Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tony Nominations are out
You can see the column and full list of nominations at the NY Times.
I agree with the Times that one of the most interesting things is to check out who got snubbed. Young Frankenstein got snubbed big-time. Little Mermaid did too. (Although I notice it's nominated for Best Original Score, so I have to ask: how "original" is it? What's the ratio of new songs to songs from the movie? This seems odd to me, but I haven't seen it, so can't reall comment intelligently about it.)
Sondheim is getting a lifetime achievement award, so they must be thinking he's never going to bring another new musical to Broadway. (And if you read some of his comments back form when he was working on Bounce, they might be right.)
Hard to root for anyone when I've seen exactly one nominated show, but I'm going to guess that Patty LuPone wins...what are your predictions?
I agree with the Times that one of the most interesting things is to check out who got snubbed. Young Frankenstein got snubbed big-time. Little Mermaid did too. (Although I notice it's nominated for Best Original Score, so I have to ask: how "original" is it? What's the ratio of new songs to songs from the movie? This seems odd to me, but I haven't seen it, so can't reall comment intelligently about it.)
Sondheim is getting a lifetime achievement award, so they must be thinking he's never going to bring another new musical to Broadway. (And if you read some of his comments back form when he was working on Bounce, they might be right.)
Hard to root for anyone when I've seen exactly one nominated show, but I'm going to guess that Patty LuPone wins...what are your predictions?
Labels: Broadway, Tony Awards
// posted by ElisaC @ 7:18 AM 
Comments:
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I just got back from New York last night. For me, the biggest snub is A Catered Affair (acting noms for Tom Wopat and Faith Prince, and an orchestration nom, but nothing else). I didn't love it, but expected it would pull out a Best Musical nom in a fairly weak season.
South Pacific, by the way, is just about the most amazing production I've ever seen of anything. It deserves to sweep the awards.
South Pacific, by the way, is just about the most amazing production I've ever seen of anything. It deserves to sweep the awards.
Thanks Mike. South Pacific is just one of those shows (as is Gypsy, actually) that I just feel like I never need to see again. I have never loved it and I have trouble imagining what could make it that stupendous. Care to elaborate?
I've never seen SP live, and I hate the movie. And the less said about the horrid Glenn Close TV version, the better. So I wasn't expecting much, except the buzz was SO incredible (as were the reviews).
First of all, they're using the original orchestrations played by a 30 piece orchestra. THIRTY! On Broadway! Heaven.
Second, I think they really got to the core of the story in a very naturalistic way. I just believed all the characters. Kelli O'Hara is giving a very different performance as Nellie than what I expected. She was restrained. Her interpretation of "corny as Kansas in August" didn't involve any over-the-top corniness, it was just a way of explaining her upbringing, I think. When she sang "I'm in love with a wonderful guy" it felt more like she was trying to convince herself that it was OK to love Emile and she didn't really lose control of her emotions until the end of the reprise. It was a risky interpretation, but I think it paid off.
Opera singer Paulo Szot is amazing as Emile. I could literally see people swooning when he started "This Nearly Was Mine". And he was a very strong actor as well.
It's a very strong cast all around: Matthew Morrison as Cable, Danny Burstein as Billis, and the wonderful Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary are all worthy of acclaim.
It's also gorgeous scenic design, and beautifully directed to make excellent use of the the gigantic Beaumont stage. And perhaps the best sound design I've ever heard on Broadway - they were wearing body mics, of course, but it really sounded unamplified, with the sound coming from the stage as opposed to speakers elsewhere. And I could understand everything.
On the opposite side of the musical spectrum, I really enjoyed Passing Strange as well.
And I'm with you on Gypsy. I've seen it so many times (including the Bernadette Peters revival) that I couldn't bring myself to see it again this time around - as much as I love the show.
First of all, they're using the original orchestrations played by a 30 piece orchestra. THIRTY! On Broadway! Heaven.
Second, I think they really got to the core of the story in a very naturalistic way. I just believed all the characters. Kelli O'Hara is giving a very different performance as Nellie than what I expected. She was restrained. Her interpretation of "corny as Kansas in August" didn't involve any over-the-top corniness, it was just a way of explaining her upbringing, I think. When she sang "I'm in love with a wonderful guy" it felt more like she was trying to convince herself that it was OK to love Emile and she didn't really lose control of her emotions until the end of the reprise. It was a risky interpretation, but I think it paid off.
