2025 Tony Awards: Official Second Thread

Well, damn!

why did SImard say it was rude?

🥳 good for her.

Hallefuckinlujmah!

It's a joke based on Death Becomes Her, R2.

Gypsy closing notice this week.

Red was maybe not the right choice, Nicole.

Patti living it up tonight

Tom Francis looks like he’s about to cry

I feel sick.

"That Was Rude" is the first thing Helen says when it turns out she's alive, R2.

Audra already has a million, but she deserved another one over Nicole.

Nicole Scherzinger's acceptance speeches are generally elaborate performances in and of themselves.

So the "Oprah's awarding because a Black woman will win and the world is too woke" angle didn't really work out.

Well, she didn't get it, did she, r12? HA!

Turns out Gypsy is not a negro spiritual. Who knew?

Nicole... if you are going to fake cry... get some eye drops or pull hair from your leg

Ugh, have to see Criss's face again.

The very overrated Maybe Happy Ending will be forgotten this time next year.

Nicole Scherzinger is Rose!

R18: I never really found him attractive but now he's just funny looking.

Patti, even though you are thrilled that both Audra and Bernadette didn’t win for Rose, it’s not going to heal the rottenness inside you. It’s never going away.

Why was Oprah even presenting Best Actress? She’s never acted on Broadway.

Talk about a stunt that backfired.

Criss is cute and looked hot in that commercial. I seriously don't know what's wrong with some of you.

Andrew Barth Feldman!

Brooke Shields is choosing her ass over her face. She would look better heavier.

Oh, for fuck sake! Now I've got to hear this ones Jennifer Holiday impersonation?!!

Criss’s stage makeup scared me

Thought it was a very good show overall.

Hey Patti, Meghan Markle is polling better than you these days, and your cooter is farting dust.

Closing notices coming within the week for ...

GYPSY

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES

BOOP

SMASH

R26: She's not aging well but I've seen worse.

Hate her all you want R27, she blows the roof off when she sings.

R31: Dead Outlaw too.

R22 = Audra and Bernadette.

Patti’s a bitch, but she ain’t wrong

Dying at Darren Criss winning

why on earth would the audience want to hear Erivo sing that song at the end after 3 fucking hours.

Erivo is going after that Oscar 24/7 through next February

I can't see Audra's performance making anyone excited to see Gypsy.

It was almost as gruesome as Eddie Redmayne's Cabaret emcee.

I sense Audra's angry-dyke stomp-off is going to become a meme.

Between her album, Jesus Christ, Wicked Part 2, we won't be able to escape from her until March.

[quote] Erivo is going after that Oscar 24/7 through next February

How tacky.

The performance's own merits should speak for it.

R37: Jeremy Jordan was robbed.

Oh, yes, Dead Outlaw, too.

I’m happy for Darren. I thought he absolutely deserved the win. He gives a lovely performance in MHE.

I'm re-watching it on the West Coast. I did love Erivo's take on a modern Annie dress - that's what I see.

[quote] [R37]: Jeremy Jordan was robbed.

Mmmmm... Jeremy Jordan's *dreamy.*

I didn’t know Erivo was also the producer of this spectacular.

Jeremy Jordan is the real deal. I hope he continues to get good material coming his way.

I didn't either, r48.

Nicole was not fake crying. She has been slogging it out for years to get the recognition and credit she deserves for that magnificent voice. I remember her as the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls! Then she won Dancing with the Stars. Then after years and years of dating, Lewis Hamilton dumped her. Thank goodness Andrew Lloyd Webber took her under his wing and worked with her. She has had such poor management over the years. Getting a chance to do Sunset Blvd. was a great opportunity for her. She's incredibly talented.

She's got a set of fucking pipes, that's for sure.

Quite big tits.

Nicole first came to my attention on some reality show she hosted with Simon Cowell.

So far there’s only a few clips of the Tonys on Paramount +, not the entire telecast. Interesting. And Audra’s “Rose’s Turn” ain’t one of them. Maybe they won’t include it because she fucked up the lyrics?

I actually thought Nicole’s speech sounded heartfelt and genuine. Unlike Zoe Saldana’s speeches during Oscar season where she sounded like she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

They said the Tonys will be uploaded tomorrow

I'm sure there will be an 'extended notice' for Sunset Blvd, at least until Labor Day.

From the other thread:

[quote]Good for Nicole but is she really MAGA or does she deny that? If so, I do wonder if, now that she’s got her Tony, she’ll feel more free to express her love of Dump.

From what I've seen of her, Scherzinger is a gently insecure person - not the type whose insecurity makes her unkind - and, how to say it, not perhaps the brightest bulb in the chandelier. She is one of those people in interviews who strives to use big words and express big ideas but often comes across as having no clue what she's talking about or talking waaaaay too much. The hat business is probably a good example. She is deeply religious. She took the hat at face value and wound up in the soup over it. Interestingly, the voters didn't seem to hold it against her. If I'm wrong she'll start supporting Trump now but I don't think that's coming. It's more naiveté than guile

I’m not sure why so many here are surprised by Darren Criss winning. He has been the presumptive winner since “Maybe Happy Ending” opened and became a hit.

Tom Francis was never seriously in the running despite his Olivier and Andrew Durand certainly wasn’t. It wasn’t until Jonathan Groff opened in “Just in Time” that Criss had serious competition.

Jordan was chosen as the personal favorite by a lot of the handicappers, theater critics and entertainment writers prognosticating about the winners. And I would have voted for him, he was great in a difficult role. But I don’t think anyone seriously thought Jordan would take it, nice as that may have been.

Only Nicole is known to be a bitch behind the scenes

R59 that’s false. Tom Francis was in the running still. Many predicted he would win

Hell even Groff in his showy role deserved it more.

R61 That’s just not true. His publicists maybe.

With all her money, Oprah couldn't buy her friend Audra a seventh Tony. Damn shame !

[quote]Nicole was not fake crying.

Where were the tears, R51? I didn't see no goddamn tears.

With Criss leaving this year's Best Musical in August, where are they going to find an Asian actor who's a name to carry the show until it shutters in January?

And btw, Nicole, you wore that shitty red gown when you guested one night in Ben Platt's concert at the Palace, where, btw, you sang a song from Smash with Plattypants. I was there. I have the video.

Please don't ever say I'm a bitch again. , Why, I'm having the Honey Baked Ham Company send Audra a special consolation prize.

R66 His former costar Harry Shum Jr. would be a great choice.

And why do you care so much about Nicole's red gown ?

Hopefully Jeremy Jordan finally gets a Tony-winning role, either next year or 20 years from now.

Cynthia does work my nerves sometimes, but I think she did an excellent hosting job. WAY better than DeBose!

Grof straddling and feeling up Keanu was a highlight.

If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, I would have played a drinking game where you take a shot every time you see an actor from The Gilded Age or Sex and the City/And Just Like That.

Tom Francis was always the one people thought was winning. It’s true.

DeBose is a talentless hack. Cynthia at least has some talent. Talk about overexposure though - Poker Face, her album, Jesus Christ Live, and Wicked Part 2.

Bring back Neil Patrick Harris...PLEASE!

Norma is supposed to be a mildewy, middle-aged recluse who tries to buy the love of a desperate young writer. Pussycat Doll Scherzinger doesn't come to mind. I hope to god she's not cast in the movie version.

Once all the on the bubble shows announce their closings, they'll likely sell out the last two weeks.

R71 Well, apparently you and Tom Francis thought that was true.

The rest of us: not so much.

R73 Bite your tongue!

I looked up Nicole's discography - she was MUCH more popular in the UK as a solo artist than she ever was in the US. I always wondered what the fuck she was doing on that UK show and how they even knew who the fuck she was.

She had a lot of hits in the UK that never charted here at all.

The Pussycat Dolls was almost 20 years ago. She turns 47 this month, close to the same age as Lupone, Close, Paige, and Buckley were close to the same age when they played her in the 90s.

[quote]With Criss leaving this year's Best Musical in August, where are they going to find an Asian actor who's a name to carry the show until it shutters in January?

Telly Leung

R78 “how they knew who she was” ummm because celebs can become global or international. And PCD were big before her solo stuff

Looked like Audra was applauding after Nicole’s acceptance speech, so glad to see she was gracious about not winning.

R73=that little bitch NPH, again desperate for attention.

Am I right that, other than best plays & musical awards, the only non-talent to be recognized with awards in the CBS telecast were the directors?

R82 this wasn’t her first rodeo… like let’s be for real. She has 6

Tom Francis was good. It was a foregone conclusion he would get a nomination. It was just as certain he wouldn’t win. At best I imagine he came in third in that category, maybe even fourth.

R84 they award the other categories at a pre show that airs on Pluto

Of course, R85, but my point is that if she had acted surly about losing like Francis did, she’d likely have gotten backlash for it.

What do Darren Criss and Ncole Scherzinger have in common? They're both half-filipina.

I have to put up with Erivo, Mistress of the Dark, until next March?

Please find someone with a keen sense of humor and dancing chops as next year's host.

R89: And Criss can pass for white.

Maybe Debbie Reynolds, R90?

If "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" is a hit, JLo will demand Norma as her reward.

R68, if you don’t work in the casting business, you should. That’s a fabulous suggestion about Harry Shum Jr.

Some numbers from the show, in case you missed.

Groff

Death Becomes Her

Pirates

Maybe Happy Ending

Nicole

R91 idk he’s starting to look more and more Asian as he gets older

Hamilton

I'm watching it again - the one thing about the Tonys that you don't get anywhere else - these people LOVE what they do.

You see it in all the performances and the side shots.

It really does look like a fabulous life - difficult and not a lot of money, but the theater community just looks so fun and supportive.

[quote]difficult and not a lot of money

They smile when they are low, r102.

It's between Curtis and Danza.

How much do some of these leads make? I'm not talking about Clooney. $200k a year?

Chorus is union pay, right?

Clooney got beat by a man in a dress. Your time is over George.

Maybe Nicole thought she was playing Norma in the musical "Carrie"? Cuz Miss Thang sure ain't playing a faded silent movie star.

Audra took Rose’s Turn as an opportunity to ACT but she took the SONG, tore it into little pieces, stomped them into the mud and lit it on fire.

It's okay. George will get an Emmy.

Norma in "Carrie".

Escola's fashion inspo?

So, Cole got a Tony...

Now what?

He's not easy to cast. Not really a lead. Very, very gay. Has a "cute" quirkiness now but he's about a year and a half away from looking like Bud Court: The Middle Years.

Can he write himself another hit?

I guess he can try "Oh, Mamie!" and hope for the best.

I didn’t see the “Pirates” number until after I’d read all the awdul comments about it here, but I thought it was fun and show-bizzy. Thought their number and the ones from “Maybe Happy Endings” and “Dead Outlaw” did well by their shows.

R32 True, but she looked better last year when she was fuller.

R65 - did you ever see Nicole on the Masked Singer? Fake, kardashian-style, tearless crying in every episode.

In Memoriam

Dead Outlaw

Audra.

LuPone as Rose

Peters as Rose

Tyne doing " Rose's Turn."

R112 - I always thought Cole was hilarious and offbeat. It's he easily castable? No. But there are so many mediums nowadays - I don't think he'll ever be a lot bigger than what he is now - but I think he'll be around.

