"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
imeldasturn said: "is it the first time that two musicals are among the finalists?"
No, Gospel at Colonus was a finalist in the year that Sunday in the Park with George won.
I expressed my feelings in the other thread, but since there's a new thread:
I find myself pretty disappointed. I have a lot of respect for what A Strange Loop was attempting to achieve, but I thought it missed the mark in a number of ways. There were quite a few other works that I thought were far more deserving this year. But I'm not surprised by the news, since my opinion is obviously the minority.
I know this was the initial goal with the planned DC production, but they'd be smart to try and transfer the show to Broadway as part of a spring 2021 reopening. It would be a massive awards contender (musical, book, score actor), and the Pulitzer could help give it some recognition for a limited run!
"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop
Extremely surprising and thrilling news, and extremely deserving. Strange Loop was THE show of the season for me, and am thrilled for Michael R. Jackson, whose voice deserves to be elevated.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first musical to win the Prize without a Broadway production. Of Thee I Sing, South Pacific, Fiorello!, and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying all opened on Broadway, and A Chorus Line, Sunday in the Park with George, Rent*, Next to Normal, and Hamilton had all transferred to Broadway by the time they won.
*I'm not entirely certain of the timeline regarding Rent's win. The Prize is typically given in mid-April, and Rent had its first Broadway preview on April 16, 1996, and I'm unsure if the Prize announcement came before or after that date. Still, its Broadway production was already in motion by the time it was awarded.
BroadwayGuy12 said: "Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first musical to win the Prize without a Broadway production. Of Thee I Sing,South Pacific,Fiorello!, andHow to Succeed in Business without Really Tryingall opened on Broadway, andA Chorus Line,Sunday in the Park with George,Rent*,Next to Normal, andHamiltonhad all transferred to Broadway by the time they won.
*I'm not entirely certain of the timeline regardingRent's win. The Prize is typically given in mid-April, andRenthad its first Broadway preview on April 16, 1996, and I'm unsure if the Prize announcement came before or after that date. Still, its Broadway production was already in motion by the time it was awarded."
The Pulitzers were announced on April 9th that year, so technically a week before Rent transferred to Broadway (and obviously awarded based off the off-Broadway script, although I believe no changes were made to the libretto when it transferred). But as you say, obviously the transfer was well in the works by then. This would in fact be the first time a musical won without a Broadway production confirmed.
Anthony Rapp noted in his memoir that they were all in rehearsal at the Nederlander when they were informed of their win, and the excitement and joy in the building was incredible.
If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
ACL2006 said: "If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season."
I would think that this pandemic actual makes it quite optimal for them to hop in when everything reopens. There will be many open theaters and both shows can run on relatively low costs and don't need large attendance to stay afloat.
Ledaero said: "ACL2006 said: "If we were in a normal situation, I would expect A Strange Loop & Soft Power to transfer to Broadway for next season."
I would think that this pandemic actual makes it quite optimal for them to hop in when everything reopens. There will be many open theaters and both shows can run on relatively low costs and don't need large attendance to stay afloat."
Soft Power is a VERY expensive show to run, the orchestra alone...
If I want to get into Strange Loop or Soft Power would the cast recordings and synopsis work as a starting point? Anything we should be aware of that might make this difficult? (E.g., important staging, concepts, importance of dialogue etc)
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Without question, one of the most talked-about shows at any industry function this year. So, in retrospect, perhaps inevitable? But really, what a thrill. HEROES... was, as well, and I long assumed it would win. No comment on SP.
I hope this helps it re-navigate its way to Bway after all of this. I have a feeling it will. Thrilling.
qolbinau said: "If I want to get into Strange Loop or Soft Power would the cast recordings and synopsis work as a starting point? Anything we should be aware of that might make this difficult? (E.g., important staging, concepts, importance of dialogue etc)"
Kad is correct. Soft Power is structured in such a way that the cast album really can't communicate all that's going on. The cast album only captures the "story within a story" and not the actual overarching story itself.
Thanks that's exactly the kind of background info I was wanted to know.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000