Playbill On-Line hosted a chat in its general chat room on America Online May 6, the evening of the Tony Award nominations. Here is an edited transcript of the result. This was an unregulated chat with up to 48 people, the room's limit, chatting at any one time. The event was hosted by Playbill On-Line's Managing Editor Robert Viagas, but was mainly a discussion among members.EHopkin : I've seen King & I, Rent, Big, State Fair
OzuSaigon : 
SWEET!
BPBWAYBABY : Meg, I hope she does that musical and we can go see
it!
Abwfilm : Bring in Da Noise....9 NOMS
SteenaBean : I'd like to see King and I because Donna Murphy's really talented
RViagas : Hi, gang. So how about that Best Musical category?
EHopkin : King & I is great
Abwfilm : Best musical, best choreograher-savion glover, best director-george c. wolfe
Shurr nuff : BIG was robbed
EHopkin : shocker, rviagas
OzuSaigon : Viagas - you're that writer ain't ya? I've read your work work.
Abwfilm : best costumes, best lighting, best featured actress-ann duquesnay
SWEET4130 : I hear RENT was great
Abwfilm : On broadway at the ambassador theater
SWEET4130 : Was Forum nominated?
OzuSaigon : i live in san antonio where shows fear to tread!
BPBWAYBABY : RViagas, are you a BP fan?
SteveR34 : <=== didn't like RENT
Lilith2460 : I've heard mixed reviews about Rent - mostly bad
SteenaBean : Everyone says so, but it's been hyped so much i wonder.
MEGBWAY : worship..
EHopkin : I think it should have at least been nominated
Abwfilm : forum got 4 noms
Shurr nuff : BIG will run longer than FUNK
BPBWAYBABY : worship...
Abwfilm : including Nathan for best actor
OzuSaigon : power to funk!
MEGBWAY : BP and Renee are so cute
SWEET4130 : Good Nathan rules!!
SteenaBean : I would like to see Forum soon
MEGBWAY : no, no ,no!!!!
SteveR34 : Forum: Revival, Director, Actor (Lane), F. Actor (Stadlen)
Hanon : Does ANYONE here thing "Swingin' On A Star" was a better show that "Big"????
Shurr nuff : overhyped, nathan's only good thing
SWEET4130 : I'm going to see Forum!
RViagas : What does everybody think happened with "Vic/Vic" and "Big" not getting nominated for Best Musical?
EHopkin : I wish I had seen FUNK when I was in NYC, but I didn't; who's seen it
Abwfilm : RENT SHMENT
MEGBWAY : well, i dont know
Abwfilm : Rent is so overrated, I saw it
Shurr nuff : BIG was robbed!!!
RViagas : I've seen all the nominated shows. Do you have a question about one of them?
OzuSaigon : i heard .. what's wrong with RENT?
SWEET4130 : I heard BIG sucked
SteenaBean : Was it really no good?
Lilith2460 : Theatre is getting so commercialized - the truly experimental stuff is often overlooked
SteveR34 : characters in RENT are really underdeveloped
EHopkin : RENT's not overrated
SteenaBean : That is true, Lillith
MEGBWAY : not on the cd
OzuSaigon : really? i wish i lived on bway and could see them shows
EHopkin : you're right about the characters, Steve
Lilith2460 : Or their runs are too short
RViagas : Lilith, how can you say that? All the commercial shows got left out of Best Musical?
BPBWAYBABY : I know.
Shurr nuff : people paying 70 bucks from iowa don't want to see experimental
Hanon : Big was flawed, but overall real good. Certainly deserving of a nomination
SteveR34 : RENT is VERY experimental
SWEET4130 : Musicals just aren't what they were....
SteveR34 : SHURR if that were the case STATE FAIR would have done better
MEGBWAY : oh no!
OzuSaigon : What do you guys think the best show on BWAY is right now?
SteenaBean : No, they really dont. i dont blame them
Lilith2460 : Exactly. Rent is experimental and it was nominated.
Shurr nuff : if it were GOOD
RViagas : Abw, what do you do for "Funk"?
SteenaBean : The theatre is atourist market now.
MEGBWAY : here comes Chris into the audience to do the conga
line
BPBWAYBABY : MEG, I have to go EMail everyone! Do you want me to
call you later tonight or just 2morrow?