It really is amazing where he came from - I remember watching his little show with Jeffrey Self. Who knew he would win a TONY?

I love how he thanked some guy on Grindr during his acceptance speech - SO funny!

There's a new Rose in town!

As for the Best Actress Musical race, neither Nicole or Audra wowed me with those two clips.

Nicole gave a powerful vocal performance but....she sang a song well. Wasn't channeling Norma Desmond at all. That was a singer, not an actress.

Audra was just...that wasn't good. It was just hammy angry yelling. Like a black Imelda Staunton.

Paul Tazewell becomes the first person to win a Tony and an Oscar in the same calendar year. He won the Oscar for Wicked, and the Tony for Death Becomes Her.

Maybe the small cuts made in “Rose’s Turn” for time purposes threw McDonald off. Certainly her timing and delivery were way off and she gave a very sloppy, undisciplined performance that was nothing like what I saw her do a few months ago. The extreme closeups didn’t help.

Audra’s performance tonight was a clear reminder why she was completely wrong for Rose. That role is meant to be performed and sung by a mezzo soprano. Also I didn’t like some of her acting choices, speaking the lines with this sharecropper’s dialect making it impossible to understand her at times.

I had high hopes for her Rose because she’s proven over the years that she is truly the Meryl Streep of Broadway with her range and gift of mimicry. But Gypsy I guess she’s not as incomparable as I thought.

R123 The first person Cole thanked was someone named Jeffery (his spelling, btw). I hoped it was Jeffery Self.

Jeffery was there with Cole, so I believe so.

Why was Brooke Shields there?

Patti was supposed to be there and present but she chose to stay home instead

Patti had no incentive at all to attend. To see Audra win another Tony? To violate the restraining order keeping her 500 feet away from Andrew Lloyd Webber at all times? So she could bump into Glen Close who stole the Broadway production of Sunset Blvd. from her?

No. La LuPone wisely stayed at home this evening with a good book.

R126 er, no.

Bob Fosse won an Oscar, 3 Emmys and 2 Tonys within a few months of each other in 1973.

I think Shirley Booth; Audrey Hepburn; Ellen Burstyn; and Judi Dench all won a Tony and an Oscar in the same calendar year.

Booth, Hepburn, and Burstyn all won their Oscars and Tonys within the same month. Dench's were spread a couple months apart!

R126: “ Paul Tazewell becomes the first person to win a Tony and an Oscar in the same calendar year.”

Didn’t Fosse win an Oscar and a Tony in the 1973 calendar year? And 3 Emmys too?

And there was r134 already

R41- don’t forget Dracula!

R131- she’s the president of Equity

Cole at his absolute best,

Cole Escola should consider fixing his teeth.

[quote]Bob Fosse won an Oscar, 3 Emmys and 2 Tonys within a few months of each other in 1973.

March 25, 1973 -- won 2 Tonys for choreographing and directing PIPPIN

March 27, 1973. - won 1 Oscar for directing CABARET

May 20, 1973 -- won 3 Emmys for choreographing, directing, and producing LIZA WITH A "Z"

Patti was never slated to attend.

R126 please return to your room with your tail between your legs, and read a history book. TIA

R111, per Frank DiLella on NY1’s red carpet show last night, Cole said his dress was an homage to Bernadette’s.

Yet it didn’t look anything like her dress…

Why was the first thread prematurely shut down?

Been a Cole fan for many years. Oddly, I think MARY is less funny than a lot of his earlier work, but was still a good time. And I guess it makes me old, but i just can’t play the non-binary game. Would love to celebrate this, a win for an out and proud gay boy. The “they” of it all is complicating.

I dvr'd and watched early this morning. Best Tony broadcast in ages. Love how they announced nominees like the Brits do. They even got the In Memoriam section right. Even though it still ran over, I didn't think the show dragged at all.

Didn’t Audrey Hepburn win the Tony and Oscar in the same year as well?

The show didn't drag because the speeches were short; the "comedy bits" from the host were pretty much eliminated ( since she is incapable of being funny); and the musical numbers were shorter, especially from shows that really didn't matter in the real races.

“the "comedy bits" from the host were pretty much eliminated ( since she is incapable of being funny)”

I was also mystified by the bit with under-the-seat “gift bag “of items obviously stolen from Walgreens.

[quote]I looked up Nicole's discography - she was MUCH more popular in the UK as a solo artist than she ever was in the US. I always wondered what the fuck she was doing on that UK show and how they even knew who the fuck she was. She had a lot of hits in the UK that never charted here at all.

You just described Diana Ross, who ALW originally wanted to cast as Norma back in LA in 1993, but she said no - and we got Glenn Close.

The Tyne Daly clip above is what I remember from seeing her when she returned briefly in 1991. They should have ended all 'Gypsy' revivals after that production. It was perfection with her as Rose. Too bad Audra didn't learn from her.

From " Variety."

[quote]Why was the first thread prematurely shut down?

621 posts is not "prematurely." Threads are supposed to close at 600 posts.

Why was Anthony Ramos in the audience but not onstage for the Hamilton reunion?

Last night, a malfunction was causing the numbering to show 521 – not 621

So the trannie, who claims to be non-binary, won for best ACTOR, a very binary category.

So now, they get to pick and chose when and when they won't be binary/non-binary.

Shouldn't they/them have won for best "they/them" category, a category that does not exist?

[quote]Best Tony broadcast in ages. Love how they announced nominees like the Brits do.

How do you mean?

Haven't the Tonys always listed the nominees before announcing the winner?

I mentioned Grindr. I’m in on the joke!

r149: I think Cole will eventually revert to being the gay guy he always was. I'm with you about OH, MARY! - for me it only scored in its last 20 minutes (minus the self-indulgent musical coda) and did not deserve to win best play - but I'm pleased he won Best Actor.

r160: Cole isn't a trans person. He's genderfucking.

R112: His future will definitely be limited to Broadway - the non-binary thing, really really gay, and he doesn’t exactly have the face and body for film/tv.

Cole and Jeffery have this recent podcast called Breakfast Buffet that is one of the funniest things I’ve listened to in a long time. It got no attention, but every episode is filled with twice as many jokes as MARY, and they’re not nearly as one note.

What they wore.

R154 is a relevation. The first person ever to assert Miss Ross was bigger in the UK than in the USA.

R161. They meant by a separate voiceover, rather than the person(s) at the mic to announce a winner. Duh.

Is it Cole_in the Hole, or Hole_of the Cole?

" Dancing the Charleston with her partner...Oops. The nominees for Best Performance by an Overbearing Diva are..."

Put all of the acceptance speeches together and they still fall short of the time that Adrian Brody took at the Oscars.

The VERY BEST Red Carpet photo of the year. Siriano and Ashley Longshore

At least the women didn't come dressed like whores, as they do at the Grammys.

[quote]Why was Anthony Ramos in the audience but not onstage for the Hamilton reunion?

I wonder what happened there. He was at rehearsals.

Doesn’t the Anthony Ramos thing involve his break up with Jasmine Cephas Jones? Maybe she wouldn’t agree to share the stage with him and they’d rather have all three Schuyler Sisters?

Oklahoma paper's headlines:

[quote]The Oklahoma story 'Dead Outlaw' was robbed at the Tony Awards, but these shows and stars won

Clooney lost to a man in a dress. Justice.

R175 that sounds so petty, though.

“ Clooney lost to a man in a dress.”

Well he married one whose name is actually anal so what’s the difference?

From GoldDerby:

WORST: What was up with the mics? The Tonys happen every year, and yet it seems the broadcast team is always battling sound issues. This time it first showed up when Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were presenting, cutting Reeves off as he announced the winner. As the night went on, other stars battled against muffled mics during awards and performances.

Sorry, tvinsider, I would have put " Gypsy" dead last.

Love Sarah Snook. She absolutely blew me away in Succession. Plus she seems so sweet, chill and unassuming. That girl is getting an oscar soon.

The fat girl?

At least the women didn't come dressed like whores, as they do at the Grammys.

R173 - Dionne Warwick

[quote] Sorry, tvinsider, I would have put " Gypsy" dead last.

I agree, but you will be hard pressed to find a single media outlet to agree.

I suggest you heap lavish praise on Audra not matter what she does.

Trust.

R185 Truth. I wondered as I read my news feeds this morning if they watched the same telecast I did. It must against policy to criticize Audra or Christine.

My rankings would be the dead reverse of TV Insider’s.

The “Death Becomes Her” number was a train wreck, hard to see what it had to do with the theme of the show and the gay stuff was off-putting, at least out of context.

And “Maybe Happy Endings” was so quiet and charming compared to all the diva histrionics last night, it was a refreshing relief. And it’s the loveliest number in the show, which is why it was chosen.

To R68-Harry Shum Jr was delicious-really HOTT on Glee-great body.

Perfect choice to replace Miss Criss

[quote]I guess he can try "Oh, Mamie!" and hope for the best.

The DataLounge would fill every seat.

I could not believe DBH chose that number. It looks nothing like the film, it’s so specific, and not nearly as clever as I thinks it is. It worked fine in the show, but I can’t see it selling a single ticket.

Paul Tazewell isn't even the first costume designer to win an Oscar and Tony in the same year as that was accomplished by Irene Sharaff in 1952: An Oscar for An American in Paris and a Tony for The King and I.

Nevertheless, BRAVO Paul!

Correct^

I agree about the mic issues - it was embarrassing how often it happened. They had rehearsals - WTF? Very unprofessional - no backup?

As far as the Death Becomes Her scene - is that actually in the real show? It seemed like something a drag queen would do during pride - it was just too obvious and hackey.

I know it's Pride Month but I really don't like when Broadway is classified as 'for the gaze/gays". It's not. I'm probably too sensitive about this - but theater and musicals are for everyone.

I just looked it up - it IS in the real show. Oh well - looks like we're going to hear this for the next 50 years as it becomes a gay anthem. I should make peace with it. Still feels forced and designed to market the show to us, which it obviously was.

And yes - I want to see it.

What do I know, but I always thought of Mama Rose as pathetic and vulnerable in those key scenes, and the actresses they choose always are so strong and have such voices they just don't show her as desperate and fragile and delusional. Now when I first saw Gypsy on screen, with Rosalind Russell as Mama Rose, for me she came closest to being that delusional, desperate woman, the overbearing pushy broad who was losing her touch and knew her game was played out.

Who was the “low talker” chick announcing a winner?!

R194 *hackneyed is the word you’re looking for.

What R195 posted is right!!

I'd agree with r195 too.

The problem is that "Rose's Turn" has over the years become a chance for aging divas to do what they've all always, always, always wanted to do, which is to ham it up outrageously while indulging in grotesque self-pity on stage.

I remember when Lansbury did the show in the 70s, everyone was astonished she had taken it up quite a few notches higher than Merman during "Rose's Turn," and since then it's as if every performer has had to take it even further. I thought Imelda Staunton's performance was the hammiest until I saw McDonald's last night.

Does Harry Shum Jr. sing? He only danced on Glee.

I hated Audra McDonald's take - Patti Lupone was right. First, she didn't enunciate well at all - the lyrics were jumbled together. Yes, most of us know the words, but that's not what you do on Broadway.

