Tony Awards 2009: Opening Number

[littlelionman04]

OMG Shrek The Musical. Ridiculous.

[BroadwayLover6793]

I love Hair...So much.

[LeLAOve]

Best opening number they've had for a while. Despite the technical problems, the 2009 Tonys were one of the best.

[apeironcalamity]

Tonight/Luck be a Lady Tonight was amazing!If only the sound had been beter!

[SchwalbyW]

It might be that I'm a les mis fan, but did the shrek number have any resemblance to one day more with the flag waving?

[sparrowminion]

@SchwalbyW They did a lot of show references throughout Shrek, including Les Mis

[SchwalbyW]

@sparrowminion I see.



[purple1693]

@jrsoccer11 im pretty sure it was trent

[2010cheche]

And freaking Bret Michaels is suing the Tony Awards....it's his fault that the fly hit him...

[jrsoccer11]

Which one of the boys was on the flying thing in the Billy Elliot performance???????? Was it david I couldn't see very well?

[cksumbuddy]

----------------------BEWARE: DOESNT INCLUDE TE LAST 60 SECONDS -------------------omg, why oh why would you not include the last minute of the record breaking performance? Completely stupid. big fat FAIL!

[chelsea3633]

next to normal!!! yes!!!

[frodo6221]

The mash up of Tonight and Luck be a lady tonight was freaking awesome!

It made me wanna fly to broadway right now.

[texjoy86]

Bret's greatest hit

[digikate813]

@texjoy86 Good one.



[BillyEinspired]

i love aaron tveit.

[agr8guyny]

so weird listening to someone warming up backstage during the guys and dolls section.. fix the sound!!

[FidoraGirl]

THis opening creamed the 2010 opening

[twilightrox2468]

the audience goes NUTS as soon as Aaron Tveit comes on!!!

[Swabby88]

@twilightrox2468 Thats mainly because someone gets hit by the set right behind him, listen carefully for the laughing :)

[dancer122694]

im sorry but i CANT STAND liza

[ABookwormAndProud]

The Rumble/Luck Be A Lady mashup is probably the most epic thing I've ever seen on the Tony Awards :D.

[HappyHeffalump]

@ABookwormAndProud Minus the people you can hear warming up off stage of course!

[ABookwormAndProud]

@HappyHeffalump Even with it. It's that awesome.

[PHILAM26]

Aaron killed Stockard Channing! haha

[kurpaul16]

the kid with the lighter hair, i saw him on broadway. he was amaaazing.

[ghostxxxrebirth]

besides the technical problems, this opening was amazing! the entire show was amazing! this year's sucked.

[StaraziaSelin66]

why did billy elliot get all the tonys...stupid, stupid, stupid. i mean, i support the idea, but PLEASE! N2N has the best score and actors on broadway...its not a stupid remake...though im all for revivals, and WSS was good. :) but i love next to normal, and it needs more tonys...

[STUPIDxxSITE]

Last year was the first time I watched the Tony's and I didn't know anyone in it except for Elton John, Liza Minnelli and Dolly. Re-watching this now while knowing who Sutton Foster, Gavin Creel, Aaron Tveit, Marc Kudisch, Marlon Brando, etc. are, this opening is all the more amazing. Too bad this years' sucked.

[PinkCowgirl925]

I love how it is a huge group for Shrek then right after is tiny little 5 foot 2 Dolly Parton. She is my idol i love her.

[B8ers10]

west side story is quite possibly the best musical every written, written in the 50's and still gives me goosebumps!

[turnblad4]

9 to 5 should have won something because it was beast!

[Zeketheo]

I love how the crowd freaks out for Next To Normal, as they should.

[SenatusConsultum]

Love Stockard Channing, and love Aaron Tveit even more :)

[MrKhaosTheorie]

4:51 Bret Michaels FAIL

[MrKhaosTheorie]

4:51 Bret Michaels FAIL

[mistyable1]

Westside Story is the Rock of the Ages.

[hairsprayzacfan]

aaron tveit and John tartaglia <3333

[Lion187]

Is that Anne Hathaway at 8:55 - 8:57?

[silverknight2113]

@Lion187 yeah, she was either about to or had just done a rendition of Twelfth Night on Broadway (Broadway/Shakespeare in the Park?) and she's also a pretty big star so the more people they can get is publicity :)

[Lion187]

@silverknight2113 Ahh, right awesome. Cheers!

[bwaygirl234]

rock of ages is a disgrace to musical theatre.

N2N should have won best musical - billy elliot is nothing original or special. its not new, so it cant win best new musical.

at least hair walked away with a tony. gavin on the other hand, should have, not the little boys from BE

[psych006]

guys and dolls and West side story gave me goose bumps!

[phantana88]

flippin Billy Elliot... NEXT TO NORMAL soooo deserved to win!!!! <333 Aaron Tveit

[gooffily]

best tony award oppening

[crs0831]

AARON TVEIT. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

[cksumbuddy]

How terrible to cut off the best part....the incredible ending!!! Which, btw, is a record for the most bodies on stage performing at the Tony's. Bummer.

