Not Nominated / Should Have Won Oct 26
2019, 08:20:02 PM
I concur with Ann Harada. That was the very first name that popped into my head and considering some of the weak nominees they chose over her, it becomes laughable (although Anika Noni Rose was very good and a worthy selection).
I also agree with Aaron Tveit for both Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can although he only deserved nominations.
Sherie Rene Scott for AIDA and Amy Spangler for KISS ME KATE should’ve happened in 2000.
And lastly I also have to agree about
Broadway’s “Memphis” 10 Years Later... Oct 20
2019, 07:34:29 AM
I definitely didn’t care for MEMPHIS at all. I have to agree with the many others that felt it benefitted from being a nominee in a weak year.
Going even further than that, I honestly can’t think of another year where the show actually could’ve won...at least going back over the last 30 years. Perhaps maybe it would’ve had a shot over CONTACG or JEROME ROBBINS BROADWAY but I just feel like I would’ve ranked it an easy third behind Fela and American Idiot...I really didn’t like Million D
“Though I suppose you could argue "Falsettoland" is a good sequel, wven though now it's just Act 2."
And even the act one portion of FALSETTOS (aka March of the Falsettos) is technically a sequel to IN TROUSERS so that’s the biggest exception to the rule in my book.
How did Phantom lose Best Score?? Jul 30
2019, 09:46:26 AM
Because Phantom’s score was, as many have said, repetitive...and frankly, even though I consider INTO THE WOODS to be one of Sondheim’s more overrated properties, the score is vastly superior to Phantom.
And Sondheim should’ve won for SUNDAY too.
Shuffle Along - What happened? Jun 18
2019, 02:31:58 PM
I remember the rush tickets always selling fast but then I managed to buy a ticket on TodayTix to see what I think was a Tuesday evening performance. Then at intermission, I turned my phone back on to find the announcement of its closing. A few theatre savvy people around me started to discuss it as well. It all just seemed so sudden but in retrospect, it was probably the best for them financially
Biggest Tony upset of all time? Jun 18
2019, 09:09:51 AM
I agree with quite a few of the ones mentioned. I don’t really want to repeat anything but I do have to comment on one win that truly floored me when it was announced: David Hyde Pierce. That simply felt out of nowhere and at the expense of Raul Esparza’s Bobby. I certainly don’t want to begrudge DHP because he is a wonderful actor and someone who does deserve a Tony but I just felt that there was simply nothing there. It felt like a very average paint by numbers performance whereas Esparza gave
Great Scores But Weak Shows? May 16
2019, 10:20:50 AM
For me, I’ve always adored the score to ANNIE GET YOUR GUN for the most part but find any version of the book to be incredibly problematic.
I also second CHESS and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG...and I also love a lot of the songs from THE BAKER’S WIFE despite its obvious issues.
Songs That Sound An Awful Lot Like Other Songs Mar 21
2019, 04:08:24 PM
Even though the rest of the songs are different from one another, the same notes are used for the title lyrics IF ONLY YOU WOULD LISTEN from School of Rock and SOMEONE ELSE’S STORY from CHESS
Kennedy Center Honors '18 Dec 3
2018, 12:58:33 PM
I also agree that the HAMILTON selection is more for ratings and even then, I'm not even entirely sure how much ratings they will manage to pull in.
It's not like they did this for other big buzzed musicals like A CHORUS LINE or RENT.
I do feel like it's a shame that the fifth slot was replaced at the expense of a legend.
Most underrated Nov 29
2018, 02:26:40 PM
FUN HOME deserved a longer run and that's why it gets my vote. I also think Gentleman's Guide and The Band's Visit qualify, especially the latter since it does have a passionate fan base but it also has many people who find it dull (I actually only know one other person who actually loved it, everyone else thought it was fine at best). The fact it won 10 Tony Awards will probably make some people look back on it and say it is overrated but frankly...all you have to do is see what it was up again
What show have you seen the most times? Nov 12
2018, 08:48:12 AM
When factoring in regional theatres, I've seen Fiddler on the Roof more than any other musical. Probably around 11 times (and that includes the 2004 revival...I missed that Danny Burstein one even though I am living here now).
I very seldom see a show more than once, usually because I just think time (and money) is precious. Even some of the shows I have seen more than once were more for the other person rather than my own desire to rush to it again.
carolinaguy said: "Ugh. Louise and her scene are absolutely essential to dramatizing Max's central conflict and his humanity. Any outlet that cut it "for time" should be burned to the ground. An actress has been cast as Louise in this production, so I assume the scene remains."
I'm glad to hear that. Personally, I've always loved that scene because it is such a raw, emotional moment that Beatrice Straight delivers in spades. In such a dark satir
NETWORK Previews Nov 9
2018, 11:06:37 AM
I wouldn't be surprised if the Beatrice Straight stuff was removed entirely. There have even been television broadcasts in the past that cut her big money scene for time. I once read a few stories on IMDB years ago where people talked about watching the movie on TV and were curious about her performance only for her big monologue to be cut making her Oscar win seem even more bizarre in that context.
Does the NYT Critic's Pick Seal Mean Anything to You (Anymore)? Nov 5
2018, 10:22:14 AM
I didn't get a chance to read through all of the posts so I apologize if I repeat this opinion, but the one seal of approval that I found incredibly laughable was when Isherwood raved over DISASTER.
calming broadway songs Nov 5
2018, 10:18:36 AM
It's off-Broadway but the first song that came to mind for me is William Finn's I'd Rather Be Sailing from A New Brain.
Play (Male): Jefferson Mays, I Am My Own Wife Play (Female): Cherry Jones, Doubt
Female in a play was incredibly hard. Actually the only one where I had a true def
Best 11 O'Clock Number Ever? Nov 1
2018, 09:20:21 AM
It's obvious that Rose's Turn is the epitome of this topic, but I do often consider If He Walked Into My Life from Mame to be a personal favorite.
Also, you could consider Reviewing the Situation from Oliver! as an 11 o'clock number.
Goodbye from Catch Me If You Can was mentioned, and I think Fly Fly Away is another strong song (though it is sung by a character we don't spend a lot of time with so it almost feels strange in the moment).
Plays you want to see revived in the next 10 years Oct 28
2018, 09:39:00 AM
I definitely agree with the August Wilson continuation. I also grew up outside of Pittsburgh so they have an extra layer of warmth for me.
Particularly I'd love to see The Piano Lesson (which is my favorite), Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running, and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom come back....and of course, any of the others are welcome after some time has past. The only one I wasn't as big on was Radio Golf.
I'd also love to see Seascape come back in a few years (another one that was
Rembember When Raul Esparza Lost the Tony to David Hyde Pierce... Oct 26
2018, 08:10:49 PM
I still try to justify how this even happened and no matter what, I find myself thinking that this was an insane choice. I also agree that maybe Raul's "mock me with praise" may have been a bit much, but in the end, he was a marvelous Bobby.
I did know someone who didn't care for him in it and was thrilled when DHP won. His main reasoning was that he felt Esparza was too smarmy and guttural for his personal preferences.....I mean I guess that's an opinion lol