And making that angry face the entire time. I saw Tyne Daly in it and she was great. I actually also like Patti LuPone's much better.

Audra wasn't made for this role or she approached it in an unsuccessful way. I can see what people are saying.

No—he was the mute member of the school choir

Harry Shum cannot sing. He admitted it himself and had maybe two or three lines of singing in the entire series of. Glee.

[quote]Does Harry Shum Jr. sing? He only danced on Glee.

Nope.

"Why was Brooke Shields there?"

Brooke is working on a one-woman musical about GWTW where she plays 17 different characters.

Audra was really channeling Moms Mabley last night.

I just heard this morning that Darren Criss actually won two Tonys last night as he is also a producer on MHE, making him the first person in Tony history to ever achieve this.

I never understood why Harry Shum Jr wasn't used more on Glee, he's HOTT, can dance& sing. Always in the background.

Harry wasn't getting used by Ryan Murphy like the dead junkie whore-dead child molester.

I'm a Cynthia Erivo fan and I thought she did a superb job. I also thought Arianna Dubose looked spectacular. Gorgeous.

There's only one Rose. I've never been interested in any of the others.

For direct comparison, Patti’s “Rose’s Turn”

If there's only one Rose, it's certainly not Roz Russell. That's a pretty critically lambasted performance.

And Bette

R201. I agree about Audra’s enunciation. It took me a long time to warm up to her but, in the theater, Rose’s Turn was pretty impressive. That being said, I hated the rest of the production. The direction, the look, the supporting cast were all seriously lacking. Danny Burstein was okay, but the others….no thank you.

It was mentioned this morning that we’ve now had three straight years with someone from Glee winning a Tony — Alex Newell, Jonathan Groff, and now Darren Criss.

Well, we just have to wait another few years for the inevitable new production of Gypsy that will make us forget this one.

[quote] It was mentioned this morning that we’ve now had three straight years with someone from Glee winning a Tony — Alex Newell, Jonathan Groff, and now Darren Criss.

And next year: me, for "Chess"!

Change of subject!

Did anyone else notice the pushy guy who (literally) shoved producer Jeffrey Richards away from the mic when he was accepting the Tony as lead producer of Maybe Happy Ending? Richards did get his thank you in so maybe he'd had enough time in the spotlight but it still seemed so rude and trumpian. Who was that guy?

Patti in male drag

"That's a pretty critically lambasted performance"

I'm not influenced by statuettes and reviews.

I thought Russell was brilliant. And in this scene she is kind of terrifying. Delusional even.

These portrayals of Rose differ only in the most minute of degrees.

Datalounge has gone well beyond counting the number of angels on that pinhead in trying to make different what is essentially similar.

Is it just me or did John Proctor is the Villain seem to get the most applause and cheers from the audience?

R215 Groff is of Glee, not from Glee. He was hired for TV off a prior Bway leading role…same as Lea and Idina—not the same as any of the other “students” …

If you’re not white, you’re FROM Glee.

If you’re white, you’re OF Glee.

Got it.

Said no one here…

I loved the characters AMBER and SANTANA on Glee.

Did anyone notice that impossibly adorable Neil Haskel was in the "Death Becomes Her" musical number and the Hamilton reunion number?

Nope—except for his mom.

[quote]Who was the “low talker” chick announcing a winner?!

Charli D'Amelio, a professional influencer and occasional dancer. TikTok superstar who has gained fame for her self-titled channel. She has earned massive popularity for her dances with both viral routines and original choreography, montages, and lip-syncs.

[quote]D'Amelio made her Broadway debut with the jukebox musical & Juliet. She is currently playing Charmian, a "dance-heavy ensemble [role]", for a run at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, from October 29 through September 7, 2025.[102]

yes Rose is Rose. She was the dominating powerhouse that "made" Baby June, etc. and she was determined to "make it" on the Vaudeville circuit. But actors can chose to interpret her many different ways. In some cases she is a one dimensional overbearing monster. In others her character is more nuanced. All the bluster and determination to live through her children's success grows desperate as their lives and the times move on without her. She never grew and she couldn't adapt or let go. She was proud and pathetic too.

If you can’t do Sondheim, at least you can be at the Sondheim. Amirite?

Audra’s Rose made a lot of sense to me. She clearly saw the danger her daughters would face if they didn’t succeed. They could be stars, or domestic workers, or just get consumed by the America of the early 20th century. Of course she was bitter and terrified and ripped apart when she got kicked to the curb.

Bernadette also made sense for me. She was talented and wily, but no one took her seriously unless she fought tooth and nail. But she couldn’t just be a person by herself, and when the kids left, she lost all her mooring.

Patti? No fucking idea. If you think Audra made bad vocal choices and overacted, watch La LuPone. She practically quacked like a duck and raged for almost three hours.

Audra was terrible last night. Oversinging, overacting and not enunciating at all.

Patti was way better in the role (and that should all her to be the bigger person and not bad-mouth Audra).

What part of the song did Audra mess up?

I personally thought Audra’s TONY performance was spectacular. Sure, there was scenery chewing, but that’s how exciting and over the top this aria needs to be!

Her Rose’s Turn is one of anger and frustration that builds through the whole show. She’s not crazy and she’s not a monster.

It’s weird to watch just Rose’s Turn out of context. She did her best to let the different parts of the song make sense to a TV viewer who may not be familiar—with her pauses and acting.

She’s the best Rose I’ve ever seen. She deserved the Tony—the only reason she didn’t get it is because she has so many already.

[quote] She practically quacked like a duck and raged for almost three hours.

The DL tradition is that she honks like a goose. When she sang "An Old Fashioned Wedding" on morning television years ago with Peter Gallagher, one Datalounger memorably uoted her singing as: "I want a wedding that's HONK HONK and HONK HONK, with razzmatazz!"

Watching the links to Patti’s, Tyne’s and Bernadette’s Rose’s Turn—they’re far less emotional than Audra’s.

They’re, well, very controlled and, dare I saw it, so White.

[quote]That's a pretty critically lambasted performance.

Hardly, r212. Roz is fine. It's the movie itself that gets criticized.

What part did she mess up? You can see it on YouTube. Seems like the whole thing to me.

[Quote] Patti was way better in the role (and that should all her to be the bigger person and not bad-mouth Audra).

Patti was just different. I loved her take too. They each found very different motivations for Rose’s actions and beliefs

Based on the leading men’s performances last night, Jeremy Jordan should have gone home with the Tony.

[quote] What part of the song did Audra mess up?

She got really off-key at the big "I had a dream," and so she spoke-shouted all the rest: "I dreamed it for you, June... it wasn't for me, Herbie... etc.."

Audra sounded "RACIALLY MICRO-AGGRESSIVE".

[Quote] Did anyone notice that impossibly adorable Neil Haskel was in the "Death Becomes Her" musical number and the Hamilton reunion number?

Totally missed Haskel, actually. Forgot he was in Hamilton

“ Patti? No fucking idea. If you think Audra made bad vocal choices and overacted, watch La LuPone. She practically quacked like a duck and raged for almost three hours.”

We call those “weeknights” at home.

Oh my stars! Did CBS bleep her?

I'm posting this for my Lesbian friends. Nicole in her prime before she got so emaciated. This is about 16 years old, and then, Lord Andrew Llyoyd Webber took her under his wings.

I think Audra's performance last night really supported Patti Lupone's criticism (or lack of comment). It's not a Rose that anyone would like. She looks mean, nasty and violent - and I know that's a choice, but it doesn't work.

It's not a performance I would want to see. Every great actor has a bad moment - this is Audra's, as much as you want to provide backstory and nuance around it - it was not appealing.

The problem with Linda Lavin's Rose is she made her a nasty piece of work and lacked any kind of charm. Lavin as Rose looked good on paper but flopped on stage.

[Quote] It's not a Rose that anyone would like. She looks mean, nasty and violent - and I know that's a choice, but it doesn't work.

It’s obvious you haven’t actually seen her Rose. She’s angry about what life did to her, not nasty.

Rose’s Turn never makes sense in isolation

Why didn't poor BOOP get a spot to perform? The producers knew it would close and didn't want to pay up for a broadcast?

No pay, no play.

R251 - Yeah - I don't care to see the whole production just for that. Others have commented above that the entire production has faults.

I've seen Tyne Daly and Bette Midler's version live, so I'm not unfamiliar with it.

I don't care for it - and it was a bad song selection for the Tonys if they think that was going to promote it and make people want to go.

Totally turned me off. She's supposed to be 'performing' as if she was a star, but having a stank face the whole time ruins it.

And she totally garbled the lines over and over and over - I couldn't understand what the fuck she was singing and that is WRONG on Broadway.

They should have done “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”

They were in a play, not a musical.

[quote] Rose’s Turn never makes sense in isolation

Then it's a poor choice to perform it on TV to get people to see come see the show.

Before Bernadette, previous Roses performed "Everything's Coming Up Roses" for the Tony broadcast.

[quote]I loved the characters AMBER and SANTANA on Glee.

I'm pretty sure Santana won't be appearing on Broadway anytime soon.

I think it was meant as an “I totally deserved that Tony” performance, not a “Come see the show performance.”

[quote] I think it was meant as an “I totally deserved that Tony” performance, not a “Come see the show performance.”

It failed on both counts.

And she didn't win the Tony, did she?

[quote]Before Bernadette, previous Roses performed "Everything's Coming Up Roses" for the Tony broadcast.

Maybe Broadway needs to find other musicals to revive. How many fucking times is enough for Gypsy?

I wouldn't want to see any of the new shows based upon their performances last night. Maybe Happy Ending was just weird and boring.

I can’t see anyone currently on the scene having the stature to do the next Gypsy—but it’ll likely be 20 years from now with CYnthia Erivo!

I found the performance of Dead Outlaw to be the only thing that interested me at the TONYs—but not enough to actually go see it

I love this production of GYPSY, but that said, it still seemed dated. Bway has become more techy in the last decade and these old shows just seem quaint in comparison

R261

260 I’d guess…

The OH MARY awards were the best, because they celebrated fun for the sake of fun.

Fun does not = funny, nor award-worthy.

It makes a difference.

It makes no difference as long as it’s good.

And OH MARY is good.

I’m seeing Dead Outlaw this week. Assuming it doesn’t close first.

Some thoughts on Audra and this production of Gypsy. Her rendition of Rose's Turn last night was the only one I've seen that depicts what is happening with the character- a complete mental breakdown. So its not pretty. I give her points for originality. I have a problem with this production because it was essentially an "All Black! Gypsy! A Musical Fable!" yet it was not marketed as such or even acknowledged as such, because that would be (gasp!) racist. We are told it is "color-blind casting". Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century. Its absurd to recast them as black. And its bizarre to see a black actress portray a white character as if she was black. And Audras Roses Turn came off as a very angry black woman, specifically and intentionally and undoubtedly African-American. A poster in this very thread admires Audra's interpretation because her Rose has fears that if her daughters dont make it in show business they may face life "as domestics". No. Just no, ffs!

Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century.

That all of eight people still alive knew in person…more or less. It’s a fable, for a reason. JHC

R271, warding off dangerous opinions to protect us all

I would watch that show, r273

George C. Wolfe and McDonald have been clear that this is not color blind casting. And, as the person who made the shocking observation that Rose is trying to protect her children, I suggest you see the show. There is a very specific moment that shows this.

