THEATRE GOSSIP #527: Tepid Tonys and Demon Barbers

The previous thread (please finish discussion there before posting here)

And I know....this is the worst thread title in human existence.

I'll allow it.

Really, OP?

OP, you're so strikingly unoriginal.

In just a few more weeks, Kimberly Akimbo (229 performances as of last Sunday) and then & Juliet (221) will no longer be eligible for an updated version of Not Since Carrie. They'll have both exceeded 250 performances. Also for those keeping score, only 14 performances kept A Strange Loop (293) from not "succeeding" Passion (280) as the shortest-running Best Musical winner.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is on Jeopardy tonight. Dazzling chap, that Andrew!

I predict we'll plough through this thread before the Tonys so there's always another chance at a witty bitchy twitchy Tony title thread.

I've seen worse titles, OP.

Read through the description of the Encores! "Pal Joey" - it ain't the original show, it ain't gonna be the re-vamped script, it certainly isn't the Patti/Gallagher version (also an Encores! production) nor will it resemble the Stockard Channing version.

The show is being handed over to people who will do what they want with it, including addition of at least 8 R&H songs. One word to repeat... woke, woke, woke.

Is it about Liza and Lorna's little brother and his special relationship with a certain color?

R9 So long as Billy is allowed nowhere near the script.

ALW is IN jeopardy!

R6, He was earnestly promoting Bad Cinderella.

And how in hell is Ms. Palladino going to improve MATTRESS? Wish Mary Rodgers were around to comment.

Once Upon a Mattress is the title of the next volume of my memoirs.

Awww, r13, that is sad.

[quote]He was earnestly promoting Bad Cinderella.

What is a lost cause, Mayim?

I've seen worse titties....

What I really don’t understand is why is Encores doing Pal Joey again when they did it before and that performance was recorded?

There are so many shows to do other than the same shows over and over

The characters in Kimberly Akimbo are so unlikable and nobody in the cast has a good singing voice. It’s baffling how this show has been the frontrunner for so long.

Pal Joey is not technically Encores. It's the fall City Center Benefit.

[quote]What I really don’t understand is why is Encores doing Pal Joey again when they did it before and that performance was recorded?

For one obvious reason....

[quote]The characters in Kimberly Akimbo are so unlikable and nobody in the cast has a good singing voice.

Are you seriously claiming that Victoria Clark does not have "a good singing voice", r20?

Leopoldstadt is an utter bore and completely predictable.

It's true that - SPOILER ALERT! - we knew that lots of people died in the holocaust, r24.

[quote]The characters in Kimberly Akimbo are so unlikable and nobody in the cast has a good singing voice. It’s baffling how this show has been the frontrunner for so long.

I think most people would agree that the character of the aunt is unlikable, although she's very entertaining in her outrageousness, and it's arguable that Kimberly's mother and father are unlikable as well -- but Kimberly and her young boyfriend are tremendously likable, as are the four other kids. Victoria Clark has a glorious voice, and Bonnie Milliegan and Alli Mauzey have the right vocal chops for their characters. So shut up, R20.

Trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin, trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin', trollin', rawhiiiiide!

Have any other prominent musicians performed on Broadway? Did you see any of their performances? Was anyone good? The biggest must have been Madonna in that Mamet play.

Then there was Sara Sara Bareilles and Sting in their own shows. And, Cyndi Lauper did Threepenny Opera before she composed Kinky Boots.

And, to be clear, I'm not talking about concerts, but about musicians/singers ACTING in plays or musicals on Broadway. And, if it isn't clear, I'm referring to people who are known first and primarily as singers/musicians.

R28, Debbie Gibson has appeared on Broadway several times:

Sting did "The Threepenny Opera" too, and David Bowie did "The Elephant Man."

Rex Smith and Linda Ronstadt did Pirates of Penzance. Reba did Annie get Your Gun.

Steve Lawrence did What Makes Sammy Run?

Steve and Eydie did Golden Rainbow

A Jonas Brother shat on Les Miz.

Nick Jonas did How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Gladys Knight in 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' but she didn't have to act.

Does Harry Connick Jr. count?

Joan Jett did Rocky Horror. SebastiAn Bach did RH and Jekyll. Deborah Harry did Teaneck Tanzi the wrestling play. Meat Loaf did the original Ricky Horror

Seeing Madonna in Speed the Plow is an experience I will never forget.

[quote] Seeing Madonna in Speed the Plow is an experience I will never forget.

I saw Lindsay Lohan do it on the Est End. Or try to...

I didn't see this mentioned in this thread - my apologies if we already discussed in the last one.

It was just announced. I wish someone else was directing.

I'm available for Sister James!

I love Tyne but her casting in this is just too on the nose. I can see her entire performance in my mind right now.

Producers are holding private industry readings of Golden Rainbow.

R45 - talk about a free-wheeling patio number! Wow!

Tony Awards have gendered actor categories — where do non-binary people fit?

I agree I’m kinda ho-hum about this as well.

Tyne is a brilliant actress but I would have loved to have seen someone else do this part and be a true revelation

Succession’s roots were in theater. That’s why it was great:

Laverne Cox IS Sister Aloysius!

A Tight-Rope Walk to the Tony Awards: How ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Creators Struck a Delicate Balance of Humor and Heartache:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1971, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" opened at the John Golden Theatre.

To [R477] in last thread:

The National Theatre production of “Leopoldstadt” was filmed and shown in the U.K. I assume it will show up in the U.S., sometime after the Broadway run. (Will there be a tour with such a big cast?)

The video is quite good, and, I’d say, about 4 minutes or so longer, mostly in the “1938” section, when the Nazi official is somewhat gleefully tormenting the family. Very effective, but creatives of the Broadway version may have felt it wasn’t needed.

What you don’t get as much in the video is less views of the entire family, showing them being gradually winnowed down.

But overall well worth seeing.

Roundabout is in free fall. Todd Haimes' death is just going to speed it along. And this production of Doubt isn't going to help one bit. No one needs to see a low-rent production of this when they can access the film (superior in every way) from their living rooms.

......

Whaddya mean "ellipses", r55???

“Doubt” will be a big hit. I saw the original and would go back for this casting. Daly and Schreiber, along with Laurie Metcalf, are often underestimated but they know how to fully live inside their characters.

Daly herself doesn't bring in ticket buyers anymore, if she ever really did. I don't know how Schreiber will do, but I would assume that his biggest fan base isn't going to be interested in seeing him play a priest who molested an underage black boy

Was anyone else cool to Doubt the first time around? I saw the national tour (with Cherry reprising her performance from Broadway,) and I left being mildly impressed. I'm not sure I got the hype, though I do think it's wonderful that there was a time a non-musical play could still be a hit on Broadway without massive movie stars.

Julie Benko's been announced for Barry Manilow's HARMONY so I guess she won't be the national tour Fanny. Perhaps they'll go with the other current alternate/understudy. Or perhaps they'll audition an impressive unknown for a mini 'star is born' moment.

There isn't an LA stop on the tour (yet), so I wonder if Lea might come back for LA.

The remaining living Roundabout subscribers will eat it up with a spoon.

Did Lea ever reveal the thing she's doing next? Wasn't she supposed to go directly into another play/musical?

Man, the union has gotten quite ugly about "here lies, love..." What they don't know is the general public finds any notion of "minimums" ridiculous. It's what people find unfair and wrong. They may be able to hype up some theater kids, but the public won't care.

Why the fuck is MTC bringing that ghastly Prayers For The French Republic to Broadway? We've already seen this story done much better in Leopoldstadt.

Oh, dear. Another crap season at The Public.

Wasn't that Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Liev and Janet McTeer a huge flop at The Roundabout few years ago? I don't think he sells tickets either.

What's on at the Public? (I loved Fat Ham, but that was considered the prior season, right?)

R66. Laura Linney and Ben Daniels starred in the Roundabout flop of Liaisons. Liev and McTeer did a flop revival at the Booth I believe.

If there's an LA stop for Funny Girl then Lea will most certainly do it if she's available. I always assumed Benko would do the tour but glad she booked something new.

The Doubt revival....

[quote] arrives courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company and will be directed by Tony Award nominee Scott Ellis “Take Me Out”).

Hey, if we get a scene where Liev is full frontal and half mast in the showers I am SO there.

Tour Fanny = Pia

[quote]Seeing Madonna in Speed the Plow is an experience I will never forget.

That was the peak of her fame, right?

It was post LIKE A VIRGIN and TRUE BLUE albums, Who's That Girl World Tour, and DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN movie, which were all very popular.

Or did she become even bigger post 1988, with LIKE A PRAYER and IMMACULATE COLLECTION albums and Blonde Ambition World Tour?

[quote] Madonna

Who?

R67, here is a breakdown of the Public's new season:

I strain in vain to train Madonna’s brain

R74 - is this an original, new score by Alicia Keys or is she just lending her existing catalogue to the musical? I read the synopsis and instantly envisioned Empire State of Mind, Falling, This Girl Is on Fire, You Don't Know My Name etc. fitting the plot.

I know what it's like to be bad.

I've been bad.

Again.

I know what it's like to be bad. I

'Ve been bad.

[quote]is this an original, new score by Alicia Keys or is she just lending her existing catalogue to the musical?

It's a little of column A, a little of column B.

So Grey House opened but there are no reviews?

R79, I'm pretty sure that they've asked the critics to hold off due to Tatiana Maslany's having missed a week of performances because of COVID.

