The Annual Tony Awards - General Discussion

[argrow]

Why is Miss Saigon still a thing? It and The King and I should be banished into musical hell.

And unfortunately, these shows are still the only way most Asian can get jobs on Broadway.

Edited June 12, 2017 by argrow

[Charlie Baker]

Kind of a strange choice for Miss Saigon, but it did showcase Ms. N.  pretty well.

[aradia22]

I love The King and I. It's a well constructed show and that score is fantastic. And the recent revival was gorgeous. 

Per that New Yorker article, I would give Miss Saigon the award for "Best Ill-Conceived Revival of a Racist Musical"

[Eureka]

4 minutes ago, ebk57 said:

Which is too bad.  The number didn't come off well on TV, but the show is quite lovely.

Miss Saigon, otoh, is a show I don't need to see again.  That was really melodramatic.

Your comment about Miss Saigon is pretty much what my DS16 just said to me.

We don't get to NYC often enough to see a ton of shows, so unfortunately, we tend go for the big ones. We're going next month and are seeing Lion King. Which is not to say I wouldn't try some of the others, but time and funds just don't allow for it as much as I'd like.

[legaleagle53]

1 minute ago, argrow said:

Why is Miss Saigon still a thing? It and The King and I should be banished into musical hell.

And unfortunately, these shows are still the only ways most Asian can get jobs Broadway.

South Pacific doesn't do them any favors, either.

[Charlie Baker]

Oh, and hello, Tony watchers. 

[aradia22]

I feel like they were hiding Alistair Brammer or whatever his name is. But it worked better than other medleys. I don't know if the ensemble needed to be there but it gave a sense of the scope of the show. 

[ebk57]

“Miss Saigon” is one of those shows that’s more like a chain restaurant than a musical.

Jesse Green in the NYT live chat.  I laughed.

[aradia22]

I love South Pacific too. But I agree that Mary and her daughter are kind of embarrassing... even if Younger Than Springtime is GORGEOUS. And the stuff with Nellie and whatshisface's kids hasn't aged well. 

Kevin Spacey keeping with the blue suit trend. By the way, what do the blue ribbons mean?

[ebk57]

2 minutes ago, Eureka said:

Your comment about Miss Saigon is pretty much what my DS16 just said to me.

We don't get to NYC often enough to see a ton of shows, so unfortunately, we tend go for the big ones. We're going next month and are seeing Lion King. Which is not to say I wouldn't try some of the others, but time and funds just don't allow for it as much as I'd like.

I understand.  I only get to NY twice a year, but fortunately, I can stay for several days and drain my bank account at will :-)

I think Lion King is a breathtaking night in the theatre.  Even if it is Lion King...

[aradia22]

Oh, for a second I thought they would actually perform something from Indecent.

Nice they gave Paula Vogel a moment though. It's going to annoy me that so many women are nominated and not winning. *cough Hello Dolly costumes cough*

[Jordan Baker]

I love that the playwrights are introducing their plays.

[Charlie Baker]

I hope Tom Sturridge's haircut is for the show.

[aradia22]

I only saw Little Foxes and liked Cynthia but I would have been OK if she lost. I didn't think her Birdie ran away with the play the way others did.

[Charlie Baker]

The statements from playwrights are fine,but yes, a clip or short scene would be nice.

[ebk57]

I recently found out that Paula Vogel went to my high school and also had her life turned around by the drama teacher.  He turned my life around too - for better or worse :-)

[aradia22]

I don't love Cynthia's dress. 

YES, EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg. Respect.

[Quof]

How does Cynthia sit in that dress? Perched on the edge of her seat?

[aradia22]

Why is she introducing Falsettos? Who knows?

Apparently Falsettos will air in October. I want a firm date so I can tape it!

[legaleagle53]

1 minute ago, Charlie Baker said:

The statements from playwrights are fine,but yes, a clip or short scene would be nice.

The problem with clips, though, is that there's no context for them, so it's often hard to figure out why that particular clip is the best representation of the play.

[aradia22]

YES! Stephanie in her workout gear!

I think with Falsettos being a little frenetic, a medley works. 

Also, God I love this cast. 

[Eureka]

I am not going to be able to stay up for this whole show because I need to get up for work tomorrow. But I am really hoping Laura Linney wins. I love her in everything she does. Enjoy the show everyone!