Best and worst…

I'm not a fan of men wearing a dress at the Tonys--or any other award show. And definitely not a fan of they/them. It's so fucking stupid. Cole Escola is gay. Period.

I don't believe for one second that Cole Escola or any other male who wears a dress is attracted to a woman.

Anon binary. ;)

I don’t mind recasting the story as about a Black family. That’s legitimate dramatic license. Nobody sees Gypsy to learn about the real people.

To R271-That's a lot of words you typed in your paragraph.

You should have posted ROSE is being "Racially Micro- aggressive"

Datalounge taught me a new word!!

Oh, I think I would like to see Buena Vista Social Club. I love Latin music and it looks like a lot of fun. I don't want anything serious that makes me think or depresses me.

[quote]No. La LuPone wisely stayed at home this evening with a good book.

Of spells, I'd imagine.

To those of you questioning why Oprah was there or presented I would remind you that Oprah is a bona fide Broadway Producer. the Color Purple and Raisin in the Sun. I thihnk she had a financial interest in several. She's a Renaissance Womyn

I saw LuPone's Rose. I saw a number that started out really angry and very quickly was a woman having an emotional breakdown. Her Rose really did do it all for her kids because she thought it's everybody's path to happiness and by extension for herself, but was unable to see what she was doing to her kids.

No one has mentioned the horrible outfit that ex-Tom Cruise wife Katie Holmes was wearing. Who designed it? Who dressed her? She looked like a cast member of THE HANDMAID'S TALE after an implantation ritual.

[quote]To those of you questioning why Oprah was there or presented I would remind you that Oprah is a bona fide Broadway Producer. the Color Purple and Raisin in the Sun. I think she had a financial interest in several. She's a Renaissance Womyn

R283. Then Oprah can show up when The Color Purple and Raisin in the Sun are nominated. Otherwise, she (and Gayle) had no business being at this year's Tony Awards and taking up two prime seats.

While I loved MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, I was dissapointed that they did the Firefly number without the fireflies that they use in the show. Without spoiling it, the "fireflies" in the show are actually there, flitting around in the air over the robots' heads, and then there is a moment that is so unexpected that the audience gasps with delight and surprise. It's just another of the endearing momemnts in MHE that make it a two-hankie show. On the TONY's, the fireflies were just projected in a screen behind the actors.

She’s Oprah!

If Rose is having an actual breakdown, how does the reconciliation with Louise go?

R284 that’s an up & coming designer: Thortyn Wylder.

R285^

[quote]Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century.

[quote]That all of eight people still alive knew in person…more or less. It’s a fable, for a reason. JHC

A fable according to the real June, who objected to Gypsy's memoir and the way she was portrayed, but the musical is very faithful to the book.

The real Gypsy had a sense of humor, so her recollections are often humorous, whereas June was a bit of a drama queen who always viewed her life as tragic despite being the favorite child.

June's own memoir is just "Poor me!" ad nauseam.

In other words, a typical situation where siblings remembered things differently.

However, the creators of the musical added the subtitle "A Musical Fable" to placate June.

What’s your point?

I agree "Gypsy" needs a hiatus for another ten years or so before it is re-mounted on Broadway again.

They need to write new big roles for Broadway's "women of a certain age" so they don't have to keep reviving it so often.

I did R285 In fact I did it in the first thread the moment she took the stage to present. It was just awful.

R289, it makes a lot of sense for Louise to essentially save a permanently diminished Rose. This apparently happened with Lansbury, according to Sondheim’s account.

With LuPone, though she was wildly inconsistent, there was no reconciliation. She kept reaching at the Rose sign, while Louise laughed at her.

Next revival will be Dreamgirls.

With Miss Lake Dardanelle, who SHINES as Effie White!

R160

Go take your fucking bigotry somewhere else.

Cole Escola is great.

R294, it’s been 16+ years since the LuPone revival. Except for the 5 years between Peters and LuPone, it’s always been about 15 years.

R297 didn’t see the show…

R298^

I agree that Gypsy needs a 20 year hiatus - it's been revived way too many times.

I'm surprised that The Greatest Showman hasn't turned into a Broadway musical yet - I mean, it's pretty much ready to go. They could add a couple of new songs, but that's a film designed for Broadway.

Ooop - I just looked it up. They're working on it now - it's going to debut in Bristol, UK? Bristol??? It will do a West End run and then move to Broadway. Odd choice.

So THIS is why Hugh's all sold on Broadway and theater right now. If he's not cast, he's gonna be pissed!

[quote]Otherwise, she (and Gayle) had no business being at this year's Tony Awards and taking up two prime seats.

I'm no Oprah fan, but I doubt she crashed the thing.

[quote]I agree that Gypsy needs a 20 year hiatus - it's been revived way too many times.

But you can never have enough Follies.

[quote]June's own memoir is just "Poor me!" ad nauseam.

June wrote *two* memoirs, r292, and she is self-pitying in neither.

Also, r292, you're a fool if you take Gypsy's book as gospel.

Gayle was there because it was on CBS and so is she - and she shilled for the show all week. Oprah was probably her +1, but Oprah being Oprah, she had to get herself into the show somehow.

It really was a great show though - so much more entertaining than Oscars or other award shows.

I wish they had a national award show for regional productions, but it probably would be too difficult for voting.

Cynthia did a great job, and I heard from someone inside the production that she was great to work with.

It was certainly well produced, r308.

I've not been much of an Orivo fan but I have to admit she came off surprisingly warm and humorous as host. Two attributes I've not seen in her repertoire.

Oprah is a Broadway producer. She didn't come as a "plus one." She produced Color Purple and some others that she had a financial interest in.

I just watched the Audra clip and I’m glad I did. I thought she was brilliant. There’s no denying Audra is a terrific actress and she presented the character with real complexity in everything she did, vocally, physically. The character’s style itself suggested a life-long opposition, an exclusion from the mainstream. Her longing for a fame that, no matter what, would never have been achieved. For the first time, Rose was giving advice she herself had never, couldn’t ever take. What came between her and her daughter wasn’t talent but class. Her daughter had ascended up a class, not just in showbiz but in the world, and was leaving her behind.

Not sure what to make of these endless comments about her singing - which was great - her expression, her wig, even remarks that she messed up the words. It seems pretty low, petty and hateful. It was a towering performance.

I'm not sure how many people watched this show - but I agree it was a huge win for Cynthia. We got to see a different side of her - she was fun and sang great.

I've been REALLY tiring of her in interviews and the stunt outfits - she kind of needed this to wipe the slate clean. And she did that successfully.

Yeah, I think Oprah was there because she produced The Color Purple, which was Cynthia's first Broadway debut and she got a Tony for it - and then her career took off. Of course Oprah feels responsible for Cynthia's success somehow.

I think the kindest thing one can say about Audra's performance is that stage acting (with a distance between the actors and the audience) doesn't always translate to film (or TV camera close ups). Exaggeration may be necessary as "acting" on stage but it comes across as over wrought and waaay too much, as Audra did last night.

Too bad for her. And also too bad that, IMO, Gypsy was always a second rate show with some good numbers. Never understood the interest by divas in playing Rose, except that there are some very good songs in the play as a whole.

I saw Audra in Carousel at Lincoln Center may years ago. Much more subtle and nuanced, and a much better play, too. Some glorious music there!

I read June Havoc’s first book. It is an incredible story because she got married at 13 and survived during the Depression by doing dance marathons. I think the film They Shoot Horses Don’t They was inspired by her book. She was a true survivor. I don’t remember much she wrote about her mother or sister but read the book years ago.

I think the real Mama Rose was 100x more horrible than the one in the play.

My favorite performances were Hamilton and Dead Outlaw...Dead Outlaw made me interested in seeing the show.

No, the Roz Russell Gypsy wasn't reviled. People were annoyed that Merman didn't the role but Roz did a nice job. I mean, it's not that far from her Auntie Mame but...it's Ros Russell. We don't care. She's great.

Gypsy, the memoir, is a VERY white washed account of Gypsy's life. Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee by Noralee Frankel is a very good biography that reveals all the gritty sadness of her career. Poor Gypsy had to suck a lot of dicks to climb that ladder. And, the real Rose was a monster.

[quote] Not sure what to make of these endless comments about her singing - which was great - her expression, her wig, even remarks that she messed up the words. It seems pretty low, petty and hateful.

Oh, [italic]Mary.[/italic]

I was happy to see Cynthia Erivo in great voice and spirit. I think she's gotten herself a difficult reputation from becoming too famous too quickly.

This night was sooo gayyyy ,so so so so gayyy

Oh, Mary, that's Broadway

Is Jonathan a spitter?

R320 well, yes....

[quote] I read June Havoc’s first book. It is an incredible story because she got married at 13 and survived during the Depression by doing dance marathons. I think the film They Shoot Horses Don’t They was inspired by her book.

The book Horace McCoy wrote (which was also entitled [italic]They Shoot Horses, Don't They?[/italic]), from which the 1969 film was adapted, was written years before June Havoc became famous (which was in 1940, when she played Gladys Bumps in [italic]Pal Joey[/italic]) and without her help.

Havoc did later write a play about her experiences as a marathon dancer in the 1930s which was called [italic]Marathon '33,[/italic] which flopped on Broadway in 1963. Julie Harris, who had co-starred with Havoc in the Broadway play [italic]The Warm Peninsula,[/italic] played the lead.

R317 I see what you did there. Wigwerks prize goes to Gypsy.

R322 you mean a DL poster made up some shit to bag on Audra?! Who’d a think it?

I hated the Dead Outlaw number. Blech.

I second that the Gypsy revivals should have stopped with Tyne Daly, though I think Peters was underrated. With a better production, she could have soared.

Patti can't do vulnerable. Audra's portrayal comes off a lot like Linda Lavin's. Gifted theater actresses miscast. That Rose's Turn was too gimmicky to be taken seriously.

I think Diana Ross could have done a fabulous Gypsy a couple of decades back. Leslie Uggams (whom Audra seemed to greatly resemble) could have done great as well.

Because they’re both Black? Jesus Christ

[quote]which was Cynthia's first Broadway debut

One doesn't get a *second*, r313. You're either a virgin or you aren't.

I'm just glad Steve is dead so he doesn't have to witness the community tearing itself apart over his words.

Katie Holmes's dress was hideous. And her face (and hair) looked dowdy and tired. Glam it up a bit, girl. You're on the Tonys!

But that dress--what an unflattering potato sack. Worst dressed of the night.

Katie Holmes needs a (new) stylist.

Whoever did that to her, or if she did that to herself, ought to be fired.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? was written in 1935, r315.

[quote]I think Diana Ross could have done a fabulous Gypsy a couple of decades back.

Talk about a belter, r326.

Don’t interrupt a DL poster making a fool of himself.

Who wore it better?

I would absolutely love Barbra, Liza or Diana performing the role seriously, not just as a single song. I still prefer Liza's 'Some People'.

I would have actually loved to see Lilias White do Rose when she was younger. Now, there's a belter.

[quote] I still prefer Liza's 'Some People'.

SHUM people

Shit on their buttsh!

Got the dream, YEAH!