OzuSaigon : i wanna go to bway!
SWEET4130 : The best NEw show??? ozu
Shurr nuff : if you want THEATRE -- go to the regionals
SteenaBean : But there still is a place for things with greater
vision
Lilith2460 : I wish Angels In America were still on B'way.
Abwfilm : I am the assoc director of marketing at The Public
RViagas : Steena, you really think "Funk" and "Rent" are for tourists?
OzuSaigon : the best all-around show ...!
EHopkin : When I saw RENT, it was clearly a NYC and a theater
crowd
Abwfilm : Angels is my FAVE
SWEET4130 : Mis Saigon and Les Mis!
OzuSaigon :
Lilith2460 : Great taste Abw!
OzuSaigon : i wish blood brothers were back on bway!
Shurr nuff : Funk is good -- but BIG will run twice as long
SteenaBean : It is just sad that there cant be more variety
OzuSaigon : Blood Brothers is DA BOMB!
SteenaBean : On Broadway
RViagas : "Big" costs a lot more to run than "Funk."
SWEET4130 : I like the older plays
Shurr nuff : I should know
RViagas : Shuff, what was your favorite thing about "Big"?
Digable96 : HI, does anyone want to talk?
Hanon : Steena, what are you talking about? More variety?
Lilith2460 : If it doesn't say Webber, Schonberg or Revival on it,
it dies.
MEGBWAY : is that ok?
Wozzles11 : Lilith!
OzuSaigon : petula clark is playing sellouts in london's sunset
OzuSaigon : Power To SCHONBERG!
BPBWAYBABY : Go Go Go Joseph!!!!
Digable96 : did you hear me?
SteenaBean : EXACTLY< shurr nuff
RViagas : Hey, Digable. What did you think of the Best Musical
nominations?
SWEET4130 : SCHONBERG!!!!!!!
MEGBWAY : Joseph
Digable96 : Has anyone seen INHERIT THE WIND?
OzuSaigon : POWER TO SCHONBERG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SWEET4130 : Hi Digable!!!!
Hanon : You think State Fair, Big, Funk, Rent, Buried Child,
An Ideal Husband are all the same show???
OzuSaigon : Sweet
RViagas : Ozu, you know Schonberg's "Martin Guerre" opens in
July.
Digable96 : With Scott?
SteenaBean : and those things have aplace... i just wish it wasnt
the ONLY thing out there
Wozzles11 : Is this room infested with Webber fans?
OzuSaigon : POWER TO SCHONBERG!
Wozzles11 : Good
Shurr nuff : Dhow has been retitled GONE WITH THE WIND
SteenaBean : No, Hanon. I was speaking of the huge amount of
revivals...
RViagas : Interesting note: This hot season had no Webber or
Sondheim show.
Hanon : How could there be MORE variety on Broadway right
now?
SWEET4130 : Ozu you are the voice of reason!!!!!!
SteenaBean : and big splashy musicals that are on bway
OzuSaigon : no wonder it was a hot season
Lilith2460 : Correction - Getting Away With Murder was a Sondheim
show
OzuSaigon : u 2 sweet! power to us!
Hanon : Like Rent? Like Funk?
SteenaBean : to make up for the huge ticket price
RViagas : Ozu, there was no new Schonberg show either!
OzuSaigon : :*(
RViagas : No new Sondheim MUSICAL, that is.
SteveR34 : <==== LOVED Getting Away With Murder
Shurr nuff : if the public supports FUNK and RENT over the long
haul, than more producers will be willing to risk
SteenaBean : That i heard was awful, unfortunately
Wozzles11 : Sondheim, Sondheim
SteenaBean : But i did not see it
Lilith2460 : Isn't Steve working on something new?
OzuSaigon : Viagas - i read your thingy on martin guerre!
Hanon : Getting Away With Murder wasn't THAT bad...
SWEET4130 : I thought this chat started at 9
RViagas : Wozzles, did you know Sondheim is preparing his new
MUSICAL?
OzuSaigon : one of my friends heard MARTIN GUERRE music!
SteenaBean : Yes, but i dont know much about it
Wozzles11 : Yes I did!
RViagas : Ozu, yes -- what do you think of them doing Martin
Guerre?
Wozzles11 : I live for Sondheim news
SteenaBean : My dad hated it... but then, we dont have the same
taste!
