2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown: #8 - DREAMGIRLS & NINE

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on two of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s, DREAMGIRLS & NINE!

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Getting Tall

At the 1982 Tony Awards, two major musicals faced off for many of the top prizes and no competition was tighter than that of Best Director, with nominees Michael Bennett and Tommy Tune - once friends and collaborators, they were now pitted against each other as fiercely competitive rivals. Of course, Bennett was represented that season by the Motown-inspired original musical DREAMGIRLS, written by Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger, while Tommy Tune set out to musicalize Frederico Fellini's film 8 ½ and fashioned it into the musical NINE, along with Peter Stone and composer/lyricist Maury Yeston. While the two musicals onstage could not look, sound or feel more dissimilar, each was a towering achievement worthy of recognition and each a fascinating exploration of the possibilities of the artform as it existed at the time. Nevertheless, ties are very rare at the Tony Awards, so one or the other eventually had to come out on top - and, as it so happens, the big winner of the night was NINE.

While both musicals have been somewhat successfully revived on Broadway since their debuts - DREAMGIRLS shortly thereafter its debut, in 1987; while NINE did not return until 2003, in a David Leveaux-directed revival - the original productions of each were certainly something special to treasure for fans lucky enough to have caught them during their original runs, over thirty years ago. Neither musical swept the awards, either, with NINE winning Best Score and DREAMGIRLS winning Best Book, Tune taking Director and Bennett taking Choreography (shared with Michael Peters) and the majority of the acting awards going to DREAMGIRLS.

Both DREAMGIRLS and NINE afforded their estimable corps of actors with ample opportunities to strut their stuff and show off their mega-wattage talent - two cases in point: Jennifer Holliday and Liliane Montevecchi, both of whom would go on to win later that night (Best Actress and Best Featured Actress In a Musical, respectively). So, too, did Raul Julia make a major mark as NINE's protagonist and Ben Harney offer a memorable turn in DREAMGIRLS, yet, in both shows, it was really ladies' choice - and what divine divas on display in both cases! Both Bennett and Tune knew how to turn a girl out - and, in style!

Additionally, most recently, both DREAMGIRLS and NINE have made their way to the silver screen, as well, introducing their charms to a whole new audience.

African-American, Italian or otherwise, DREAMGIRLS and NINE have entertainment value to offer us all and both have cultural, historical and musical relevance far beyond just what was contained in their admittedly brilliant original productions, though both were landmark achievements in their day and both shows still rank with the best of what Broadway has to offer, now or ever.

The 2013 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 9, at 8 PM on CBS. More information is available at the official site here.

One Night Only

So, now, let's look at a vast assortment of clips pertaining to DREAMGIRLS and NINE on the Tony Awards, from 1982 until now.

First up, WCBS correspondent Dennis Cunningham gives his analysis of the 1982 season in this fascinating vintage prognostication clip.

Original NINE stars Liliane Montevecchi and Anita Morris are highlighted in this extensive TV interview feature on the ladies in honor of the 1982 Tony Awards.

Next, Kathi Moss leads "Be Italian" at the 1982 Tony Awards.

Now, see how Jane Krakowski stopped the show and took the role of Carla to Tony-winning glory in this audience capture clip of the 2003 revival of NINE.

Antonio Banderas leads the all-female cast of NINE in a medley of tunes from the Tony-winning Best Musical in 2003.

Jennifer Holliday and company raise the roof with the stunning Act One closing sequence from DREAMGIRLS, featuring the titanic "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".

Tom Eyen accepts the Tony Award for Best Book In A Musical for DREAMGIRLS. This is a speech to remember!

Check out the 1987 revival cast of DREAMGIRLS belting out the title tune - be sure to spot future Tony-winner Lillias White.

Nathan Lane and Gregory Hines tackle DREAMGIRLS as part of this caustic gender-bending medley from the 1995 ceremony.

Broadway/Hollywood superstar Hugh Jackman opens the 2004 Tony Awards with a high-kicking "One Night Only", complete with Rockettes!

So, which way would you have voted way back in 1982? Is it impossible to choose between such diametrically opposed shows with such different styles and sensibilities? Either way, both scores are among Broadway's best and any future revival is more than merely welcome on the Great White Way!