But not the gutsh...

Liza should have made the Gypsy tv movie instead of Bette.

I think Queen Latifah might be interesting as Rose.

[quote]Liza should have made the Gypsy tv movie instead of Bette

It should have been Tyne.

Oh for fuck's sake, it should've been Shelley Hack! Can we move on?!

Is Pia Zadora too old to do it now?

[quote]Patti can't do vulnerable.

So? Genuine question: does Rose have to be vulnerable? What I saw was a hell or high water ambition, damning the torpedo and full speed ahead, heedless, uninterested in the consequences. Patti's Rose was a musical monster - the bulldozer picking up speed Forbidden Broadway parodied. Not saying it was perfect but not convinced we need to see the vulnerability in Lady Macbeth, either.

I wasn't much of a fan of Cynthia Erivo. She was so overexposed with all the hype about the movie 'Wiked' last year. I was sick of seeing her.

However, I must say that she did a very good job of hosting of the Tonys.

r344, you absolutely DO need to see the vulnerability in Lady Macbeth, which is what the sleepwalking scene is all about ("But who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him?"). Without it, she would be a two-dimensional character.

This is how it should be done.

Queen Latifah on stage?

I don’t see it.

R348 - I do and I can. I think it's a good idea. Queen's face has almost a permanent smile to it and is very expressive. I could see her pulling off Audra's take on Rose with a bit more sympathy and approachability. Audra's Rose - from the limited few minutes we saw last night - was too much and unlikable.

Even if you don’t like the 4 minute performance, for those who actually saw the show or just have a lick.of common sense, that is completely ridiculous. There are 2 hours and forty minutes you know nothing about. Especially since it includes a great deal more than “a bit” of sympathy and approachability. The idea that Latifah could pull that off is ludicrous.

Cynthia Erivo was great. Showed her chops a couple times but didn’t make it all about herself, kept shit moving.

The Tony voters saw all 2 hours and 40 minutes of Audra's performance and gave the award to a MAGA.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards delivered its largest broadcast audience in six years on Sunday night.

The 2025 ceremony, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, boasted 4.85M viewers on CBS, per live + same-day Nielsen data. That’s up 38% over last year’s audience of 3.53M.

At just over three hours long, the telecast also drew the largest streaming audience ever for Paramount+.

Yay!

cat fights always draw a crowd

R353, I bet Cynthia will be asked back for next year’s ceremony.

You can thank Patti for the ratings increase

“I bet Cynthia will be asked back for next year’s ceremony.”

I bet Cynthia will be home polishing her Oscar.

R350 - Look - no one is taking away anything from Audra's stellar career and her massive talent. And of course we didn't see the entire 2h 40 minutes of her Gypsy, but that doesn't mean we can have our opinions about what we saw.

It feels like you're taking this personally. Remember - there were multiple threads about Patti Lupone's harsh critique just this past week, so of course we're going to watch this and do a comparison.

And many of us are finding ourselves in agreement with Patti. The few minutes last night were not good - poor enunciation, felt like she was screaming her way through a mental breakdown - it was all too much. If you liked it - great.

You are probably right - she got rave reviews almost everywhere when it came out. But as 99.9% of us won't see it - we have the 4+ minutes to go by and it IS different to a point of distraction.

I might be wrong but something tells me Cole Escola will be host or hostess (or both) of the Tonys next year. As much as I get tired of him quickly, I must admit he is funny and has a 'presence' on stage. He knows how to keep the audience entertained. I think he can do it.

[quote] I bet Cynthia will be asked back for next year’s ceremony.

Especially if she's also going to be producing next year's Tonys.

[quote] Even if you don’t like the 4 minute performance, for those who actually saw the show or just have a lick.of common sense, that is completely ridiculous. There are 2 hours and forty minutes you know nothing about.

George Bernard Shaw was once accused of writing a bad review after not reading someone's entire book. "One does not have to eat an entire apple to know it is rotten," he replied.

R360 IS Ms Escola. (hallucinating)

[quote]And many of us are finding ourselves in agreement with Patti.

The thing is that Patti didn't even say anything regarding Audra's performance. People got pissed because Patti didn't praise it. But she said nothing explicitly good or bad about it.

That Rose's number should work on many levels. Rose is unhinged, but beneath the exterior is a vestige of a woman who at one time, HAD SOMETHING. Even if it was a sliver of it, there was something there that compelled her to run arms wide open to the arms of showbiz. It's what the musical stands on. She shakes at the end not just out of sadness, but because she got whistles at one point for doing it. And yes, there should be vestiges of it there as the older Rose bumps and grinds.

Audra's performance simply had none of that. It worked on one level of an unhinged, pathetic woman, which muddles the point of the show. Where was the multi-dimension?

If I was Audra, I would scrapped that whole mess, came out in a gown with a slit up to my thigh and hair flowing, and showed the audience the star that she is. Who directed her in this show? Was this their first show?

I was dumbfounded watching the number.

R364, you don’t even know that the director is George C. Wolfe? You being dumbfounded has nothing to do with Rose’s Turn.

At last, a DL-er with taste. R347. Blessings! Now there’s a Rose who can win a Tony!

This irrelevant shit is over for another year. Next June we will have another gang of freaks to talk about. The whole community has dispatched to the Hamptons and upstate New York until labor day licking their wounds and counting their cash. Don't cry for them.

Nicole was doing "Back To Broadway"; Audra was doing "Porgy, Dreamgirls & Me"; and Cynthia was doing "Billy Porter: A One Woman Show". Just star turns.

George C. Wolfe is a terrible director R365. Amongst other horrors, he did Shuffle Along with a 8 months pregnant Audra flopping around the stage like a beached whale and Billy Porter with pursed lips looking on. No wonder Scott Rudin pulled the plug on that mess. Thank god I had free ticket.

Has anyone checked Erivo's papers?

R179-You are a laugh riot. Still laughing.

R369 - You thought Angels in America: Milennium Approaches was awful? Wolfe has had a lot of success and good reviews in his career. But everyone's bound to have some lows.

What will Frank Dilella do for the next three months?

Audra's performance was manic, screeching and screaming.

Nicole's performance was quite good. However, her acceptance speech was way too melodramatic, weepy and cringy over the top.

R369, you’re entitled to an opinion. I happen to disagee - I particularly liked his work on Angels, The Wild Party, Caroline or Change, The Normal Heart, Jelly’s Last Jam, and (yes) Gypsy. Not everyone did, but that’s theater.

The poster didn’t even know who directed Gypsy, snarking that it must be his first time, On Datalounge, it’s become increasingly common to spout off big opinions without bothering to accumulate the least bit of knowledge.

We won’t be seeing Erivo for a while. She’s doing Broadway,Hollywood and everyone else a big favor. A beautiful young light skinned African American girl motorcycle driver was recently killed in a crash. Erivo is having that woman’s face-YES! Transplanted on to her head-her hideous head. So stay tuned…

[quote]The poster didn’t even know who directed Gypsy, snarking that it must be his first time,

Because the Tony number was one dimensional and clearly didn't even understand the character being featured.

[quote]it’s become increasingly common to spout off big opinions without bothering to accumulate the least bit of knowledge.

It's also become common to have rabid fans of actresses/actors etc. who haven't even the most rudimentary knowledge of discernment. Everything doesn't have to be a standing ovation/rave but that boggles the mind of some.

Christ, I will be SO happy when both Gypsy and Sunset close, and we end this insane constant discussion about Audra.

Yeah, I have 4 decades of theatregoing and an advanced degree in theater criticism. I enjoy Audra, but get that others may not / that doesn’t make me rabid. But listening the opinion of someone who didn’t know and wouldn’t look up the director and clearly didn’t see anything but the Tonys? Not sorry.

Wow congrats to Nicole Scherzinger 👏

Discussing Audra will never end.

It was fun watching the Tonys along with the DL ‘’play by play’’ . Very entertaining and I learned so much.

Hopefully he will buy some socks R373

You are right R383 lol

Oohh an MFA

I'd almost welcome a return to a FOLLIES discussion instead of yet more Audra.

Is the Audrabot the Janbot also?

Because Audra's performance at the Tonys was awful.

When will we see another revival of Chorus Line. I love that play?

I'm glad Clooney lost. Curious to understand why Gyllenhaal didn't even get nominated. Every review I read said he was excellent but that Denzel was phoning it in. I guess all t he bad publicity about the ticket prices hurt them.

[quote] But she said nothing explicitly good or bad about it.

Learn to read between the lines.

[quote]Christ, I will be SO happy when both Gypsy and Sunset close, and we end this insane constant discussion about Audra.

I'm sure on July 1st 1972 there were people saying, "now that Follies has closed we can finally stop talking about it."

The ceremony was excellent. Perfect? - of course not. But just fantastic.

Audra's performance was like one of those porn videos that shows 100 cum shots in a row.

[quote]r 271 Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century. Its absurd to recast them as black.

Why? Fewer and fewer audience members know who they were at this point. Neither of the sisters made famous movies that endured.

Besides which, I'd rather see a new interpretation of a classic. I mean, at this point I would rather see a Kabuki version of GYPSY than yet another standard, assembly line one. We'll get another one of THOSE (maybe starring Lady Gaga?) in ten years. Those retreads will NEVER go away. And many of them (Russell, Midler, Staunton) are available for rent if anyone's jonesing for a White Mama Rose fix.

Announcing soon:

Audra McDonald IS Sally in "Follies"!!!!

[quote] I just heard this morning that Darren Criss actually won two Tonys last night as he is also a producer on MHE, making him the first person in Tony history to ever achieve this.

Trey Parker won four Tonys in 2011 for book, score, direction, and as a producer of The Book of Mormon.

R344, Lady MacBeth has a sleepwalking scene which is pretty vulnerable and then she hangs herself which is also a pretty vulnerable, desperate thing to do.

Glad you’re not Will Shakespeare.

How do you phone in Othello?

R395, your post makes me realize that I was nowhere near clear enough in mine. I think they meant Darren is the first person to ever take home Tonys for both leading actor in a musical and best musical as a producer of his own show.

[quote] When will we see another revival of Chorus Line. I love that play?

As I posted here last week, an announcement for a 50th Anniversary revival slated for this Fall was supposed to be the 'big announcement' at the Awards on Sunday night, if everything was signed / sealed / delivered by then. Someone else here said the announcement was to be made sometime this coming week. Stay tuned...

R398 sine anyone can be a producer, that’s not saying much at all. It’s not like he actually did any of the actual producing. How many other “producers” were there?

Shit, R400 I was a “producer” on the crowdfunded documentary Matt Shepard Is A Friend of Mine and all I did was hit the donate button. It did get my name in the credits though.

Anyone can be a producer once you realize that there are a lot of rich old ladies around.

John Proctor is the Villain deserved more. Purpose is just ok.

Operation Mincemeat at the very least deserved best score.

I cannot wait until next year when the arguments start over Ragtime vs. Chess vs. the long-shuttered Queen Of Versailles.

r405, So happy for them.