Adelaide80 : Hi!!!!
SWEET4130 : HI Adelaide!
Hanon : By the way, the book for Sondheim's new musical is by
John Weidman of "Big" fame
Lilith2460 : Hello Adelaide
OzuSaigon : RVIAGAS - power to them! of course, people, MARTIN G
is gonna have SMALL sets!
SteenaBean : Well, Wozzles, we were discussing him be4 but i dont
no about his new show
RViagas : Next season could have a new Sondheim show -- the
Mizner musical -- AND a Webber show, "Whistle."
OzuSaigon : it's supposed to be an intimate musical
EGO17 : hi!
Adelaide80 : Everyone in here LOVES Andrew Lloyd Weber....right?
Wozzles11 : He did Assassins too right?
SteenaBean : Ok, Hanon, did u see BIG, too?
Shurr nuff : NO!!!!!!!!!
Lilith2460 : NO WEBBER!!!
OzuSaigon : not all adelaide
Hanon : Yes
Lilith2460 : I love Assassins
OzuSaigon : DOWN WITH WEBBER!
Wozzles11 : Weidman , I mean
RViagas : Ozu, what project would you like to see Boublil &Schonberg do in the future?
SWEET4130 : I love ALW!!!!!
SteenaBean : As much as I like Sondheim I'm not up on all the news
about the next one
AignerC1 : ANYONE HERE GOING TO MUSICAL THEATRE PROJECT OF
TAMPA????????????
Adelaide80 : I personally think he is talentless
Wozzles11 : NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
FJL1960 : Has anyone heard anything about whether TITANIC will
be on next season?
OzuSaigon : VIAGAS - i see them doing another show based on war
but not about war at all
RViagas : Webber's "Whistle Down the Wind" will probably open
in LA less than a year from now.
EGO17 : Any Nathan Lane fans?
Adelaide80 : I AM
OzuSaigon : power to whistle
RViagas : Maury Yeston is nearing completion on "Titanic" but
no plans for next season yet.
SteenaBean : I saw assassins! SS sent me a ticket(no lie)
Wozzles11 : Hmmm.., Sounds familiar, Adalaide
OzuSaigon : no, ego - i'm tired of him
Adelaide80 : He's not talentless
EHopkin : RViagas, why do you think Vic/Vic was absolutely
brutalized the way it was?
FJL1960 : I heard TITANIC is rehearsing for a workshop right
now.
Puck375 : hello everyone
Hanon : This was the best new musical season in years and the
Tony folks have thrown a wet blanket on it
Lilith2460 : Assassins was great! Very intelligent. I saw a
regional production of it.
Jimbo111 : Hi!
Adelaide80 : Familiar???
EGO17 : hi Jimbo
RViagas : Jimbo, what do you think of the Tony nominations?
SteenaBean : Well, thats why i never saw any of the shows, hanon!
Hanon : Asassins should have been on Broadway instead of
Passion
OzuSaigon : schonberg is da bomb! you know he writes all his
music by ear,
Lilith2460 : That takes talent
Wozzles11 : I said the EXACT same thing yesterday. Remember Lil?
OzuSaigon : At least he doesn't scrape his few songs off the
bottom of the drawer
Jimbo111 : ..a little bit surprising, RViagas
SteenaBean : I saw the one at playwrights horizons. Pretty weird,
but exciting and original,
RViagas : "Assassins" couldn't get a producer.
Wozzles11 : No, I LOVE Passion
Puck375 : Hello Lilith
Wozzles11 : PUCK!
SteenaBean : It would never have made it hanon.
RViagas : Jimbo, how would you have voted in the Best Musical
category?
Hanon : Well, neither did Passion
SteenaBean : I did enjoy passion but it was underwritten
Abwfilm : Best musical Noise/Funk
Jimbo111 : ...RENT..
Hanon : RENT
Hdt33 : Rent
Abwfilm : Rent schment
OzuSaigon : RVIAGAS -you know schonberg and i have a common bond
in that our music is very similar!
Adelaide80 : WHY DID THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?
RViagas : More votes for Best Musical, please!
Puck375 : What's the scoop????
RViagas : Ozu, are you a composer?
SteenaBean : I mean it would never even have lasted a week!
