The Tonys!!!!

[CharliNye]

The story is that Catherine Zeta Jones has been suffering from laryngitis hence the very undwhelming performance. They were going to scrap it from the show but she insisted and doing it anyways.


Matthew Morrison and Lea Michelle(to answer another poster) are both broadway babies. Lea I believe won a Tony for Spring Awakening for best actress in a musical, right? And Matthew was nominated when he played a lead in Hairspray. They're both well loved by the broadway community, so no it wasn't just to capitalize on Glee, but rather to celebrate that two of their discoveries are stars on the show.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

Interesting rendition of "Send in the Clowns" by Catherine Zeta-Jones. And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

I'll say it. It was absolutely horrid. Blech. I can't believe she won.

 

[snapppyd]

Well, I am *cough* over 50 and I loved American Idiot. We saw it twice and are going for the third time in two weeks.

That said, I don't think it will be around much longer. I think it has a very limited audience and Broadway is just too expensive. I really can't see it being appropriate for anyone under, say 14.

The Disney plays are always a safe bet for families with children, so the tourists keep them going for years at a time.

I don't remember how long Spring Awakening was around? Another great play that, in my opinion, might not have large appeal for families with younger children.

 

[eliza61]

I figured this is the best place to ask this question. I'm not a big theater guy, but I have my favorites, and DW and I do go to shows here and there.

They were talking about the Tony's this morning on the radio, and the subject about "Hollywood" in Theater came up. Seeing as I don't follow theater that closely, is there any sort of rivalry between traditional theater actors, and the "new" onslaught of Hollywood actors (Denzel, Catherine Zeta-Jones, etc.) coming in and taking roles and winning awards? I know stuff like that can rub people the wrong way, but I didn't know if that was happening on Broadway.

Not sure if it's a rivalry yet. Broadway has always had a certain gripe with Hollywood but IMO, they are two different animals.

Anyway, one problem is that live theater is so god awful expensive. Tickets to a broadway play can easily run 100 bucks a pop. So one way to ensure a certain number of seats sold is to have a hollywood star in it. I know many people who wanted to see Fences simply because Denzel was in it.

Some other issues tend to be whether screen actors have the "chops" for broadway. I like Catherine ZJ but as every one here pointed out, she did not do send in the clowns any justice whatsoever. I may be a little bias because I saw the original back in 1973 and the actress who played that part had some pipes on her.
Movie stars some times do not make great Broadway stars especially in musicals.

 

[snapppyd]

I saw A Little Night Music and I have to say Catherine Zeta-Jones was very good in it. Last night was NOT a representation of her performance on Broadway.

 

[JenM]

Matthew Morrison and Lea Michelle(to answer another poster) are both broadway babies. Lea I believe won a Tony for Spring Awakening for best actress in a musical, right? And Matthew was nominated when he played a lead in Hairspray. They're both well loved by the broadway community, so no it wasn't just to capitalize on Glee, but rather to celebrate that two of their discoveries are stars on the show.

Lea Michele was not nominated for a Tony for Spring Awakening, and Matthew Morrison was nominated for Light in the Piazza, not Hairspray.

And they were totally there because they're on Glee, because the Tony producers want those fans to watch their show. Nothing wrong with that, but they sure wouldn't have been doing a number (or in Lea's case, auditioning for the Funny Girl revival ) at the Tonys last night if it wasn't for Glee.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I loved American Idiot. The fact that it's not doing well is downright tragic.

 

[snapppyd]

Lea Michele was not nominated for a Tony for Spring Awakening, and Matthew Morrison was nominated for Light in the Piazza, not Hairspray.

And they were totally there because they're on Glee, because the Tony producers want those fans to watch their show. Nothing wrong with that, but they sure wouldn't have been doing a number (or in Lea's case, auditioning for the Funny Girl revival ) at the Tonys last night if it wasn't for Glee.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I loved American Idiot. The fact that it's not doing well is downright tragic.

ITA

Maybe next time, I think 21st Century Breakdown will be their next Broadway collaboration.

 

[Micca]

I'm no theater fan, but DW was watching so I saw the opening with Sean Hayes. Wow, he was great! He's a very talented guy.