I disagree about ''Newsies.'' Of course, my favorite tunes are the original ones from the 1992 movie, but I'd add that Jack Feldman and Alan Menken wrote some terrific stuff for the 2012 stage adaptation. Notably, ''Watch What Happens,'' a big soaring solo for Katherine, a new character for Broadway, and her lovely Act II romantic duet with Jack, ''Something to Believe In.'' Feldman and Menken also wrote new choruses and lyrics for ''Carrying the Banner,'' ''Santa Fe,'' etc., and they thankfully ditched ''My Lovey-Dovey, Baby,'' etc., from the film.
To me, the 50% rule is a good compromise. It acknowledges that more and more stage versions of movie musicals, by Disney and others, are part of Broadway. And that they often feature new tunes, so those contributions, if they're good enough, should be award-worthy.
I believe Tony voters know the difference between a wholly original score and one that's 50-50. And they almost always give more credit to the 100% new scores. The Broadway adapted scores of ''Beauty and the Beast,'' ''The Lion King,'' ''The Little Mermaid'' and ''Aladdin'' all lost to original scores. So far, ''Newsies'' is the exception: the only 50-50 score from a Disney show to win the Tony for Best Score. |