Broadways tough
Buzz156 : Rent
Wozzles11 : Because I told Lil the same thing yesterday
EHopkin : RENT, with KING AND I for Best Revival
Blowfish25 : hey Adelaide80 whats up
RViagas : Puck, we're talking Tony nominations here.
Abwfilm : noise funk noise funk noise funk noise funk noise
funk noise funk noise funk
FJL1960 : RViagas, have you heard the rumor - only rumor - that
CBS really wants Big and V/V numbers on the show
Adelaide80 : um...hi?
Puck375 : RENT anyone!
Lilith2460 : Zoe Caldwell will win Best Actress in a play
RViagas : Any votes for "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" or
"Swinging on a Star"? They DID get nominated.
Shurr nuff : NO!!!!!!!!!!
RViagas : How about for Best Play?
Adelaide80 : Who?
Hdt33 : Loved Chronicle...vote for RENT
Abwfilm : I cannot belive Chronicle got a nom, it was
horrendous
Hdt33 : Master Class
Hanon : FLJ: Of course they do!!! Now they don't get Julie
Andrews or kids dancing on a piano.
Dranscript : I can't believe BIG was snubbed. I saw it in Detroit
and really enjoyed it, problems notwit
Lilith2460 : Master Class. Hands down
Dranscript : hstanding
FJL1960 : Of the four, the only one that offered a "good time"
was Swinging, if that means anything
EHopkin : Master Class
Abwfilm : Master Class was FAB!
Bruce516 : Chronicle was more a play with music.
SweethrtNJ : Master Class definately.
Wozzles11 : I LOVE Julie Andrews
Shurr nuff : BIG was robbed!!!!!!
JMarch3035 : Victor/Victoria's snub was outrageous. That's about
al I have to say!
Buzz156 : Loved Master Class, but Seven Guitars will win
RViagas : Could mean a lot, FJL.
Adelaide80 : I can't believe that V\V didn't get nominated
Abwfilm : Julie is fab , but the show really isn't
Hanon : BIG and RENT were both great, in completley different
ways.
Lilith2460 : Terrence McNally is a wonderful playwright
Abwfilm : Big? dreck
Dranscript : I thought V/V was rightly snubbed. The lyrics are
horrendous
SweethrtNJ : I know - I loved V/V - but Rent was good too!
EHopkin : agree abw
RViagas : V/V got a grand total of ONE nomination: Julie
Andrews for Best Actress. Nothing else.
JMarch3035 : And the whole thing about not showing all awards live
is terrible!
FJL1960 : V/v would have closed out of town without Julie
Andrews, or probably never been produced.
Shurr nuff : BIG and RENT -- it's like comparing BABE to LEAVING
LAS VEGAS
Dranscript : FJL: Agreed.
Bruce516 : McNally will not win again.
Wozzles11 : Yea for Julie
SweethrtNJ : Julie deserved that Nomination.
RViagas : No problem, Shurr: "Big" didn't get nominated for
Best Musical.
JMarch3035 : And where did the Tonys get CHRONICLE and STAR from?
Lilith2460 : Why wasn't Carol Channing nominated?
Hanon : Anyone else looking forward to "Swinging On A star's"
number on the awards? I can't wait
JMarch3035 : They didn't deserve those nominations!
Shurr nuff : i should know
JMarch3035 : Carols
EHopkin : julie deserved the nom, but Murphy deserves the award
SweethrtNJ : I have no idea JMarch! I agree 100%
Jimbo111 : Anyone see Chicago at City Center last week?
JMarch3035 : Carol is ineligible. Mike DeVries from the revival
should have been nominated.
Blowfish25 : hello adelaide
RViagas : Chronicle was excellent, but it ran such a short
time, I'm surprised the Committee remembered it.
Adelaide80 : HELLO
Lilith2460 : I didn't like Michael DeVries that much
Hdt33 : But it was memorable
JMarch3035 : the dolly revival was exceptional, by the way
Wozzles11 : Carol Channing scares me
Abwfilm : Dolly? dreck
Lilith2460 : But she has PRESENCE
SweethrtNJ : Dolly was great!
Adelaide80 : I have a feeling that the tonies are gonna STINK
EHopkin : saw Dolly, saw K&I; no contest
Hanon : You said it, Adelaide
RViagas : The Dolly revival is nominated for Best Revival of a
Musical, as are Forum, King and Company.
