Dear Tony Awards:

For those of you who don't know (but you probably do unless you are a total stranger who just fell across my blog randomly), I love musical theatre.  I grew up around it since my dad was an opera/musical theatre singer and I fell in love with it as I grew.  I got my bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre from ASU 2 years ago and have been lucky enough to basically make a living performing since (current employment at the Pita Pit aside).  I love music in almost all of its forms, but musical theatre is probably my favorite.  It incorporates acting, dancing, and singing in one glorious production and few things make me happier than a great showstopping number.


I even met my husband in a musical called Blackbeard.  We freakishly got cast opposite each other as characters who were engaged and that got the ball rolling. Now we are married for EVER and I couldn't be happier about it.


About a year and a half ago I moved to New York City to chase the Broadway dream.  I won't go into all my adventures there (another blog for another time perhaps), and although I left to chase other dreams (named Jordan), I still like to keep in touch with all my friends back there and root for them as they try to tackle the big bad city.


The Tony Awards---the "Oscars" of Broadway- were this last Sunday.  I had a few friends who were in shows that were nominated and one that was even performing.  I grabbed some grub and settled in to watch.  What I saw could only be described as a monstrosity.


And so I compose this letter:


Dear Tony Awards:


WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU? WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BROADWAY??!!  I know that by the end of this blog I will come across as a musical theatre snob and probably a jerk, but just know these two things: 1) According to sports talk radio host Jim Rome, everyone is a snob about something.  Whether its "I only eat organic" or "I only fly first class" or  "I have to have complete darkness whilst I sleep," EVERYONE has a thing...or two.  2) I happen to be on a roll about this awards show, and I can be dramatic and I tend to use hyperbole in order to get a point across, so there ya go.  I don't want to be a traitor to my craft or a "bitter betty," but I feel that something needs to be said.


As a friend of mine posted on facebook..."Is this the Tony's or the Grammy's?"  It should be easy to tell.  But on Sunday, my mind was reeling trying to figure out why on this earth Green Day was the opening act.  And why ANYONE would let the lead singer try to crawl out of his drunken/wasted/ completely high stupor to present anything.  This is not a rock concert.


But maybe that is what broadway is now.  I mean, it seems that in a noble effort to revive the American public's interest in musicals, Broadway producers have pored through decades of pop/rock music, looking for an artist whose canon of music they can somehow slap together into a "musical."  Now, the jukebox musical has its place.  I think that probably 1 in 7 of these types of musicals/revues really shine and will be around for awhile.  Examples: Jersey Boys, Smokey Joe's Cafe, even Movin' Out.  Now, to be fair, I have not seen any of the musicals that were up for Best Musical this year.  I can't give an educated opinion about the show itself.  But that's not what a blog is for is it?  This is a rant, people, not a NY Times review.


All night long, the only thing I saw that showcased Broadway talent adequately was Matthew Morrison's "All I Need is the Girl."  A lot of people got their panties in a twist because he is on Glee, a TV show--not a broadway show.  Fair enough---but given the fact the the drivel we had to watch for two hours before he showed up was actually ON BROADWAY, the Tony's needed some real entertainment value.  Morrison was a broadway star before Glee even happened, so it didn't bother me--and I was grateful for the reprieve.  How sad, though, that they had to resort to calling a veteran to sing a song from a show that isn't even nominated for anything to breathe life back into the show.


Now, please don't for a minute think that I am knocking the talent of the people onstage.  As one who has been to all those auditions, I know that those people are good.  They work hard, and I'd like to think that most of them can sing.  I'm just saying that the material that they are given to put onstage is crap.  I was impressed by NOTHING that any of the new shows performed- and that was their one chance to do the "big number" from the show-- or at least a number that would make me spend $80 bucks on a ticket.  


Yep.  EIGHTY DOLLARS.  At least.  Now, there are student rush....but tickets are expensive. And quite frankly, I can go see an Elvis impersonator (ahem...Million Dollar Quartet) for free on the street in Vegas.


I am just tired of producers of pop/rock albums looking to make yet another buck by slamming a bunch of songs together, trying to add a storyline (probably something anti-establishment or angst-ridden), and calling it a musical.  If I want to headbang, I'll go see Muse in concert (who are amazing by the way).  Keep the punk rock in the stadiums and the show tunes on Broadway, please.  


As for the plays, I actually have no problem with "Hollywood" actors coming to the stage.  In fact, I respect it.  Denzel is good.  Why shouldn't he win a Tony for his performance?  I do think that it makes it harder for us no-names to get a job because even if we are good actors, our names won't put butts in the seats like Catherine Zeta-Jones will.  But, alas, what can be done?


The technical problems were, yet again, abundant.  Get it together guys.


Maybe I'm old-fashioned.  But maybe I just want to see new work come to broadway that isn't already have-created by using existing music.  


Thanks,
Kaitlynn