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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
No surprise: Tony snubs the megamusicals
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, the Tony Award nominations are in, and there are no major upsets or oversights.
Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” — big, expensive spectacles that were the most closely watched new shows of the fall season - fared poorly, while “In The Heights” — Lin-Manuel Miranda’s salsa-and-rap-flavored story of the Latino experience in New York — led with 13 nominations.
Megamusicals are out. Diversity is in.
Quiara Alegria Hudes, who wrote the book for “In the Heights,” is the author of “26 Miles,” a new play that will have its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre next March.
Georgia natives and previous Tony winners Shuler Hensley and Sutton Foster (who portray Frankenstein’s monster and the sexy Inga in the Mel Brooks musical) were passed over in favor of Christopher Fitzgerald and Andrea Martin, who play Igor and Fraulein Blucher in the musical comedy. Fitzgerald and Martin were nominated in the featured actor/musical and featured actress/musical categories. Scenic designer Robin Wagner picked up the show’s only other nomination.
“Young Frankenstein”’s three nods may be about what the show deserved, but I’m kinda surprised that the Mel Brooks brand didn’t carry a bit more weight. “Young Frankenstein” drew mixed reviews and shot itself in the foot early on with its high ticket prices. The Tony snub won’t do it any favors at the box office.
Disney’s “Little Mermaid” did even worse, with a paltry two nods for Natasha Katz’s lighting and Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater’s score. (Menken and Slater, you may recall, wrote the music and lyrics for the Alliance Theatre’s “Sister Act.”)
After “In the Heights,” revivals led the pack, with “South Pacific” getting 11 nods, “Sunday in the Park with George” nine and “Gypsy” seven. “Passing Strange,” the musical biography of alternative rocker Stew, garnered seven nominations. (Again, diverse, innovative voices are being rewarded over glitz and spectacle.)
Among plays, Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “August: Osage County” led with seven nominations. Letts is known in Atlanta for his cult hits “Killer Joe” and “Bug,” both produced by Actor’s Express, and for playing George in the Alliance production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” a few years ago.
The Alfred Hitchcock spoof “The 39 Steps,” starring Lawrenceville native Jennifer Ferrin, was nominated for six prizes, including best new play.
The Tonys will be presented on June 15 in a live CBS broadcast from Radio City Music Hall. For more information, check out the full story and complete list of nominees.
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Boots on the Ground
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After 9/11, Pat Tillman left a career in the NFL - safe, very lucrative - and enlisted as a U.S. Army Ranger. On April 22, 2004, he was killed in Afghanistan. The Army said he had died during a gun battle with the enemy. A month later, the Army changed its story, and said Tillman had been killed by friendly fire.
There have been numerous allegations and investigations; yet another investigation is still going on. Through all of this, Pat’s mother, Mary Tillman, has spoken out strongly against the way the Army has handled the case.
Mary Tillman has now written a book, “Boots On the Ground by Dusk: A Tribute to Pat Tillman,” about her son’s life as well as his death. She will speak and sign the book at 7 tonight at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum., 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta.
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