Clearing up the foggy situation that is #PassarelleGate

[willrolandsframes]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 5:32pm

Ok, so I need some clarification.

It seems as though many users on this board believe that the true reason that Bette Midler did not perform was because Scott Rudin did not want to put his ensemble at risk with the passarelle that is used at Radio City Music Hall during their Tony ceremonies.

However, it would make perfect sense anyways for Rudin to not let Bette perform anyways, considering his big no press rule and his unwillingness to release actual footage from the production. It seems like many users believe one or the other, and that a lot of people believe that everyone believes what they believe. Having just read through many of the threads on this topic, as well as the Tony Viewing Thread, that seems to be what I have seen.

So which is it? Was this mess really out of fear of injury? Or is the passarelle stuff a cover-up for him trying to strategically make money off of Bette?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 5:39pm

1.  He's already making money off her.  He doesn't make MORE money by not letting her perform on tv.

2.  We will never know the REAL reason. OPINIONS here are not factual.   

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 5:44pm

Even so, the Great Comet performance basically called bull on the passarelle excuse. 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 6:14pm

Let's not forget there are a few facts here. The Tonys said that Rudin declined to bring the "Hello Dolly" number to Radio City because he would only do it remote at the Shubert. The same source reported that Rubin would not restage for Radio City because he couldn't adapt the the passarelle in that theater.

That is the end of the facts. I am sure all of that is true - but whether that is the whole truth is up for discussion. What is undeniable is that they reached an impasse and neither side was willing to back down, and the consequence was Rudin sent David Hyde Pierce to the Tonys instead of Bette and company.

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 6:55pm

Rudin is clearly in the wrong here. However, I think the Tonys should have sucked it up and caved and let them do it from their theatre. It is a business and Hello Dolly had very little to lose from that perspective. The Tonys had more to lose in that sense and it would have made for a more memorable performance had they gotten to do the title number or Before the Parade, even if it was from the Shubert.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 8:19am

leighmiserables said: "Even so, the Great Comet performance basically called bull on the passarelle excuse."

Absolutely.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 8:48am

Welllllll......Pretty sure that Comet didn't have anyone leaping over it, did they?

 

While I agree this was a total power trip (possibly on both sides) I could see being concerned with the safety of your dancers.  Of course, they didn't have to still DO the leaps.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 8:50am

 

I'm in the "Scott Rudin is an asshole" camp. Others maintain Bette is at fault and Rudin merely took the fall for her decision not to perform at Radio City.

I maintain he's an asshole because he's always been an asshole and always prided himself in being an asshole.

 

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:00am

I'm in PalJoey's camp on this one.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:02am

Oh, I'm sure that camp has full enrollment, this and every summer.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:27am

Interesting sidebar: Midler's now infamous open-ended, six minutes plus acceptance speech went a long way toward correcting the impression that she wished to deprive the Tony Awards of her good will. Her voiced humility, her paean to the very show in which she toils, and her genuine delight at both the experience of playing Dolly and having her (and cast mates'  performance recognized cut through a lot of the bad publicity.  She so fully owned the event status of this production, and all that it means to her and the audiences, she almost erased the missed opportunity.  In short, her speech offered us what no ass-covering press release from Rudin could. Brava, once again.

Updated On: 6/16/17 at 09:27 AM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:30am

Not that my opinion really matters, but Midler's Tony speech left a bad taste in my mouth.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:48am

Brian Niemietz threw shade in the NY Daily News.

"Once the show started, it became clear Midler was not on voice rest."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/broadway-buzzing-life-bette-midler-article-1.3247886

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:52am

Although I respect his work, I am respecting Mr. Rudin less and less. The way #PassarelleGate was handled was just wrong. If you can't do the title number, pick another one that has value, not the slight Penny in My Pocket. Tony viewers really would have enjoyed a good example of this fine show.

At Dolly, why can't the lights flash with a two-minute warning at intermission? Why can't ushers warn patrons the show is about to start? What is wrong with showing decent courtesy to an audience that is shelling out huge bucks to enjoy your production? An audience that is making you rich?

Does Mr. Rudin just hold the audience in contempt? Sure seems that way. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:57am

This thread doesn't deliver on its title's promises.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:58am

The passarelle excuse never really held water, and even if it did, there are certainly other numbers from the production that would show off Midler that would not require substantial restaging.  

