Strippers, showgirls, and sharks : a very opinionated history of the Broadway musicals that did not win the Tony award / Peter Filichia.
| Author/creator |
Filichia, Peter |
| Format | Book and Print |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication Info | New York : St. Martin's Press, 2013. |
| Description | ix, 288 pages, 8 pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subject(s) |
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| Contents | How did it happen?: the best musical Tony-losers that should have won -- Find out what they like and how they like it: the best musical Tony-losers that were too good for the average man and tour -- The party's over: the best musical Tony-losers that were lame ducks on awards night -- You're gonna be popular: the best musical Tony-losers that learned that running longer is the best revenge -- Step to the rear: the best musical Tony-losers that may have suffered because of their producers -- It's smarter to be lucky than it's lucky to be smart: the best musical Tony-losers that encountered unexpected circumstances -- It would have been wonderful: the best musical Tony-losers that would have won in other years -- Big fish eat the little, little fish: the best musical Tony losers that simply may have been too small -- You were good, but not good enough: the flawed best musical Tony-losers -- What do I do now?: the best musical Tony-losers that suffered from following their creators' smash hits -- The same old song: the best musical Tony-losers that had recycled music -- Not a loser anymore, like the last time: the best musical Tony losers that turned out to be winners. |
| Abstract | "Wait...Gypsy didn't win the Tony for Best Musical?" That's a question that gets asked over and over again, every time a new Rose takes to the runway in the Broadway classic "Gypsy". In this book, the popular syndicated theatre critic Peter Filichia chronicles the history of the American musical by looking at those shows that did not win the Tony Award for Best Musical. It happens every spring: The American Theatre Wing bestows its annual awards. Only those shows that have reached Broadway are nominated and while all Tony Awards are created equal in height, width and depth, the universally acknowledged biggest prize is the Best Musical Tony. The envelope is opened. The winner is announced and, then, the screeching begins. "Oh no! They gave it to that?" Did the best musical always win the Best Musical prize? Were there other factors that kept a more deserving show from copping the prize? The author answers all these questions and more as he looks at many of the 153 previous Best Musical Nominees that didn't win the big prize. What were the biggest omissions? "Gypsy" had the distinct displeasure of not being either the first or second choice of the committee. In 1959 when Ethel Merman and a variety of strippers took the stage, the Tony for Best Musical was a tie between "The Sound of Music" and "Fiorello". In 1971, Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" and its ghostly showgirls lost to a "groovy" re-tuning of "Two Gentlemen of Verona" that hasn't passed the test of time. And, in 1957, "West Side Story", its Jets and Sharks, were bested by the fine people of River City Iowa singing their Americana hearts out in "The Music Man". If you love Broadway, scratch your head on Tony Award night and still can't figure out how a show you loathed won the Tony for Best Musical, you will love riding through the years with Peter Filichia, one of America's most respected and popular theatre critics. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| LCCN | 2013004040 |
| ISBN | 9781250018434 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 1250018439 (hardcover) |
| Standard identifier# | 40022473632 |
Available Items
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions | |
| Music | Music Stacks | ML1711.8.N3 F57 2013 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |