Music at the Tony Awards

2010 includes nominations for the broadway shows Fela!, Green Day's American Idiot, and "Million Dollar Quartet." The Fela show has been mentioned on a Fela thread. Anybody seen any of the others?

Bill T. Jones won best choreographer for Fela!

Not sure this description of 8 award nominee show "Memphis" has me convinced

Turn up that dial! From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, by way of hit runs at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, comes a hot new Broadway musical with heart, soul and energy to burn. She's a black singer whose career is on the rise, but who can't break out of segregated clubs. He's a white radio DJ whose love of music transcends race lines and airwaves. When the two collaborate, her soulful music reaches radio audiences everywhere, and the Golden Era of early rock 'n' roll takes flight. But as things start to heat up, whether the world is really ready for their music - or their love - is put to the test.

A thrilling theatrical event that combines Broadway splendor with the roots of rock, Memphis features a story by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), an original score by David Bryan (Bon Jovi), direction by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

Ha, "Memphis" just won best musical. Oh, it's based on a real Memphis dj (and no its not one of the WDIA African-American dj's)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFlxQbE8STc

"Million Dollar Quartet" cast performing on Letterman

Memphis is the only one of the musical nominees I've never heard of.

I was just in Memphis for work, but did make it to Rock & Soul Museum where they had a little bit about Dewey Phillips who the Memphis show is loosely based on. No mention of the broadway show though. Phillips was a wildman. Rufus Thomas and others on WDIA (the first radio station to feature all-black programming, I think) were also characters, but that might be harder to sell on Broadway.

I should have called this thread--"Can Broadway shows rock, groove, get funky or get soulful--plus the Tony Awards"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/theater/13isherwood.html?th&emc=th

"The musical has lost its voice" - NY Times article. I am not clear re what "new" music or musical approach the author wants? Does he just mean no recycled older songs?

From a review:

"Dare I
suggest that “Memphis” is the Michael Bolton of Broadway musicals? I
do."

Anyone seen "Memphis" on Broadway? It's a Tony winner but the above comment makes me hesitant.