Well, dear readers, we had a lovelier than lovely Annual Tony Awards Bash here at haineshisway.com. The show itself, as always, had the good, the bad, and the ugly. The latter would have to go to the musical Ghost, whose musical sequence was everything I hate about the current musical theater – screaming instead of singing, a terrible song, and staging and lighting that constantly is all about staging and lighting rather than the actual show. But none of the musical scenes were that good – Porgy and Bess on speed, Nice Work if You Can Get It just sitting there like so much fish, Jesus Christ, Superstar and Godspell not getting the word out, Leap of Faith (which has already closed) full of sound and fury signifying nothing, Evita with terrible choreography and an underpowered Che, and Danny Burstein’s number from Follies, which I didn’t feel worked well for TV. Only Once came off well – I have no idea whether it’s a good or bad show, but the staging suited the number and the whole thing was – simple. The Book of Mormon opening was fun, the Neil Patrick Harris number that followed, less so.
It was great to see my friend Judy Kaye win and her speech was a highlight of the show. But that’s where last night’s show really shined – the speeches, all heartfelt, simple, and none overstaying their welcome. Of all the things I saw on last night’s show, the two shows I’d most like to see are The Best Man and One Man, Two Guvnors. Of the musicals, only Once, although I’d like to see Nice Work just for Judy. The show was moving along quite handily for its first ninety minutes and I thought they might actually come in at about two-and-a-half hours, but no, it went over three. The nadir of the show, however, was the horrifying live thing from the Royal Cruise Lines Hairspray – be a sponsor and you can get a number on the Tonys – shameful and shameless, at least for me. It would have been nice to not have that number and have the In Memorium section on the air. The fashion faux pas of the year award went to Candice Bergen, whose outfit defied credulity.
Prior to that, I’d gotten up after exactly eight hours of sleep. Then Adryan Russ came over and we went to the home environment of Mr. Grant Geissman to take a photo of the three of us. Then I came home, and a few minutes later Mr. Geissman and daughter Greer came over and we all went to The Grove so they could buy some books and we could have some lunch. That we did at Marmalade Café, but this Marmalade, like the one in the Oaks of Sherman, just wasn’t very good. After that I came home just in time to go to Jerry’s Deli to meet with two young teen performers and their mother. I’d seen their work on some You Tube clips but wanted to meet them to make sure I felt we could work together, which I did. So, that was a productive meeting. Then I came home and watched about forty minutes of the third Beck film (actually I have no idea what order these were shot in, so it’s really the third Beck film I’ve watched) – this one’s called Cop Killer and so far it’s quite good, although no cops have actually been killed yet. If my suspicions are correct, however, the title can have a different meaning, if you get my meaning. Then it was the Tony partay, which was ever so much fun.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get right to bed and get as much beauty sleep as possible, as I must be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland title.
Today, I shall be up at six in the morning to announce the new Kritzerland title, one I really recommend, as it’s a wonderful score by one of my favorite composers. After that, I shall try to go back to sleep. Once up, I shall hopefully print out a LOT of orders, then I have some errands and whatnot to do, song choices to finalize, cast to finalize, music to get, hopefully some packages to pick up, and then I’m seeing our very own Mr. Jason Graae in concert with Miss Faith Prince at our very own The Federal. I’m quite certain that it will be a very fun evening.
Tomorrow it’s a lot o’ stuff and then I’m seeing a little staged reading of excerpts from two musicals. Wednesday I have to pack and finish all my stuff so that I can get to bed early for my very early flight to the city that never sleeps. I believe I’m having a meal that night with the owner of a newish record label, just to discuss some stuff, then Friday is the book signing (please you East Coast people, spread the word – we really want a nice crowd), after which I’m sure a few of us will head over to Joe Allen and perhaps we’ll be joined there by Mr. Lanny Meyers and the East Coast Singer. Saturday is our main rehearsal day, I’ll probably try to see something Saturday night, and then Sunday we rehearse and then the show is at nine-thirty at the Metropolitan Room, then I shall be on my way home on Monday. A whirlwind trip.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce a title, hopefully print a LOT of orders, finalize song choices and performers, get some music, hopefully pick up some packages, and then eat and see a show at The Federal. Today’s topic of discussion: What were your favorite moments from last night’s Tony Awards broadcast, and, of course, your least favorite moments? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall win a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Sleeping Jew.