“Purpose” is a funny, well-constructed play and a crowd pleaser. But if it had been about a white political dynasty I doubt it would have gotten the raves, a Pulitzer and a Tony, especially for a play in which so much exposition is simply spouted to the audience from one of te characters. And this doesn’t just come in the first act, it happens throughout and is a lazy way for Jenkins to get himself into and out of scenes. As it is, he has trouble ending this one. But it’s consistently entertaining, is well-acted and is head and shoulders above last season’s overrated “Appropriate,” which was muddled, lazy and full of two-dimensional types rather than characters..

“John Proctor is the Villain,” in contrast, dramatizes everything we’re seeing, and builds to a terrific crescendo. And it’s filled with well-dilineated characters. I agree it’s a much better play, should have won the Tony certainly, if not also the Pulitzer..

[quote]Theater Commentary: The 2025 Tonys Were a Mess — But the Season Was Glorious

[quote]Again, a great season but an iffy broadcast. Here’s hoping future years deliver shows this rich, and a telecast that figures out how to rise to the moment.

R408 - interesting commentary, although a bit more harsh than I think was needed. The production really does need to step up - the constant mic problems and how it was shot seemed unprofessional. But I still loved it.

"Gypsy: Hey, when you produce Gypsy, you typically let the lead actress sing “Rose’s Turn” on the broadcast, right? But Audra’s performance seems to have become overly emotive and forced since opening night. Her mannerisms and line readings distracted more than they dazzled."

Yep. Agree there - I also agree that Nicole's voice was great but that her performance was hollow.

[quote]I cannot wait until next year when the arguments start over Ragtime vs. Chess vs. the long-shuttered Queen Of Versailles.

They won't be in the same category.

They will share several categories as to eligibility.

any G&S fans?

how many numbers in Pirates were taken from other G&S shows?

That critic was right about the stagings not always translating to TV. Is it a question of timing? Given that the shows are running, they can’t have much time to block everything out for the most effective broadcast. Not sure how to fix it.

[Quote] Audra's performance simply had none of that. It worked on one level of an unhinged, pathetic woman, which muddles the point of the show. Where was the multi-dimension?

I completely disagree. Audra’s performance has so many levels—anger, regret. vulnerability, love for her children. It’s this very multidimensionality that naysayers on DL are calling crass and screechy. Bullshit.

Nicole just sang the song straight, very differently than she does in the actual show. No “multidimentionaliy” at all

Face it, Audra lost the Tony because she has 6 already.

It’s her performance, not Nicole S’s everyone will still recall years from now

This was a boring season. Bway is become a celebrity-based proposition to justify the crazy pricing.

[Quote] Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century. Its absurd to recast them as black.

But Jesus is always portrayed as a white man…

[Quote] Mama Rose, Gypsy Rose Lee, and June Havoc were real, live, white women of the 20th century. It’s absurd to recast them as black.

Because the only quality that matters in an actor is the color of his skin

[Quote] Nicole's performance was quite good. However, her acceptance speech was way too melodramatic, weepy and cringy over the top.

Nicole has delivered that same speech in the exact same way for every award she has won. Fake tears, thanking God, blah blah blah

I know the list of people to thank can be long but everyone needs to go back to thank yous without a written speech.

Aren’t actors supposed to be able to memorize??? At least make it sound spontaneous. Pulling out a written speech says “I know I was going to win and the producers are making me thank these people…”

Erivo does a great job no matter what she’s in.

[Quote] I cannot wait until next year when the arguments start over Ragtime vs. Chess vs. the long-shuttered Queen Of Versailles.

They will all be long-shuttered

R415 - that's true. Audra's 'new' take will be talked about for decades - Nicole's will not. But I have to wonder if also Gypsy's entire production misses were also somewhat to blame.

I don't think anyone is particularly gleeful and enthusiastic about Nicole's win. It's not a win that people will talk about in the future - except Nicole who will somehow think this should open the door to her in tons of acting opportunities. I don't think it will.

But I do think Audra's chances of winning more will be reduced purely because of her hardware collection already - she will win again, but I do believe there's a bias built-in to allow new or not as popular names to advance.

Nicole can hold a note, great. Everything else about her was sharp and fake.

I do hope Nicole will do other Bway shows. She never brought her acclaimed Grizabella to Bway. She could definitely sing Evita.

I don’t see her as that varied an actress so wouldn’t assume she would do Gypsy or most Sondheim.

R419, weepy? There were no tears.

[quote]Audra's 'new' take will be talked about for decades - Nicole's will not

Unfortunately, for the vast majority of the country, her " take" will be memorialized by her terrible performance on the Tonys.

Whatever. Catherine Zeta Jones had a truly awful performance on the Tonys, but was fantastic in the theater.

Maybe Happy Ending lost one of its major financial backers prior to its opening night. The show was this close to closing before it even opened. It just won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

R426 - she saves her tears for God's glory, as he commanded. Heathen. After her speech, she created a god's circle, lit candles and burned a sacrifice to his Glory. He is a jealous God and needs his ego stroked.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

R431: She’s a little long in the tooth and doesn’t necessarily have the face for Hollywood.

[quote][R431]: She’s a little long in the tooth and doesn’t necessarily have the face for Hollywood.

They said the same thing about Maria Ouspenskaya.

R415 is right-Audra got 6 Tony awards, she wasn't going to win.

Every B'way KWEEN told me to bet on Nicole, Audra got 6 & Mia was not going to win. I wanted Cole to win, but would have settled for George.

R432 - exactly. I could see her as part of an ensemble on a TV show but I don't think her acting is enough. Let's face it - her singing carries her through musicals - and she's had months and months and months to get the 'drama' part of a repeatable performance down.

Does she have enough acting skill to give a good dramatic performance each week sans singing? I don't think so.

I just don't like her. I remember her from that reality show and she was in Eden's Crush or something.

Audra is giving the greatest performance I have ever seen on a New York stage. If you get a chance to see it — and see Rose’s Turn in context with her portrayal — do. It’s certain to close before the Summer is over.

Bernadette responds to the Escola dress homage:

[quote]"I thought they looked absolutely lovely, but when I wore it, I wore my chest hairs in a different pattern. But more importantly, congratulations to Cole on the Tony!"

R434, did you see MHE and just genuinely didn’t care for Criss’s performance or you just don’t like him in general? Just curious as most seem to admire his performance (myself included).

And though movie stars don’t tend to always win at the Tonys, I’d be willing to bet Clooney was second in the vote count behind Escola,

I see that Nicole is just as delusional as she was years ago. You can't start a film career at age 46. She's a senior citizen by Hollywood standards. Plus, she has the worst cast of resting bitch face that I've ever seen. It's back to judging The Masked Singer for her.

Since the powers-to-be find it more important to telecast an excerpt from a musical that will not survive the summer ( and did nothing to make anyone want to see it) over the Lifetime Achievement Award, here is the end of Harvey Fierstein's acceptance speech and the linked entire speech:

[quote]But I'd like to leave you with this thought, as many of you know, there is nothing quite like bathing in the applause of a curtain call, but when I bow, I bow to the audience with gratitude, knowing that without them, I might as well be lip syncing show tunes in my bedroom mirror. And so I dedicate this award to the people in the dark and offer my most profound thanks to all of you, my community.

Resting?!

R438: Well there are other opinions on Criss. Personally, I don't get the praise. His voice is below average at best.

Tony voters preferred Nicole over Audra. Period. Stop making excuses because it's foolish to think that if a voter thought they were seeing Audra give the performance of a lifetime they wouldn't vote for her because she has too many.

I was knocked out by Criss' debut on GLEE -- to me he exuded star quality in that first scene -- but have rarely admired him much since. (His season of AMERICAN CRIME STORY was excellent *except* for him, and he was way out of his depth as a replacement Hedwig.)

So color me surprised to tell you that I thought that he was terrific in MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. His slim voice is just right for that light and charming score, and he delivered a wonderful mix of robot physicality with human charm. While I would have loved to see Jeremy Jordan win for FLOYD COLLINS, I was perfectly pleased when Criss won instead.

R443 - I think it's also a matter of splitting the vote with having two actresses from Death Becomes Her in the same category. Let's say some voters would vote for Audra but really wanted Megan Hilty over her - there goes those votes. Then the same with those who want Jennifer Simard based on the different character choices for Death Becomes Her.

It would be a lot more interesting if they gave the actual vote tallies, although they would never do that as it would hurt people's feelings.

[quote] Aren’t actors supposed to be able to memorize???

A lot of actors don’t like to spend a lot of time on their acceptance speeches because they think it’s bad luck.

Who says Darren Criss doesn't have talent?

[quote] But Jesus is always portrayed as a white man…

Ahem.

Oh for fuck's sake about the Lady Macbeth comment. You got the drift. She was a stone cold killer bitch. Nobody needed to see her kitten. Christ.

It’s not as if Audra’s less than stellar Tony performance made voters rescind her award. She didn’t win it in the first place, based on the entirety of her performance within the musical.

Oh, whatever. Give Miss Audra McDonald songs like "Don't Cha" and "Stickwitu" and see what she can do!

Exactly. If it was such a performance for the ages, where's her Tony for it?

[quote]r452 = Exactly. If it was such a performance for the ages, where's her Tony for it?

Are you asking about Audra or Ethel?

Audra. Who's Ethel?

Christ, you don't mean Ethel Merman do you?

What time does the volunteer bring the jello cart in your parts?

Prediction: This was the last Tony’s

R417 But, Jesus wasn't real.

You could argue that voters could have denied Audra her 5th and 6th Tonys, because, frankly, that's a bit too many for someone to have before they're 45 but she still won them.

But, the AudraStans are never going to admit she lost because...more people preferred other performances over hers.

They're also going to have to face the bitterness that her not very good Tony performance is going to haunt the "legacy" of her brilliant interpretation for the rest of time.

Will Patti be invited to the Juneteenth Broadway Concert?

I'm a rube who's never attended a Broadway performance, so I'm left with Youtube clips to make my judgment.

Or, you might just accept that you are in a position to make an informed judgment on things you didn’t see. There is nothing wrong with that,

Not in a position. But seriously - it’s not a good thing to have opinions on topics where you don’t have sufficient information.

Not quite up to date on Broadway.... can someone answer was Nicole's win was over Audra???

Patti and Audra's Roses had the exact same problem: too much psychology. Just fucking tell the story.

John Proctor and Maybe Happy Ending are exactly the kind of sentimental cheerleading that insecure audiences everywhere flock to. I'm pleasantly surprised that Purpose (a mixed success but genuinely challenging) managed to win

[quote]What time does the volunteer bring the jello cart in your parts?

Don't know about r453, but in my parts it fucking better be butterscotch pudding.

Gawd, that Floyd Collins show looked like a lot of effort. Does anybody really enjoy that? Looked like the kind of tuneless thing pretentious people suffer through. Four minutes of that was plenty.

[quote]Audra is giving the greatest performance I have ever seen on a New York stage. If you get a chance to see it — and see Rose’s Turn in context with her portrayal — do.

If you're lucky enough, she might actually show up.

r465, FLOYD COLLINS was awful in person. It was the exact same tuneless tune for every song. They should have hired Alison Krauss to bring a contemporary bluegrass sound to the show.

R467 - I shouldn't have prejudices like this - but a story about some Kentucky cave discoverer doesn't exactly match with my urban tastes.

It was written and developed by a lesbian and it played in some great theaters before finally coming to Broadway this year.