R79. Tatiana has been out with COVID. Understudy performed at opening. Critics will review when Tatiana is back which I think might be tonite.

The reviews are going to be terrible. People are leaving at intermission.

MikeR once got invited to Steve's in Turtle Bay. A friend of a friend connection. He said that he never really believed the dungeon rumors, but when he went to use the guest bathroom, he noticed the door next to the bathroom was padlocked. Who knows, perhaps just storage. I suppose if he were desperate to see he could have pried the door open. He had such a firm grip. I learned that after a Saturday matinee of How to Succeed in San Jose. I visited him backstage and said I couldn't stay long as my lower back injury was flaring up and was killing me. He had none of that and before I knew it, he had me in my scanties facedown on his Corinthian leather settee. His hand were surprisingly large for a man of his moderate stature and he did wonders for that knot in my lower back. You haven't really had the true backstage experience until you've felt the full weight of a regional theatre star's body in the curve of your back.

R83 reports, "You haven't really had the true backstage experience until you've felt the full weight of a regional theatre star's body in the curve of your back."

I hear that many of Ken Berry's costars at the Kenley Players said the same.

What curve?

I would have gladly let Ken Berry rest on the curve of my back, at least in this particular era.....

R75 and R77 - thank you, thank you, thank you. I looked for, but couldn't find that song from Forbidden Broadway.

Justify my love...

Justify your acting!

[quote] The reviews are going to be terrible. People are leaving at intermission.

They've added an intermission to Grey House?

r86

He looks so different in season 1-2 of Mama's Family than in Season 3+... he had some work done

Tyne Daily isn't not exactly a nuanced actress.

I have my own doubts.

HARV!

R89 you mean plastic surgery?

No, Rose, R89 meant a penis implant.

Liev should play the Nun.

Oh dear, r90.

r91, it's HAWV!

R94 Liev should play the boy.

Why?

So is this going to be Laurie Metcalf’s first Broadway disaster?

There was no intermission at yesterday's matinee. Unfortunately.

R98, Laurie Metcalf's Broadway credits include MISERY (a bomb, though she did get a Tony nomination) and the David Cromer Neil Simon fiasco. So . . . no.

Why would anybody blame Laurie, r98? It's the play. It happens.

Deadline reviews "Grey House":

NYT:

The NY Times has a hit headline for a pan review.

They have to give them *something* to use in the ads, r104.

"I laughed, I cried. It was better than Children! Children!"

Not everything can be Balm in Gilead.

[quote] So is this going to be Laurie Metcalf’s first Broadway disaster?

Laurie's first Broadway show was a disaster.

Wait—the Public killed the Under the Radar Festival? Well, thank God we at least get an Alicia Keys musical.

It's time for Oskar Eustis to step aside. Eighteen years at the helm is more than enough.

Who the hell actually is MikeR?

Critics mostly are unable to admit they had no idea what Grey House is about.

Not this critic. It sucked and made no sense.

American Airlines Theatre is being renamed the Todd Haimes Theatre.

R113 - that's very nice, but, presumably, American Airlines paid quite handsomely for the naming rights, so I assume that means Roundabout will lose that revenue.

I believe the naming rights were set to expire next year anyway.

Ah, R115, that makes sense. And, perhaps they already had indications AA didn't intend to renew the rights.

[quote]I believe the naming rights were set to expire next year anyway.

I assumed that was part of the story. Similar to the Cadillac Winter Garden.

Here's the article with details on the renaming:

By all means, let's rename the theatre for a guy who screwed over practically every actor who had the misfortune to work with Roundabout.

Tony Nominees Roundtable:

‘Fat Ham’ announces Broadway extension:

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES Starring Kelli O'Hara & Brian d'Arcy James Extended:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1982, "Blues in the Night" opened at the Rialto Theatre, the final production to play that house.

Of course Ben Platt is involved. He never misses an opportunity to talk about himself

Watch the Full Number 'Light' From "New York, New York," Filmed Live on Stage:

Happy Jeremy o harrisz‘s birthday

What about the Hal Prince Theater?

r125 - that was actually lovely. Almost makes me want to get a ticket.

I'd totally forgot about that one, r123.

[quote]‘Fat Ham’ announces Broadway extension:

Isn't it only grossing around 300k weekly?

New York NY manages the near fear of being worse than Some Like It

FAT HAM pushed UP its closing date and has now pushed it back a little. If that's an actually an extension is debatable.

Pretty ridiculous Ben continues to buy into the idea those Neo-Nazi protestors weren't hired to get press for Parade.

I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road

....... was parodied by Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara on Second City Television as "I'm Taking My Own Head, Screwing It On Right, and No Guy's Gonna Tell Me it Ain't" in 1981.

does a clip exist??

This is all I can find, r134...

[quote] Pretty ridiculous Ben continues to buy into the idea those Neo-Nazi protestors weren't hired to get press for Parade.

But what would you like him to say?

That NY NY number is OK I guess but hardly makes me want to see the show. Low energy, the costumes and wigs look dreary and unflattering. No sex appeal! I'm surprised they're not featuring a dance number for promotional purposes.

Agreed, r137, except I like the costumes.

Video: How Emilio Sosa Designed 5 Shows on Broadway This Season (And Got 2 Tony Nominations):

Yes, because Neo-Nazis are so easy to hire, and you could so easily hire them to fake protest a Broadway show and you could so easily dupe The NY Times that did the research and verified.

Secretly hiring real Nazis to protest your own Broadway show is like something out of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'

Ramin jiggles his tits. Shame about the small feet. What are those... size 7?

[quote]Yes, because Neo-Nazis are so easy to hire, and you could so easily hire them to fake protest a Broadway show and you could so easily dupe The NY Times that did the research and verified.

Your points are good, and I highly doubt that the neo-Nazis were "hired" to protest the show as a publicity stunt. That said, many people, myself included, can't understand why the neo-Nazis decided to protest a preview performance rather than the official opening of the show, when they would have gotten FAR more publicity, nor can we understand why they only protested once and never showed up again.

Who knew their were gay theater loving Nazis.

[quote]Yes, because Neo-Nazis are so easy to hire, and you could so easily hire them to fake protest a Broadway show and you could so easily dupe The NY Times that did the research and verified.

The NY Times have lost a lot of credibility at this point, so I'm not convinced by their so-called research and journalism.

*

I was never a fan of Todd Haimes and the Roundabout because I never liked the way the company got away with (and still gets away with) paying people at an institutional theater level even though the the theater itself behaves nothing at all like an institutional theater. Also, I've always felt that the company under Haimes did a lot of "star fucking" in terms of hiring big names for many of their shows whether they were well cast or not, and in fact, a lot of those shows turned out very badly.

But the moment I lost all respect for Haimes was when he disavowed any responsibility for the Roundabout's disastrous production of "Bye, Bye Birdie." He was interviewed at the time and basically said that the responsibility was not his but that of the director and the team who had cast the show and put it together. The thing is, the title Haimes held at that point was "artistic director," and because of that title, it seemed to me that he should have accepted ultimate responsibility for the debacle. But no.

[quote]The NY Times have lost a lot of credibility at this point, so I'm not convinced by their so-called research and journalism.

Yes, I should have mentioned that as well.

Thank you, Mr. Haimes...

[quote]That said, many people, myself included, can't understand why the neo-Nazis decided to protest a preview performance rather than the official opening of the show, when they would have gotten FAR more publicity, nor can we understand why they only protested once and never showed up again.

Neo-Nazis are not well known for their common sense. r143. They probably figured the1st night's performance *was* opening night. They did know that if they came back the next day, there would be trouble.

They sure showed those libs, though!

There is no chance that it was a publicity stunt of behalf of the show.

Let’s not forget how Roundabout fucked up Boys from Syracuse with their horribly revised version, just a few years after Encores had a triumphant production of the original show.

The idea that anyone involved in Parade would risk career-killing reputational harm by hiring neo-Nazis to picket outside the theater is preposterous.

r147, while I agree with a lot of your opinions about The Roundabout and maybe even Todd, I simply can't believe he would have spoken anywhere on record and blame a director for one of his productions, even if he felt that way. That was just not his style and, yes, I knew him and worked with him on several projects. Can you provide a link for his supposed statement?

I didn't think so.

How is the Nick Cordero Theatre coming?

a look any number of dataloungers could pull off!!

go Ben!

R155 Coal Mining Lesbian Chic.

Wasn't that the bridesmaids outfit at Beanie's theatre camp wedding last weekend?

The sad thing is Ben probably pays a stylist alot of money to dress him like that. Gomer Pyle chic.

R153, he didn't specifically blame the director as in saying "I blame the director," but he effectively did so because he certainly did disclaim any personal responsibility for that horrendous production, even though he was the company's artistic director and hired the no-talent director (Robert Longbottom) in the first place. I will try to find a link to support my memory of what happened, but that may prove to be quite difficult.

I was turned into a big paper bag by the Wicked Witch of the East.

r159 - gosh, you certainly hold a grudge, don't you?

R109 The Public cancelling their experimental festival because it didn’t make money is bold!!

Under the Radar included a lot of experimental small scale international work - things that would be too small for places like BAM or for commercial Off-Broadway runs.

Nobody’s going to bring those to New York now.

