Is THE BAND’S VISIT getting the Tony for Best Musical?

[CedricOates]

While I have not seen Mean Girls, Spongebob Squarepants, or Frozen, I feel like The Band’s Visit might get this. I saw the matinee, May 9th at 2pm, and I was absolutely blown away. I’m sure i cried like 3 times. It is a beautiful show, which deserves all the acclaim it’s been getting. From everything I’ve been hearing, Frozen is ehh. Mean Girls, while very good, from all discussions I’ve had with friends who have seen it, won’t take it, so Spongebob might be the only other contender. Thoughts?

[thebookofwhizzer]

Yes.

[jacobsnchz14]

If not, there is not justice. And I haven’t even seen the show. In the past few years, voters have been good at recognizing the well-crafted and boundary-pushing shows over the more commercial shows or ones with more touring potential.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Yes. One of the most solid locks this Tony season.

[CedricOates]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Yes. One of the most solid locks this Tony season."

It was really amazing. Interesting to see that all four musicals were based on source materials, yet TBV is being treated differently than the rest. Probably because the movie isn’t as well known.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Sure, CedricOates, maybe because the movie isn't as well-known, but it's also just objectively the best musical of this season's four nominees. SpongeBob is great theatrically, but devoid of a substantive plot (and has a very disjointed score). Mean Girls is a disappointing, screaming belt-fest, and Frozen is an overextended bore from a jewel of an animated movie.

The Band's Visit deserves each and every accolade it receives this season. 

[dramamama611]

And the source material STARTED from a more artistic place.  Lovely movie, fabulous musical.

[BroadwayLuv2]

I actually found the bands visit to be extremely boring.  Would love it if one of the other nominees won.  Probably won't happen unfortunately. 

[CedricOates]

BroadwayLuv2 said: "I actually found the bands visit to be extremely boring. Would love it if one of the other nominees won. Probably won't happen unfortunately."

I do have to admit there was one minute mid show that my eyes were getting heavy. 

[uncageg]

For some reason, I am getting the feeling that right before the awards SPONGEBOB is going to be the one to watch for as the winner. 2004 comes to mind. JMO

[Kad]

2004, when the small off-Broadway transfer defeated the big-budget recognizable property?

[BuddyStarr]

As mentioned numerous times on this board, this season has really sucked for new musicals.  I haven't seen TBV but to be honest it really doesn't appeal to me.  I have had friends who have come into town and grab tickets for it only to say "Meh" or "it was really boring".  That being said the other 3 aren't very good either so maybe it'll win by default however I don't see this playing well on tour even with a Best Musical Tony.

[CapnHook]

If SPONGEBOB wins, the better comparison would be BILLY ELLIOT winning over NEXT TO NORMAL.

I think there will be a strong amount of votes thrown towards SPONGEBOB, MEAN GIRLS, and BAND'S VISIT. If it is evenly spread, any one could inch forward to claim the trophy. We'll see how the politics line up. I actually see the industry votes aligning moreso for two of these, so it's possible this year that the votes from those voting from their heart, rather than politically, might choose the winner. And I know a lot of voters who both loved and dismissed BAND'S VISIT. I think this year things are not as straightforward as many here believe. The win of KINKY BOOTS over MATILDA comes to mind as a similar year where MATILDA seemed the sure frontrunner, but KINKY very close to the voting deadline seemed to suddenly become more of a contender than was suspected, and eventually won.

[Nycat63]

Kad said: "2004, when the small off-Broadway transfer defeated the big-budget recognizable property?"

Ohhhhh I see what you did there . Not bad, not bad at all.  

[VotePeron]

jacobsnchz14 said: "If not, there is not justice. And I haven’t even seen the show. In the past few years, voters have been good at recognizing the well-crafted and boundary-pushing shows over the more commercial shows or ones with more touring potential."

Yet Great Comet walked away with nearly no awards last year, and instead the award went to the most cookie cutter musical of the year? 

