Tony Awards 2017

I think Brits respond very well to caricature America, one that we see in Legally Blonde and Groundhog Day. I think trauma in suburbia as seen in Next to Normal and Dear Evan Hansen wouldn't be a thing Brits would care for.

Why wouldn't The Band's Visit make it? They've got plenty of time to open and the press for its off-Broadway run was pretty good. It also has a relatively well known actor in Tony Shalhoub leading the cast, and Katrina Lenk has made a good name for herself in the theatre crowd. It has a lot of finesse, and won't come with a hype or sensationalism that has been received by Hamilton, Hansen, or any major show. Think how people reacted to Fela! or Scottsboro Boys. It got good press and accolades, but no screaming fandom or black market ticket sales. No rapping Founding Fathers, no belting teenagers with suicide, no big divas ascending down staircases and it's not written by a famous pop singer. It's a very subtle show about "real" people. It will have somewhat of a high-brow audience, given that it's set overseas, and has quite a lot of non-English lines. Can't wait to see it again and mostly for a cast recording. I think a show like this could do very well at the National in London or at the Young Vic.

I think it could do very well considering there's virtually no competition so far, with exception to Frozen. Frozen is a mammoth and will probably be good, but it's not art. Otherwise, all the major shows next year will be revivals, being Carousel, My Fair Lady, Once On This Island or if Dreamgirls opens by 2018. Jagged Little Pill will try out in Boston by May, so it doesn't look like it will make it by Tony season.

Seeing You.

It's so weird seeing the different American reaction- a trusted theatre friend of mine who shares my taste generally will not get past an idea that it's just silly/sentimental fun and the music being basically a throwaway score. Not saying that everyone who saw it in the UK universally loved it but I felt there was a feeling/appreciation of Minchin's work that seems to have not clicked in America. Anyhoo send us back that Hog we'll give him a home!

I think the only ones that generally worked well were Dear Evan Hansen, Great Comet, War Paint and Bandstand. Although, I have no clue what Patti was singing for those three minutes, it sounded fabulous!

oh yes! and there's no right or wrong, of course it's just a fascinating thing to watch. Weirdly on a personal level I didn't remember caring for the film, and had no real knowledge/feelings for Minchin so the whole thing was an entirely pleasant surprise! (as was Andy Karl for purely shallow reasons)

But this may also be because transatlantic theatre 'exchange' is my nerdy thing

I liked the Opening Number, but I wasn't a big fan of Cynthia and Lesie's number. It was good, but they literally sang for about 10 seconds, and it just felt like an excuse to have them on.

I saw/enjoyed all the best musical nominees plus one revival (Falsettos) and I knew it was going to be hard this year with the performances, because they don't work all that well out of context. I am still surprised they picked that song, out of all of them, for Groundhog Day, though.

Also, some Riedel stuff:
nypost.com/2017/06/13/broadways-first-tony-victims-get-the-ax/

Indecent has sadly announced closure too since this was published.

Glad to hear about Bandstand doubling its sales! I have been rooting for that show since it opened, and I don't quite know why, I think it is because I really like the three leads. But seeing its performance, if its any indication, it looks like a great show. It is probably the New Musical I would go and see if I could only see one that it is possible to get tickets for haha.

Nothing about Bandstand appeals to me. Let alone Laura Osnes, who annoys me beyond belief. She probably voted Trump.

Making an effort to catch up on Tony shows I've neglected I listened to both Come From Away and Dear Evan Hansen properly for the first time on Tuesday.

DEH quickly went from 'oh this is quite good' to 'this is boring' to 'ugh really?' when I read the synopsis of what I've been listening to. For me generally the music was ok, but a bit 'meh' but having read the synopsis (I only knew it was a High School story until now) I just thought ugh. Sorry I know it has it's fans but it did nothing for me!

Come From Away which I'd half listened to while doing other things, and actually knew nothing of the story of I now really like. So firstly I apologise to it for calling it a 'snooze fest' previously, the music I think is actually far better than DEH. And being a bit of a nerd for such things I think it's a fantastic little musical.

Oh come on Patti. Tell us how you really feel about Trump.....

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/patti-lupone-refuses-to-perform-for-trump_us_59429033e4b0d31854878144?utm_campaign=hp_fb_pages&utm_source=main_fb&utm_term=nosplashcard&utm_medium=facebook&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

Caution: Clip contains wonderful profanity