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re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical?

Posted by: EvFoDr 06:41 pm EST 01/16/14
In reply to: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical? - Chazwaza 06:20 pm EST 01/16/14

One could go in a lot of directions with this, but I'd vote for 2004. 2 commercial hits with lots of attention that would both go on to have long runs, plus the highly lauded and artistic Caroline which one couldn't entirely dismiss even though it seemed less likely.

I'm not sure about 1982. This is sincere question since I didn't live through it, but did anyone really think the extended children's theatre piece--not to mention generally derided by anyone I know except for some love for Beechman--Joseph was a true contender? Up against Tune and Bennett at the top of their games? I think the more interesting question here is how Nine swooped in and pulled the win over Dreamgirls, but that's another thread. I do personally think Nine is the better show, although I count both of them in my top five fave musicals of all time.


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re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical?

Posted by: Chazwaza 06:50 pm EST 01/16/14
In reply to: re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical? - EvFoDr 06:41 pm EST 01/16/14

I had a question about that too... I didn't live through it either, but because Joseph is such a popular show around the world, for God-knows what reason, and because ALW was such a big success between 1972 and 1984, I figured it was worth assuming the show was a threat.

And it sounds to me, from what I've read and seen, that Nine was just a more relatable story with more comedy and even more an EVEN more showy/spectacular staging than Dreamgirls. Nowadays I can't imagine a season with either show, it might make heads explode with the talent behind the scenes.
(I think both shows are great, but I have never been as taken with Dreamgirls as many others, whereas Nine enchants and haunts me (despite a few silly things here or there). I'm sure if I'd seen Bennett's production, it would have. But I didn't see Tune's production of Nine, so I can only take the shows as the material. (and both made movies I didn't like, though Dreamgirls was certainly better as a movie). However neither show is in my top 5, or even probably my top 10, but Dreamgirls wouldn't even make the top 25.


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re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical?

Posted by: allineedisthegirl 04:32 pm EST 01/17/14
In reply to: re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical? - Chazwaza 06:50 pm EST 01/16/14

". . . because Joseph is such a popular show around the world, for God-knows what reason,"

One big reason is it's so easy to do. Elementary and high schools can do it. Churches can do it, synagogues can do it. You can do it in your back yard.

Dreamgirls and Nine. . . not so much.

db


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re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical?

Posted by: EvFoDr 06:58 pm EST 01/16/14
In reply to: re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical? - Chazwaza 06:50 pm EST 01/16/14

"Nowadays I can't imagine a season with either show, it might make heads explode with the talent behind the scenes."

Amen to that! I am often in awe that they came from the same season. I think another simple reason for the Nine edge is that it opened something like the last day or a few days before the Tony eligibility cut off date. Dreamgirls had been running since December. We know that often the "fresh in mind" spring shows have an edge.


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Tony cut-off openings

Posted by: Chazwaza 07:06 pm EST 01/16/14
In reply to: re: Which was the toughest competitive year for Best Musical? - EvFoDr 06:58 pm EST 01/16/14

Yes... I just posted about this with regard to FOLLIES. Nine had the edge because it opened JUST before the cut off. It was a dazzeling new show that was the freshest it could possibly be in voters minds (and fresh PR too). Follies had the misfortune of being open a year before the Tony Awards it was eligible for happened.


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