The Broadway Observer
by Susan Haskins
"Urinetown" Scores Three TONY Wins for The Fringe
NEW YORK, June 2 -- "Urinetown" won three TONYS tonight: Best book for Greg Kotis; Best Score for Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis and Best Director Musical for John Rando. I only had hoped for two, and was thrilled to see the show get recognition for its most of its key creative team (Would that choreographer John Carrafa had also been honored).
I later heard complaints from some "UT" fans at the TONY Awards after party, because "UT" didn't wrest the all important Best Musical prize away from the middle-of-the-road crowd-pleaser, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," ("How can the show that got best book, score and direction, not get Best Musical?").
Get real!
In two years, "Urinetown" made it from The FRINGE Festival to the TONYS with eight nominations. That's totally amazing. Furthermore...
It WON three, The Shubert Organization's multi-million-dollar hit Abba-fest "Mamma Mia!" got none! ("Turn and face the strange," commercial producers.)
Those three TONY wins are tidings of great joy. They show that the Broadway industry still is willing to support and reward a good original musical ... from unknowns, no less. That hasn't happened since "Rent," and before that...what?.."Hair?" The cup, is not half empty (I refuse to indulge in pee puns}; it's filling up. Let's be grateful.
Anyway, here's some post-win quotes from "Urinetown" creators:
"This musical was born out of the Lower East Side of
New York City. That world suffered a huge blow (from 9/11), and I just hope
Off-Broadway
continues to strive to overcome all the obstacles." - John Rando
"Not only were we breaking the form; we were breaking
the seats in the audience."
- Greg Kotis
Explaining the meaning of Urinetown's three Tony wins: "It shows that the same heart and spirit that lives below 14th Street and Houston Street is still alive in the commercial theater." - Greg Kotis
I certainly hope Kotis is right. [shask]
WINNERS OF THE 2002 TONY AWARDS
BEST MUSICAL:
Thoroughly Modern Millie
BEST PLAY:
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? by Edward Albee
BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL:
Into the Woods
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:
Sutton Foster, Thoroughly Modern Millie
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY:
Alan Bates, Fortune's Fool
SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT:
Elaine Stritch at Liberty
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY:
Lindsay Duncan, Private Lives
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:
John Lithgow, Sweet Smell of Success
BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY:
Private Lives by Noel Coward
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:
Shuler Hensley, Oklahoma!
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY:
Frank Langella, Fortune's Fool
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY:
Katie Finneran, Noises Off
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:
Harriet Harris, Thoroughly Modern Millie
REGIONAL THEATRE (Previously Announced):
Williamstown Theatre Festival
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL:
John Rando, Urinetown
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY:
Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses
BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
Martin Pakledinaz, Thoroughly Modern Millie
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN:
Brian MacDevitt, Into the Woods
BEST SCENIC DESIGN:
Tim Hatley, Private Lives
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, Urinetown
BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL:
Greg Kotis, Urinetown
BEST ORCHESTRATIONS:
Douglas Besterman and Ralph Burns, Thoroughly Modern Millie
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY:
Rob Ashford, Thoroughly Modern Millie
Copyright © Susan Haskins, 2002. Ms. Haskins is co- host of the TV show, "Theater Talk" on Thirteen/WNET (New York City's PBS affiliate).
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