I'm happy for her because she wrote this over 30 years ago!!! I can't imagine what that feels like to have your project move to Broadway after 30 years.

"John Proctor is the Villain" sounds like it came seven years too late after the #MeToo movement.

[quote] [R467] - I shouldn't have prejudices like this - but a story about some Kentucky cave discoverer doesn't exactly match with my urban tastes.

It's a weird musical. It shows off beautiful chances for the lead actor to show off his voice in some spectacular but forgettable numbers, and there's really only one enjoyable ensemble number, "Is That Remarkable?" Otherwise it's just a downer with arty music.

Nicole in ANNIE -that was bland performance!

How to explain the great success of The Great Gatsby, even without Jeremy Jordan? Can it just be the familiarity of the title (even though I'd guess the majority of the audience hasn't read the book)?

Ooops, sorry, I meant that post for the Theatre Gossip Thread. Though I guess anyone reading that thread would be reading this one, too.

I though “Floyd Collins” was very much worth seeing and Jeremy Jordan was wonderful. It’s not your typical roadway musical fare, it would be more comfortable in an opera house.

[Quote] Tony voters preferred Nicole over Audra. Period. Stop making excuses because it's foolish to think that if a voter thought they were seeing Audra give the performance of a lifetime they wouldn't vote for her because she has too many.

Oh, now, after weeks of everyone saying openly that Audra’s major problem winning this year is that she has too many Tonys already—-you’re desperately trying to spin it that Nicole clearly deserved it over Audra as Rose. If Audra had no Tonys, she would have, hands down, won this year. It’s a monumental performance that everyone will remember for years.

Like Heather Headley, Nicole is convinced this Bway performance is just a stepping stone to a major movie career. She’ll avoid Bway for as long as she can. When, like Headley, Nicole’s career goes nowhere, she’ll be back in a second cast somewhere

[quote]It's back to judging The Masked Singer for her.

R439 you can goddamn well bet that she'll park that award on the table until the Tony Awards Administration Committee sends legal threats her way.

[quote]Nicole is convinced this Bway performance is just a stepping stone to a major movie career. She’ll avoid Bway for as long as she can

You mean like Streisand did ? That strategy worked well for her.

R478, even Barbra wouldn’t have been able to do it if she started at 50

[Quote] Patti and Audra's Roses had the exact same problem: too much psychology. Just fucking tell the story.

Um, the entire characterization is about psychology. That IS the story

Nicole can always do Jesus movies

[quote] even Barbra wouldn’t have been able to do it if she started at 50

Or in 2025.

There used to be room on Broadway for classical-style scores like Floyd Collins. Gian-Carlo Menotti debuted several pieces on Broadway in the 40s and 50s. The musicals of Kurt Weill were often accused to being too highbrow, but time has shown them to be accessible. Some people said Sondheim was incapable of writing a memorable tune... Reasonable people may differ on the merits of various scores... I found the score of Floyd Collins to be dramatic, interesting, melodic, and very very powerful.

[quote]It’s her performance, not Nicole S’s everyone will still recall years from now

Not for the reasons you think

The problem with Floyd is not only the difficult to access score but the weird subject matter (for a musical).

I think it would be interesting to the frequent theatre goer. As Bway has tilted towards the tourist dollar, it was bound to fail

The TONYs showed America what they will never afford to actually see—Broadway shows.

The average salary for Bway goers is $260,000!

R486 - well - that's the average and there are huge salaries in NYC and who knows how they surveyed.

But it's actually not for just rich New Yorkers. I see it as a preview of the touring productions that go to most of the top 50 cities in the US - (I think? I've only lived in top 10 largest metros).

I love Broadway shows. Actually - pro tip - you can get a subscription to the Broadway Channel for $9.99 a month. It has a LOT of Broadway musicals, plays and other options. Does it have everything? No. But it's easy access and you can see a lot.

What I liked about it is that I saw some shows that I really didn't care for - and I'm fucking GLAD I didnt pay $150 to see it! Others were a nice introduction or a surprise. And others I paid good money to see it when it came into town.

You can cancel the Broadway Channel subscription at any time - so you're not locked in for a year. But for $10 a month - you've got nothing to lose. Seriously.

R486, that’s average household salary. $260k is not easy street in New York. It’s also the average, which means you could have four people making $75k and then one person making a million dollars and you get an average of $260k. Which is very characteristic of NY and the US.

Which is not to say that Broadway prices aren’t a disaster zone.

I agree FC is really more of an opera with set numbers rather than a typical musical.

I also think it's successful on those terms, although I also see why it's never been a real hit.

R486. Yes, Broadway tickets can get pricey...but so are tickets to professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey (often even more expensive than Broadway) --and the unwashed masses seem to afford them. Sports events are outrageously expensive.

I have to look for theatre bargains and discounts, but I still prefer seeing a show over a sports event any day of the week. The only team sport that is exciting to me is watching the Boston Celtics play. Otherwise, catch me at the theatre. Big show, small show, it doesn't even have to be on Broadway; there are some real gems among regional theatre and off-Broadway.

These TONY threads are worth the DL monthly price. Some of you are not just passionate, but really have a deep knowledge and appreciation for this art form.

Yes, yes - haha - gay theater queens - but you learn a lot here and I'm thankful whenever I can learn something for free. And I know you're not BS and just talking out of your ass, unlike most of the internet.

Kisses to you all!

I saw FC for $95 in the fifth row on a Friday (thank you. LCT membership). At that price, it was a good night at the theater and I was very moved by Jeremy Jordan’s How Glory Goes.

The sand seats on this Friday are available for $269 each plus fees. It’s not selling well. If I had paid that, I’m not sure I would be as open to being whelmed rather than thrilled.

This just in-Nicole Scherzinger is in negotiations to play the over-the-hill prostitute Mary Magdalene in a ‘follow-up rock opera” to Jesus Chrust Superstar. The creators (heh heh) Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice are being coy about the title for now but scuttlebutt is it will be called. Oh Mary Magdalene!

r491, i would agree with you about this year, but about this year in only in a long time. Most years the Broadway scene just isn't super-interesting, but this year Broadway had some amazing plays and performances, Plus we had the Patti LuPone scandal which is why so many gay men like me who haven't watched in years watched this year.

All this praise for Erivo seems out of the ordinary for DLers. Does this mean we like our Cyn more when she's away from Ariana?

I didn’t think she was funny, but compared to Ariana (DuBose), she seemed assured and balanced rather than cloying and try hard. If I had to choose between the two, I’d go with Erivo.

[Quote] Yes, Broadway tickets can get pricey...but so are tickets to professional football, baseball, basketball and hockey (often even more expensive than Broadway) --and the unwashed masses seem to afford them. Sports events are outrageously expensive.

Except with 20,000 seats, stadiums have a huge price range.

Was Linda Lavin in the Memoriam?

[Quote] I saw FC for $95 in the fifth row on a Friday (thank you. LCT membership). At that price, it was a good night at the theater and I was very moved by Jeremy Jordan’s How Glory Goes.

One great song isn’t worth $95

[Quote] that’s average household salary. $260k is not easy street in New York. It’s also the average, which means you could have four people making $75k and then one person making a million dollars and you get an average of $260k. Which is very characteristic of NY and the US.

A “household” usually refers to two parents and two kids. The kids aren’t making money so the spouses are. Also the average national salary is about $60,000 per household. So already we’re at 4x the national average. However, if you take out just the top 100 richest Americans, the average household income is actually $50,000. Take out 500 richest, and the average income drops to $40,000

So yes, $260,000 is an exorbitant income

Yes, you can find discounts but mainly only NYers know and take advantage of them. The tourists show up and go to one or two shows at the standard price.

Plus to get many of these discounts, there’s lots of hoops you have to jump through

[Quote] This just in-Nicole Scherzinger is in negotiations to play the over-the-hill prostitute Mary Magdalene

Let me guess—produced by Jesus Christ himself

It’s always silly when people thank God for their award. Like God likes you more than the other nominees

R495 - I get your point and I was one of them. She was just annoying and grating the past year with her antics and interviews about Wicked. It's mainly her purposeful visuals that are hard to get past.

BUUUT - she needed to sell herself and personality more - which is what we saw at the Tonys. It wasn't just a reactive Q&A like the Wicked reviews and interviews.

She was fun and was a great host. She needed to do this because her antics were really putting people off. So yeah - both things can be true. She was annoying and she was great fun at the Tonys.

Of course Nicole will debase herself to play a prostitute for Jesus Christ Superstar - playing a prostitute is fine, but someone getting an abortion - oh hell no!

Jesus Christ Superstar SUCKS ASS. I hate it and most people with modern sensibilities will feel the same and it will not be successful.

I just know they better not cast that bitch in the Sunset Blvd film musical!

It seems like people have forgot that Nicole was the frontrunner until her alleged maybe pro-MAGA moment, then all of a sudden she was out of the running and it was Audra's race to lose.

I suspect some well paid publicists had a hand in that. Either Audra and/or the Gypsy producers were very keen to get her that 7th Tony. But, Gypsy was pushed as being "the show to beat" for Tonys this year despite the fact it didn't really get over the top, across the board raves from everyone. Then, it quickly stalled at the box office. And, the voices of the AudraStans screaming "it's a brilliant performance" didn't convince the people who thought otherwise.

Nicole won because this production of Sunset Blvd was interesting; they did something different with the material. Simply making Gypsy with black actors wasn't that interesting.

People like the Betty Boop actress but...it's a flop.

And, despite all the nominations, no one really likes Death Becomes Her.

"Nicole can always do Jesus movies"

White people like putting Asian women in Jesus movies. But we work it out anyway.

I had to look it up, but it’s true: Audra only wins Tonys in even numbered years. Even stranger? She’s only lost in odd years and those ending in zero.

aren't years ending in zero even-numbered years?

Or 5.

Oops. Or should I say " Boops"?

R487 Thanks for the reminder about The Broadway Channel. I subscribed to it years ago, then dropped it when I was trying new subscriptions to channels. I honestly forgot they went out of business, since I never see ads for it anymore nor hear about it on message boards. I'll have to check it out and add it to my Summer watch list ! Thanks again.

R510, of course they are. You just misread my post, which included the word “and.”

Yes R498 and there was rioting on The Great White Way because she was stuck in the middle, not at the very end as She should have been.

[quote]Does this mean we like our Cyn more when she's away from Ariana?

R495 that’s the ONLY way we prefer her. Now and evermore.

R503: Only in Hollywood/Broadway where thanking God is more strange than seeing a man in a dress.

As well it should be, r517.

[quote]Let me guess—produced by Jesus Christ himself

He's working on his EGOT.

" Smash" gets shut out of Tonys and announces closing.

R469,

JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN premiered at my college in 2019.

It's just taken a while for the play to make its way to Broadway.

And that pandemic break surely didn't help.

Erivo has a good voice and some of her material was funny but God she is very painful to look at.

Unless you paint her green.

[quote] It’s always silly when people thank God for their award. Like God likes you more than the other nominees

I like to think they mean thanking God for everything in their life that led up to winning, but you may be right.

Jamie Lloyd directs GYPSY with Nicole!

She’ll sing Rose’s Turn wearing a black, blood-spattered negligee.

[Quote] I like to think they mean thanking God for everything in their life that led up to winning, but you may be right.

