NY TIMES: Aladdin only sure Tony nominee

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:26pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/theater/for-tony-nominations-musicals-are-anyones-guess.html?hpw&rref=arts&_r=0

[HoundDoggydog]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:31pm

I think saying "Aladdin is the only sure nominee" misinterprets the article just a bit. He says that it is "the closest thing to a hit", but not that it is a sure nominee (especially given the Disney's recent track record at the Tonys. I understand where the title comes from, but I think saying that is putting unintended words in Mr. Healy's mouth

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:31pm

You clearly didn't read the article.

Based on interviews with Broadway producers and some of the 35 or so Tony Award nominators, the only new show that is considered highly likely to receive a best musical Tony nomination is “Gentleman’s Guide,” a cleverly told operetta about a British would-be heir who bumps off his relations. Not only has that show received the best reviews of any new musical this season, it has persevered: After opening in November, it stayed open during the long winter (unlike “A Night With Janis Joplin,” “Big Fish” and “First Date”) despite some weeks with poor ticket sales. (The 12th new musical this season, “Soul Doctor,” closed in October.)

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:31pm

Not sure what you read, but the only show that article implies is a sure-fire nominee is "Gentleman's Guide", not "Aladdin".

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:32pm

Jeez, can't they make a point without trying to showcase their own self-importance: (re: Bullets) "...including a pan from The New York Times that shocked the show’s producers."

[dreaming]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:37pm

I personally think After Midnight and Gentleman's Guide are absolute locks-I'd be shocked if one or the other is left out.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:39pm

Outstanding insight: nobody is sure what'll be nominated or win! Shocking.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 1:46pm

Okay, I skimmed….sorry. I would be surprised if After Midnight -- a revue -- got a nomination in this season.

[bdn223]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 2:06pm

I think what the article is saying in regards to Aladdin is that it is was originally thought to be an unlikely contender in most categories especially Best Musical, but history be damned! Most thought Aladdin would be a Little Mermaid, The Addams Family, or Motown which opened to mixed to negative reviews, but were SRO for the first several months to spite their pans. Despite being the "hits" of their season, at least early in their runs, the shows were not nominated for Best Musical, when in years past a show with similar reviews that was selling out was likely to get a nomination, for example Wicked.
The difference here is Aladdin was able to work out most of its kinks, while it is still not a great show there was at least an effort made on Disney's behalf to improve the production. Unlike with Tarzan and The Little Mermaid where Disney essentially let the critics be damned since the pans did not hurt Beauty and the Beast, Disney worked hard on Aladdin which at least according to the NYTIMES looks likely to be rewarded, compared to other shows where it looks like little effort was made in their attempt to "fix" the show.

The article also hints at the problem faced by Addams Family is a set schedule from the out of town tryout and the Broadway production which does not allow for major rewrites. Lippa has said several times he wished that the changes made to the production for the tour were allowed to be made to the Broadway production, but there was no time between Chicago and Broadway.

In my opinion the fact that most small shows don't follow a traditional out of town tryout model of opening in Chicago or Seattle or (insert location name here) in the Summer or Fall, then opening of Broadway in the Spring, is what makes them more ready for broadway. Take for example A Gentleman's Guide and Next to Normal both shows had multiple out of town tryouts gave the shows enough time to work out kinks, rewrite, and test the revisions before opening on Broadway. This is the model Hal Luftig is trying to use on "The Last Goodbye".

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 2:12pm

"...including a pan from The New York Times that shocked the show’s producers."

I would imagine an NYTimes pan would be shocking to all producers on ANY show to some extent... I don't think they would pour money into something they expected to be critically panned.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 2:26pm

"Okay, I skimmed….sorry. I would be surprised if After Midnight -- a revue -- got a nomination in this season."

Broadwayben, it's perfectly fine to skim an article and then post it. But it's usually best to then provide a headline that safely refers to the linked source, rather than one that might completely contradict it. (Sorry to sound snarky but headlines in utter contradiction to linked sources are everywhere these days and they drive me nuts).

I, on the other hand, would not be surprised if AFTER MIDNIGHT gets a tony nomination and, if anything, the article you've posted, by showing how few shows were well received this season and how the field is therefore wide open, only serves to underscore how unsurprising that nomination would be.

By the way, revues have been known to get tony nominations as best musical. A few have even won. True, revues have won in years that don't have a lot of hit/acclaimed book shows. Again, the whole point of the article is that is the kind of season this one has been.

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 2:54pm

"Okay, I skimmed….sorry. I would be surprised if After Midnight -- a revue -- got a nomination in this season."

Yes, how dare they nominate a revue?! Who cares if it's great, they are called the Tonys not the Revuenies!

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 6:17pm

Was BWW around back in 2000 when CONTACT won? I thought that was more like a dance recital than a musical. I imagine there would have been a lot of flack about that. Don't get me wrong...I loved it, just wondering what thoughts were back then.

Updated On: 4/16/14 at 06:17 PM

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 6:52pm

Contact was difficult to pigeonhole; it certainly had a plot, skimpy as it was. Ultimately, I just gave up trying to figure out what it was and enjoyed the show. Gaines was wonderful.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 6:54pm

BWW was not around, but Broadway.com's old message boards were very active with debate.. Contact is often cited as a lead in to the Special Event category.
(The closure of the Broadway.com boards is what spurred the founding of BWW)

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 9:27pm

My point about a revue is that because there's no obvious stand out, the nominators are going to need to look at every aspect of their nomination. A revue requires no book, no music written for characters, no arc, so its a different -- and arguably -- easier assignment. Say, for example, you had to choose ONLY between 'After Midnight' and "Bridges." Both are equally good/flawed, but if you have to choose, you'll probably pick the more complicated endeavor. I think that's why a revue will have a harder time this season. But, who knows...?

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 11:33pm

A revue requires no book, no music written for characters, no arc, so its a different -- and arguably -- easier assignment.

I can argue the opposite. Because there is no story or characters to rely on, a revue is a much more difficult endeavor to pull off as successfully as After Midnight does.

[wonkit]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 6:57pm

I did not read the article because my general impression of Patrick Healey is that he is a conceited wannabe.

I saw him give one of the most unprofessional interviews ever of Sir Tom Stoppard. Healey was like some barely educated fan-boi who didn't have a single intelligent question or any follow-up questions at all. The audience questions were more interesting.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 8:04pm

Black and Blue was a revue that had many Tony nominations, including Best Musical. Didn't win Best Musical but did snag Best Actress.