[aradia22]

Rachel's little red top hat. :)

Why aren't they letting Rachel do more?

YES, Great Comet for Scenic Design!

[Charlie Baker]

In the distant past--yep, I'm old--scenes from plays on the Tonys worked pretty well.  I liken it to movie clips on talk shows, sometimes they work better than others.  But they can be effective.

And it is swell indeed that all four plays are by American writers.

[aradia22]

DEH for Best Score. Sigh... I wanted Great Comet.

Anna Kendrick looks nice today. Asian-inspired but not a costume.

[mtlchick]

Oh show.  You do NOT do a live to tape  Darth Vader/Mustafa.  Ever. 

[SingerIslander]

I adore Ben Platt.  That is all.

[aradia22]

I don't think this works as well out of context... like, say Ring of Keys.

[ebk57]

After watching that, it's no wonder Ben is on vocal rest.

Still not sure I want to see the show.

[Sara2009]

1 minute ago, aradia22 said:

I don't think this works as well out of context... like, say Ring of Keys.

I think it works better out of context than any of the other songs in the show.

[Quof]

Quote

Still not sure I want to see the show.

Yeah, you do.  

And I say this as one who loathes teen angst, real or fictional. 

[mtlchick]

Quote

After watching that, it's no wonder Ben is on vocal rest.

That would explain why even though this is THE show on Broadway this season and all the press it got, I'm like "Um...how? Why?" (It doesn't help that I didn't mind La La Land, but I wasn't in love with it outside of "City of Stars.") 

[aradia22]

Quote

I think it works better out of context than any of the other songs in the show.

I mean it doesn't give that emotional punch that explains oh, this is why everyone is raving over his performance. 

TNT Shakespeare series? Sexy young Shakespeare? Ugh.

Another blue suit from Hnath

[Charlie Baker]

Sally Field looks amazing. 

[ebk57]

2 minutes ago, Quof said:

Yeah, you do.  

And I say this as one who loathes teen angst, real or fictional. 

Thanks.  I'll keep that in mind.  Of course, it doesn't help that it was here at Arena Stage last year (or the year before) and I passed on it and now I don't want to pay the NYC prices...  :-)

 

Sally Field looks great!!

[ebk57]

I do love Kevin Kline

[mtlchick]

I forgot thanks to last year's gag, we already got our "they were on Law and Order!" winner in Cynthia Nixon. 

[ebk57]

1 minute ago, aradia22 said:

Sarah Paulson's dress... I need a full view.

I was thinking the same thing!  I liked the top.

[Browncoat]

I am going to see Present Laughter this Thursday just for Kevin Kline.  So glad he won.

[Charlie Baker]

Thanks to Mr. Kline for the shout outs to the NEA and NEH.

[ebk57]

I was monetarily confused by the Tonight Show theme, but then I remembered...

[Charlie Baker]

You could interpret Cynthia Nixon's remarks as pretty political, too. 

[chitowngirl]

My daughter gave me a Broadway.com gift certificate and I want to see Present Laughter with Kevin Kline this summer. Hope tickets won't be impossible now that Kevin has won.

This does not make me want to see Grounhog Day.

Edited June 12, 2017 by chitowngirl

[mtlchick]

I was hoping he would break out the impressions.  (Prays for Walken.)

 

I am only familiar with Andy Karl from his doomed ending on...Law and Order: SVU.  But wow, can he sing! 

[Browncoat]

I got my tickets early, just in case they became impossible or terribly expensive after tonight.

[aradia22]

I want to want to see Groundhog Day and Come From Away and Dear Evan Hansen. But I'm not there yet. I'm just going to see Great Comet 2 more times. Maybe Waitress. And War Paint and Anastasia.

[SingerIslander]

I saw Andy Karl in On the Twentieth Century, the last time he was nominated, and he can do it all--act, sing, do comedy.  He's the real deal.

[ebk57]

I do want to see Groundhog Day.  I may need more than 5 days when I get there in August...

[Charlie Baker]

Groundhog's number the strongest thus far.

Bless Spacey for breaking out the Carson.  

[Jordan Baker]

12 minutes ago, aradia22 said:

I think Sally Field talking about the ATW is the closing anyone got to mentioning Trump.

Cynthia Nixon didn't mention him by name, but I assumed she was talking about Trump and his administration (at the end of her speech).