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Sir Elton Has No Class

A Director

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Broadway Legend
joined:12/18/07

Broadway Legend
joined:
12/18/07

Sir Elton Has No Class#1
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:35am

I thought Sir Elton's shout out to Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt showed he has no class. It was obvious he was upset he didn't win Best Score. At least, Yorkey and Kitt had class when they mention him as one of their heroes.

Sir Elton's score is so-so.

Rudy2

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joined:7/18/07

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#2
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:38am

I understand what you're saying, but I have to say that I know a great deal about Elton and he is very, very sensitive and insecure. He is no egomaniac whatsoever. When considering that it makes his behavior a little more understandable. I find his insecurity, as a performer, rather endearing.

2010

Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)

Dre2387

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joined:7/16/05

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#2
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:39am

um, I actually think he was showing that there is more talent than just him out there. and it was a great speech. he was a good sport about it.

<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.

-Dre- You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
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~Curtains~
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~A Tale of Two Cities ~

frontrowcentre2

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joined:2/20/05

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#3
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:43am

I have watched his speech twice now and there is no malice there at all. A genuine congratulations from oen composer to another. How could you read any animosity into what he said or how he said it.

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

Kad

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joined:11/5/05

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#4
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:44am

I thought it was extremely classy of him. I, too, felt it was a sincere and genuine compliment to Kitt and Yorkey.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

CATSNYrevival

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joined:3/1/04

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#5
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:49am

I felt it came across legitamitely. I don't think he intended for it to sound catty. Frank Langella on the other hand...

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 02:49 AM

WiCkEDrOcKS

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joined:6/13/04

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#6
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:51am

Oh give me a break.

It was totally sincere and legitimate.

People need to calm themselves about BILLY's wins. It's a phenomenal show that deserved to win a truckload of Tonys tonight. Is N2N good? Of course. I enjoyed it just a smidge more than BILLY. But still it's not like ROCK OF AGES won Best Musical. BILLY deserved its ten awards. N2N deserved more recognition than it got but what can you do? It is what it is and that's all folks. They're not going to take away BILLY's award and give it to N2N so get over it. Period. Goodnight. re: Sir Elton Has No Class

Current Avatar: Cynthia Erivo, bringing down the house in The Color Purple.

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 02:51 AM

Kad

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#7
Posted: 6/8/09 at 2:57am

"Frank Langella on the other hand... "

Catty or no, I thought he was extremely entertaining.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

Rudy2

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#8
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:00am

Yeah, Frank was just hamming it up and reminding us that he is still a theatre presence, not heading out to Hollywood. He also reminded the voting committee that shows from earlier in the season are, indeed, still part of the season.

2010

HeyMrMusic

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#9
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:03am

Thank you, WiCkEDrOcKS. Even if you didn't think Billy deserved to win Best Musical, this is far from the worst winner the Tony Awards has crowned. It's a wonderful show and a crowd pleaser. The only people I've heard not to like it reside on this board.

~Steven

miss pennywise

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#10
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:06am

Elton John was being gracious and supportive of Kitt and Yorkey.

Frank Langella was just being playful. He had the audience in stitches!

"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#11
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:10am

Eh, so what if Sir Elton was disappointed that he lost? I thought he seemed very gracious considering he was a huge loss for Team Billy. Heck, if I were one of the only people not to win a Tony from my show, I'd feel a little left out. He seemed very supportive and genuine.

~Steven

frontrowcentre2

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#12
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:14am

People who saw BILLY at the opening predicted back then that it seemed to be set to win Best Musical. I am glad NEXT TO NORMAL got best score (I hoped it would take Best Book as well) - but otherwise the awards went pretty much as expected. Overall, a fast moving show. But far to many technical glitches. The people who did tech should not be hired again. Ever.

HeyMrMusic

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#13
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:17am

It's because the technical categories were not awarded live. The Tony-nominated designers must have put a curse on the telecast. I'm sure those newly awarded Sound Design Tony winners could have figured something out.

~Steven

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#14
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:26am

That's a sketch that was written for Langella...someone else wrote the bit for him to do...

Kad

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#15
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:31am

How do you know? I hardly think Frank Langella would be incapable of coming up with it himself.

Either way, it was still a highlight of the evening.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

scott68

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#16
Posted: 6/8/09 at 3:56am

It wasn't what was written on the teleprompters or what he said at the dress rehearsal, and the people running things really freaked out. He took twice as long as he was supposed to, he only ever approached near-funniness, and the whole thing was basically a three-time Tony winner throwing a tantrum over the fact that he didn't get a shot at a fourth.

"Why, I make more money than... than... than Calvin Coolidge! PUT TOGETHER!"
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My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.

dramamama611

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joined:12/4/07

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#17
Posted: 6/8/09 at 5:26am

1. I don't think EJ was being catty at all. Any "lack of sincerity" might actually be his nervousness...he's (believe it or not) a socially awkward man.

2. I LOVED Langella -- I don't care WHO scripted it. (Most of the stuff we see is indeed totally scripted) A temper tantrum? Hardly. A bit of a smack that the Tonys need to do their job and see MORE shows rather than waiting until the nominations are announced? A well-deserved one at that.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

kec

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#18
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:15am

"He also reminded the voting committee that shows from earlier in the season are, indeed, still part of the season."

"A temper tantrum? Hardly. A bit of a smack that the Tonys need to do their job and see MORE shows rather than waiting until the nominations are announced? A well-deserved one at that. "

I agree. Although he talked mostly about his play that ran last fall, I saw it as him speaking for all the shows that ran in the autumn and closed long before the nominations were announced.

Back on topic, I thought Sir Elton was very classy with his comments.

Updated On: 6/8/09 at 07:15 AM

Yankeefan007

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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#19
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:17am

As someone who felt that Langella was snubbed this year, I very much enjoyed his routine.

DirectorGP

Stand-by
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re: Sir Elton Has No Class#20
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:38am

Without Elton John there never would have been Billy Elliot... I thought he was gracious

PalJoey

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re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class#21
Posted: 6/8/09 at 7:53am

You're wrong about Elton John. I thought what he said was lovely.

jasonf

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re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class#22
Posted: 6/8/09 at 8:06am

I agree with those who say it was classy - in fact, it was one of the first comments we made when the show ended. It felt completely genuine to us.

I'm not so sure, however, about Frank Langella. Even if it was a bit, it came off as bitter.

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

MTVMANN

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re: Sir Elton Has Pure Class#23
Posted: 6/8/09 at 8:30am

I didn't understand it either, but I thought he was just congratulating them.
Still it was weird that he chose to do it at that time.