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Anybody else watch them?
A better telecast than usual. Neil Patrick Harris hosted and apparently he actually practiced this time. His past few performances at awards shows have been...subpar. As in, "I've seen better performances at a community theatre production of Annie" subpar. The opening number was a bit
. All about how Broadway isn't just for the gays anymore (um, it never was, thus sayeth the historian). His duet with former Tony host (and Tony winner) Hugh Jackman was quite hilarious. And the number from Company featuring Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks, and Patti LuPone (among others) was incredible. They actually filmed a performance of the whole musical, which is being shown in a select few movie theatres in a very limited run. At any rate.
It was clear from the beginning that Book of Mormon was going to sweep most of the Musical awards. I'm a bit skeptical, frankly. The competition was a bit weak (two of the four nominees were based on films and a bit..eh), but was it honestly THAT much better than The Scottsboro Boys?? Also, Trey Parker wore a ridiculous sparkly shirt and Matt Stone came off as a douche.
Bono and Edge introduced a song from Spiderman, even though it didn't make the Tony deadline and thus wasn't eligible. It was a ballad between Peter Parker and Mary Jane. It sucked and Bono all but insulted the entire theatre community. I hope that Julie Taymor is able to at least able to sue for a sizeable chunk of the royalties.
Two really interesting looking British imports came off with most of the Play awards. War Horse which features some amazing puppetry and Jerusalem, the type of slightly insane and cerebral comedy that British playwrights are so damn good at.
The performance from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was quite good, and Daniel Radcliffe is a surprisingly good dancer. His singing needs some help, but let's face it folks. Look at his height. Character actor all the way. He doesn't need a sultry sweet voice to succeed.
Best Revival of a Play and several acting awards went to The Normal Heart, one of the first plays written about the AIDS crisis (it debuted in 1985). Co-directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe...I'd really like to see it. I think it also features one of the guys from The Big Bang Theory, but don't quote me on that.
Robin Williams introduced an award, sporting a rather fantastic beard. I don't know if that's for his current show (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) or what.
The acceptance speeches weren't anything special. Nikki James (from Book of Mormon lost her shit, Frances McDormand was just...weird, and the dude from Jerusalem delivered a rambling monologue about walking through walls. Actors are weird people, my friends.
Chris Rock. Asshole. Enough said. The closing rap was...Okay, it was funny. But in that awkward, "White kid lamely trying to rap" way.
There was a bit of news scattered about. Samuel L. Jackson is going to star in a Broadway show as MLK, Jr. Ghost is coming to Broadway; I'm assuming as a musical.
The main reason I watch the Tony's is to see where the industry's headed. In the world of straight plays, the future looks bright. The offerings were all very different, interesting, strong subject material. No fluff. Musicals on the other hand....I worry. We just lost Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim won't be with us much longer...I'm just not seeing many composers/librettists to step up to take their place. We've got to get away from film as a source material. This season alone we had Catch Me if You Can, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Sister Act. Ghost and Addams Family are in the pipeline. I know some folks are working on A Christmas Story: The Musical. It's troubling...the musical can be a very powerful form of expression. So lets tell some new stories, 'k?
A better telecast than usual. Neil Patrick Harris hosted and apparently he actually practiced this time. His past few performances at awards shows have been...subpar. As in, "I've seen better performances at a community theatre production of Annie" subpar. The opening number was a bit
. All about how Broadway isn't just for the gays anymore (um, it never was, thus sayeth the historian). His duet with former Tony host (and Tony winner) Hugh Jackman was quite hilarious. And the number from Company featuring Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks, and Patti LuPone (among others) was incredible. They actually filmed a performance of the whole musical, which is being shown in a select few movie theatres in a very limited run. At any rate.It was clear from the beginning that Book of Mormon was going to sweep most of the Musical awards. I'm a bit skeptical, frankly. The competition was a bit weak (two of the four nominees were based on films and a bit..eh), but was it honestly THAT much better than The Scottsboro Boys?? Also, Trey Parker wore a ridiculous sparkly shirt and Matt Stone came off as a douche.
Bono and Edge introduced a song from Spiderman, even though it didn't make the Tony deadline and thus wasn't eligible. It was a ballad between Peter Parker and Mary Jane. It sucked and Bono all but insulted the entire theatre community. I hope that Julie Taymor is able to at least able to sue for a sizeable chunk of the royalties.
Two really interesting looking British imports came off with most of the Play awards. War Horse which features some amazing puppetry and Jerusalem, the type of slightly insane and cerebral comedy that British playwrights are so damn good at.
The performance from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was quite good, and Daniel Radcliffe is a surprisingly good dancer. His singing needs some help, but let's face it folks. Look at his height. Character actor all the way. He doesn't need a sultry sweet voice to succeed.
Best Revival of a Play and several acting awards went to The Normal Heart, one of the first plays written about the AIDS crisis (it debuted in 1985). Co-directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe...I'd really like to see it. I think it also features one of the guys from The Big Bang Theory, but don't quote me on that.
Robin Williams introduced an award, sporting a rather fantastic beard. I don't know if that's for his current show (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) or what.
The acceptance speeches weren't anything special. Nikki James (from Book of Mormon lost her shit, Frances McDormand was just...weird, and the dude from Jerusalem delivered a rambling monologue about walking through walls. Actors are weird people, my friends.
Chris Rock. Asshole. Enough said. The closing rap was...Okay, it was funny. But in that awkward, "White kid lamely trying to rap" way.
There was a bit of news scattered about. Samuel L. Jackson is going to star in a Broadway show as MLK, Jr. Ghost is coming to Broadway; I'm assuming as a musical.
The main reason I watch the Tony's is to see where the industry's headed. In the world of straight plays, the future looks bright. The offerings were all very different, interesting, strong subject material. No fluff. Musicals on the other hand....I worry. We just lost Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim won't be with us much longer...I'm just not seeing many composers/librettists to step up to take their place. We've got to get away from film as a source material. This season alone we had Catch Me if You Can, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Sister Act. Ghost and Addams Family are in the pipeline. I know some folks are working on A Christmas Story: The Musical. It's troubling...the musical can be a very powerful form of expression. So lets tell some new stories, 'k?