The fact that Rudin chose what was perhaps the least appropriate number for the Tonys was nothing more than a clear snub at the whole ceremony for not kowtowing to the demands.

But it's certainly in line with his marketing strategy for the production, which is: "Paying customers only."

[SkidRowUrchins]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 10:43am

I still don't understand why they didn't just have Gavin Creel and Kate Baldwin perform "It Only Takes a Moment", a song that people actually know and is recognizable from the show, if they didn't want Bette to perform. 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 1:34pm

SkidRowUrchins said: "I still don't understand why they didn't just have Gavin Creel and Kate Baldwin perform "It Only Takes a Moment", a song that people actually know and is recognizable from the show, if they didn't want Bette to perform. "

Because Rudin was punishing the Tony committee for not giving him what he wanted. It was payback.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 3:33pm

givesmevoice said: "Not that my opinion really matters, but Midler's Tony speech left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

"

Well.. haters are going to hate.  To me her speech was the highlight of the Tony awards.   So beautiful.  Loved how she thanked Carol, Pearl and all the ladies.  I loved how she stated that Dolly has and always will be around.  I agree with PalJoey.. Rudin is a asshole and we will never know the truth.   But it would have been really nice if they did allow the live feed from the Shubert theater.  They were planning on making it a benefit and it would have been a win-win for everyone.  It is also the 50th anniversary of the Tony awards first being broadcast live from the Shubert.  What a missed opportunity.    I must say the rest of the show for me was awful.  I hated all the production numbers.  And I bet Rudin is relieved he stuck to his guns.    We are the loosers here.  

Updated On: 6/16/17 at 03:33 PM

[TrChSpHa]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 3:42pm

givesmevoice said: "Not that my opinion really matters, but Midler's Tony speech left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

"

Ditto.

And yet they couldn't air James Earl Jones or Baayork Lee's, both who've had far more prolific careers on Broadway, speeches in full.

[broadwaygirl10]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 3:43pm

Also, the Tony committee refused to let Dolly perform from the Shubert bc they didn't want to start a precedent of shows performing from their theaters. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 4:05pm

If any show could have used streaming from the theatre, it was Comet, who still managed to pull off the most impressive performance of the night.

Rudin is a jerk, but I'm also sure if Bette really wanted to perform, she could have forced his hand. I really enjoyed this production, but a lot of this has left a sour taste in the mouth for sure. 

 

[romain2]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 4:08pm

PalJoey wrote:  I'm in the "Scott Rudin is an asshole" camp. Others maintain Bette is at fault and Rudin merely took the fall for her decision not to perform at Radio City.
I maintain he's an asshole because he's always been an asshole and always prided himself in being an asshole.

I have mentioned this on this board before but I had the misfortune of sitting 2 seats down from Rudin and his friend at an off-Broadway show in a small house.  Rudin and his friend were incredibly rude--talking, muttering during the show.  I'm not in the theatre world (just someone who actually paid for my ticket--I'm assuming he received a comp) so I don't care, I glared at him and shushed him.  The woman in front of him did the same.  He and his friend then left halfway through the critically acclaimed show. 

Rudin has a great eye for material.  But his behavior during that show makes me hiss at him every time I see him on the Tonys.

Updated On: 6/16/17 at 04:08 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 4:42pm

It's hardly Midler's fault that Jones and Lee were excluded (or Jane Greenwood, my own sticking point).  They were relegated to an hour not even broadcast, a Tony program issue, not Rudin's or Bette's or {fill in the blank}.  Her extended paean to the show she's in was the event casting of the season acknowledging how personally gratifying the experience is. Surely that's one thing we tune in to celebrate.  

[DAME]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:27pm

Auggie27 said: "It's hardly Midler's fault that Jones and Lee were excluded (or Jane Greenwood, my own sticking point).  They were relegated to an hour not even broadcast, a Tony program issue, not Rudin's or Bette's or {fill in the blank}.  Her extended paean to the show she's in was the event casting of the season acknowledging how personally gratifying the experience is. Surely that's one thing we tune in to celebrate.  

 

"

Exactly!