I think it's pretty telling that Carousel picked up so many acting nominations but not director. Seems like Tony voters recognized that cast was doing the best it could despite poor vision.
I am shocked that Frozen was shut out of all technical categories.
And like others have said, so many of last year's musicals that were shut out of wins and/or nominations could have done so much better against this class. Oh well.
I don't think we would have thought in 2005 that a Color Purple revival would be acclaimed and popular in 2015. I think if there's a strong vision for a revival there's plenty of post-2000 musicals that could get that treatment at some point in the future.
1. Into the Woods 2. Guys & Dolls 3. Ragtime 4. Aida 5. Fiddler on the Roof 6. Carousel 7. Hamilton 8. The Music Man 9. West Side Story 10. Bye Bye Birdie
Honorable Mention (in no particular order): Dear Evan Hansen, Matilda, Les Miserables, Avenue Q, The Drowsy Chaperone, Come From Away, Something Rotten, Annie, Once on this Island
Like it was said, new musicals take several years to develop. It's like a TV development season: copycats of This is Us didn't happen this season because most shows were already in development before This is Us became a hit.
Probably the reason we're seeing so many movie musicals and jukebox musicals is thanks to shows like Aladdin and Beautiful, which were extremely successful on arrival and are still running years later. We'll probably see the fruits of the success of
If you have a lot of guys and a diverse cast then I think Ragtime is a fantastic option. I've found that it's not super well known among the non-theatre crowd but it seems to really move them when they do see it.
Since they will most likely not be nominated, do you think Margaritaville (if still open..) and Summer will pay for a performance? Seems like CBS may want some of that. They're going to have to push Frozen and Mean Girls hard or else we could be in for a rough ratings year for the Tonys.
Reading the Jesus Christ Superstar thread got me to thinking about what you think is the definitive production of musicals that have been done many times professionally whether it be Broadway, West End, National Tours, Movies, Live TV Specials, etc.
So with that in mind, what do you think are the definitive versions of some well loved musicals? I listed a few below to get started that have had many reincarnations but feel free to add your own!
I though Sara was near perfection. Norm was my second favorite in the whole thing. I was a fan of BVD most of the time too. John Legend was OK but made some odd choices (the voice sounded tired so I'm a little less critical of that, obviously he can sing). Biggest disappointment was Alice Cooper, what a colossal waste of an opportunity for a song that can steal the show when done well. I thought costumes were great and staging was creative. Overall, an interesting different way of doing a
Fordham2015 said: "Aladdin "Friend Like Me" and Something Rotten "A Musical"- they're both showstoppers live, but when chopped up for a Tony performance they just seemed disjointed"
Completely agree. I saw the Tony awards performances of both of those before seeing them live and felt pretty "meh" about them. When I saw them live, those numbers were dazzling.
So are these early whispers making My Fair Lady a dominant front-runner for the Revival Tony? Or can Once on this Island play spoiler? Or too soon to talk about it? Haha
I am sad to hear these reviews and I hope they work out the problems because I love the show and I do think the cast is strong even if not totally suited to each role. After Scott Rudin made every right decision in the book (save for the Tony performance) about Hello Dolly, it's surprising he's ma
I don't think any entrance in Broadway history tops Dolly at Harmonia Gardens but a few others I like:
- I think Bye Bye Birdie is really well constructed with the slow reveal of Conrad Birdie. The first time we meet him (in "Healthy Normal American Boy", he doesn't even speak. Then finally after more than half an act talking about him, we finally get to hear him in "Honestly Sincere"
1. Aida - I know it was a hit but I think it's underrated in terms of quality. I LOVE the music and I think the script does not doom it the way other think it does
2. The Lion King - just for the sheer innovation. There are parts it drags
3. Aladdin - very slick & James Monroe Iglehart was phenomenal
4. Beauty and the Beast - the best source material for a stage show IMO but I think Disney didn't quite have
KJisgroovy said: "It always surprises me when some folks on this board, who know a lot about theater, seem to have little handle on the culture barometer.
Jenifer Lewis is on a major hit television show and has recently become a cultural icon, reaching an entirely new generation of fans."
Cultural icon?? That is a huge overstatement. She's a supporting role on a moderately successful sitcom (although critically acclaimed, it ranks nowhere near the
I spoke to an MTI rep not too long ago about Matilda and while he couldn't be specific, he implied that it would become available for everyone to license in 2019
, he doesn't even speak. Then finally after more than half an act talking about him, we finally get to hear him in "Honestly Sincere"