2010 Tony Awards: Nominee Predictions

It’s been a Broadway season dominated by straight plays and Hollywood names adorning marquees. It’s also been a weak year for the original musical, with only two entries (The Addams Family and Memphis) having original scores. Nevertheless, the Tony nominations are upon us. Before Lea Michele and Jeff Daniels announce the 2010 Tony Award nominations Tuesday morning over a live webcast on the Tony website, check out Stage Rush’s predictions on which names will make the cut and will be seen at Radio City Music Hall on June 13. 

Best Play

In The Next Room (or the vibrator play) by Sarah Ruhl

Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts

Red by John Logan

Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies 

Best Musical

American Idiot

Everyday Rapture

Fela!

Memphis

Best Revival of a Play

Fences by August Wilson

Lend Me A Tenor by Ken Ludwig

The Royal Family by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber

A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller 

Best Revival of a Musical

Finian’s Rainbow

La Cage aux Folles

A Little Night Music

Ragtime

Stage Rush TV: Episode 5

Duncan Sheik introduces this week’s episode! 

Talking points:

• Duncan Sheik spills details on Spring Awakening movie
• Sheik in concert in South Orange, NJ
• Broadway double-header: rushing A Little Night Music and The Miracle Worker
• Broadway grosses 

What do you think of the Spring Awakening movie news? Are you disappointed that Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff won’t reprise their roles in the film? Are you still terrified of the prospect of McG taking the wheel, or do you think it will be his ticket to respected filmmaker-dom? Were you as disappointed with The Miracle Worker as I was? Did you fall in love with A Little Night Music? Please tell me in the comments!

Duncan Sheik: Original Broadway cast will not reprise roles in 'Spring Awakening' film

Thursday night, the Grammy and Tony award-winning singer and composer Duncan Sheik performed the first show in his six-city concert tour at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey. I caught up with Sheik at the post-concert reception, and with a glass of wine in hand, he discussed some details of the Spring Awakening film adaptation, currently in development. 

For those hoping that Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff will reprise their roles in the film, Sheik said there is no chance of any original Broadway cast members making it on screen. Sheik noted that by the time the film goes into production, the actors would look too old to convincingly portray 15 to 16 year olds. 

Regarding the much-talked-about decision to hand directing and producing responsibilities over to McG, mostly known for action movies such as Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Terminator Salvation, Sheik maintains that the director was adamant about taking on the project. Sheik said McG courted himself and writing partner Steven Sater for 18 months about the project. It was McG’s desire to shoot on location in places like Prague, and to focus on the performances that won Sheik and Sater over. Sheik added that McG has extensive experience with big-budget films, and said he claimed he knew how to make the film look high budget for less. 

Also milling around the reception was Holly Brook, a regular back-up singer and accompanist on Sheik’s tours, who just came off the successful San Diego run of the composer’s latest musical venture, Whisper House. If the musical ghost story makes its way to the east coast, Brook said she would love to reprise her role as the female ghost. While she said she does not yet know of any upcoming production plans, she said one change that would likely be made is to the set design. Brook said that while at the Old Globe, the scenery, which is the interior of a lighthouse in Maine, was a bit complicated and didn’t come across well enough to the audience. Brook added that the redesigned set would probably be more minimalist. 

The concert 

‘Glee’ concert tour: What is it with Lea Michele and May 18?

May 18, 2008. It was a big day for me, as I had seats (excellent ones, might I add) to Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff’s final performance in Spring Awakening. Sitting there in the audience, with an electricity of excitement in the air, I knew it was a very important day in Michele’s life too. What I didn’t know is that this date—May 18—would continue to be a milestone day in her life each time it came around for the next two years running. 

Last year on May 19 (give me a little wiggle room here), the pilot episode of Glee broadcast on Fox after part one of the season finale of American Idol. I couldn’t believe that almost exactly a year ago, I was watching Michele perform live to a packed Broadway house, and now I was watching her in a lead role in a debuting major television series, following the most successful show in America. As everyone knows, Glee became a huge hit and threw Michele into superstardom, as well as earning her a Golden Globe nomination just half-way through the show’s first season. 

Fox announced today that the cast of Glee will be hitting the road for a four-city concert tour, kicking off in Phoenix on… May 18. What other date would it possible be?? 

