"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
I feel as though the voters completely forgot about this show and it's really unfortunate when it happens. Such a beautiful revival of this show should not have gone by without better recognition, even if it DOES boast an orchestra of a clarinet, a triangle, and a kazoo.
The set design for Sunday in the Park with George consisted of two white walls and some curtains. Yes, the projections do provide some setting details, but they're really not set designs. There is no Tony award for projections. If you want to complain I suppose projections could have been lumped together with lighting and you should complain that it didn't win best lighting design -- not set design.
"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
But the projections were determined by committee to be considered Set Design.
And I think SUNDAY's projections certainly count as Set Design. The purpose of a set is to set the place, no? I think the SUNDAY projections did just that, in a beautiful and clever way.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
It seems to suggest that Sunday's astounding projections don't count as set and that in judging for that particular award, voters should be considering "two white walls and some curtains".
But as other posters have pointed out, the committee ruled that the projections and animation were to be considered part of the set design. Thus, when voting on the Best Scenic Design of a Musical, one not only SHOULD factor in the projection and animation work, but would HAVE to do so.
Given that, many of us think it's ridiculous to give the award to South Pacific over Sunday in the Park with George.
It's absolutely outrageous. The set of SITPWG was captivating. There's no other word for it. And there's absolutely no justification to the upset.
Hell, Sunday's set should have been nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
"Goodness is rewarded. Hope is guaranteed. Laughter builds strong bones. Right will intercede. Things you've said I often find I need, indeed. I see the world through your eyes. What's black and white is colorized. The knowledge you most dearly prized I'm eager to employ. You said that life has infinite joys."
He's not my friend. He DOES UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE CONSIDERED SET DESIGN READ AGAIN.
"If you want to complain I suppose projections could have been lumped together with lighting and you should complain that it didn't win best lighting design -- not set design."
He is saying if they were considered lighting and not set, and it lost people would still complain. He understands it was considered for set design.
Absolutely! And I'm sure that's what happened, actually.
I just think it's a shame and I disagree with said majority of voters. In my opinion, the award definitely went to the wrong show.
Updated On: 6/16/08 at 01:30 AM
Those sand dunes and military maps (which are hanging on big steel rods) are better than intricate, detailed, brilliant, interactive computer projections.