God didn’t show up for the Holocaust. Doubt he’s showing up for the Tonys

While I love the concept of The Bway Channel, I HATE watching theatre on TV

[Quote] It seems like people have forgot that Nicole was the frontrunner until her alleged maybe pro-MAGA moment, then all of a sudden she was out of the running and it was Audra's race to lose.

Nicole was a front runner until Gypsy opened two months later and people were wowed by Audra. It WAS Audra’s race to lose and the only obstacle she couldn’t overcome was the feeling that she already had too many Tonys.

“ It WAS Audra’s race …. and the only obstacle she couldn’t overcome”

It ever was thus on DL

George Clooney and Denzel Washington would never do this:

“After Bridgerton my play ticket price went up to £400, I emailed the theatre who later reduced it, this experience cannot become something elitist and inaccessible.”

— Jonathan Bailey

R524 - I don't know how anyone can perceive it differently when people thank God/Lord/Almighty first for their award or for when a sports team wins. It's saying that God has chosen THEM and that others didn't win because God didn't think they were worthy.

It's performative and try-hard to make people think they are some pure, spiritual person who is getting their just reward because of how faithful and subservient they are to God. As if.

I feel like it's a slap in the face to the other team or others in the category. Of course they'll say - oh noooo - I didn't mean it that way. But in their hearts, they DO think that God selected them.

It's disgusting and bad manners, if you ask me.

Interesting how cultures also feel they are chosen by God and that gives them the backing to do whatever they want to their perceived enemies

So weird that this culture demands that we believe in a magical man in the sky or else we’re somehow evil

I also hate that she made that God statement in front of liberals, gays, Jews - and then says she finally feels 'at home' on Broadway. Don't get too comfy lady. The next day she talks about how she wants to break into Hollywood - so she turned on that statement quickly.

Her loving that Make Jesus Great Again hat shows more about her than we know. ANY red hat with Make X Great Again is an implicit support of Trumpism. You like that so much that you would wear that to rehearsals and around NYC?

People like that make some pretty awful statements off-camera. She's 47 - she should know better and has been exposed to enough in show business.

I know I'm like a dog with a bone about this - but I really HATE when people get support from liberals and gays and are just completely oblivious to the optics of what they're saying.

It’s fascinating how every criticism applied to Audra’s performance is far more applicable to Nicole’s. Modified vowels. Gesticulating and over acting. Creating a characterization that is not supported by the script. Not singing the role the way previous actors did.

This Sunset Boulevard is great if you don’t need a story, characters, or any element of theater other than audacious spectacle. I even pretend that Tom Francis’ performance makes sense because I like his voice, swagger, and shirtless torso.

I don’t like Nicole’s pauses in her performance. She doesn’t sing it how it was written. My Ukrainian-Filipino friend thinks so too

Having seen and hated this production of Sunset (and I loved Lloyd’s version of Evita in London in 2019–and Sunset is way too close in design), how does the audience even follow the story if they didn’t already know what it’s about.

Overall, it just amplifies how clunky the show is

If she wants to thank God, that's fine; if she wants to thank Shiva, fine; if she wants to thank T Bone from Grindr...that was already done.

A lot of this thread reeks of sore losers. Face it. Nicole was great and the production of Sunset was a terrific reinvention of what could have been an old warhorse.

Yes, that's just my humble opinion, but apparently others felt the same way, because they both won TONYs!

So did Moulin Rouge and Aaron Tveit.

[quote]George Clooney and Denzel Washington would never do this:

Dude, Clooney gave away thousands of matinees seats to schools and then as they closed he gave the world his baby FOR FREE.

R530 is delusional.

There - I said it.

They don’t thank God “for the award.” If you are religious, you thank God for your good fortune and your talent and your existence.

When they thank their family and “people” they are not saying those people gave them the award. They are being thanked for their support. Same with thanking God.

I guess if they want to thank God for the award, they can. Who cares if they do

What a way for this thread to end, with all this God talk.

Nicole is wrong,. It's not that I wanted her to get the Tony; it's that I didn't want Audra to get it when she started adding shrieking and grunting to "Rose's Turn."

Shrieking? Grunting? No Tony.

Funny how all the pearl-clutchers appalled by casting GYPSY with some black performers are silent about casting a multi-ethnic beauty whose every gesture and inflection are contemporary in highly period-specific SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Wouldn't it be wisest at this point for Glenn Close to sell her controlling option on a movie version of SUNSET BOULEVARD and just let it develop without her? With a YOUNGER STAR??

I'd (seriously) love to see Catherine Zeta-Jones give it a go, R549.

Sunset Blvd. is just a boring show. I don't think it should win anything. Ever.

There. I said it.

The problem with Sunset Blvd is all the scenes without Norma. Boring and no good music.

If I wanted to look at a nose ring for more than an hour I’d turn on National Geographic. It’s hideous looking.

Gypsy made a horrible decision putting on “Rose’s Turn.” It should have been “Together, Wherever We Go.” That might have sold some tickets.

[quote]Funny how all the pearl-clutchers appalled by casting GYPSY with some black performers are silent about casting a multi-ethnic beauty whose every gesture and inflection are contemporary in highly period-specific SUNSET BOULEVARD.

In reading the posters' views, the "pearl clutchers" are not appalled by having the show with black performers, they concentrated on what they believe to be the unsuitability of use of the head voice of Audra McDonald for a role that was meant for a belter.

Well, that and the fact Rose needs to be FUNNY, too. That's part of the role.

Audra has displayed the ability to be funny in the past; she won her first Tony for playing Carrie in "Carousel" a role with a lot of funny charm. But, it doesn't really seem to be her strongest suit. Or, one she cares to explore much.

Did you see Gypsy, r555?

[quote]Funny how all the pearl-clutchers appalled by casting GYPSY with some black performers are silent about casting a multi-ethnic beauty whose every gesture and inflection are contemporary in highly period-specific SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Zoomer, I guess you weren't around 30 years ago when black actress Diahann Carroll starred as Desmond for over a year in the Canadian production with what was regarded as one of the best performances of the character. She broke that racial barrier back in 1995.

And she was really exciting in the role. Here's the last scene - I love what she does in the final seconds. Pretty hair-raising.

Scheherazade‘s performance was mannered and lifeless, it might as well have been AI generated.

So were her tears when she won.

[quote]It should have been “Together, Wherever We Go.” That might have sold some tickets.

This performance can never be topped. Why invite unwelcome comparisons?

TONY AWARDS 2025 FASHION ROAST

Get over taking offense at the God thing. Let people thank who they want. Jesus fucking Christ. If she had actually said something MAGA in her speech, then fine, roast her, but saying she shouldn't thank God is fucking weird to me. I don't get the relevance of her saying it in front of liberals, gays, and Jews or whatever the complaint was. There are religious people in all those sets of people. And I've never taken people who say that to mean they were picked by a deity to be the winners. They are thanking the deity for aiding them in life on the path to get there. Even if you think that's nonsense, it's not something offensive.

Now, if she had thanked Trump...

[quote] TONY AWARDS 2025 FASHION ROAST

Too annoying, affected, and full of himself to give any credence, let alone almost half an hour of valuable time.

R562, expecting too much common sense from DL.

Cole was worst dressed, there I said it.

Brave, R565. Brave.

I didn’t much care for Darren’s outfit.

R567: Did you see what he wore to the after-party? Straight my ass.

Erm, did you see Katie Holmes?

I started this thread, and I'm amazed it's nearly full.

Congratulations?

FYI - there's a documentary on Tubi regarding the making of Sunset Boulevard as a musical back in the 1950s. Gloria Swanson got temporary rights to do it and 2 gay men were signed on to develop the music for it, but then the studio shut it down a few years later.

It's really interesting. They even did a stage performance about their efforts BEFORE Sunset Boulevard came to Broadway.

One of the gay men was a closeted B-actor who left his wife for the gay musician, but then Gloria fell in love with him and it ruined everything.

It was life imitating art - almost the entire plot of Sunset Boulevard was lived out in this attempt to bring it to the stage. Highly recommend watching it. Gloria never talked about it as she didn't focus on her 'failures'. But it's all documented.

I don't know if Andrew Lloyd Weber was aware or if he used any of it, but I don't think he was completely oblivious. The studio knew about it. I found it really interesting - although sadly both of the men passed away separately about 15-20 years ago. In Palm Springs, of course.

Gloria Swanson's musical version of Sunset.

R572 here - this is the trailer for the documentary - it's worth the 2:30 minutes.

In case anyone cares, there is a professional production of FOLLIES coming up soon in San Diego.

^^^Maybe I find out about FOLLIES& WTF is it all about?^^^

R575 - I love Cygnet - but I haven't been to the new theater since they moved. It's also a lot less convenient to get to way over at Liberty Station.

Have you been to the new one yet?

In case any cares? It’s Follies!

IIRC, Swanson was also pushing a daytime soap opera based on 'Sunset Boulevard' in the late1950s, and she wanted to star (not sure about Holden returning to the role). I believe she pitched it to CBS, they were interested, but then never moved forward.

R577: FOLLIES will be the first production by Cygnet Theatre in their new home at Liberty Station. I haven't been there to see the space, but there are welcoming season subscribers to "try out" their season seats later this month. The new venue will have a large number of food options nearby, and (finally) plenty of parking. The theatre itself is purpose-built, so it should have excellent sight lines and acoustics.

I believe most of the FOLLIES cast has been announced -should be great.

R580 - I liked the Old Town location better. I can get there by trolley or Uber really quickly and there were plenty of good walkable restaurants in Old Town. Granted, I didn't love the barn exterior, but I loved the feel of that theater inside and the outdoor area for intermission.

I'll go - but I was a little disappointed in the location - at night, Point Loma is no man's land for me. I'd never consider going over there, even though it's obviously a very nice (boring) residential area. We'll see.

Still love the LGB Diversionary Theater - although some of the upcoming selections are peculiar.

How many fucking Follies revivals does the theater need?

Between this, Gypsy and Company, ENOUGH ALREADY!

R582, I would also add Cabaret to that list.

[quote]r580 FOLLIES will be the first production by Cygnet Theatre in their new home at Liberty Station. ... I believe most of the FOLLIES cast has been announced

This is Jean Smart's big chance for a Do-Over!

Ditto Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Saw Dead Outlaw tonight.

Great show.

Go to NYC tomorrow. Seeing Floyd Collins. Maybe Buena Vista Social Club. No desire to see the cloying Maybe Happy Ending.

I envy you, R587. Those would be my first two choices.

[quote] In case anyone cares, there is a professional production of FOLLIES coming up soon in San Diego.

I care only if Cole plays Sally and gets to use their youtube line, "You don't spend time in Phoenix; you LOSE time in Phoenix!"

After knocking around Hollywood for more than 10 years, mostly in B pictures, William Holden's career skyrocketed after he appeared in the films of Sunset Boulevard and Born Yesterday, both in 1950. No way was he going to do a TV series with Swanson back then except for his well-remembered cameo in I Love Lucy. He was one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 1950s.

R587, I had some of the same concerns about MAYBE HAPPY ENDING that you seem to have -- but to my very pleasant surprise, the show isn't the least bit cloying or twee. It's wonderful.