Normally, the week earlier than the Tony Awards is a joyful time to have fun the great work of the Broadway season.
Not this 12 months!
Two large exhibits had been fuming Tuesday that they’re being disregarded of the Tony Awards broadcast on CBS Sunday night time: “Boop! The Betty Boop Musical” and “Smash.”
The Publish can verify that each productions requested to carry out, had been prepared to pay the $300,000 or in order that an look prices and had been instructed “Nope!” by the Tonys’ producers.
After all, there isn’t any assure any present that was not nominated for Greatest Musical or Greatest Musical Revival will get to sing and hoof on the telecast.
Neither “Smash” nor “Boop!” are in rivalry for the massive kahuna.
Nonetheless, the identical is true of two productions that will get extremely invaluable minutes onstage at Radio Metropolis Music Corridor: “Just in Time,” the sold-out Bobby Darin dazzler starring Jonathan Groff, and the struggling “Real Women Have Curves.”
“It’s bizarre,” stated one Broadway producer.
And it’s a reasonably catty transfer. And I’m not speaking about Mr. Mistoffelees.
Solely three presently working musicals got the comb by the televised ceremony: “Boop!,” “Real Women” and “The Last Five Years” starring Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren.
“Last Five Years” acquired squat on nominations morning, so that they don’t have a case for crooning Jason Robert Brown’s mopey songs.
However what’s bizarre is that “Boop!,” with 4 nominations — together with Greatest Actress in a Musical for its unimaginable breakout star Jasmine Amy Rogers — has extra nods than “Real Women,” which notched simply two.
And but the true girls acquired a slot.
The Publish has reached out to representatives for the Tonys for an evidence.
On the Broadhurst Theatre, everyone is Boop-ing livid.
“Why wouldn’t the Tonys want a highly telegenic number from ‘Boop’!?,” stated a member of Staff “Boop!.”
The present had deliberate to carry out the spectacular dance quantity “Where’s Betty?,” which showcases director Jerry Mitchell’s choreography and Gregg Barnes’ intelligent costumes.
That might then segue into the 11 O’Clock solo “Something to Shout About” from Rogers, who’s to this point gained the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Greatest Actress.
She’s in a troublesome Tony race with Nicole Scherzinger (“Sunset Boulevard”) and Audra McDonald (“Gypsy”), however I’ve spoken to loads of Rogers voters.
Contemplating the Tonys start at 6:30 p.m. on the app Pluto — which I obtain yearly like a TV Brigadoon — and proceed by way of 11 p.m. on CBS (4 and a half hours!), 5 minutes would go by faster than you’ll be able to say “Boop!”
The slight has given followers one thing to shout about.
“What’s been amazing and eye-opening has been the public response,” a moved “Boop!” solid member stated.
“When the Tonys announced which shows are performing, 90% of the comments were outcries about ‘Boop’’s glaring omission. In fact, there is a fan-created petition circling around to include Jasmine in some capacity. The petition has over 100 signatures in the first hour!”
At time of publication, that Change.org petition had secured greater than 800 names.
Over on the Imperial, “Smash,” the Susan Stroman-directed musical based mostly on the canceled NBC TV sequence about Broadway backstabbing, has been quieter. However I’m instructed additionally they really feel like smashing some issues.
Truly, the Tonys’ completely predictable, self-made mess is a plot-line straight outta “Smash”!