It strikes me as interesting that on this date for three years in a row, Michele has reached a new pinnacle in her career. From someone who maintains a healthy level of OCD, I think it’s rather pleasant that her career contains such symmetry. And to be embarrassingly honest, I was mistily reminiscent when May 18 hit last year, remembering that incredible last performance at Spring Awakening. Needless to say, I think May 18 is going to be a day that I continue to remember—not to speak of what Michele must think of the date. 

What do you think, Rushers? Did you make the May 18 connection with Lea Michele? Are you buying tickets to the Glee concert tour? Do you cry every May 18? (I’m sure you don’t. Only losers do that.) ::looks around suspiciously::

Tony Awards announce first-ever student rush, aka. The Ultimate Rush

Get your game faces on, Rushers—your ultimate challenge has arrived. The Tony Awards has announced that for the first time ever, student rush tickets will be offered for the ceremony.

(Have you recovered yet? Well do so, because you've got a tough road ahead of you.)

When examining the details of this rush, all I see in my head is Mario struggling to hurdle over all the obstacles in the final, most difficult level of Donkey Kong. This rush is like jumping through fire and water, and then battling the most fearsome video game BOSS. This is The Ultimate Rush.

• The first 200 people in line will be eligible.
• They then must enter their names into a ticket lottery. This is a double rush!
  

Have you ever tried to play a ticket lotto with 200 people? My guess is that 50 tickets will be given away. A hundred seems like too much—that would make the odds 50/50 and that just sounds too good to be true. In addition, most people will definitely be signing up for two tickets (yes, each winner is entitled up to two tickets), so that will cut the number of names drawn down to about 25. And what time should you arrive? Is 3 a.m. even too late? Honestly, I'm thinking midnight/1 a.m. (shudders). But for Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele's final performance in Spring Awakening, student rushers started lining up at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre during the performance the night before! This one's a tough call, but I'll be shooting for 1 a.m.

Here are the rest of the details about The Ultimate Rush:

• WHERE: The Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center, 1560 Broadway, between 46 and 47 Sts.
• WHEN: When you arrive is up to you. First 200 in line will enter their names into the lotto at 11 a.m. The lotto drawing will take place at 3 p.m. Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis from Rock of Ages and fellow cast member James Carpinello will conduct the drawing.
  
• HOW MUCH: $40 per ticket (cash only), up to two tickets per lotto winner.
• WHAT TO WEAR: Well, if you're a winner, you must have black-tie attire for the Tony Awards ceremony.

That's it, Rushers. The Ultimate Rush awaits you. Check back here at Stage Rush for full coverage of the Tony rush (I will be doing it. And it is supposed to rain. all. night.). May the best Rushers win!

The fall of 'Spring' rush

It's not often that one gets to travel back in time, but thanks to Google (what can't it do?) I have done just that, and re-witnessed one of the great eras in Broadway rush history.

During a short bout of procrastination, I was fooling around on Google Maps, using the "street view" function. Since it's way too cold to take an actual walk through Times Square, I thought it'd be pleasant to go for a virtual stroll instead. While I was "there," I was looking for clues to discover around what time the photography of the area was taken. Warner Bros. owns the billboard space that hangs above 7th Ave and W 47th St., and that space always advertises the company's current major release. Low and behold, it was The Brave One, which was released in September 2007. My mind immediately jumped to Spring Awakening, which recently (and sadly) closed on Broadway. I thought, Wouldn't it be nice to see the old marquee once again?

I decided to "walk" over to the Eugene O'Neil Theatre on 49th St. Once I "arrived," what did I find there but... the student rush line!! Which means the photographs were taken in the morning, since rush tickets went on sale when the box office opened.

It was nostaligc to see the Spring Awakening student rush line, since I'd rushed the show 11 times (seen the show 18 times though). Spring Awakening's rush policy was not only one of the best offered (tickets were always available, and ususally in the first few rows, extreme right and left), but it was also one of the most popular.

It's also special to see the original posters, featuring original stars John Gallagher Jr., Jonathan Groff, and Lea Michele (before they were later replaced by Blake Bashoff, Kyle Riabko, and Alexandra Socha).

Thus concludes today's lesson in Broadway rush history.