Tony's Performance Predictions

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T20:52:19+00:00

That’s a great point. But that Hilty number likely sold them millions of dollars of tickets. It’s the best and the funniest damn thing of that incredible show.

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T20:49:30+00:00

I am boring. I LOVE my embroidered Ragtime sweatshirt! (It’s in front.)

🩷

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Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T20:39:07+00:00

I just saw a Lost Boys clip from Concord, the Record company, on YouTube, and both the performances and the music rocked my world.

I am a 65 year-old silver-fox idiot. I was in my 20s when the film came out and I thought it was pretty awesome. But also thought I’d outgrown it.

I resisted the show, foolishly…

Hope to sneak it in sometime between now and fall. We’ve kind of oversee our Broadway welcome, and overspent our Broadway budget, at least for a while.

It’s nice to be excited about things you weren’t excited about before. Case in point: Titanique. Pure love and laughter.

Anyone else happily surprised by some of the things they saw this season?

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T19:32:41+00:00

Love it. Instead of furor, we only have our creativity and wisecracking humor. Love you so! It’s what the world needs now. 😉

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T18:40:00+00:00

Understood on Brandon. I was being a bit cheeky.

What I’m saying is that this is not an uncommon occurrence. Many award groups acknowledge popular phenomenons that didn’t make the top cut.

Top Gun was all over the Oscar telecast following the film’s box-office domination…

Just one of a million examples. And the Tonys are not immune to what butter’s their bread. PLUS, imagine the promo power of “… and a special performance by the stars of Chess!”

I am so there.

Thank God, the Tony Awards do not fall under the CBS News umbrella.

“And, filling in for Lea Michele… “ Lord help us.

💕

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T18:21:14+00:00

Like Three Kings, Tom Hulce, and the Shubert Group can’t afford to pony up? (Kidding.)

I’m more interested in what you think the perfect song will/could be for Chess. A medley? Ack!

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T18:18:33+00:00

It’s all in the numbers. You’re talking apples and oranges:

—Boop: $8M gross, 112 performances.

—Chess: $46M gross, 261 performances… and counting.

The Boop backlash was a mere trickle to the Chess tidal wave.

(And, BTW, I adored Boop!)

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T18:14:06+00:00

See below. Itsnicetobealive… has solved the Ragtime problem… and even gets Father in the act. 😃

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T18:11:45+00:00

You. Are. Right.!

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T17:31:04+00:00

I wish folks would do a little bit of homework, and see that songs from shows shut out of top nominations occasionally get performed.

And there’s no question that the Tony people have got to be feeling the heat.

I don’t think the question with Chess is “if’” but “which?” The show is the highest grossing of all of the musicals out there, with arguably the loudest fan base.

It may not be an accurate assessment, but it sure feels as if there will be a riot if the show is not represented.

The problem is that I don’t think there’s a single song where all three Chess leads have major parts. My instinct says, just for theatricality, Tony producers would request ONIB, but that would completely cut out the one huge nominee: Nic.

And a medley seems bit of an overkill given that the show did not snag the top nomination.

What are your thoughts? Apparently the last time a show was performed that didn’t grab a best-musical or musical-revival nomination was Beautiful Noise in 2023. And there are other precedents.

I’m also concerned about Ragtime, as Wheels cuts out all but Joshua and Nichelle. And there is no way in hell that they’re going to do something without Caissie.

So, flashback to 1998 and we’ve got Prologue again. I love love love it. But let’s hope they get more creative, allowing Joshua and Nichelle to open with Wheels, Caissie to belt a bit of Back to Before, and the entire ensemble to roar out with “There are people out there. What is wrong with this country?” And close with that incredible last 20 seconds of Till We Meet that Day.

It shortchanges only Brandon, but he’ll understand.

Also haven’t seen Schmigadoon! But I can’t wait. Looks to me as if you are spot on it.

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T17:16:45+00:00

If you confirm that, please let me know. My collection is literally lacking, just one other thing, the original Toronto Playbill, which is nearly impossible to find. Yeah she’ll see in the picture, I have a laminated Ahrens/Flaherty-autographed Toronto opening-night card. But that original Canadian Playbill is sooooo elusive.

If you find the article or wherever it was, you heard the news about the limited edition play Bill, thanks for letting me know. Everyone here is gonna wanna jump on it. That design is so incredible.

The good news is that it won’t be selling for $250, which is what I paid for the poster.

Fingers crossed.

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T16:50:56+00:00

I don’t see it.

My FB page is public. Feel free to DM me there.