I’ll bet for this Pal Joey rewrite they are making Vera the club owner so Holliday can sing Vera’s songs. Has Holliday ever learned how to act? I’m certainly not sure anyone needs to hear her soulful styling of “Bewitched.”

R164, Complete with spritzing saliva.

[quote]The sad thing is Ben probably pays a stylist alot of money to dress him like that.

Oh, dear.

R163-What's bold is Oskar makes 1.2 million a year and they've cancelled Under The Radar because of financial concerns. Oskar needs to fucking move on.

[quote]I’ll bet for this Pal Joey rewrite they are making Vera the club owner so Holliday can sing Vera’s songs. Has Holliday ever learned how to act? I’m certainly not sure anyone needs to hear her soulful styling of “Bewitched.”

Of all the songs in the existing score of PAL JOEY, there are very few that could work if sung by Jennifer Holliday, so aside from exactly how her character fits into the story, it will be interesting to see what songs they drag in from other Rodgers & Hart scores for her. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they give her "The Lady is a Tramp."

It was my understanding that these types of shows are done specifically to hear the songs sung as written for golden time’s sake.

How does shoe-horning Rodgers and Hart’s trunk numbers to satisfy hiring Jennifer Holliday in a cameo, achieve this?

R169, Encores! has sometimes veered away from that in the past. But also, for what it's worth, this PAL JOEY will not be part of the Encores! season but instead will be a separate gala presentation of City Center.

As Parade was last year, A Chorus Line the year before, and that beautiful production of Brigadoon.

Regarding UTR:

[quote] What's bold is Oskar makes 1.2 million a year and they've cancelled Under The Radar because of financial concerns. Oskar needs to fucking move on.

Word on the street is that UTR budget was $500K give or take or 1/2 Oskar's salary.

Look for the announcement of a new "revisal" of DAMN YANKEES in the near future.

Nothing is safe.

R173 Alex Newell IS Lola. Lea DeLaria IS Applegate!

It's already happened, R173 -- DAMN YANKEES was revised extensively by Jack O'Brien decades ago (starring a pre-CHICAGO Bebe Neuwirth).

If memory serves, the more recent one at City Center (with Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski) hewed closer to the original text.

Ah, Brigadoon! Starring Robbie Fairchild's kilted thighs!

How much more revised can Damn Yankees get? Is Lola-Applegate going to be played for pathos? Steroids jokes?

Semi- hard locker room scene with Jesse

If Alex Newell played Lola, they could rename it Damn Twinkies and it would consist of three hours watching zir eat Hostess snack cakes.

R178 - People keep talking about giving Lea an honorary Tony. They should give one to Jesse Williams. The way that water streamed off of his dong was the coup de théâtre of the season.

R180. You call THAT a coup de theatre?

Did the people in the front row get to bathe in Jesse's dickwater? 🍆💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 That's my kind of interactive show.

r175, well, mark my words, DAMN YANKEES is indeed getting yet another "revisal" and the libretto will be by one of Broadway's favorite playwrights/librettists.

Oh, God ... Harvey?!

Wow, when McNulty thinks you've shit the bed, you must be horrible. Transparent: The mUsical review from the LA Times.

That's my first guess, r184.

Yes, the Hayes-Krakowski-Jackson production at City Center used the original script, score, and orchestrations.

The Transparent review is quite a pan. Tina Landau is a sinking fast.

The Transparent musical sounds dreadful.

Making it a play somehow would have been fine - it's not everyone's cup of tea but I could see it being condensed to a decent two act.

R187, That was an excellent production.

What number do we think the Sweeney Todd cast will perform on the Tonys? The number that of course best showcases the two leads is A Little Priest, but it's far too long for the Tonys and is too much of a spoiler. The Ballad is of course a good showcase for the ensemble, but Groban is barely featured. My Friends is gorgeous, but its languid pace may not be a great seller for the production. Worst Pies in London is a showstopper, but do you really have Groban on the Tonys and just have him sitting there reacting? I guess there's no perfect answer, but I hope they don't attempt some awkwardly disjointed medley.

[quote]Yes, the Hayes-Krakowski-Jackson production at City Center used the original script, score, and orchestrations.

And it worked just fine. No need for a revisal.

I wonder what number they will do from Kimberly Akimbo. The anagram song is sweet but so low-key. Bonnie Milligan’s big check washing number is a show-stopper and might sell a few tickets.

Is mlop mentioned in Chita's memoirs?

A Little Priest for the Tonys.

Maybe they'll do Nothing's Gonna Harm You and Groban will be like Bette Midler and not perform during the telecast for some reason.

R 191, no one goes to Sweeney Todd not knowing that people are killed and eaten.

The merchandize table has bigger spoilers than Little Priest.

r197 - I don't mean a spoiler in that sense, but more that it's often seen as the marquee 'big' number in the show and so... do you "give it away" for free on the Tonys?

CBS has 3 hours to fill with limited improv patter. Each musical should do 3 numbers.

r199 - oh, good point! Perhaps, this year, musical numbers CAN be longer. I wonder if they'd attempt anything for the plays this year. I never thought it worked, but in some years they presented excerpts from the plays, too.

Oh yeah, pieces of Ain't No Mo and Fat Ham are really gonna wow 'em in Peoria!

I haven't seen Ain't No More, but, actually Fat Ham is probably one of the better candidates for that treatment given that Juicy speaks directly to the audience at times to guide them along, plus, it's very funny. But, yeah, that wouldn't work for most plays one imagines.

So, apparently the Sweeney tour has been announced and they're going to do it with the full 27 piece orchestra. That's a pleasant surprise. Presumably, most of the musicians will be local hires at tour stops.

With the first hour streaming, how will CBS fill the 3 hours without extra musical numbers and scenes from nominated plays?

[quote] witty bitchy twitchy Tony title thread

I think this should literally be the next thread title!

I mean, if you're from Peoria and watching the Tony Awards, you're up for anything ...

When you are from Peoria, you have to think of something

Aaron Schock never missed the Tonys as a Peoria teen. Apparently his parents missed the importance of that fact.

Did anyone else watch "On Stage" this weekend with Frank DiLella? It was his annual Tony predictions special. One of his guests was Johnny Oleksinski from the NY Post, who really came off like the most unhappy person. He had a scowl on his face throughout the entire program and at the end basically declared that he didn't really like anything this season. He's actually kind of cute behind the glasses (and I even admire his no-holds-barred honesty) but perhaps appearing on TV just isn't his thing.

I'm with Johnny.

He didn't like ANYTHING the entire season? Granted, it was not a great year for new musicals, but there was strong work in new plays, play revivals and musical revivals.

R211, during their discussion I believe he did express admiration for "Topdog/Underdog" and "Kimberly Akimbo"; however, at the end when Frank asked them to each give their final reflections on the season, he said he didn't really like anything and that the one show he did like and wished was eligible for Tonys was Bruce Norris's new play, "Downstate," which played Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons.

Jesse should get a special Tony, indeed.

I am STILL dickmatized.

Johnny....so butch!

I think Lea should do her big love scene from Spring Awakening, but with Jesse not Groff… that would get them going in Peoria, and in Hell´s Kitchen.

A couple of corrections regarding Oleksinski: I just rewatched to make sure I didn't misquote him and I did on two points: (a) at the end he did not say he "didn't like anything this season," he said he "didn't care much for this season." And (b) I was wrong, he did not like "Kimberly Akimbo."

Is there a link to the di Lella programme??

Johnny at least was a welcome. contrast to diLella's tiresome and saccharine take on everything. And who in the hell is the T&C gal? Do they even cover theater in that magazine?

Next Monday:

Julie Benko at Night of 1,000 Judys

Monday, June 12th at 7PM

Joe's Pub

The 11th annual Night Of A Thousand Judys – the all-star Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center - will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. The event will feature performances by Tony Award winner Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill on Broadway), Telly Leung (“Glee,” Aladdin on Broadway), Alexandra Silber (Grammy nominee, Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway), T. Oliver Reid (Hadestown on Broadway), and more.

I think Johnny is kind of cute, janky teeth and all. And his hairy chest is sort of sexy.

I was on a LONG (8-hour) drive today and spent most of dividing my listening between the SiriusXM Broadway and Radio Classics channels. I was surprised to hear a broadcast of a CBS Workshop program called "Subways Are for Sleeping." Although I'm familiar with the name of the Comden/Green/Styne Broadway musical, I know little about it, so I wasn't sure if the Workshop episode had any connection to the musical. When I got home I looked it up and discovered that both used a 1956 Harper's magazine story as their source material. Now that I know the story (at least as it was told in the CBS Workshop), I'd be interested to see a revival of the musical.

& Juliet seems to be going hard for any Tonys it can get. They performed on GMA recently, and they'll be on The View on Tuesday.

r221, if a minimal staging by Musicals in. Mufti was any indication, a revival of SUBWAYS is not a good idea. The book. is a total mess and a good indication of its failure in the original. Nonetheless, the OCB is a pure delight and beautifully produced. Stick with that.

But the critics loved it! Oh, wait...

How does this Lapine nepobaby keep getting work, and always doing Sondeim?

[quote]Who knew their were gay theater loving Nazis.

Mel Brooks?

The first time Sweeney Todd was nominated for a Tony they did A Little Priest on the awards night, but they truncated it. You could do that to Sondheim in those days.

Hell, you can do it now.

[quote] The first time Sweeney Todd was nominated for a Tony they did A Little Priest on the awards night, but they truncated it. You could do that to Sondheim in those days.

