Comments on The End of Tokenism?

It seems really weird to me to have a nationally televised award show for regional theater.

Shit, I'm disappointed. I thought this titled, "The end of Tolkienism" and meant the viewing public wouldn't be subject to anymore films involving fucking hobbits...

I saw Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof last week, and it was fucking terrible. NO way should it have been nominated for a Tony. Bad production, boring set design, a saxophonist for no particular reason, and shitty lighting. The acting wasn't so bad, but don't even get me started on the audience.

YES! Mothafuckin' YES! It's about time.

Brendan, I will sell my cat if I have to to see Passing Strange. It has everything I love in an art form: Berlin, Amsterdam, lots of weed, busting class/race stereotypes and great music (and me, SOOOO not a show tune fag). I also love the fact that it's told from the POV of a middle- to upper-middle class black guy. Finally, out of the "ghetto..."

The thing is, didn't the production just get one Tony nomination (for the music)? And didn't dumb ol' YF get a bunch?

Don't get me wrong -- it's awesome they even got one and that the house is still lit and that the original soundtrack is on iTunes. But this show, from what I can tell, deserves a lot more recognition.

OK
first off
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF was nominated for ZERO Tony Awards. It was bad. They know and no one gave them a nomination JUST because they were a Token show...

Now.

As to the history of Minorities on Broadway...

I do have to say that the NY Theater scene has been leaps and bounds ahead of the film and television industry.

I should mention that i make my living working in the Bway community

but

really

there have been people of MANY colors playing on Bway stages for DECADES in LARGE roles

think of West Side Story
sure the movie had Natalie wood
but
the original production featured MANY Latino performers.

Flower Drum Song had MANY original cast members who were embraced in the NY theater community while hollywood still had Mickey Rooney playing Asian for laughs

YES

Jonathan Price was hired over Asian actors for the original production of MISS SAIGON but he was playing someone of mixed race and that show ran for years hiring HUNDREDS of Asiain performers. Also... he had won an Olivier award in London and was a HUGE star.

ALL of the shows I have mentioned were not looked at as TOKEN minority productions

Pearl Bailey played Dolly Levi in 1975. The role originated by Carol Channing in Hello Dolly.

Can you think of anything like that in film or TV?

Sure minorities are not always portrayed well onstage but i think the NY theater and Bway community has much to be proud of.

August wilson RIGHTLY has a broadway theater named after him. He was a writer of color who made a HUGE impact on the modern play. Did Hollywood ever get around to making that film version of his incredible play FENCES? not even close and when Hollywood had to wait YEARS inbetween oscars for people of color, there is a VERY rich history of minority performers being recognized for their contribution to Broadway. i have yet to think of one of them who one an award because they were the TOKEN minority and they felt it was time to give them an award.

and

we may be a nationally televised regional theater awards show
but

you must realize the power of the Tonys and Bway

I was a little gay living my life every year WAITING for them to be presented. My mother still refers to it as my high holy day. that telecast has made more men find a career in theater...

IN FACT

my partner of 10 years realized he was gay watching Jennifer Holiday perform on the Tony Awards... and decided to move to NYC while watching a performance by the cast of THE LIFE in 1997... both of these shows were full of minority performers and neither was pigeonholed into being considered a TOKEN play

Also... we may be regional but think of the effect that Bway has even in Seattle... SHREK will open there... you will be able to see them in your town and then again next year on the Tony awards...

sorry...

was this the longest slog response in history?

OK
first off
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF was nominated for ZERO Tony Awards. It was bad. They know and no one gave them a nomination JUST because they were a Token show...

Now.

As to the history of Minorities on Broadway...

I do have to say that the NY Theater scene has been leaps and bounds ahead of the film and television industry.

I should mention that i make my living working in the Bway community

but

really

there have been people of MANY colors playing on Bway stages for DECADES in LARGE roles

think of West Side Story
sure the movie had Natalie wood
but
the original production featured MANY Latino performers.

Flower Drum Song had MANY original cast members who were embraced in the NY theater community while hollywood still had Mickey Rooney playing Asian for laughs

YES

Jonathan Price was hired over Asian actors for the original production of MISS SAIGON but he was playing someone of mixed race and that show ran for years hiring HUNDREDS of Asiain performers. Also... he had won an Olivier award in London and was a HUGE star.

ALL of the shows I have mentioned were not looked at as TOKEN minority productions

Pearl Bailey played Dolly Levi in 1975. The role originated by Carol Channing in Hello Dolly.

Can you think of anything like that in film or TV?

Sure minorities are not always portrayed well onstage but i think the NY theater and Bway community has much to be proud of.

August wilson RIGHTLY has a broadway theater named after him. He was a writer of color who made a HUGE impact on the modern play. Did Hollywood ever get around to making that film version of his incredible play FENCES? not even close and when Hollywood had to wait YEARS inbetween oscars for people of color, there is a VERY rich history of minority performers being recognized for their contribution to Broadway. i have yet to think of one of them who one an award because they were the TOKEN minority and they felt it was time to give them an award.

and

we may be a nationally televised regional theater awards show
but

you must realize the power of the Tonys and Bway

I was a little gay living my life every year WAITING for them to be presented. My mother still refers to it as my high holy day. that telecast has made more men find a career in theater...

IN FACT

my partner of 10 years realized he was gay watching Jennifer Holiday perform on the Tony Awards... and decided to move to NYC while watching a performance by the cast of THE LIFE in 1997... both of these shows were full of minority performers and neither was pigeonholed into being considered a TOKEN play

Also... we may be regional but think of the effect that Bway has even in Seattle... SHREK will open there... you will be able to see them in your town and then again next year on the Tony awards...

sorry...

was this the longest slog response in history?

Passing strange has been nominated for 9 Tony Awards and is in serious contention for best musical against IN THE HEIGHTS which was written by a group of 20 something latino friends

@8 -- Thanks. I have to admit I haven't kept up on that -- I am sure I confused another set of theater award nominations Brendan had posted here a month or so ago. I remember being sad that PS only had one of them.

I am so happy to hear they are being recognized. It looks like a great show, and Stew is astounding.

Yeah I thought it was Tolkienism too and I almost started crying.

Being at the Seattle Center around Christmas season, watching so many old white season-ticket holders file into "Black Nativity"...it's like a 20th/21st century minstrel show.