Title: Strippers, showgirls, and sharks : a very opinionated history of the Broadway musicals that did not win the Tony award /
Authors: Filichia, Peter.
Year: 2013
Subjects: Musicals New York (State) New York History and criticism
Abstract: "In Strippers, Showgirls, and Sharks, popular syndicated theatre critic Peter Filichia chronicles the American musical by looking at those shows that did not win the Tony Award. Every spring the American Theatre Wing bestows its annual Tony Awards. Only those shows that have reached Broadway are nominated and while all Tonys are created equal, the universally acknowledged biggest prize is the Best Musical Tony. But did the best musical always win Best Musical? And were there other factors that kept a more deserving show from winning? Filichia answers these questions and more as he looks at all 153 previous Best Musical Nominees that didn't win. In 1959 when Ethel Merman and a variety of strippers took the stage, there was a tie between 'The Sound of Music' and 'Fiorello'. In 1971, Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies' and its ghostly showgirls lost to a 'groovy' re-tuning of 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' best forgotten. And, in 1957, 'West Side Story' was bested by the fine people of River City Iowa singing their Americana hearts out in 'The Music Man'."--Publisher description.
Contents: How did it happen? : the best musical Tony-losers that should have won -- Find out what they like and how they like it : the best musical Tony-losers that were too good for the average man and tour -- The party's over : the best musical Tony-losers that were lame ducks on awards night -- You're gonna be popular : the best musical Tony-losers that learned that running longer is the best revenge -- Step to the rear : the best musical Tony-losers that may have suffered because of their producers -- It's smarter to be lucky than it's lucky to be smart : the best musical Tony-losers that encountered unexpected circumstances -- It would have been wonderful : the best musical Tony-losers that would have won in other years -- Big fish eat the little, little fish : the best musical Tony losers that simply may have been too small -- You were good, but not good enough : the flawed best musical Tony-losers -- What do I do now? : the best musical Tony-losers that suffered from following their creators' smash hits -- The same old song : the best musical Tony-losers that used recycled music -- Not a loser anymore, like the last time : the best musical Tony losers that turned out to be winners.