They did "Worst Pies in London."

R227, Wrong, sweetie. The Worst Pies in London was performed on the 1979 Tony’s @ 31:15.

Huh. Apologies. The one I'm thinking of must have been in a 1970s retrospective or something, because I've definitely seen it and it was definitely the Tonys.

[quote]How does this Lapine nepobaby keep getting work, and always doing Sondheim?

Is this a serious question? Or haven't you noticed that she directs shows that were co-written by her father, who therefore holds part of the rights and can dictate who directs a show or else deny permission for it to be produced?

It’s his niece - his daughter Phoebe is a gluten free chef on Instagram….

Sorry, I meant uncle, not father.

[quote] Huh. Apologies. The one I'm thinking of must have been in a 1970s retrospective or something, because I've definitely seen it and it was definitely the Tonys.

Lansbury performed "By the Sea" at the 1981 Tonys in a retrospective (and briefly mangles a lyric). But I don't remember "A Little Priest" ever having been performed at the Tonys.

Perhaps LuPone and Cerveris?

R235, Angela and Len performed it at Sondheim’s 75th birthday concert in 2005.

The Ceveris/LuPone Sweeney did a medley of "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "The Worst Pies in London," and "My Friends."

Nominees announced for 2023 Actors’ Equity ensemble award:

Patti LuPone wrote Jordan E Cooper a letter about ‘Ain’t No Mo’’:

R217, NY1 seems to have posted it in separate parts. Here's the first segment (hopefully these links will work):

Well I wrote a letter to Jason Robert Brown about Parade. Where the fuck is MY article???

Here is part two:

I wrote a letter to NY1 asking them to ban Frank DiLella. Where's MY Tony Award??

TheaterMania's Tony predictions:

How a Text Exchange Between Jeremy O. Harris and Rachel Brosnahan Led to the Broadway Transfer of ‘The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window’:

Ugh, I hope neither Annaleigh Ashford or Alex Newell win. She gives the same nasal performance in everything and he is the epitome of oversinger.

‘New York, New York’s’ Colton Ryan is literally lighting up the city:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1980, a revival of "The Music Man" opened at City Center.

Much ado today about Helen Shaw's New Yorker expose on James Grissom and the veracity of his Follies of God interviews with Tennessee Williams and Tenn's leading ladies.

Sorry, I seem to be unable to link the article but it's dynamite. It's all over my Facebook feed.

Here you go, R250

I could totally relate to Johnny Oleksinski as he sat there gloomily frowning, listening to those 3 fools rave about a mediocre theatre season.

Thanks for posting the 2 videos.

It took 10 seconds to find this—

R253, R250 didn't say he couldn't find it, he said he had trouble linking it.

That took an extra 5 seconds. That is all.

James Grissom is a bitch on Twitter. For some reason he hates Martha Plimpton. Maybe she was on to him?

The Plimpton episode is described in the linked "New Yorker" article at R253.

[quote]the calcifying effects of time and “monumental accretions of toxins self-administered”

Boy, can *I* relate.

Grissom has deleted his FB and Twitter.

Lois Smith is defending Grissom on Instagram.

Lois Smith is on Instagram?? What's her handle?

Grissom is still on FB

@SluttyOldSlut666

Grissom has posted a couple of Lois Smith's emails on Facebook, which defend him. I don't believe Ms Smith is on social media.

Grissom seems to live in his own version of reality. A bit sad, but mostly harmless, it seems.

Grissom, meet Sessums.

Lying Grissom > Messhy Sesshie

The quotes on the Follies of God website are on the same level as—

"In the end it's not the amount of years in your life, but the amount of life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln

[quote]A bit sad, but mostly harmless, it seems

r265...

[quote]If you’re a Williams scholar, or a Pinter devotee, or a Brando biographer, though, the issue seems clear-cut: Grissom is confusing an already fragile record. William J. Mann, the biographer, said, “There’s great harm in it. We’re living in a period right now where facts increasingly don’t matter.” That said, he’s willing to give “Follies” a certain place. “I love fan fiction! I love historical fiction,” Mann said. “But don’t pass it off as truth.”

I knew Grissom was a fraud when I read his phony book.

non paywall link to New Yorker article

So Anthony Ramos says he's playing Mozart in a revival of Amadeus? Let's cast LMM as Salieri and make it a total shitshow. Worse, let LMM direct so we get a completely inappropriate cast of bewigged Austrians.

Everyone who ever read Grissom knew he was a fake.

No historical record could be confused because no one ever believed anything he said.

R272. Yea, ‘cause Tom Hulce and Cynthia Nixon were so damned Austrian in the film. And it’s not like anyone in Vienna at the time would be Spanish, or speak Spanish or look Spanish…oh, wait: the other half of the ruling family came from SPAIN! 🧐

R274 He is too fucking old.

It’s make believe!

Grissom is just the guy to write "Follies of George Santos: Kitara Ravache and the Women of Icaraí Beach."

Lizzo as Mozart! She's musical!

I don’t object to the casting. I object to reviving Amadeus.

It’s a clunky, stagey, out-dated work that has aged terribly compared to the film.

No revival of Amadeus in London has ever succeeded. The play sucks.

R279 - interesting. Glad you mentioned the film as I still love it. Milos Forman was a wonderful director. I wonder if Tim Curry or Ian McKellen were considered for the film.

Lois Smith looks quite enamored of Grissom when she and Kathleen Chalifant helped him launch the book.

Alternative facts

I imagine it's a mix of truth and exaggeration with this Grissom guy. Perhaps he really did meet Williams. He's certainly met at least some of the theatre and film luminaries in the book and on his site. No doubt he's also exaggerated and plain made up some of those encounters and/or lavishly embellished the quotes and anecdotes from them.

Either way, hopefully he saved his nickels. Doubt anyone's hiring or publishing him again.

Remember Grissom was the guy who wanted to burn the American Theater to the ground after the George Floyd killing. He also came for Mx. Jordan Roth.

[quote] Or at least Bernadette kept doing it

So did Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot, who returned to South Pacific specifically for the filming.

Speaking of the widow Wittenberg, they announced the full cast of the run of Old Friends.

Seems like the whole cast is returning except for Judi Dench, HBC, Damien Lewis and Michael Ball.

Will the musical numbers be the same basically?

From chris jones review of Days of Wine and Roses

[quote] I’ve long been inescapably in the tank for Guettel; I listen to his score for “The Light in the Piazza,” on an almost weekly basis

Oh, mary.

Piazza had a few nice melodies. Days of Wine & Roses, on the other hand…

How will the Here Lies Love musicians dispute end? Union picketing outside of the theatre during show time is not a pretty picture. Is David Byrne's obstinacy to blame for all of it? Ruthie Ann Miles was smart to pass....did she know something?

Had the Beggar Woman ever received a Tony nomination before? That’s kind of cool.

Jordan Fisher announced on Instagram that he's leaving ST on June 18th.

Would anyone even notice?

Julie Benko will be your Fabulous Fanny all week!!!

No, r291. Beggar Woman rarely gets the attention and pride of place in the line-up as she does in this production. Not sure there's ever been a Tony winner cast in the role either. Not sure I'd nominate her for an award though.

Victoria Clark did the role in San Francisco opposite Patti LuPone for the video and let’s just say…it’s not her best work

r287 - I don't think that's the complete list of original cast who won't be in this extended mounting. I don't have the list in front of me, but, for example, Imelda isn't doing this run (not that that's a bad thing in my book.) I'll actually be in London during the tail end of the run, but the televised concert was... less than thrilling for me and Bernadette's singing is becoming a high wire act these days that literally makes me anxious for her, as an audience member. So... probably skipping this one!

R297 thank you! I forgot about Imelda. I wonder if Peters will get the Gypsy song then or if they will just cut it.

I wonder what all songs Salonga will get since she’s co-billed as the lead

Tovah Feldshuh will not perform June 27th through July 13th, July 28th through 30th and August 17th through August 25th.

Tovah was great when I saw her in Funny Girl a few months ago. She seemed to be really enjoying her time back on Broadway.

Re: Jordan Fisher, no, I had no idea who he was prior to Sweeney, but I'm 43. He definitely has a fanbase that was coming out to see him. Obviously not on the Groban level, but every butt in a seat matters, even the shrieking multi-cat owning type.

He was out the night I saw Sweeney and his understudy was excellent. I wonder if they'll have the understudy take over or if they'll try to get a mid-tier name again.

TheaterMania's Tony predictions for the plays:

Matthew Lopez talks SLIH and remaking "The Bodyguard":

Josh Groban Q&A:

The cast of Broadway Backwards performs 'One Day More':

r304 - Groban seems like a good egg and more self-aware than you might expect. His recent Fresh Air interview was interesting, too. And you can hear how much reverence he has for Sondheim and for the Sweeney actors who came before him. I wasn't a fan before seeing him in the show, but I became a convert.

(Well.. a convert to his theatrical performances. He can keep his syrupy recording career)

Oh, excuse the double-post, but I forgot that Fresh Air puts some of their interviews on YouTube. Easier to listen for some folks...

Matthew Lopez is so down-market and reeks of mediocre schooling.

[quote]Beggar Woman rarely gets the attention and pride of place in the line-up as she does in this production. Not sure there's ever been a Tony winner cast in the role either.

Really?

R309 surprised or shocked?

Chicago has PERSONALITY!

