BEST MUSICAL RACE 2014- Page 7

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 11:27pm

"Is that really how the Tony voters think? "Check on BWW and see what they are saying about this before I cast my vote..."

It's all gonna have to depend upon how the show is when opening night comes, but please keep in mind, SOMETIMES the great thinkers can think alike...

[Up In One]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 11:38pm

Based on reviews alone
Aladdin
After Midnight
Gentlemen

The rest of the field got very mixed reviews ... I'm predicting the same for Bullets so based on reviews I would say the final two slots will go to

Beautiful
Rocky

[Steve721]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 11:50pm

I don't quite know what to make of the Stagegrade ratings of critics reviews, but:

After Midnight: A-
Gentleman's Guide: A-
Bridges: A-
Aladdin: B
Beautiful: B
Rocky: B

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 11:56pm

Well Disney is having the last laugh

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 11:59pm

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2014/03/30/broadway-review-ifthen/6951089/
so it seems women and male critics are divided we need more female journalists

[Freeman5]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 7:24am

What I liked about the USA Today review is that she reviewed the show; so many reviewers these days tell us more about themselves than about the show, trying so hard to be "hip and with it" rather than reviewing the material fully. I haven't seen "If/Then", so I have no opinion, but her review made me want to see it. Very interesting... If there are five nominees, I think If/Then will make the finalist list.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 7:52am

Reviews do not equal nominations.

They never have. They never will.

[AntV]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 8:37am

Bullets Over Broadway is going to win the Tony. No matter how mixed reactions or reviews are. It's not terrible, it's about Broadway, and the competition isn't much better, so therefore Tony voters are going to vote for it. Sure, After Midnight and Gentleman's Guide are the best two of the season, but the Tony voters aren't going to vote for them over Bullets. Pretty silly people think it won't even be nominated.

Nominees:
Bullets
After Midnight
Gentleman's Guide
Beautiful
Rocky Updated On: 3/31/14 at 08:37 AM

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 12:41pm

I think the nominees will be:

After Midnight
Bridges of Madison County
Bullets Over Broadway
A Gentleman's Guide...
Aladdin or Beautiful

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 1:50pm

"Reviews do not equal nominations.

They never have. They never will."

THANK YOU. Remember Leap of Faith, people?

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 3:05pm

^ That was just so they could give GHOST and SPIDER-MAN the middle finger and make a point about it.

[Sauja]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 3:33pm

"^ That was just so they could give GHOST and SPIDER-MAN the middle finger and make a point about it. "

But didn't Ghost and Spider-Man have even worse reviews? I seem to remember that being so. I certainly liked Leap better than those two.

I can't see After Midnight or Gentleman's Guide not getting in in spite of how small they are. I also think Aladdin is in--some won't want to nominate Disney, maybe, but the response is largely positive.

It's the last two spots that are going to leave blood on the floor. Bridges has some serious fans, but it's underperforming. Beautiful is doing nicely but doesn't seem to be beloved by many. Liked well enough, but not LOVED other than Mueller. If/Then seems to be in mostly the same place with Menzel in the Mueller spot. It has a few die-hard fans, though, so it will depend on the nominators. Rocky is the love it or hate it show of the season. I haven't really heard anyone be down the middle on it. Bullets Over Broadway seems like a no-brainer, but I personally can't get over how much I hated it. Others certainly love it, but could all the Woody controversy hold people back if they're waffling between it and another show? I can't wait for the reviews on this--they might be glowing. They might be Big Fish: Part Deux.

When you come down to it, there are so many new musicals, but with only one left to open, the only rave reviews were for the two smallest ones.

My prediction:
Bullets
After Midnight
Gentleman's Guide
Aladdin
Bridges

My personal preference would be to swap out Aladdin and Bullets for Rocky and Beautiful.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 3:47pm

I still think Bullets is going to be a major contender. It's big, splashy, and fun. It's not trying to be anything other than a big Broadway musical comedy, and I, for one, thought is succeeded tremendously in accomplishing that.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 4:13pm

As I recall, a great many bww posters - even those who don't seem to be all that happy with the show - have said Bullets is like Nice Work, only better. Nice Work got ten Tony nominations.

Still, unless Bullets is more loved on opening night, my gut says the winner will be Gentlemen's Guide (which many here seemed to compare to Drood, only better; how many tony's did Drood win (including best musical)?) or After Midnight.

[dreaming]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 4:27pm

I think it's going to be Bullets or After Midnight. Gentleman's Guide, cute and clever though it is, won't win-there are tour voters, whether we like to be reminded or not. Bullets and After Midnight will tour really well. After Midnight has quietly done very well the entire season and garnered really good reviews. (I wouldn't be surprised if Fantasia snags a nod too.)

