Neil Patrick Harris will host the 63rd annual Tony Awards tonight, June 7th. This year’s ceremony will be held in Radio City Music Hall and will be televised by CBS. There will be a star-studded list of presenters, such as Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Lange, Frank Langella, David Hyde Pierce and Kevin Spacey.
Early reports indicate that “Billy Elliott The Musical” will be the big winner at the end of the night.
Viewers can expect a spectacular night of Broadway styled performances. There will be 3 hours of songs, dance, drama and impressive talent……….and a small amount of time devoted to the awards.
This year, the Tony’s are going for a different style. They want this show to introduce the Broadway talent to the television audience so they have opted to present the technical and design awards before the televised show. They also will give out some performance awards before the show too. This has outraged many of the Broadway family who feel too many talented people are not getting the recognition that they should.
With the design awards out of sight from the television audience, there is now more room for not only performances by the nominated musicals, but also the touring companies of Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia and Legally Blonde. Since the audience will seeing the casts from the actual production coming to your town, most feel it is a push to – buy your tickets now!
Making the Tony Awards nothing but musical number after musical number is a ratings ploy helping not only viewership, but ticket sales. But many critics wonder if performances by top stars like Dolly Parton and Elton John are needed to ensure people tuning in on Sunday night. Will it ensure that there will be more than the usual audience watching the Tony’s? That question will be answered Monday morning.
Many people are complaining that without the observation of the presentation of the awards, the Tony Awards will just become a show filled with fluff. Most diehard Broadway lovers love the tributes to actors, dancers and composers who are not the popular stars and they love to cheer and cry or the accolades they get at the Tony’s. But, it seems that does not make good TV.
For Clay Aiken fans, the question is not who will win, but will Clay attend the ceremony. And, most of his fans are cheering on Christopher Sieber who has been nominated for “Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.” Congratulations, Christopher, for your nomination. We hope that you walk away with the trophy.
Sure hope that Clay will attend. He has so many good friends who will be there. Some day I hope he will be nominated and will win an award. I loved him in Spamalot.
Good luck to Christopher Sieber-didn’t see Shrek, but he was terrific in Spamalot.
I hope Clay will be there. He has many friends on Broadway now.
Good luck to Chris Sieber..didn’t see Shrek..but he’s the best.
GO CHRIS SIEBER!! I absolutely adored him in Spamalot with Clay Aiken and would imagine he is just as spectacular in Shrek. An amazingly talented man!!!
Not sure Clay Aiken will be there tonight, but I hope so!
Good luck to Chris Sieber! I hope Clay can attend tonight to support his friend!
This is one time I hate living on the west coast! Wish I could be there in real time. Wishing Chris Seiber the best. He’s a terrific actor.
I actually think it’s brilliant to use the Tony Awards show to sell the product, especially since Broadway has few other national/international outlets. All the major awards are presented on the show. I doubt the vast majority of the TV audience cares who wins the more esoteric awards. I know I tune in primarily to see the productions and for the sampling of the current season that it gives me. I think the Oscars – which I only watch recorded so I can fast forward through it – could stand to take a page from the Tony book.
Whether we get to see Clay Aiken at the Tony Awards show or not, I hope he has an opportunity to attend and meet up with some of his Broadway friends. We know he will get more support there than he would on the other side of the country.
I hope Chris wins.
I love the Tony Awards. It’s one of the best award shows on all year. And, if Clay Aiken should show up, it will shoot right up to THE best award show this year!!!
Well just go home, so I’m missing the Tony’s, but good luck to everyone!!!
musicfan,
Thank you for keeping this fandom up to date on everything associated with Clay Aiken. I didn’t even know the Tony Awards were tonight unti I read your blog.
Thank you, too, for your kind remarks in the Carolina blog. Have a great week!
Caro
Awww, so far Clay hasn’t been spotted and Chris missed out on winning his Tony tonight…. boo!
I am enjoying the show!!!
Broadway performers are some of the best in the world. Wish I lived closer to NY so I could attend shows more often. Really hope that Clay Aiken will be cast in another show soon that shows off his wonderful voice.
Go Chris! I would love to see Clay there, but he will be there in spirit if not in person.
CANN..thanks for the heads up about the Tony Awards. I was watching it, and hoping that Chris S. would win. Maybe next time.
Hopefully down the road Clay will be up for a Tony…I’m sure he will. The man is so talented…and watching everyone on there…I was sad thinking of how much I miss Clay right now…
Hugs,
Judy
I started watching the Tony’s but dozed off and missed most of it. I’m sorry to hear Chris S. didn’t win. There are a lot of talented performers tho, so hopefully he’ll win another time.
One day I hope to see Clay Aiken nominated for a Tony. I think it will happen sometime in the future.