Oh, honey...

But does Personality have Wessonality?

Ignoring the blood, looked kinda hot.

r314, it's hot even with the blood!

OOPS, r309. Totally forgot. But that kind of luxury casting would never happen for a long. run.

[quote]Jordan Fisher announced on Instagram that he's leaving ST on June 18th.

I thought he was one of the weaker links in the production. Would be nice if they cast someone with a more legit voice to succeed him.

Groban's Sweeney was so milk toast, I was hoping he'd take the razor to himself. It was like watching the debate coach play Sweeney.

[quote]Groban's Sweeney was so milk toast

Trump has entered the conversation.

R318 - he was surprisingly good when I saw him. I was DEEPLY skeptical bout his casting, too.

The night I saw him, he knocked over Annaleigh in the freewheeling patio number.

For better or for worse, it's the production with the neighborhood DILF as Sweeney.

Eldergays, a couple of questions about the original production of Annie.

Did any of you see any of the Miss Hannigan replacements? How did they compare to Dorothy L?

[quote]Alice Ghostley, Betty Hutton, Marcia Lewis, Dolores Wilson, June Havoc?

Any insight on why the show moved theatres so often?

[quote]Alvin Theatre (Apr 21, 1977 - Sep 13, 1981)

[quote]ANTA Playhouse (Sep 16, 1981 - Oct 24, 1981) -- believe this is now the August Wilson

[quote]Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Oct 29, 1981 - Dec 06, 1981)

[quote]Uris Theatre (Dec 10, 1981 - Jan 02, 1983)

Zzzzzzup

Alice Ghostley was hilarious as Hannigan.

[quote]Beggar Woman rarely gets the attention and pride of place in the line-up as she does in this production. Not sure there's ever been a Tony winner cast in the role either.

Casting a Name as the Beggar Woman is going to be an early tip-off to people who haven't seen the show before that she's a much more important character than Sondheim wants us to think. Not to say crass Broadway producers wouldn't do it, but it is a red flag to the story.

She was even better as Aunt Stephanie Crawford, and, later, as part of the Singleman family R325

Night Music audio from the pre-Broadway Boston tryout.

[quote] was so milk toast

Speaking of Night Music, this LA Opera production was so well cast... Judith Ivey, Victor Garber, Laura Benanti, Michele Pawk, Marc Kudisch, Kristen Bell, Zoe Caldwell.

I saw Betty Hutton at a matinee, r323. I remember thinking it looked like they told her to do whatever she wanted during the Easy Street number and the other two would just dance around her. She wasn't particularly good, but every once in a while she'd hit a line perfectly and get a huge laugh and you couldn't imagine anyone doing it better.

Must Lili Cooper be in everything?

^ Lilli

If Anthony Ramos is playing Mozart next season, how about Raul Esparza as Salieri?

Does Santino have to be in everything?

Lilli Cooper is one of those people who inexplicably gets cast in things despite being the definition of ho-hum.

Lilli Cooper for Salieri!!!

what do you predict for Myles Frost's future? He'll do MJ in London. He seems to be half Michael Jackson whatever he does, so what else do we think he could do in years to come?

Finding Neverland

Lilli Cooper IS HUD - in HUD THE MUSICAL.

But we don't like anything about the movie so we'll just use the title and make everyone trans and non-binary to make it TODAY!

R338, “The Jordan Neely Story”.

He'll be the new Anthony in Sweeney.

Where is the Tony awards on Pluto Tv? I've looked under REALITY, CELEBRITY, etc., and I can't find a fucking thing.

Lilli Cooper is the textbook definition of "failing up."

Regarding Annie, I saw Alice Ghostly as Hannigan as well, and she was a riot. I was meant to see Shelley Bruce, who was Annie #2, but she was out at that time due to her battle with leukemia, so Sarah Jessica Parker was on. There was a collective groan from the audience when the fact that an understudy Annie was going on, but SJP was charming in that role and won the audience over. She eventually replaced Shelley and became Annie #3.

Annie was moved out of the Alvin Theatre to make way for Merrily We Roll Along - and we all know what a smart decision that turned out to be. If I recall correctly, the short runs at the ANTA Theatre and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre were interim bookings until the Nederlander Organization had another theatre available, the Uris, where it played out the last year of its run.

R332 in other news, I can’t believe THAT was the photo playbill decided to run off Vanessa Williams.

Clearly she is in a feud with someone over in press at Playbill.com

Mandy Patinkin, who has a reputation for, ummm, strange and erratic behavior, resurfaced to host the Drama Desk awards ceremony yesterday with his wife, Kathryn Grody. Granted, the couple agreed to host on very short notice, which may account for an incredibly embarrassing faux pas that Patinkin made during the ceremony....

At one point, he said the name of the organization incorrectly as "the Drama Guild" (there is no such thing, though there is a Dramatists' Guild and a Drama League). Then he asked if there were any theatre critics among the membership of the organization and therefore present at the ceremony, apparently not having taken the trouble to learn that the Drama Desk membership is made up ENTIRELY of theatre critics and journalists. But Mandy didn't wait for an answer, and he proceeded to tell a long story about how a show that he had loved had, in his opinion, been killed by a theater critic -- Charles Isherwood, who was then writing for The New York Times. It seems Mandy told this story as a way or urging theatre critics to be more kind, not quite realizing that the awards were being hosted by an organization of theatre critics.

It was a memorable moment, to say the least.

*4* ANNIES *4*

It *does* have a National Enquirer vibe, r346.

If you invite Mandy to anything, you know it's going to end in tears.

[quote]If you invite Mandy to anything, you know it's going to end in tears.

Usually his, r350

Or mine.

I wonder how much it cost to move a show back in 1981. Having to move the show three times in the space of four months or so, I'm guessing the show was still making a fortune to justify the costs, but it must have really eaten into the profits to move it that many times in such a short window.

I hope the lighting at the awards ceremony was up to his exacting standards:

"Wild Party cast members say that during previews Patinkin has been prone to strange emotional outbursts – at one point holing up in his dressing room and sobbing uncontrollably for four hours because he was unhappy with the show’s lighting."

Patinkin was a mess during Wild Party, r352. At one point during tech, he locked himself in his dressing room for over an hour, sobbing loudly.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that the show went on with all of what was going on.

Mandy just read this thread and is in the bathroom sobbing uncontrollably.

When is Mandy not locked in a room, sobbing?

What show did he feel got killed by the NYT?

Jeremy Jordan to Return to 'Little Shop of Horrors' as Seymour:

Lincoln Center, Seeking New Audiences, Plans to Remake Its West Edge:

Parade Tony Nominee Micaela Diamond Is Living a Theater Kid's Dream:

Some Like It Hot Tony Nominee J. Harrison Ghee Is Excited for a Boundless Future:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1937, "The Case of Philip Lawrence" opened at the Lafayette Theatre.

Julianne Hough, Skylar Astin To Host ‘The Tony Awards: Act One’ Pre-Show On Pluto TV:

[quote] I wonder how much it cost to move a show back in 1981. Having to move the show three times in the space of four months or so, I'm guessing the show was still making a fortune to justify the costs, but it must have really eaten into the profits to move it that many times in such a short window.

What I never understand is how quickly shows made the moves and were up and running again. Are you telling me that most shows on B'way right now could move theaters and start performances in 2-4 days?

Actually, this THR article has more details on what to expect for this Sunday's ceremony:

MSNBC just reported that today's matinee performance of "Prima Facie" was halted for 10 minutes because Jodie Comer couldn't breathe due to the smoke. Not sure if she resumed or an understudy took over.

r362...

Jodie Comer Halts ‘Prima Facie’ Broadway Matinee Due To Bad NYC Air; Understudy Set To Fill In – Update:

R367, you're the best!

Shows are moved in and out quickly when they go out of town for previews, r364. And I assume tour sets are modified to make breakdowns and set-ups easier but it's still the same process.

Thank you, r369. Great graphic, isn't it?

Jeigh Madjus sounds fabulous in that ONE DAY MORE from Broadway Backwards, wow. What fun!

[quote]If you invite Mandy to anything, you know it's going to end in tears.

[quote]Usually his.

And indeed, at one point later in the ceremony, he became all choked up and started to cry in response to one of the acceptance speeches.

Was supposed to see Grey House tonight but not going back out in this hazardous air.

Telecharge said we could try to "past date" the show going forward, but they won't refund tickets. Has anyone "past dated" a show. Woman on the phone was clear that "it's a courtesy, NOT a guarantee."

R371, yes, it is! Very beautifully done.

R374: They're not cancelling the shows?

R374, I have no idea what "past date" means but years ago a friend and I had orchestra seats for "Newsies" but couldn't go because he got sick on the day of the show. Not knowing what else to do, I called the box office to ask them what our options were (I already knew we couldn't get a refund) and they told us to (a) hold on to our original tickets, then (b) on a day of our choosing, call the box office back to see if there were any available seats for that day's performance. If yes, we should come to the theater and they would put us in the best available seats they could find but with no guarantee that it would be in the orchestra like our original tickets. As it happened, the night we went back, they got us in and we were in the front row of the mezzanine, which was perfectly fine.

"Newsies" was just the best!

Yes r377 that sounds like “past dating.” She basically explained that exact process on the phone.

R377, that's exactly what "past date" means. Though you should probably clarify what you mean by "call the box office."