[ChildofEarth]

VotePeron said: "jacobsnchz14 said: "If not, there is not justice. And I haven’t even seen the show. In the past few years, voters have been good at recognizing the well-crafted and boundary-pushing shows over the more commercial shows or ones with more touring potential."

Yet Great Comet walked away with nearly no awards last year, and instead the award went to the most cookie cutter musical of the year?"

^ what they said. 

[uncageg]

Kad said: "2004, when the small off-Broadway transfer defeated the big-budget recognizable property?"

 

Yes, but the opposite here. 

 

[Kad]

Though, incidentally, due to Dear Evan Hansen being both off-Broadway and on Broadway within one season, it ended up competing against The Band's Visit for numerous awards... and losing several of the most notable.

[uncageg]

My comment was just referring to the "underdog" winning.

I have not seen SPONGEBOB yet. I am not a SPONGBOB fan but just from listening to the musoc and hearing what friends have to say about it, I plan to get in there soon to see it. The clips alome make me want to see this show. So my comment was just a thought and not based on a comparison.

[Mister Matt]

I'm definitely rooting for The Band's Visit and I do think its book and score are at a higher level than the other nominees.  I don't find it boring at all.  What it lacks in flash and spectacle it more than makes up for in sophistication, cultural diversity and emotional resonance.  When I saw Spongebob in Chicago, I saw what amounted to a mildly amusing mess, but nothing about it looked like a Best Musical winner to me.  And based on its grosses, what appeared to be a easy hit for middle America hasn't been generating strong enough word of mouth to bring people in.  It might get tossed one or two design awards if the voters are into kitchen-sink productions, but the lack of cohesion and focus may prevent it from taking home anything.  Based on what I've heard of the book and score as well as word of mouth from trusted friends with similar tastes who have seen the production, I think Mean Girls is probably the biggest competition for The Band's Visit, but it's still probably a distant second.  Frozen will likely be the next Aladdin as a solid family show with legs, but still lacking enough creativity to push it over the line.  After 20 years, Disney still hasn't figured out how to master another blockbuster the likes of The Lion King, but they won't stop trying.

[Kad]

I agree with Matt, but think SpongeBob is certainly the most imaginative of the offerings and I would be happy to see it win design awards and if Landau were to upset and take director, I would not be angry about it.

[CedricOates]

Kad said: "I agree with Matt, but think SpongeBob is certainly the most imaginative of the offerings and I would be happy to see it win design awards and if Landau were to upset and take director, I would not be angry about it."

Probably going to go to Arden though I really want Landau to get it

[Kad]

I would not put my money on Arden. Cromer is extremely well-respected and this is his first Broadway success after years of excellent, visionary work (and a MacArthur genius grant!).

[GeorgeandDot]

The Band's Visit is a downright phenomenal musical. It's simple, beautiful, and profound. The production is wonderful and the acting is incredible. It should be a solid lock for Best Musical.

I think the problem is that musical theatre audiences have grown to be so "stupid" (shallow is the better word I think) that any show that requires any depth of thinking seems to divide them. This isn't a problem when it comes to plays, so I don't know why it's such a problem with musicals. If something isn't popcorn musical theatre, I tend to hear about how boring it is no matter how well written it is. It's absurd to me that Mean Girls, SpongeBob, and Frozen (especially) are proving to be any sort of competition to TBV at all. I just feel like audiences are lazy so they're going into The Band's Visit and expecting the show to just wash over them when it really asks you to contemplate the show that you're seeing. Then they walk out complaining that nothing happened, when so much happened, but you weren't paying attention. The Band's Visit doesn't do the work for you, just like Fun Home and many of Sondheim's, Kander and Ebb's, and even some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals.

[Robbie2]

Yes and it has been the favorite since the start of the new season. Those calling TBV boring are the same people that called ONCE boring! I LOVED both!