but we had some GREAT plays (Lietenant, HISTORY BOYS, etc etc)
"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed
I hate to say that when I was growing up and falling head over heals with theater they used to say that the 80s was a really bad time for shows. DROOD, Leader of the Pack, Big River, Big Deal, My One and Only, and so many others. I have to say that, I loved those shows as they were the modern shows that I watched growing up on the Tony's. But they claim that was the worst time in a long time.
Yeah, the majority of the 80's was considered the worst Broadway has ever been.
That said, I though this was a pretty good season. Alot of the new stuff didnt do so well, but we got some great revivals and there is alot of competition for the Tonys this year.
"The hallmark of aristocracy is responsibility. Oh brother, that got me, that did me in!"
I would think 1967-1968 would be up there. Didn't the show that won best Tony in 1968 close prior to the ceremony?
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
This was a terrible year for original musicals. They should just pass on the best musical and best score awards this year - no one is worthy. What it really comes down to is "Which contains the least amount of badness."
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."-Charlie Manson
I understand where people are coming from when they say this season has been a bad one but really- at least 15 new musical productions opened. And if a lot were not superior efforts, they at least had many redeemable qualities. The '67- '68 season was rather scarily devoid of good musicals. (I just finished William Goldman's The Season and it was scary how few productions there were, and how many flops!)
And as far as bad years for new musicals, there was the year that "Sunset Boulevard" was the only show eligible for the Tony in that category.
Actually, Sunset Boulevard was the only show nominated for Best Book and Score, but Smokey Joe's Cafe was also nominated for best musical. But still, that goest to show you what a terrible season 1995 was!
Further to Theateraddict's post, wasn't that also the same season when there were only 2 nominees for best actress in a musical, i.e., Glenn Close for SUNSET and Rebecca Luker for SHOWBOAT? Was there even a question as to who would win even though Luker is the superior singer? That was a lame season.
gonna agree mid 90's over all from about 94-96 was kinda bad
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
Bad seasons? How about 1985...the best the nominees wer GRIND, QUILTERS, LEADER OF THE PACK and BIG RIVER. (Side note: if SUNDAY IN THE PARK had opened a few days later it would have been eligable in the 84/85 season and cleaned up! Though it STILL should have won in 84, but that's another argument.)
And though RENT was the big winner in 1996, its only real competition was BRING IN DA NOISE. (The nominators decided that VICTOR/VICTORIA, BIG and STATE FAIR were all unworthy of a nomination for Best Musical and opted to nominate two long closed flops: SWINGIN' ON A STAR and CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD.)
I don't think this is as bad a season as either of the above.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Naw, I wouldn't say it's bad in terms of quantity. I really like Wedding Singer and I can't wait for the Lestat recording, but I haven't seen it, so I don't count in terms of giving it a good review. Anyways, did they even televise (sp?) the Tonys the year Sunset was nominated? What a boring year that would have been to watch. They must have had a lot of commericials or really long performances or something.
Actually, a score like Grind from 85 would probably win this year, if there were one like it. But to come to the point: there have been worse seasons, yes, but good years and bad years come and go. Let's not forget that last season we had one hit opening after the next. We can't every year have DRS, Spamalot, Spelling Bee, Piazza and Chitty opening within one year...
How about the 1988-89 season when the new musicals that opened that year were in order:
--Legs Diamond --Senator Joe --Black and Blue --Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Best Musical Tony winner) --Chu Chem --Welcome to the Club --Starmites
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
I wasn't sure about Carrie....I thought it was part of the 1988-89 season but than saw that it was nominated for a 1988 Theatre World Award so I wasn't positive.
"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man
I'm almost positive that Carrie JUST missed the cutoff for the 1987-1988 Tony awards. It may have made that cutoff for all the other awards given out that season though.
true, this year isn't the best, but I think that is because last year was SO strong with the four best musical noms still running right now. it is pretty hard to recreate that, especially two years in a row.
if this season had come after the '88-'89 season, I think we would have been saying different things. it's all subjective.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."