blonde. They may just extend this to a five minute sequence or so.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/31/08 at 7:08pm

The opening of the Tonys in 2005 was a montage of the four shows, but they also got to perform their own individual numbers. If it is really going to be a minute each, lijay's suggestion of the three of them going together makes the most sense. If they did stand alone performances that short, I think it would be completely off putting to the audience.