R374, so it is the same thing -- okay, cool. They never used that term when I called them. Good to know. In any case, I hope you get great seats whenever you go back.

Colton Ryan visited Channel 11 news this morning for an in-studio interview:

ANNIE ended up at the cavernous URIS/Gershwin so that they had to seats for their very full matinees, and they trudged through Tues-Fridays. By year four, it was a total family audience and they needed those matinee sales.

[quote]Lincoln Center, Seeking New Audiences, Plans to Remake Its West Edge

Colored folk, please use the back entrance!

Saw the Bridge Theatre's Guys and Dolls in London this week.

What a joyful production.

And brilliantly staged.

Just got back from Guys and Dolls. Freaking amazing. Funny, smart and staged like nothing I’ve ever seen.

Colton is adorable. That hair!

R387, the chest hair is nice, too.

Are New York theatergoers wearing masks again because of the poor air quality?

If you think Colton is adorable and has great chest hair, wait until you see Andrew Richardson as Sky Masterson in The Bridge's GUYS & DOLLS.

preview

Colton is awful in NY NY. Short & vocal affectation for days.

This morning on WOR, Michael Riedel former New York Post Theatre Critic said because of the Writer's Guild Strike, the Tonys will have a lot of dancing and pantomime.

R393 Gang! It’s FINALLY my turn to shine!

R394, And us!

Not to split hairs, but Riedel was never a critic. He was a columnist and reporter.

A gossip columnist, even though Riedel loathed the word "gossip".

Blackmail is such an *ugly* word.

‘Hamilton’, ‘Camelot’, Shakespeare In The Park Among Broadway & Off Broadway Productions Canceling Due To NYC Air Quality Issues:

[quote]‘Hamilton’, ‘Camelot’, Shakespeare In The Park Among Broadway & Off Broadway Productions Canceling Due To NYC Air Quality Issues

"Camelot" was already stinking up the Vivian Beaumont.

As the Tonys Head Uptown, Step Inside the United Palace ‘Dream World’:

[quote] "Camelot" was already stinking up the Vivian Beaumont.

I didn't love everything about Aaron Sorkin's new book to Camelot. It has its inanities and longueurs. But I have to say, after those reviews, I was expecting the worst, and ended up really enjoying the production. With a group of deadly new musicals this year, to just sit back and enjoy the Lerner & Loewe score was a pleasure, as well as hearing it with its full, proper orchestration. The leads and company look great and sing well, and Jordan Donica has really stepped in as if from another era, with his classic Broadway baritone. The story held my interest, even through the long first act. Physical production is spare, but attractive. I went back and read the reviews and found them really unduly harsh. Where were these exalted standards when they were reviewing Some Like It Hot?

The last thing Broadway needs is a weird Tonys:

Public Theater Responds to Outcry Over Cancellation of Under the Radar Festival:

So let’s recap:

1) Writers strike. Which means no script and no patter.

2) Broadway in financial trouble still from Covid-19

3) Unbreathable air from the fires that has cancelled shows and cause the air to turn orange.

4) Nazi protests, anti-gay legislation and gun violence all over the country and the possible rise of a fascist president.

5) public outcry over gendered categories.

6) Low ratings from year to year as the country moves away from watching award shows in general.

7) lack of any mega-hits. Predicted winners for Musical, Play and revival of play are all struggling at the BO. Musical revival is doing well…but only because of the stars.

So yeah….not really feeling the Tonys this year.

I agree about CAMELOT, r402. Even with all its flaws and WTF? moments, it was a fascinating evening for intelligent adults without all that manic and frenetic LOVE ME! LOVE LOVE ME! LOVE ME! crap that's perpetuated in so much musical theatre today. For me, the choices that were made by Sher and Sorkin were interesting if not always successful.

And the fact that Christian Borle received a Tony nom over Andrew Burnap is disgraceful.

Christian Borle in a sense has become the Meryl of Broadway -- if he just steps foot on a stage, he gets a Tony nomination. That is the only way to explain his presence in the running this year.

R407, And they are both unattractive, to boot.

[quote]I didn't love everything about Aaron Sorkin's new book to Camelot. It has its inanities and longueurs. But I have to say, after those reviews, I was expecting the worst, and ended up really enjoying the production. With a group of deadly new musicals this year, to just sit back and enjoy the Lerner & Loewe score was a pleasure, as well as hearing it with its full, proper orchestration.

Yes, except that they CUT a considerable percentage of the score -- including all of the song "Follow Me" and significant parts of "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood," "How to Handle a Woman," and "What Do the Simple Folk Do?" In the case of that last song, they cut the final verse, which contains THE WHOLE POINT of the song. And all of this was done just to make room for tons of new dialogue by Aaron Sorkin. Maybe you consider that a fair trade, but many people don't.

[quote]The leads and company look great and sing well, and Jordan Donica has really stepped in as if from another era, with his classic Broadway baritone.

But although he sings beautifully, I think he looks ridiculous in this production because of that unflattering hairstyle and because he's wearing so much eye makeup that he resembles a raccoon. Also, Andrew Burnap may "look great" but not in a way that fits the story or the era. In fact, several people have commented that he looks like an Abercrombie and Fitch model. And Phillipa Soo comes across as cold as ice in this show, so it doesn't really matter how great she looks or how well she sings.

I’m still annoyed that Borle beat Brad Oscar for an undeserved Tony for Something Rotten.

[quote] several people have commented

Have they, now? On line with you at Lane Bryant?

I am here, so here, for Colton Ryan's chest hair. I love a hairy twink. Have the nudes leaked yet?

Your bitchiness notwithstanding, R411, I have read several comments about Andrew Burnap's "floppy hair" and Abercrombie & Fitch looks as Arthur in CAMELOT.

With respect, I didn't have issue with the cuts to the score. "Follow Me" is gorgeous, but no longer necessary with Sorkin's rewrite. It's also pretty languid in a spot where you need the show to start moving along. (Plus it was heard offstage in the original production. Not as exposed as it is on the OBCR). I did miss some of the introductory section for "Simple Joys of Maidenhood," but "How to Handle a Woman" was fine with one verse. The song makes its point without having to repeat itself. Also, "What Do the Simple Folk Do?" didn't suffer for me - I still felt the two of them desperately trying to make a connection, and the way it is interrupted is dramatic. It's nice to not have a too-old King Arthur for once, and it made the romantic triangle more interesting for me.

I know this is Datalounge and we're meant to complain about everything, but I think this production is more sinned against than sinning.

T58- he didn’t molest the boy in Doubt.

Colton's chest hair has nothing on Corey Cott's, which I got to experience from the front row at "Bandstand."

Yeah, but Corey Cott is a homophobic fundie Christian.

Corey Cott is Christian, but I've seen no evidence of him being fundamentalist or homophobic.

R415 is not one for any deliberate ambiguity in his theater-going.

R415, the script leaves the question whether the molestation happened or not open.

Brian O'Byrne said that Shanley did tell him if the priest was guilty or not, but neither have ever revealed what he said, because the script deliberately avoids answering the question.

Who is T58 when she's at home?

Trouble with "Simple Folks" for me is that it was meant as a showstopper. It's not here and should be a high point of Act 2. I saw a preview so maybe they got it right by opening.

[quote]With respect, I didn't have issue with the cuts to the score. "Follow Me" is gorgeous, but no longer necessary with Sorkin's rewrite. It's also pretty languid in a spot where you need the show to start moving along. (Plus it was heard offstage in the original production. Not as exposed as it is on the OBCR).

Still, it's one of the most beautiful songs in the score, and I don't agree with your justifications for cutting it.

[quote]I did miss some of the introductory section for "Simple Joys of Maidenhood," but "How to Handle a Woman" was fine with one verse. The song makes its point without having to repeat itself.

In my opinion, "How to Handle a Woman" has been gutted by the removal of the ENTIRE introductory section: "You swore that you had taught me everything from A to Z......etc., etc." Without that transition from Arthur's frustration and anger to the much more lyrical and beautiful main body of the song, the dramatic content of the song in total is greatly reduced. And P.S., the huge opening section of this song that was cut is not repeated anywhere in the part that was retained.

[quote]Also, "What Do the Simple Folk Do?" didn't suffer for me - I still felt the two of them desperately trying to make a connection, and the way it is interrupted is dramatic.

Well, it suffered for me. Again, the WHOLE POINT of the song is that, after Arthur and Guenevere have come up with all these ideas for what simple folk do to feel better when they're blue, they finally decide that what they probably do is just "sit around and wonder what royal folk would do." That's the part that has been cut, thereby removing the song's resolution, which is one of the best things about it.

I know this is Datalounge and we're meant to complain about everything, but I think this production is more sinned against than sinning.

Camelot never works, no matter what you do. The only way for it to work is to have a MAJOR star as Arthur, so the audience gets a "bigger than life" feeling to all the muddled writing. When you choose ordinary folks -- like the current LCT cast -- the show just melts in front of you, even with the score.

[quote]Trouble with "Simple Folks" for me is that it was meant as a showstopper. It's not here and should be a high point of Act 2. I saw a preview so maybe they got it right by opening.

No, they did not. As someone else noted, the final verse of the song is cut and the ending is interrupted, so there is no opportunity for applause -- maybe because they realized there wouldn't be much of that anyway.

I guess they're not cancelling the shows since most theaters have been well ventilated post Covid.

Jordan Donica is lovely. Is he a homosexualist? Is he single?

