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Tony Handicapping
It's that time of year when we can take a look at the season and begin
our Tony handicapping for musicals, plays and actors. Oh, the fat lady is
only warming up as the deadline for openings for Tony Award consideration is not
until April 28th. While there is a wealth of plays this season the smash hit musical
has yet to arrive, or has it? In addition to what has already opened here is a list of
the openings between now and the deadline:
- Not About Nightingales - opens Feb. 25th, Circle in the Square.
- Annie Get Your Gun - opens Mar. 4th, Marquis Theatre.
- Band In Berlin - opens Mar. 7th, Helen Hayes Theatre.
- Night Must Fall - delayed opening until Mar. 8th, Lyceum Theatre.
- The Lion in Winter - opens Mar. 11th, Roundabout.
- Via Dolorosa - opens Mar. 18th, Booth Theatre.
- Closer - opens Mar. 28th, Music Box Theatre.
- The Weir - opens Apr. 1st, Walter Kerr Theatre.
- The Iceman Cometh - opens April 8th, Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
- Marlene - opens Apr. 11th, Cort Theatre.
- Amy's View - opens Apr. 15th, Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
- The Civil War - opens Apr. 22nd, St. James Theatre.
- Fascinating Rhythm - opens Apr. 25th, Longacre Theatre.
- Ring Round the Moon - opens Apr. 28th, Belasco Theatre.
There is also the possibility of The Dead, a musical version of a James
Joyce story, opening at the Vivian Beaumont now that Parade is, well,
dead. According to an article in the New York Times by Jesse McKinley, producer
Gregory Mosher is trying to raise the 3 million dollars necessary to get the show open
before the Tony nomination deadline. Why? Does he think The Dead
is a runaway hit that can capture the Best Musical prize? Well, not exactly ... or it
could very well be. It's more like the lack of a runaway hit this season and Dead has as
much as a shot as the dead Parade. Mosher sees an opportunity,
an opportunity which doesn't happen very often; so he's going after the big brass
ring.
Let's take a look at what he's up against. Well, there's Footloose
with its mediocre reviews but good box office, and we all know about
Parade, but Tony voters don't generally vote for musicals that have closed.
(Yes, I know, it happened once.) Charlie Brown? Good reviews but
is this a revival or what? That leaves us with the upcoming Band In Berlin
and Wildhorn's The Civil War, neither of which has the fire of, say
a Ragtime or a Lion King. So bring on The Dead or
the revue Fascinating Rhythm. It shouldn't hurt in this mediocre season.
Actually, I see history repeating itself. You see, I have purposely avoided
mentioning one musical and there may lie the key to this year's Best Musical
Tony Award..
In a dismal season a decade ago a certain musical which was nothing more
than a celebration of a choreographer's work walked away with the Best Musical Tony.
Jerome Robbins' Broadway was not much different than this seasons'
Fosse in which there is no book but a series of choreographed song and dance
numbers from the body of Fosse's work. It's long and not perfect but the general
consensus from critics and fans is that it's pretty good. Unless Band, Dead, Rhythm or
The Civil War comes up with something very exciting, history will
repeat itself and Fosse will probably walk away with the prize!
Tidbits:
Cabaret has union problems which they are negotiating right now.
Unless they come to terms with the stagehands representatives a strike would be in
order thereby stopping their plans for the new home at the Selwyn Theater. I wouldn't
worry about it as these things work themselves out to everyone's satisfaction. Even
the Lion squealed like a mouse a year or so ago, but it worked out.
- Calvin Klein caused a furor with his latest ad campaign in Times Square. His
latest billboard underwear campaign was to feature toddlers in jockeys and boxers. It
was reported that at the last minute the campaign was pulled due to public outrage
and the billboards on 42nd Street would feature the regular sexy adults. Last minute?
Not quite true. The toddlers did go up. I saw them and raised an eyebrow! They
went down the same day.
- Great article in Sunday's New York Times about London theatre vs. American
theatre. Vincent Canby, Ben Brantley and Peter Marks exchange thoughts over tea
and biscuits.
- Tix are on sale now for The Wizard of Oz at The Theater At Madison
Square Garden. Mickey Rooney and Jessica Grove star. It runs from May 6 through
16th. For tickets call Ticket Master at 212-307-4111.
- Can Christmas be around the bend? Tickets go on sale today for the Radio
City's Christmas Spectacular. It's for America Express cardholders. For what
it's worth call 212-307-1000 if you have the card and the inclination.
- Great word of mouth coming out of Los Angeles for the new production of Floyd
Collins. The musical has fiercely devoted fans on the Web and many
are flying from all parts of the country to see it.
- Annie Get Your Gun I hear is shaping up nicely and trimming the
fat. What was 2 hours and 45 minutes is now 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- They seek her here, they seek her there! Where is Ute? She was supposed
to start in the Toronto-Las Vegas bound production of Chicago this past
Friday but it didn't happen. Stephanie Pope was to head to the New York production
but Bebe is back for 5 weeks, so I'm all confused with all these Velma's schedules. Must
be artistic differences!
- Speaking of Chicago, Toronto critic Kate Taylor got blasted by Kander
and Ebb for her very unkind and unfair review of Chita Rivera.
An afterthought: Can The Scarlet Pimpernel be nominated for Best
Musical this year? ;)
See you Thursday!
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