Tony loser with most legitimate gripe

[FrontRow]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:20am

Would be Brian D'Arcy James. He gives a great performance WITH an accent IN heavy makeup AND he's onstage at least 75% of the time...and he's paid his dues, if you're looking for a reason outside of this particular show. He loses to people who perform 2 or 3 times a week!!! This is a perfect example of the Tony being won by the role rather than the performance. See also: Anita, 'West Side Story'.

Best thing about tonight's Tonys: 'Reasons to Be Pretty' won nothing!

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:22am

I would bet that D'Arcy James would have been able to give an acceptance speech too.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:22am

I would have rather seen J. Robert Spencer win.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:22am

Oh. get over it.

won by the role rather than the performance. See also: Anita, 'West Side Story'.

Then why did Debbie Allen lose?

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:22am

9to5! nothing!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:24am

I think "reasons..." deserved Best Play.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:24am

I saw "Shrek" and have never despised a show with such intense passion, but even I would have been happy to see Brian take the award home. His dedication to the role is consummately professional, and he did a wonderful job with the material given.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:24am

won by the role rather than the performance. See also: Anita, 'West Side Story'.

Then why did Debbie Allen lose?

and why wasn't Chita Rivera even nominated?

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:25am

I didn't see Shrek, but how could you really work up such hatred for a show that's self-acknowledged fluff?

I save my real hatred for fluff with pretensions.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:28am

I wonder would things be differnet if BDJ stayed with Next to Normal.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:31am

Sometimes you dont get the award for your career...that tends to happen in the Oscars not the Tonys. BDJ will get a Tony the next time he doesnt shill himself for a buck. I dont think a Tony will ever go to someone covered in latex in a theme park show.He get his Tony just not tonight.

[springawoken819]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 12:41am

I haven't seen Shrek, so idk about Brian D'Arcy James, but i definitely think it went to the Billy's just because it's historic or whatever. I just saw Next to Normal wednesday night and i was shocked (ok, not really that suprised, i saw the Billy's win coming) that J Robert Spencer didn't win. His I am the One Reprise had me in tears, and i think that he's a bit underrated because Alice Ripley is so... loud about her awesomeness (best way to describe it lol), but he really was outstanding in that show and i would have LOVED to see him win that Tony. Next time, i hope. He's fantastic.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 1:59am

Betty - I would hardly call the role of Shrek shilling. It is a great role and he gets to sing some beautiful songs. He really shines in the title role, and I trust that Brian would do a show for more than just the money.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:04am

I'm with Betty. It's a shilling, theme-park role. For goodness sakes, they hold their day of show ticket lottery at M&M World!

Talkin' Loud, how is it a self-acknowledge piece of fluff? I think the show is filled with pretensions. It positions itself as a fun piece with an important message, but, even aside from how terrible the quality of everything is, I find the message to be buried in the mix and hypocritical.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:04am

"Sometimes you dont get the award for your career...that tends to happen in the Oscars not the Tonys. BDJ will get a Tony the next time ..."

Judy Kuhn is a class performer (and one of my favourites) .. but never won a Tony Award and has been nominated three times (Les Miserables, Chess & She Loves Me) - so I wouldn't say that he's def going to get one!


I don't know if I would have picked him, but I probably wouldn't have voted for the Billy's. Just an opinion of course!

[CONAries]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:07am

It is a combo of role and performance! You cant win if you're not a good actor, but if you dont have a strong character, you can not display you are a good actor!

And lets face it, Shrek is an awful part in an average show! Just because you can wear heavy make up, heavy costume and stand on stage for a few hours speaking with an accent does NOT make you deserve a Tony, I could do that if I REALLY wanted to, but I wouldnt win a Tony!

I am not happy with the result (I think Gavin should have won) But lets face it, the Billy Boys have a much more demanding role (even if they do do less performances, but remember they are children) and they put the heart into every performance and it pays off, with every one of them being outstanding!

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:11am

^ I also think it should have been Gavin.

[WestonBoy]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:22am

Brian d'Arcy James does something with a crummy role and some lousy material. He delivers a delightful star turn and covers many broad scopes of emotion. His level of commitment is clear and he is a solid, steady and reliable leading man.

I saw SHREK on Thursday and found myself wishing BDJ would take home the Tony tonight. The Act One finale alone leaves the obvious truth: BDJ can do an incredible thing with only a little bit. An extraordinary actor.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:27am

^ Well said.

By the way, I figured there would be more of an upset that Fonda lost.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:32am

won by the role rather than the performance. See also: Anita, 'West Side Story'.

Then why did Debbie Allen lose?

and why wasn't Chita Rivera even nominated?

Thank you. I've seen people make this claim more than once lately and it bothers me every time. This is the first time EVER the role of Anita has won the Tony. Do some freakin' research before making absurd claims.

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 02:32 AM

[A Director]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:39am

Let's call it a draw, Karen won for her singing and acting, not her dancing.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:43am

^ Obviously, lol.

[A Director]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:49am

The Tony should have gone to Horton Foote not the overpraised show that won.

[crushgroove]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:39am

I think Brian was already locked into Shrek before the DC run of Next to Normal was finalized. So the guy took a job, can't really blame him if the end result didn't end up to be the best choice. It still kills me that three 13 year olds get an award that the other 4 actors have been working for much longer.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/8/09 at 6:14am

^ok...THAT'S just silly. Because it's their first time on B'way they shouldn't have won? It's not like all three boys just decided to "do a show" one day. Theyve been dancing for years.

THAT being said: I still don't think the boys deserved the award...yes, they are phenomenal dancers...but actors or singers? Um....no. Giving them an award because they are so young is wrong as well. At least the other nominees know that the adage to never perform with kids and animals spills over into never expect a win when nominated against them, either!!

And I don't think ANY of them has a legitmate "gripe"....as one of the nominees said (Gavin Creel, maybe?): they have a better chance of WINNING (1 in 5) then they do of being nominated (1 in DOZENS). The biggest oversight to the noms, imho, is the absence of Aaron Tveit's recognition.


And on goes the battle....can't wait for next year!!!!