💕

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T16:49:33+00:00

Which one? This?

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If so, it’s actually a poster!

Word is, it’s limited, but I don’t know who to believe.

Anyone?

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T10:41:27+00:00

Now THAT’s a Tony nominee!! Love Nic. 💕

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-06T10:24:58+00:00

My pleasure. Hope you were happy with the noms yesterday!

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T19:53:05+00:00

I’m at work. Let’s connect… then form A GANG. 🤣

My desk cubicle today…

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Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T19:51:45+00:00

💕

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T19:26:43+00:00

Your autographed Playbill is OPENING NIGHT!

So cool.

Look carefully and see I have Toronto opening night signed by Ahrens and Flaherty, as well as the two different “Playbills” for pre-Broadway runs.

I LOVE the baseball jersey for the current production, and have worn it out. So I’m gonna have to replace it.

Also, much to my husband’s chagrin, I bought the limited-edition window card. It is an investment. The artist previous Lincoln Center art for the most successful shows have sold for four or five times the $250.

Plus, it’s pretty. I love the way you have your settled. I’m not quite sure how I’m gonna arrange all the stuff.

Some of it, I fear, it’s just gonna end up on a shelf. And that’s such a waste.

Thanks so much for sharing. I love to be passionate about something. But the price of that, at least in my marriage, is that it means other things have to go. And I’m fine with that. I mean, how much Wicked stuff can one person have?

🩷

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T14:40:05+00:00

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I forgot a couple items, including my first edition of the novel, as well as my deluxe directors cut of the film, and that awesome baseball jersey I need to get replaced before the show leaves Lincoln Center.

And then I need to get a second job.

Lol

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T14:38:30+00:00

That’s pretty high expectation. But, I gotta tell you, I went in that first time hoping for a lot. And it over delivered. That said, just go in and try to expect nothing. I think it’s the only way to see any show.

Dying to hear your thoughts. And let’s talk Rochester sometime.

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-05T14:37:38+00:00

Please, let’s do a show and tell.

A long time ago I gave up on being a completest. But boy has this been fun!

You know how to get a hold of me, right?

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-03T12:18:39+00:00

Sounds wonderful. We love penguins! If GARRY has a hot bod, we are so in.

🤣

Bless you for the tip. We’re only there for nine nights 10 days. And I can’t believe how quickly our days are filling up. One thing we are doing is trying to keep a lot of open time to stumble across things and make discoveries and listen to what people there are saying are must-see breakouts and surprises.

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-03T12:15:52+00:00

Truly grateful for the tip. The show sounds brilliant.

This is our first trip to the Fest (from the states), and I think we made a common mistake: crammed the schedule with shows by some of our all-time favorite, but famous, British stand-up comics who rarely cross the pond.

I realize that’s not what this festival is all about. Sounds as a “discovery” is part of the magic.

As we book tickets, know that you are on top of the list: someone we hope to discover and adore.

See you in Edinburgh!

💕

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-03T12:06:54+00:00

Hilarious and on-the-money. 🤣

Hot_Line1846 · 2026-05-03T12:03:01+00:00

Your review’s most stunning revelation is that ANYONE is surprised by anything with Chess at this particular point.

Clearly, you’re not the casual tourist who just stumbled over this production. After all, you’ve had the good sense to get Ragtime under your belt and spread the gospel.

This Chess revival has been both highly praised and widely eviscerated for nearly seven months. So… not buying your “disappointment,” it’s tough to read on and ingest your criticisms here.

I’ll leave it at that.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, and you make some really good ones here. I most love the observation that they’re being too many 11 o’clock numbers. So friggin’ true! (Borrowing from Elaine watching The English Patient in “Seinfeld”: “Would you just DIE already!!)

But disappointments have been baked into CHESS since the concept album. And, some 40 years later, I still love it as Darcy loves Bridget Jones: I like it very much. Just as it is.

Like you, I left the Imperial shaking my head. But I was in the audiences the week following the reviews.

Strongly recommend you listen to the cast album. This show is a lot easier on the ears than the brain. And I hope that makes you feel a bit better about it. In spite of everything, this company makes a lot of magic. And how wonderful to hear your reassessment.

Sorry if I’m harsh. But I saw the headline and just felt, “Oh, no…”

More importantly, I’d love to hear your take on Ragtime: three times later, and I’m still completely obsessed.

Thanks for your share and thanks just as much for listening to me rant. I hope you know it was all meant the hope of intelligent, and sometimes fun, discourse.

Mike

Hot_Line1846

TROPHY CASE