[WolfieB]

N2N got jipped!

[TheTechieGirl]

Thanks you saint G for taking out Bret Michel and WAY TO BE RISSO AND NEXT TO NORMAL!

[allthedramaxoxo]

I loved this opening number so much!

[david88441]

[title of show] didn't get to perform in this number!

9 to 5 wasn't nominated for best musical, and IT got to perform in the number

[TheTechieGirl]

Dolly was there

It was a big name to get people to watch

SAd but true

[bwaygirl234]

TOS closed to early! it wasnt popular enough - only 30% occupancy towards its final days

[xXxHumpDeBump]

oh, yes, and Aaron Tveit is fantastic.

[tennisace90]

N2N got SOOOO JIPPED!!!

[stuyfan]

@tennisace90 yeah, but they got a whole number in the middle of the show. I think the problem with trying to get them into the opening is that next to normal's music and numbers are so specific to the show that its hard to integrate them or even have them flow well with other numbers.

[xXxHumpDeBump]

haha. Bret Michaels.

[Twilightbuff]

Can some1 explain to me what 9 to 5 is about?

[allthedramaxoxo]

It is about three women that are working at an office in the 70's and they have an egotistical, lying, bigot of a boss who is really rude to them and they plan to torture him. It was pretty good, I saw it in July.

[spazzumgurl]

It's based on the movie (and song) of the same name starring Dolly Parton (hence her appearance.) :)

[bandaide2012]

the diversity of these shows is so amazing. i am a Billy Elliot and Next to Normal fanatic but have to say that Billy Elliot really is the greatest show I have ever seen. the kids are absolutely amazing and deserve all the credit they can get. also as a fan of the movie, this is one of the best adaptations i have ever seen. it is the same director and choreographer so the heart and soul of the movie is definitely present on the stage.

[qazkorded]

This is what the meaning of life is! Not only does the performance of these 3 boys deserve the award they won, but their acceptance speech was as innocent and pure as their performance. May their lives be as rewarding to them as the performance they have given us.

[lwest20]

can sme1 tell me what these musicals are i know the first one billy ellliott

[neomarica]

Billy Elliot, West Side Story (Revival), Guys and Dolls, Rock of Ages, Pal Joey, Next to Normal, Shrek the Musical, 9 to 5, then Liza Minelli :)

[ActOutYourLife]

is it wrong that besides hair, shrek was my favorite out of this opening sequence?

and omg lol liza LOL

[HPSJ85]

i really enjoyed aaron tivet in next to normal, IM SEEING NEXT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, but with kyle dean massey

[TerribleGreenBlizzrd]

when? Because aaron comes back in september.

[livingdeaddolls]

Wow, I like the Spanish in West Side Story, I've never seen that done before :)

[WickedxWitchx1313]

they added it into the revival to add something to the musical... it's really cool sounding

[tirayi]

LIZA MAY

[FigureSkater618]

does it sound to anyone else during the first part of west side story and guys and dolls like one of the girls is getting ready backstage and her mike was on? when guys and dolls starts, u can hear a girl sing tonight, then make some random noises...

[RurikoInoyuki]

They were having sound problems all night. So yeah, they accidentally had her mic on while she was practicing.

[CreamboatCreations]

yes. it is. they had a lot of technical difficulties.

[chcknpie04]

seems likely

[prozack1312]

Is it just me, or does it sound like Bret Michaels is lip-syncing?

[ferrierepc]

Well, this one came in better than others. I seem to be having major problemst getting through a video with those little circles spinning around and I wanted to see the end, HAIR, so much, as I am in Italy and missed the show! Good opening, though, given the problems.

[musclelover11]

Miss Liza is insane, but in the good way a passionate, incredible singer should be at her age lol.

[shippermary]

Backstage with this many shows and people must be a nightmare. Cool, though

[lilred758]

so whats with next to normal seducing pal joey?

[STUPIDxxSITE]

Pal Joey started the seducing first lol

[allshallknow19]

gosh there were so many technical problems during this show!!

[saladtossin]

no kidding.. whoever was doing the sound was awful

[wellar6]

@allshallknow19 yet it was still amazingly awesome.

[anddlizzle]

@allshallknow19 That's showbiz for ya. 

[iheartkevinjonas2]

the mics were messed up! You could here people on stage when other people were performing

[cabosammy]

So Brett lipsyncs his performance and then gets the smackdown. Welcome to Broadway.

[adrian102689]

wow bret michaels gets the smack down...broadway dont want him

WHY DOES THE END ALWAYS CUT OFF!?!?

ITS THE BEST PART

im pissed

[Cmet332]

4:15 what a tard

4:50 LMAO

[JVT1010]

what a mess!

[dukie54]

What horrible sound problems! you can hear people's mics on backstage while other people are performing.

