Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Tony Officially Shuts Out LoveMusik, Legally Blonde

Tony Officially Shuts Out LoveMusik, Legally Blonde

From the "Why Can't We All Just Get Along" file, this year's Tony broadcast just can't seem to get a break with decent news coverage. Perhaps it could if players involved didn't air their dirty laundry quite so publicly.

The latest dust-up occurred a couple days ago when the Tony producers nixed a plan to feature song performances from LoveMusik and Legally Blonde -- you know, the two viable shows that had been in the running for the coveted also-ran nod in the category of Best Musical until Mary Poppins claimed it.

According to New York Post's Michael Riedel, CBS had been pushing the idea to include performances to liven up the show and initially received the green light from the American Theatre Wing's Howard Sherman. But the broadcast's producers put the kibosh on that for fear that including non-nominated works would open the floodgates to other shows demanding their time on the broadcast.

Arguing for an expansion of tune offerings, The Playgoer's Garrett Eisler succinctly notes: "Maybe they should...just dazzle us for two hours with great performances." While Tony broadcasts have traditionally been viewed by a narrow slice of Americans, you'd think that Broadway would use the telecast to its advantage by enabling its cherished viewers to see as wide a swath as possible.

On the related topic of the Tonys, you'll now find four new polls in which I ask you to name the featured actors and actresses from both plays and musicals you believe will win the Tony Award on June 10. After voting, feel free to comment on why.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:
Tony Box Office Bumps (May 21, 2007)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 15, 2007)

Labels: Blogs, Broadway, Legally Blonde, LoveMusik, Mary Poppins, Michael Riedel, Musical, The Playgoer, Tony Awards

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, May 24, 2007