Opera singer Paulo Szot is amazing as Emile. I could literally see people swooning when he started "This Nearly Was Mine". And he was a very strong actor as well.
It's a very strong cast all around: Matthew Morrison as Cable, Danny Burstein as Billis, and the wonderful Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary are all worthy of acclaim.
It's also gorgeous scenic design, and beautifully directed to make excellent use of the the gigantic Beaumont stage. And perhaps the best sound design I've ever heard on Broadway - they were wearing body mics, of course, but it really sounded unamplified, with the sound coming from the stage as opposed to speakers elsewhere. And I could understand everything.
On the opposite side of the musical spectrum, I really enjoyed Passing Strange as well.
And I'm with you on Gypsy. I've seen it so many times (including the Bernadette Peters revival) that I couldn't bring myself to see it again this time around - as much as I love the show.
Well, sounds like a production I could at least stomach, much as I don't care for the show.
I've never much liked Gypsy either, but I loved the BP revival. First time I ever bought that Mama had enough charisma to keep people around her long after they all knew they should leave. So having finally seen a production I enjoyed, I figure I should leave well enough alone :)
I've never much liked Gypsy either, but I loved the BP revival. First time I ever bought that Mama had enough charisma to keep people around her long after they all knew they should leave. So having finally seen a production I enjoyed, I figure I should leave well enough alone :)
Macbeth and Patrick Stewart should clean up.
Patti Lupone will get it because of her namesake (not saying she isn't amazing though).
Young Frankenstein should win the scenic design.
Laurie Metcalf has a big shot at the actress award for a play (November), and 39 Steps could win for best play.
I think SITPWG will win a few awards, especially because it is a Sondheim night, but don't really expect it to be anything grand or important, with a possible chance going to Daniel Evans.
As far as the nominations for new musicals, I haven't seen any of them, but consider myself pretty well-versed on what's going on for Broadway right now and am shocked to see the less-than-spectactular shows up for nomination. Atleast the Revivial awards look interesting.
Patti Lupone will get it because of her namesake (not saying she isn't amazing though).
Young Frankenstein should win the scenic design.
Laurie Metcalf has a big shot at the actress award for a play (November), and 39 Steps could win for best play.
I think SITPWG will win a few awards, especially because it is a Sondheim night, but don't really expect it to be anything grand or important, with a possible chance going to Daniel Evans.
As far as the nominations for new musicals, I haven't seen any of them, but consider myself pretty well-versed on what's going on for Broadway right now and am shocked to see the less-than-spectactular shows up for nomination. Atleast the Revivial awards look interesting.
# posted by 
: 5/13/2008 10:54 AM
: 5/13/2008 10:54 AM
In the Heights, the most nominated show of the evening, will will awards:
Best Musical
Best Score
Best Actor
Best Choreography
Best Orchestrations
Possibly more.
It is the best musical I have ever seen live on Broadway. ALSO the most progressive in terms of the artform of musical theatre.
The night I saw Gypsy, Patti Lupone walked through the role throwing away lines left and right like they were rotten eggs. She will win the Tony Award though OVER THE MUCH BETTER Jenna Russel of Sunday in the Park with Goerge, who is giving one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Laura Benanti is a LOCK for Best Supporting actress in a musical
Boyd Gains is almost a LOCK for supporting actor in a musical.
Sunday in the Park will Win Sets and directon.
South Pacific will win Best Revival.
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Best Musical
Best Score
Best Actor
Best Choreography
Best Orchestrations
Possibly more.
It is the best musical I have ever seen live on Broadway. ALSO the most progressive in terms of the artform of musical theatre.
The night I saw Gypsy, Patti Lupone walked through the role throwing away lines left and right like they were rotten eggs. She will win the Tony Award though OVER THE MUCH BETTER Jenna Russel of Sunday in the Park with Goerge, who is giving one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Laura Benanti is a LOCK for Best Supporting actress in a musical
Boyd Gains is almost a LOCK for supporting actor in a musical.
Sunday in the Park will Win Sets and directon.
South Pacific will win Best Revival.
# posted by : 5/13/2008 3:12 PM
: 5/13/2008 3:12 PM << Home