I think Reidel for once may have been onto something when he said Cabaret might not be eligible for anything except the acting categories (Danny Burstein, Linda Emond, Michelle Williams and any other actors they deem worthy).

I just question whether a carbon copy of a production we just had is going to be eligible (it won the Tony for the last production, too, which kind of leaves me scratching my head over this situation). The Les Miz revivals have been different productions from what I have observed (I have seen them) and I guess I see that as enough to warrant the nod for it. Cabaret was clearly a remounting of an identical production. I'll be interested to see if the committee allows it to be eligible. (Frankly, I don't think it matters, because I'm guessing Hedwig will take it with Violet a possible spoiler.)

[Comden Green]

Posted: 4/1/14 at 7:46am

I am surprised at all the love here for Bullets. It was "good" but little more. It seemed to me there was no spark. And I wasn't the only one. The night I saw it there was no one, not anyone who stood up during the curtain call. there was incredible energy when I saw bridges, and if/then. yes, yes, that doesn't translate to a nomination but I think it is a factor. I will be very surprised if Bullets gets nominated for best musical.

[jdrye222]

Posted: 4/1/14 at 3:41pm

I think Bullets will be nominated for its "aura" of old-time pros...

My predictions are:

Bullets
After Midnight
Gentleman's Guide
Aladdin
Bridges

with possibly Beautiful replacing After Midnight or Aladdin.

It will be an interesting year for this category. I don't think If/Then stands a chance at a nomination given the field of better shows.

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/1/14 at 4:38pm

I don't see Bridges being nominated because of the lousy business its doing, if it cant attract an audience in NY how will it ever attract an audience on the road? Its not an audience favorite (no box office)and aside from its score critics weren't jumping for joy. After Midnight and Gentlemen will get nominated because they deserve to be nominated. Will a win do anything for their business? Doubtful, they've been running since the fall and have failed to gain any momentum (except when AM has a guest star). If Then should not be nominated based on its reviews leaving a trio of mixed review wonders Aladdin Rocky and assuming it gets the same mixed reaction, Bullets. If Bullets gets the same reviews that If Then got it would be a toss up between it and Bridges for the fifth spot.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/1/14 at 5:46pm

Bullets will be nominated. In fact, it could very well end up with 14-15 nominations, ala "Mormon" or "Producers". Not saying it deserves all of them, and I highly doubt it will win as many Tonys as either of those, but it's a near lock in the design categories, direction, choreography, book (unless there's major Allen backlash), orchestrations, and it's chock full of great performances by Broadway veterans they love to nominate.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/1/14 at 5:59pm

We'll have to wait & see how the critical reviews are for Bullets first before making any final judgements as the audience response in previews so far have been pretty mixed...

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 9:49am

Now that the last of the new musicals have opened and the critics as well as many of us have had a chance to check them out where do you think the race for the nomination for best musical stands?

My $0.02

After Midnight
Gentleman
Beautiful
Rocky
Aladdin
Bridges

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 9:49am

Now that the last of the new musicals have opened and the critics as well as many of us have had a chance to check them out where do you think the race for the nominations for best musical stands?

My $0.02

After Midnight
Gentleman
Beautiful
Rocky
Aladdin
Bridges

Updated On: 4/11/14 at 09:49 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 9:58am

Since the crop of new musicals have all been kind of duds, I retract my assertion that After Midnight won't get nominated. Not only have shows I thought would be true competitors been received coolly by critics, they spark NO excitement from people in the industry- which is much worse for awards.

I think the roster will be:
Gentleman's Guide
After Midnight
Beautiful
Bridges
Rocky / Bullets

What'll win? No idea. I do think people are underestimating Beautiful, which is popular and is an easy sell for touring.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 10:05am

The Spring really fizzled out.

It was shaping up to be a real powerhouse season until the shows actually opened.

I must say that I would never have pegged it being between Gentleman's Guide and After Midnight.

After Midnight should win.

I can't even guess what will win.

[Sauja]

Posted: 4/11/14 at 10:10am

Kad, correct me if I'm wrong (sincerely), but while it's accepted wisdom that shows with great tour potential have a better shot of winning the Tony, road producers don't tend to be on the nominating committee, do they? I feel like Beautiful could end up pulling votes if it's nominated, but it's getting in there that is the challenge.

It's such an odd season. I feel like in the past shows that opened early in the season need to be great to be remembered (see Scottsboro). Beautiful was seen as a mediocre-to-disappointing show with an extraordinary lead. I just don't know that it gets in here.

You guys...I'm starting to think that Gentleman's Guide might take it. It's still open, it would also be an easy tour, and people really like it. It's small, but it's quality. And people love a scrappy upstart, don't they?