[Elphaba88]

I was there

[marcosvalenca]

The public knows its treasures: Biggest ovations for Dolly Parton, "9 to 5" and Liza Minnelli.

[STUPIDxxSITE]

I was just going to comment on that!

[sabriebrie]

Can you please post the whole last part in another vid? It was my favorite part!! :-)

[Pokespray]

7:07-8:02 best minute of the whole show

[blockhead29]

yessss :)

[ErinMackeyROCKS]

Sutton Foster should have got Best Actress. I love Next to Normal, but I think Sutton really deserved it!

[xkittyxcatxfacex]

okay 4:52 look at bret michaels!!

he gets hit!

[HowPoetic]

This opening number was splendid. =D

[TreCoolIsMineBetch66]

I'm so pissed Aaron Tveit didn't get any noms. He's one of the most passionate performers ever and he's beyond talented.

[jeis47]

omg you said it! so pissed lol

[queenoftheclumsydork]

He so should have, he's so amazing

[Happyjuanpa]

west side story cast are GREAT !!!!

[HowPoetic]

I was so stoked to see that West Side Story was getting revived. Oh man, I just about cried when they performed. It's my favorite musical. =D

[MimeSquad]

I saw their pre-broadway engagement in D.C! It was incredible!

[polkafreak3690]

Yeah, 9 to 5 deserved a nomination, just saying!

[livingdeaddolls]

I haven't seen 9 to 5, but I read a review in the British Magazine "Musical Stages" that pretty much panned it.

I can't comment, I haven't seen it, but what I've seen from MH, SJB and AJ is that they're very talented.

What's it about? Is it good?

[StephanieJBlock9to5]

It's about three women who decide to get back at there sexist lying egotistical hypocritical boss. It's pretty good. I went to see Stephanie J. Block and she was as usually superb. Megan Hilty was very cute and did a great job, and Alison Janney although not the best singer did a wonderful job acting. This clip doesn't do 9 to 5 musical since Dolly kind of did the biggest singing. I'll admit it's not the best musical ever but it is very cute and makes a fun night out:)

[everyday814]

seeing it live at radio city made it absoluelly mindblowing

[toesoxofdhoom]

I felt like there were musicals more deserving of some Tonys than Billy Elliot... Oh well. I'm not a voter...

[TreCoolIsMineBetch66]

Agreed.

[proudtheatredork]

maybe so, but billy elliot was the best show this year. just because a show is about a crazy person (cough next to normal), doesn't make it quality!!

for the dancing alone billy elliot deserved its tonys

[toesoxofdhoom]

And a show with a little boy dancing ballet angrily while grunting doesn't make Tony material, either, in that respect.

Dancing alone should not be the deciding factor of what is good and what is not. It's a musical. Not a dance recital.

[proudtheatredork]

Well Billy Elliot has amazing dancing, good music, and an amazing storyline. Next to Normal has....a cliched, overused storyline, good music, and zero dancing. so really, billy elliot didnt get the tony just for its dancing, it got it for everything else it had going for it as well

[toesoxofdhoom]

I'm not even defending Next to Normal. Billy Elliot the musical is a washed down version of the movie. The movie actually captured a lot of deep emotion as well as had a fantastic story. It was weakened by the musical adaptation.

And don't get me started on the "boy does something thought of as girly and overcomes stigma" cliches. We'll be going all day.

[Katwillbehere]

Well he was tap dancing not dancing ballet . not that it matters haha

My personal opinion on the matter having seen both Next to Normal and Billy Elliot, was that they were really different but both amazing shows. Billy Elliot was more inspiring though, and not as "heavy," which is I think is what makes it appealing to more people. I liked Billy Elliot more, but my being a dancer makes me biased. It did deserve it's Tony, but just cause one thing got an award doesn't make the other less amazing

[WickedxWitchx1313]

I guess, I see Next to Normal in a different light because I happen to know a person with bipolar depression. The whole ability to hit the emotions head on on a stage nonetheless is a very hard feet to acomplish. I also find that the music, while there is a lack of dancing, does more to show emotions that may not be quite visable from the audience.

[proudtheatredork]

I know two people with bipolar disorder, one being my aunt and another being my best friend's mother. My mother is also a therapist and deals with plenty of bipolar patients. Yes, Next To Normal is very emotional, but the whole time i was like, why are they giving her this wacky treatment? And you can't tell me Billy Elliot doesn't hit emotions head on. There were so many subtle parts that had me bawling, such as when his dad says "your mum's dead" and when he finally promenates (sp?)

[pcp4202002]

there was a lot of shows that were not nominated. and 9 to 5 did get snubed watch really sucks. dolly should have gotten at least one award for a great show. we say it in LA and will go too NY this summer to see it

[Huntinbear]

Dolly Parton was robbed, she should have won the Tony, and so should have Alison Janney.

[baa96y]

i missed it last night, thanks for sharing.

It looks like a great night for Broadway.

Love Stockard Channing and Billy Elliott looks like a good show to go see. Fun to watch.