Jordan played Raoul in Phantom when he was just 22? Impressive.

Justin Cooley is gay, right?

R429, He seems pretty cheerful to me.

Where is Christopher J Hanke? He was everywhere for a while

R426-The owners didn't spend a dime on upgrading the ventilation. They've been lucky so far, but they all pocketed federal money.

Has anyone ever tried to go after the Shubert and Nederlander organizations on antitrust grounds?

That’s not how it works ^

I believe so, R433. I'm pretty sure Michael Riedel's book RAZZLE DALLE includes info about that.

[quote][R426]-The owners didn't spend a dime on upgrading the ventilation. They've been lucky so far, but they all pocketed federal money.

You know this for a fact, r432?

Julia Lester as Miss. Marmelstein. seems a great choice. She'll bring her own. comic flair to the role.

I'd rather see Vicki Lester do it.

Any ideas on who will be leading the Funny Girl tour? It starts first week in September.

2023 Tony Awards to Feature Performances From Joaquina Kalukango, Broadway's Funny Girl and A Beautiful Noise, More:

Nada

Go to L, r438.

So they're going to let both Ariana DeBose AND Joaquina Kalukango stink up the Tony Awards two years in a row???

R438, That’s Esther Blodgett to you, buddy.

If the producers are smart, they’ll have Nathan Lane come on and hilariously ad lib.

How about Vicki Vicki? Pronounced Vicki. Vicki.

Audra, Tovah, Donna McKechnie, Nathan Lane, Sarah Brightman confirmed as Tony performers...

R447, I'm available.

I'm available!

R446, I love you :-)

Tovah flashing her panties are bound to boost ratings.

Alicia Keys teased her new musical "Hell's Kitchen" on Good Morning America:

[quote]‘Hamilton’, ‘Camelot’, Shakespeare In The Park Among Broadway & Off Broadway Productions Canceling Due To NYC Air Quality Issues:

Smoke! Smoke! Sign of the devil! Sign of the devil! City on fire!

Witch! Witch! Smell it, sir! An evil smell!

Every night at the vespers bell --

Smoke that comes from the mouth of hell --

City on fire! City on fire!

Thank you R453 - that made me laugh early in the AM.

I thought it had been determined that Nathan's ad. libs on. talk shows were mostly crafted for him . . .by professional writers.

R451 I still want some brave soul who does theatre interviews to interview her about that video and ask her what happened and how on earth it got approved for release.

Well, r456, it's not like she wasn't wearing panties.

R455, We’ll all find out on Sunday evening.

It'd be swell to wrap up this thread [italic] just [/italic] as the Tonys begin.

Worst ratings ever?

Corey Cott flashing his panties would get me to tune in.

R444 go to "L".

R462, Have you met R442?

I NEVER miss an Alecia Keys musical....

I'm so over the narcissism of pop stars. Their lives are so uninteresting, and we keep shoving these bio musicals in our faces.

It *twirled* up!

[quote]I thought it had been determined that Nathan's ad. libs on. talk shows were mostly crafted for him . . .by professional writers.

I have never heard that before and seriously doubt it, r455. To say that I am not a fan of Lane's is an understatement, but having worked with him many times over the years, I can tell you that few performers are as quick on their feet as Lane is. He can turn a stage mishap into a very funny bit.

He is a smart choice for the TONYS.

[quote]I will not be watching.

My heart, it breaks.

Blast from the past. More stars than in the Chicago sky. Impressive, when you take a gander.

Thanks for that r468!

[quote]To say that I am not a fan of Lane's is an understatement, but having worked with him many times over the years, I can tell you that few performers are as quick on their feet as Lane is. He can turn a stage mishap into a very funny bit.

I agree with you 100 percent.

R469-Hi there, Matthew!

Sorry, I meant R466 and R470.

No chair SFX on the new “Johanna“ track. Valid choice (but I miss them). And Jordan‘s crooning is really out of place.

Deadline's Tony predictions:

How To Watch The Tony Awards On TV And Streaming:

Will this thread finish in time?

David Byrne-Fatboy Slim Broadway Musical Reaches Union Agreement Over Pre-Recorded Track Flap:

NYT Tony predictions:

The cast of "New York, New York" performs the song 'Wine & Peaches':

I never miss a skyscraper musical.

Haute couture, r480...

119 posts in less than 48 hours? I think it's doable.

R480, I’ll take Rose Marie to block.

[quote]I will not be watching.

[quote]My heart, it breaks.—Nathan

Well, of course he would make this about him, "Nathan"/r467. The thing is, I have never watched any award shows unless I was working on them (I'm r466).

[quote]I agree with you 100 percent.—Also worked with Nathan, also not a fan

I hear that Lane has mellowed over the years, r470. I sure hope so. When I worked with him, he was a talented but miserable man, and was more than generous sharing those two aspects of himself.

Lane was challenging backstage at Studio 54. He took the play's dismissal hard, and the legendary darkness returned.

Had he not read the play, R485? It could hardly have come as a surprise to him that he'd signed up for a stinker.

Nathan Lane hasn't mellowed - he's fermented.

[quote]Lane was challenging backstage at Studio 54. He took the play's dismissal hard, and the legendary darkness returned.

Are you referring to the recent PICTURES FROM HOME? Care to elaborate?

[quote]No chair SFX on the new “Johanna“ track. Valid choice (but I miss them). And Jordan‘s crooning is really out of place.

Has it been announced who's replacing Jordan when he leaves the show soon? I hope it's someone who can sing in a more legit/Broadway style.

Did he take the role hoping for a Tony nom and quit when he didn't get one?

Yes. Victor Garber is returning to the role.

Speaking of Sweeney Todd, what's Gaten been like backstage?

[quote]Did he take the role hoping for a Tony nom and quit when he didn't get one?

I don't know, but he is leaving very soon, on June 18. He wrote a "farewell message" with boilerplate language that gave no reason for his departure.

Jordan Fisher probably thought he was going to get adored on social media again just for showing up like he was in Dear Evan Hansen. But the DEH fangirls do not go see things like Sweeney Todd, and Pasek and Paul aren't fit to clean Sondheim's apartment. You can't use Disney Channel quality singing for a song like "Johanna."

Since no previous actor has been Tony-nominated for playing SWEENEY's Anthony, why on earth would Fisher think that he would be? Hard to imagine that that's the reason.

You know who would have made an excellent Mrs. Lovett at some point- Tracey Ullman. I'm sorry we had to suffer through people like Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton and Helena Bonham Carter. I could even see her doing it now, even though she's what, 65? You'd need an older Sweeney, but that could be arranged. However, I doubt it would happen.

Wow, Victor has never really won any awards outside of ensemble. He has a SAG award for ensemble cast of Argo and a Drama Desk for ensemble cast for Noises Off, but several Emmy and Tony nominations with no win. When you think of all the untalented non-entities with awards (looking at you, Ariel Sta'chel, for one) and Garber has nothing, it's really unfair.

Ariel Sta'chel was wonderful. Pick a different poison to drink.

Umm, no he wasn't. He didn't do a fucking thing in that show to warrant an award.

Why so angry?

No one is angry. Nice deflection attempt, though.

Oh, Tracey Ullman would have been an excellent Mrs. Lovett, especially in the '90s. Who would her Sweeney have been?

[quote]Since no previous actor has been Tony-nominated for playing SWEENEY's Anthony, why on earth would Fisher think that he would be? Hard to imagine that that's the reason.

He probably thought he'd be a shoo-in because he's a person of color.

See co-star Ruthie Ann Miles inexplicable nomination as the Beggar Woman, another role that has never before attracted awards attention.

Ruthie Ann Miles, besides being talented, is the sentimental favorite.

[quote]Pasek and Paul aren't fit to clean Sondheim's apartment.

I'd be willing to give them a tryout for a couple weeks.

Ruthie Ann Miles already has a Tony and they aren't giving her another for THAT performance. However, I do agree that her nomination was largely for all she's been through (and I've seen worse nominations for less).

So if Here Lies Love agreed to hire 12 musicians, and 4 of those will be satisfied by the 3 actor-musicians and 1 MD, is it safe to assume that the other 8 musicians will be "walkers"? I find it odd that it wasn't specified, unless that is why.

The original Beggar Woman, Merle Louise, won a Drama Desk award for her performance. It’s not a sure fire nomination, but it is a key role that shows a wide range of skills.

Re: Jordan Fisher's replacement. I saw his understudy... Nathan Salstone and he was excellent. Perhaps they won't attempt to get a name as I imagine Groban is driving most of the business.

[quote]Oh, Tracey Ullman would have been an excellent Mrs. Lovett, especially in the '90s. Who would her Sweeney have been?

Kevin Kline

Kevin doesn't have the vocal equipment for Sweeney.

I'm less interested in who could have played the roles in the 90s vs. who could play the roles in 2024.

Do we think there's even a remote chance Sweeney can continue when Groban and Ashford depart? I mean, Ashford might be a small name, but she seems less of a concern, but Groban is clearly selling tickets for Sweeney. I feel like it would be tough for the production to continue without at least one big name as either Sweeney or Lovett, but I can't think of a single performer with the vocal chops to pull off those roles who would have that type of impact at the box office.

Although I'm sure no one doubts that Josh Groban's casting is helping SWEENEY tremendously at the box office, the show itself seems to me very well beloved by this point, so I think it's possible that the run might continue with theater names, rather than movie or TV or recording stars, in the leads.

