Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
#1Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 2:30pm
The Tonys were in April of 72 the show closed in July of 72. Why didn't they perform at the telecast? I'd give anything to have a youtube clip of that historic production.
I don't think Grease did either which I find very odd being a production that was up for Best Musical that year that was successful and went on to have a long run. Anyone know why?
#2Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 3:21pm
There are plenty of youtube clips. Have you tried searching? Just type in "1971 Follies."
Here is "Who's That Woman":
http://youtu.be/mgvoAr0_gt4
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--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#2Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 3:59pm
I think Logan was referring to professionally shot good quality footage, of which there is none.
It really is a pity that so many musicals from that era weren't represented. That same year JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (which wasn't up for best musical) and the revival of NO NO NANETTE got ten minute medleys, yet the only best musical nominee represented was AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH. GREASE, FOLLIES and the eventual winner TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA got no recognition. The previous year COMPANY was left out and the following year A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC WAS left out, both for elaborate medleys celebrating the awards' 25th anniversary and "the global reach of broadway."
The closest thing we got to a FOLLIES performance was Alexis Smith performing in a Winter Garden Theater medley years later.
#3Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 4:26pmThat is what I meant, thanks Mr. Nowak. I just don't understand if the casts were available why not have them? I suppose it was a matter of timing so they could fit their 'global reach of broadway segment'?
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#4Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 4:30pmI think the year FOLLIES was up there were also lengthy tributes to Ethel Merman & Richard Rodgers.
Rinaldo
Understudy Joined: 5/5/09
#5Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 4:45pm
At that particular period, "show a number from each nominated musical" just wasn't a standard part of the format. Instead they would have more general tributes, and perhaps something that had become popular from an established show (like the tap number from No No Nanette, a year after it opened).
It seems strange now, doesn't it? It means we're missing precious documentation of Company, Follies, et al. But nobody seems to have felt the need. (On the first nationally televised Tony awards, we DID see representative numbers from each -- at least, I remember seeing Barbara Harris do "Movie Star / Gorgeous" from The Apple Tree -- but I don't know when/how it changed, and then in the 70s changed back.)
#6Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:24pmIt makes me mad that we get those tributes rather than the show numbers. There's nothing from the OBC of "The Wiz" in '75 either.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#7Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:47pm
Heck, in 1974, they had Bea Arthur sing "There Goes My Life" from "A Mother's Kisses", which closed out of town seven years earlier!
But, best12bars, at least, we got the original cast of "The Wiz" doing "Ease On Down the Road" on the short lived Howard Cosell Variety Show!
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oasisjeff
Broadway Star Joined: 11/15/07
#8Why didn't the original cast of Follies perform at the '72 Tonys?
Posted: 1/20/14 at 1:24amWell, if it's anything like today, it costs each show hundreds of thousands of dollars to put together their number, since the network gives them no money. So, if a show already posted its closing, the producers probably didn't want to kick in more money to publicize it at that point.
Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.
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