Tony Awards Party at My Place, Yo! – Part 2

June 12, 2012

Jim Parsons looking away/down during the Godspell performance on the Tony Awards
The audience reactions during the Godspell performance were absolutely priceless. (That’s Jim Parsons’)

Picking up from yesterday, I was talking about artists being relegated to commercial breaks.

For instance, Enda Walsh won for Best Book of a Musical. The snippet of speech I saw was excellent. He won a Tony for his incredible writing, so conceivably, he might have a way with words. Who knows? We didn’t get to see his full speech.

The Tonys do give Best Score during the telecast. Do you think the music is more important than the book? I don’t! The story is unbelievably important. You can have a bunch of catchy songs, but if you don’t give people an amazing story, the show isn’t going to resonate.

I know people always say that you don’t come out of the theater humming the book. True, but you do come out of the theater laughing, crying, both maybe – feeling something because of the story you heard.

I’m calling shenanigans on the Tonys for this. Adding to the ridiculousness of giving so many awards out during the commercials; many times the teensy, tiny bit of speeches that were played, were way overpowered by music.

While we’re talking about ridiculous things – and by ridiculous, I mean, ridiculously awesome – did you see Andrew Garfield’s face during the Godspell performance? Priceless. Completely priceless.

Oh man, and while we’re on performances… Hairspray on a cruise. There was a big to-do over this before the Tonys, with a petition going around about not having a non-Equity cast perform. (Note: I’ve heard from various sources that a couple of people in that cast are Equity. Some websites say no one is. There’s bunches of different information floating around.)

Andrew Garfield with huge, gaping mouth, clutching himself during the Godspell number on the Tony Awards 2012
Andrew Garfield clutching himself during the Godspell performance

I’d never want it to sound as though I were putting down the entertainers in that show. I fully support anyone who’s out there trying to do any kind of art.

However, Actor’s Equity is something we strive to join. One of the best days of my life was the day I got my card. I cried when I got the call that I booked the job to earn it.

I’ll readily admit that some people who don’t have their card have worked their butts off longer than I have. Who gets her card, and who doesn’t isn’t always a measure of someone’s talent. For sure.

But still. I don’t think you put a cast under a non-union contract on the award show celebrating excellence in the highest level of professional theater. Right? (Not to sound like a theater snob… But, come on!)

I thought a lot of the performances were great. Neil Patrick Harris’ closing number, his almost-opening number, and the mash-up of best score winners were excellent.

How awesome was the surprise Jesse Tyler Ferguson cameo? (He is my favorite actor. He’s oh, so very brilliant.) The Porgy and Bess performance was great as well. I’m head over heels in love with Peter and the Starcatcher.

There were performances that confused me a little – Godspell performing despite the fact that it didn’t have a single nomination, Leap of Faith performing even though it had already closed. Hairspray. I know all the reasoning behind those performances – money. So maybe “confused” isn’t the right word for me, ’cause I don’t need the reasons explained to me. I just thought it was odd.

close-up on Andrew Garfield's face with huge, wide mouth during the 2012 Tony Awards
Let’s look at a close-up (even if it is blurry). I love his reaction so very much. I can’t get enough!

You know what we could’ve been seeing during those performances’ times? More speeches! But hey, that’s just my opinion. Some people want more performances and fewer speeches. You can’t please everybody.

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Moving back to the life as a grown-up thing, how was my first crack at being a party hostess, you ask? (Thanks for asking.) I think it went pretty well! People seemed to have a lot of fun.

I did learn that even though I put in a new trash bag, and I put out a new roll of toilet paper before the party, you have to check those things. The toilet paper was almost completely out at the end of the night, and the trash was definitely full.

You’d think in all my years of helping out with big groups of people in musicals and running events, I’d be smart enough to have thought of that on my own, but nope. (I did make signs to the bathroom, though!)

I have such a respectful, tidy group of friends. It took all of 10 minutes to clean up.

I brought a lot of the leftovers down to the amazing front desk crew of the building, and now I get to enjoy being a popular, loved tenant for the next few days. Yay!

I'd love to hear from you! So whaddya say?