Perhaps, R513, but with the a large cast and a 27 piece orchestra, is it safe to assume the show needs to be selling very well (a mix of premium and regular priced houses) to be profitable. To do so without a big name seems challenging... though I hope I'm wrong!

Who was it a while ago who passed around the rumor that Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth might replace as Todd and Lovett?

Could Ben Platt as Sweeney bring in his audience?

Alan Cumming doesn't feel like a fit (vocally).

r516

I can't see Ben taking a replacement role(or as Sweeney... shudder)

[quote]Who was it a while ago who passed around the rumor that Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth might replace as Todd and Lovett?

I think that was simply some DL speculation, not a rumor.

I'd go see Jordan Donica in 'Sweeney.'

R520 - Yes! I think he'd be a really interesting Sweeney and, obviously, could handle the score.

The fact that they've already announced a tour of this production suggests that somebody involved thinks that success is not strictly Groban-dependent. I wonder whether the Doyle tour made a profit.

Donica is 29. Was he sent to prison as a teen?

[quote]Was he sent to prison as a teen?

Pics please.

Norm Lewis wasn’t terrible. He’s played the role more than once. You could pair him with a bigger star for Mrs. Lovett like Chenoweth or Toni Collette.

Stokes has also played Sweeney to good reviews, though I suppose singing that role eight times a week might be beyond him now.

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker

I loathe SJP, but I bet that even she could do a better Cockney accent than Annaleigh Ashford.

How is SJP’s singing voice? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. Perhaps I’m wrong but can’t imagine she could sing a part like Lovett.

SJP was the original ANNIE on Broadway.

She couldn't, r529.

I just got in from seeing "Fat Ham" and oh my gosh, it's absolutely wonderful. Should definitely be a serious contender for Best Play tomorrow night. The audience I saw it with just seemed to love it.

[quote]SJP was the original ANNIE on Broadway.

Excuse me, r530...ex-c-u-u-u-s-e me...

She wasn’t even the 2nd Annie… Dios mío.

#1 & #2

She would probably never do it, but I'd be curious to see or hear SJP's take on Miss Hannigan.

[quote]How is SJP’s singing voice? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. Perhaps I’m wrong but can’t imagine she could sing a part like Lovett.

Isn't more talk/singing? Let's face it Lansbury wasn't great singer and if Helena Bonham Carter can do it, SJP can.

[quote]Who was it a while ago who passed around the rumor that Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth might replace as Todd and Lovett?

Chenoweth replace? Are you mad?

[quote]Let's face it Lansbury wasn't great singer

Four Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical would like to have a word with you, r537.

Honey, you think Merman was a singer too?

I rarely laugh out loud, r540.

Thank you!

[quote]Isn't more talk/singing? Let's face it Lansbury wasn't great singer and if Helena Bonham Carter can do it, SJP can.

Helena Bonham Carter COULDN'T do it, one of the many reasons the movie sucked. And Sarah Jessica Parker can't sing for shit, as I learned when she replaced Megan Mullally in "How to Succeed," even if she did play Annie 50 years ago. And Lansbury did not "talk-sing" the role.

r532 - I agree, but I don't think Fat Ham has a prayer against Leopoldstadt, which was the big, splashy prestige play of the season. And, that rare thing, a hit play without massive movie stars. That, combined with its (unfortunately) timely themes of antisemitism, its critical acclaim and the likelihood of it being Stoppard's last new play on Broadway make it unstoppable.

Personally, despite finding much to admire in Leopoldstadt, I thought Fat Ham was a much stronger work, too. I hope it has a life in regional theatre after its brief Broadway run.

I saw Good Bones, James Ijames’ new play, a few weeks ago and thought it was amateur hour. The male leads was great (one extremely hot), but it all felt like territory that has been covered many times with better writing. I’m seeing Fat Ham before it closes, so I hope it’s more on point.

Tony Awards: Predicting the Winners Using Just Math:

You may not like Ethel Merman’s singing style, but she was one of the most popular Broadway singers of all time. And Gershwin, Styne, Berlin, and Porter all wrote some of their greatest songs ever for her.

[quote]How is SJP’s singing voice? I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. Perhaps I’m wrong but can’t imagine she could sing a part like Lovett.

Of course, she could not. And raspberries to the poster above who felt it necessary to inform the rest of us that SJP played the title role in ANNIE and Broadway -- and who's such a fool that he got it wrong and insisted she originated the role, which is beyond ignorant.

[quote]Isn't more talk/singing? Let's face it Lansbury wasn't great singer and if Helena Bonham Carter can do it, SJP can.

Angela Lansbury was a great Broadway singer. And as someone else commented above, Helena Bonham Carter could NOT do it. Your post is idiotic.

"You're stupid!" "No, YOU'RE stupid!"

How about a little Disney?

A thread or two ago someone suggested Raul Esparza replace in Sweeney and I'd sure pay to see him. I don't suppose he has the fan base of Groban but he's not chicken liver either. Maybe opposite Toni Colette?

As as for Nathan Lane's temper, I don't believe he's gotten any softer but everyone now tends to tiptoe around him so it seems like he's sweeter. He's not.

The triumphant reunion of Mandy & Toni!

[quote]Worked with Raul and Nathan, so there!

I worked with them both, r551 - and Patinkin and Nicol Williamson.

R553 Blah blah, all i care about, did you fuck Papi?

Any last-minute Tonys predictions?

¡Ai papi!

FIFY

R530 WTF are you talking about?

I won't be surprised if there aren't some major upsets tonight in the declared winners, especially in the acting categories. This is what happens when the voters really aren't so crazy about much of what they've seen and vote with their hearts and not their brains.

[quote]—Andrea McCardle

Oh dear

I want Chastain to win

It would be so cool if we could time this thread for exactly for 6:30 EDT

I think the big upset will be Chastain over Comer.

Anything but Kim Akim please

Kimberly's a Bimbo

Reminder, an official Tony Awards thread has started.

Admittedly, I'm easily amused, but the idea of a Kimberly Akimbo parody with a Blanche Deverauxesque Kimberly is right up my alley.

[quote]You may not like Ethel Merman’s singing style, but she was one of the most popular Broadway singers of all time. And Gershwin, Styne, Berlin, and Porter all wrote some of their greatest songs ever for her.

You got that right!

[quote]Reminder, an official Tony Awards thread has started.

Good idea. This thread is moving so slowly it must be paywalled as some of you claim sometimes.

I hate when this happens. Some people will put Tony stuff in the new theater thread, while others will put it in the Tony thread, the horror!

Things got so quiet here, we ended up having an entire (official) Tonys thread.

Lea was sensational the night I saw her a few months ago. I thought her Tonys performance was strong, but the camerawork / direction wasn't great. Too many close cropped shots that didn't give a sense of the scale of the performance.

So will NY NY and Shucked be closing soon?

Regular dismissal of Ethel Merman on DL always depresses me a bit. She had a magnificent voice, crystalline diction and a 1-of-a-kind vocal style and persona, and she starred in at least 1 Broadway hit in every decade from the 1930s to the 1970s. As has already been mentioned, shows were written for her by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Jule Styne. (One could even argue that that list should include Jerry Herman, since he wrote DOLLY! with her in mind.) She introduced countless standards, and she continued as a concert artist for years after she left the stage.

Don't like her? Fine. Dismiss her? Stupid.

Camelot's gotta be on the chopping block, too.

"Shucked" does have a major Tony win under its belt (unlike NYNY, & Juliet and Camelot), so perhaps that will be enough to keep it going for a while longer.

How on earth is Sean Jayes going to do that show for several more weeks with that voice? He sounds like Alice Ripley before she left next to normal.

Hayes

Jesse Green wrote this on the NYT Tonys blog tonight:

[quote]A smoother ride tonight than anyone could have expected — which may not be what the striking W.G.A. writers want to hear.

I have to say I agree with this. It was probably the best, most entertaining Tonys we've had in years.

Any predictions on which shows will get the biggest bump at the box office?

If anyone sees the Sweeney Todd performance online, please share a link. It’s the one performance I missed tonight. TIA.

R579, Good Night, Oscar. It’s currently hemorrhaging.

I'm betting that even with the Tony wins KA won't last the summer.

r580 - that's a shame. Was probably the best performance of the night.

I’m surprise that Good night, Oscar has not been on tdf yet, or at least I haven’t noticed it.

Was that J. Harrison Ghee in the wedge hairdo and blue outfit? Was there a reason he was dressed like one of the members of Klymaxx?

Klan grannies tried to hijack the now-closed main Tonys thread…so much open bigotry, so little time.

Oh good, here comes R586 to schoolmarm his way through the rest of the thread.

Granny alert. Bigot ahead.

R587 I’ll push you back any time, any day, any way. You go take a shit in your own house, and leave this place alone.

New REGULAR gossip thread for whenever this one is done.

(There's also one just about the Tonys that's out there, FYI.)

...or no, I guess that Tonys thread got closed. Oops.

Thanks, R590!

[quote]If anyone sees the Sweeney Todd performance online, please share a link. It’s the one performance I missed tonight. TIA.

R580 - here you go (thought they cut off the intro video with the cast talking about the show and a little of the organ intro)

Ugh. They also cut off the audience ovation at the end. God those CBS interns are terrible.

CBS Cares!

BAJOUR!

Shuck me running!

BUH

BYE

NOW!