Thoughts on the Tony Awards

The Tony Awards were last night and while I liked the show overall, I did have problem with it.

By problem, I mean fear.

All the movie stars getting the awards.

Now, before you get all mad, hear me out. I saw Fences and thought Denzel Washington was phenomal. I thought Viola Davis was good as well, just not as good as Denzel. I did not see A View From A Bridge with Scarlett Johanson or A Little Night Music with Catherine Zeta-Jones. I’m sure they were all fantastic.

But were the voters star-struck?

Since the Tony’s are now voted on by Producers and not critics or press, I’m thinking that the almighty dollar is winning the vote.

Will Broadway soon (if it’s not already) get to be like TV. Shows won’t be mounted unless they have a star name attached? The good up-and-coming actors will be relegated to supporting players – if that?

Look how many TV shows Christian Slater has tried to headline. They’ve all been flops.

And did you hear the latest? Jennifer Love Hewitt is looking to star in a musical. And you know what? She’ll get to star in one because she has name recognition.

The argument is that you can’t start a show without a star but look at Memphis. Montego Glover and Chad Kimball weren’t stars when that show premiered. And now look at them. Montego got a Tony nomination and the show itself won for Best Musical.

You might not have thought Memphis was cutting edge or the show that deserved to win, but they stuck with their actors from the beginning and knew they were the best performers for the job.

That’s why I’m glad Memphis won.

Related Posts