Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special focus on one of the most recent big battles for Best Musical with BILLY ELLIOT versus NEXT TO NORMAL.
30 DAYS OF THE 2014 Tony Awards IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... This fall, Fathom Events will present Tim Rice's timeless new musical "From Here to Eternity" to cinemas across the United States. Captured during the show's successful six-month West End run, U.S. audiences will be able to enjoy the UK production, as well as exclusive extras, on the big screen before it hits Broadway in 2015. More information is available here.
So, now, let's look at some of the most memorable Tony Awards moments pertaining to BILLY ELLIOT and NEXT TO NORMAL. First, Elton John kicks off the 2009 Tony Awards with "Electricity" from BILLY ELLIOT in a sequence also showcasing NEXT TO NORMAL's Aaron Tveit with "I'm Alive". Next, the cast of BILLY ELLIOT perform "Angry Dance". The Billy Elliot trio accept their Tony Award. After that, see Alice Ripley accept her Tony Award. Lastly, take in this riveting performance by the cast of NEXT TO NORMAL. If forced to pick a favorite between these two towering theatrical achievements, which would you choose? Although BILLY ELLIOT obviously won most of the top prizes of the night back in 2009, NEXT TO NORMAL received the Pulitzer Prize For Drama soon after the ceremony, confirming its essential importance. While comparing and contrasting can be fun, perhaps sometimes it is best to admit that some things can't truly be compared. One thing is for sure: both musicals are refreshingly eclectic in their intentions and positively electric in performance.
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