Hadestown is the frontrunnner for sure. It works great as an album.
However, given that the Grammys are prone to loving jukebox shows (since pop songs obviously work well as an album of standalone numbers regardless of the musical) Moulin Rouge! and Ain't Too Proud definitely have a shot. I'm still going with Hadestown though.
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As much as I want to say Hadestown is going to win it, I am not counting out Moulin Rouge because it is a well-produced album with the contemporary hits, but because it's also Moulin Rouge.
Here is a list of all the principal soloists and producers for each Cast Recording:
Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations Principal Soloists: Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes; Producer: Scott M. Riesett (Original Broadway Cast)
Hadestown Principal Soloists: Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page; Producers: Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose; Composer & Lyricist: Anaïs Mitchell (Original Broadway Cast)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Producer: Imogen Heap; Composer: Imogen Heap (The Music of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - In Four Contemporary Suites)
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Principal Soloists: Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill; Producers: Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow; Composer: Richard Rodgers; Lyricist: Oscar Hammerstein II (2019 Broadway Cast)
I've never been clear on this: Who actually votes on this category? Do you need any theater background to vote in it, or is it open to the general Grammy membership?
Wayman_Wong said: "I've never been clear on this: Who actually votes on this category? Do you need any theater background to vote in it, or is it open to the general Grammy membership?"
They are voted on by recording industry members. The awards are for how it sounds etc ... there is no regard given for the actual shoe, it's all about how well the recording sounds
Grammy voters are allowed to vote in the four general field categories and any other 15 categories they choose. There are people who become voting members because of their affiliation with the musical theater field, as long as they meet the requirements. Because there are a multitude of categories, I bet it’s not a category a majority of members vote for unless some superstar is a nominee.
I would love to see "Oklahoma!" win. It was a spectacular recording of a well-loved, classic score, completely reimagined in an entirely new musical context. That's the sort of thing that should be rewarded by an organization that's supposed to be all about recording excellence.
"Hadestown" sounded like a pretty messy recording, technically speaking, and not appreciably different than previous recordings, other than the different voices and a few new and reworked passages. If the previous versions weren't Grammy-worthy, I'm not sure why this one would be.
CopleyScott17 said: "If the previous versions weren't Grammy-worthy, I'm not sure why this one would be."
Previous versions have been Grammy-worthy and were nominated in other categories. However, this category has been expanded in recent years to include concept albums, play scores like Harry Potter, and other musical theatre-adjacent albums. The live album was probably the only other album eligible in this category. And let’s be real, musical theatre voters were probably not aware of the show until it reached Broadway.
In terms of why voters would want to award this particular version of the score, it’s a way for Anaïs Mitchell to have a Grammy, it’s a way for Emmy- and Tony-winning legend André De Shields to add a Grammy to his mantle, because they actually like the recording... many reasons. I think its only competition is Moulin Rouge!
''Hadestown'' probably has the edge to win. In the past decade, 6 out of 10 times, the Grammy has gone to the Tony winner for Best Musical. (''Moulin Rouge!'' made this Grammy deadline with only a day to spare; I wonder if they should've waited until next season.)