Riedel and the voters

[newintown]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 11:24am

In the weasel column today, he says "In other Tony news, the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing sent a sharply worded letter to the voters, reminding them their Tony tickets are nontransferable. A voter was caught this week giving his tickets to friends, and his Tony voter status has been revoked."

Good luck with that - weasel also notes "Frankly, Tony voters have been giving away their tickets for years, usually to shows they know they won’t like."

I suspect they're not going to go after anyone famous or powerful, but might examine some of the more "insignificant" voters closely. (In other words, Andre Bishop can do what he likes, but the head of the Broadway series in Salinas, KS might have to be careful).


Riedel today

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 11:56am

He thinks Beautiful will win?

Anything's possible but I don't see anything beating Gentleman's Guide.

[Pumpkin]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 11:58am

How do you become a Tony voter?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 12:00pm

I don't see anything having frontrunner status.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 12:11pm

I think Beautiful has the best chance of winning too. It's not a clear frontrunner, but the sense I get is that it's in the lead.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 12:20pm

I'd say it's between Gentleman's Guide and Beautiful, but I really can't guess as to what will win.

[tazber]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 12:41pm

I'm going with Gentleman's Guide, but I'm always wrong so Beautiful will probably win.

Does anyone think After Midnight could pull off an Ain't Misbehavin' and score the Tony?

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 1:40pm

Whizzer, it sounds those ghastly gaudy producers Riedel refers to have been keeping you busy all week?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 1:40pm

Reidel has been bringing up his BEAUTIFUL winning theory for weeks now, I think he keeps talking to the same 5 voters. I don't see how BEAUTIFUL is considered a good "touring show" The only thing most people like is Jessie's wonderful performance and I doubt she'll be touring the show. I'd say most buzz in NYC is GENTLEMAM'S GUIDE is the front runner right now. I loved AFTER MIDNIGHT but AIN'T MISBEHAING was a giant artistic and audience favorite and quite a sensation in it's day. Besides both being revues I don't see the comparison.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 2:47pm

GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE is barely a sell on Broadway. It's chances of touring or being successful on the road, in my opinion (with or most certainly without the Tony), are very slim. Like I said before it just doesn't have the "it" factor that a Best Musical winner should have. It's not that it isn't good, you just hear the name and think "eh." The score, from what I've heard, is completely unmemorable and even pretty boring at times. It may be a good show, but it just doesn't strike me as the best "all-around" show or one that is all that interesting.

And of course he had to end his column with another dig at JONESES. Updated On: 5/16/14 at 02:47 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 2:58pm

Of course, Riedel's completely shut up about Bullets, which he was trying to hype up as the second coming... until it actually opened.

[musikman]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 3:05pm

I saw Riedel at a few of those parties this week. He really should scan the room a bit more, and also pay attention to the main speakers that were even listed in the conference schedule.

By the way, Tommy Tune was NOT the keynote speaker. John Stewart was. Also, After Midnight was the only show that did NOT host a lunch, party, creative conversation, or anything during the conference. It's hard to believe they were courting the hardest. Geez. Even Bridges did an after show party.

Many of the Presenters I spoke to this week were mixed about Beautiful. Some loved it, some hated it (save for Jessie Mueller being praised by everyone), but they all recognize its selling potential on the road, and that alone will give it an edge over Gentleman's Guide.

Every Presenter I spoke to about Gentleman's Guide loved it, but they think it will be a hard sell.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 3:20pm

'Many of the Presenters I spoke to this week were mixed about Beautiful. Some loved it, some hated it (save for Jessie Mueller being praised by everyone), but they all recognize its selling potential on the road, and that alone will give it an edge over Gentleman's Guide.

Every Presenter I spoke to about Gentleman's Guide loved it, but they think it will be a hard sell.'

This is what gets me...why would you vote for the easy sell? You know Beautiful will bring in money based solely on the song catalog. Why throw your vote for what's already gonna sell, instead of throwing your vote to a show that could use the Tony brand as a marketing tool? Then, you get two shows that have a chance of selling, instead of one. Is that crazy thinking?

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 3:22pm

^ Or you could turn a hit into a MEGA-hit that will sell gangbusters and do better business and run longer than if you were to give it to the show that needed it more. In that way, neither becomes a mega-hit and enjoys pretty successful business for about 14 months.

Updated On: 5/16/14 at 03:22 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 3:34pm

Is MEMPHIS a "giant" hit on the road?

Wasn't it Reidel who dispelled the "touring road vote" theory a few years ago?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/16/14 at 3:36pm

I don't see how BEAUTIFUL is considered a good "touring show"

Seriously?!?! Just mention Carole King and some song titles and the show will easily sell on the road.

GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE is barely a sell on Broadway. It's chances of touring or being successful on the road, in my opinion

Depends on the market, but unless this flops with no awards, I can't imagine it wouldn't tour. It's not as if it's Leap of Faith.