Yes, that's it. Goodness! I have two friends who have already figured it out through songs and *~*research*~*, and I've had to tell both of them, "Interesting theory! Wait until you see it."
I do think I might feel different if I had actually seen the play, I just thought it was a very awkward choice for a Tony presentation. Yeah, I think there were, as you said, a lot of awkward things going on at the Tonys (the piece they used to showcase Billy Elliot?). I think they probably wanted to make up for the fact that Aaron Tveit was the only one of the main four principals who wasn't nominated, and he's attractive, etc. But poor Jennifer Damiano, who was nominated (!), didn't even get to perform. And it was one of those songs that works better in context (which is what I've head about "Angry Dance" from BE). There were other songs they could have chosen; there was a lot of talk online (umm...) about it. The show has 37 songs; I'm they could have found something! Oh, but. A lot of the songs after the big reveal are very spoilery, so I think they had to pick a piece that was both intriguing and spoiler-free (unless you're paying really close attention). So that limits all of Act II and a good deal of Act I, actually.
I like orchestras and trumpets and big dance numbers, I can't help it. Oh, I do, too! But, for better or worse (and I've come to think of it as better), Next to Normal, the slightly smaller scale, less dancy and trumpety musical, is the future. And I guess I think of it as better because it means the art is developing? IDK what I'm saying anymore. I wish someone would write a West Side Story-scale musical these days, but I don't think that's going to happen. But take something like In the Heights! Totally non-traditional and really original. Is it different? Yes. But was it refreshing and great because of how different it was? Yes (I thought so).
ALSO, THE TOURING COMPANIES WERE AWFUL. I was bored during Mamma Mia!'s performance especially. And no matter what you think of ABBA, their songs are a good time. And I was not having that when I saw that.
I worry I sound really defensive in this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to! I love big, flashy musicals and am coming more and more around to these "new" ones.
In The Heights is a good example, that looked fantabulous. But I mean, in the end, it's hard for me to really comment on any of this new-direction-of-musical-theater stuff -- I am mostly looking through the lens of Tony Performances, plus sometimes reviews I've read and, occasionally, youtube stuff -- I mean, it isn't like Denver's a really happening theater town by anyone's definition. I DON'T KNOW. Someday, this Next to Normal/Spring Awakening style stuff (which I mostly do not have an issue with!) is going to be the norm for new musicals, and someone will want to subvert it by going back to the trumpets. I HOPE. MAYBE.
Mamma Mia! was the wooooorst, I just wanted it to END. And don't worry, you don't sound defensive at all!
Sometimes Tony performances are great; sometimes, they're not so much. I understand why they did the touring performances, but I think they were just not well executed. I'm very lucky living here and getting to see these shows in person, and I try not to forget how lucky I really am, but the Tony producers should try harder, I think, for those who don't live here. I think the Tonys this year – despite the sound issues, the touring performances, and the way-too-short play clips – were really good, but there are other ways to reach out to non-New Yorkers. But hey, you have DCPA, which is not too shabby at all.
I HOPE. MAYBE. I HOPE SO, TOO. Umm, I think there were trumpets in Legally Blonde? YEAH, I SAID IT. I never saw it, but I saw it on MTV, and I bought the soundtrack, and it is so silly, but it's fun! I can't deny that it's fun. Even though it's really silly.
(I love that icon, by the way! She looks so adorable!)
I understand why they did the touring performances too, but aside from the (admittedly poor) execution, they were just kind of out of place. But maybe there's a way to integrate them properly. I just hope they don't keep trying and failing.
HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. SO STRANGELY ADDICTING! And yes, they did have trumpets.
I love that icon too, which is... maybe part of why I use it so frequently.
Also oh god Claire, I don't know where this came from (except that's a lie, I totally know exactly where it came from)/if you can even use it for your post (it feels kind of... inside jokey), but um:
HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. That show was both addicting and awful. Did you see Legally Brown: The Search for the Next Piragua Guy? INGENIOUS.
ALEX, THAT IS AMAZING. It schools the "Crank Dat" video. SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS, I can't handle it. It works so well with the music and everything! I will definitely add it to the post and and make you a coooo-presenter!
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Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 07:12 am (UTC)I do think I might feel different if I had actually seen the play, I just thought it was a very awkward choice for a Tony presentation.
Yeah, I think there were, as you said, a lot of awkward things going on at the Tonys (the piece they used to showcase Billy Elliot?). I think they probably wanted to make up for the fact that Aaron Tveit was the only one of the main four principals who wasn't nominated, and he's attractive, etc. But poor Jennifer Damiano, who was nominated (!), didn't even get to perform. And it was one of those songs that works better in context (which is what I've head about "Angry Dance" from BE). There were other songs they could have chosen; there was a lot of talk online (umm...) about it. The show has 37 songs; I'm they could have found something! Oh, but. A lot of the songs after the big reveal are very spoilery, so I think they had to pick a piece that was both intriguing and spoiler-free (unless you're paying really close attention). So that limits all of Act II and a good deal of Act I, actually.
I like orchestras and trumpets and big dance numbers, I can't help it.
Oh, I do, too! But, for better or worse (and I've come to think of it as better), Next to Normal, the slightly smaller scale, less dancy and trumpety musical, is the future. And I guess I think of it as better because it means the art is developing? IDK what I'm saying anymore. I wish someone would write a West Side Story-scale musical these days, but I don't think that's going to happen. But take something like In the Heights! Totally non-traditional and really original. Is it different? Yes. But was it refreshing and great because of how different it was? Yes (I thought so).
ALSO, THE TOURING COMPANIES WERE AWFUL. I was bored during Mamma Mia!'s performance especially. And no matter what you think of ABBA, their songs are a good time. And I was not having that when I saw that.
I worry I sound really defensive in this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to! I love big, flashy musicals and am coming more and more around to these "new" ones.
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 08:07 am (UTC)Mamma Mia! was the wooooorst, I just wanted it to END. And don't worry, you don't sound defensive at all!
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 05:06 pm (UTC)I HOPE. MAYBE.
I HOPE SO, TOO. Umm, I think there were trumpets in Legally Blonde? YEAH, I SAID IT. I never saw it, but I saw it on MTV, and I bought the soundtrack, and it is so silly, but it's fun! I can't deny that it's fun. Even though it's really silly.
(I love that icon, by the way! She looks so adorable!)
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 07:56 pm (UTC)HAHA OH GOD, The Search For The Next Elle Woods was totally my summer show last year. SO STRANGELY ADDICTING! And yes, they did have trumpets.
I love that icon too, which is... maybe part of why I use it so frequently.
Also oh god Claire, I don't know where this came from (except that's a lie, I totally know exactly where it came from)/if you can even use it for your post (it feels kind of... inside jokey), but um:
Re: P.S.
Date: 2009-06-15 08:04 pm (UTC)That show was both addicting and awful. Did you see Legally Brown: The Search for the Next Piragua Guy? INGENIOUS.
ALEX, THAT IS AMAZING. It schools the "Crank Dat" video. SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS, I can't handle it. It works so well with the music and everything! I will definitely add it to the post and and make you a coooo-presenter!