JMarch3035 : They are. the whole edited awards thing is terrible
Lilith2460 : No - Nathan is the host!
Shurr nuff : God save us from HELLO DOLLY REVIVALS
Abwfilm : she was barely making it across the stage
Adelaide80 : Who's hosting??
JMarch3035 : dolly with channing was just one special moment in
the theatre. Period.
Shurr nuff : 20 years ago
Wozzles11 : She still scares me
Dranscript : I'm listening to Company right now...
Hanon : Nathan Lane is hosting
Abwfilm : bingo
JMarch3035 : And Julie Andrews deserves the Tony on her former
body of work alone.
SweethrtNJ : I'm glad Nathan finally was recognized.
EHopkin : agree JMarch, but K7i was head & shoulders better
Wozzles11 : What song?
Puck375 : what am i missing?
Abwfilm : nathan does deserve it
Lilith2460 : Nathan is brillant
JMarch3035 : Speaking of company, does anybody know if the london
company recording came out yet?
Hanon : Well, Julie certainly wouldn't win it just for V/V
SweethrtNJ : Anyone here see Forum?
Buzz156 : Will "Swinging" and "Chronicle" perform numbers since
they closed? If not, who and what?
Abwfilm : saw forum
RViagas : Not yet.
JMarch3035 : i'd love to see forum.
Merv3 : I cannot believe the deliberate snub of
Victor/Victoria
Shurr nuff : Nathan Lane is wasted in Forum -- he's done it all
before -- and better
Buzz156 : London Company is out
Wozzles11 : I HAVE TO SEE FORUM!
SweethrtNJ : Wasn't it (Forum) hysterical?
JMarch3035 : ME TOO!
Abwfilm : it ain't that fab
DVlady : Yes, I saw it in previews, and it was great!
Shurr nuff : no
JMarch3035 : Hysterical and Hysterium!
Lilith2460 : I'm with you Wozzles!!!
Wozzles11 : I will DIE if I don't
Hanon : CBS has gotta be pissed
Pippin3 : Big would have benefited from a performance during
the broadcast
JMarch3035 : Poor Tony roberts and rachel york
SweethrtNJ : Anyone see Moon Over Buffalo?
Abwfilm : I am sure you will make it
MIONI : Merv3--I agree...
SEHOLLER : about what, hanon?
EHopkin : good point Hanon
Abwfilm : saw moon
SEHOLLER : I saw Moon
Abwfilm : twice
Abwfilm : for free
JMarch3035 : anybody think zaks will win for direction?
Hanon : About not getting numbers from Big or V/V
SweethrtNJ : Did you laugh your you know what off?
Shurr nuff : no
Jimbo111 : Mark Linn-Baker looks horrible in a dress
Mcarena : hi guys..can't believe they snubbed V/V
DVlady : Anyone seen Rent?
SteveR34 : zaks SHOULD win
CoBears : George C. Scott was terrific, A sure winner...
Abwfilm : rent schment
Hanon : Rent's great
Pippin3 : V/V should have been snubbed
Jimbo111 : yesterday, DVlady!
Shurr nuff : why?
SteveR34 : <+++ hated RENT
JMarch3035 : personally, i think the opening # should be comedy
tonight by burnett, lane, andrews, m.p!
Lew Delish : rent - overrated - overhyped -
Merv3 : Rachel York was so fabulous that I would have bet
she'd win and she didn't even get nominate
Bruce516 : Scott may not win now that he's gone.
MIONI : Anyone see any choreography in Rent?
FJL1960 : In a way isn't this what should happen - that there
are more good perfs and shows than award slots?
Abwfilm : yay steve!
SteveR34 : Rob Marshall should got a nom for V/V Chore
RViagas : Steve, what did you hate about "Rent"?
RPSRDR : I can't either Mcarena
Pippin3 : Rachel was robbed! She stole the show right from
Julie
Lew Delish : agreed - rachel york was fabulous
MIONI : agreed!
SweethrtNJ : I loved V/V - I was upset my cousin didn't get
nominated.
Bombaluren : yes she was
Lilith2460 : This year had much better nominees than last year
Pippin3 : more to pick from this year
Mcarena : well pippin is not in agreement
CoBears : Andrea McArdle was overlooked.
EHopkin : I'd love to see Brett tabisel win as best featured
actor
JMarch3035 : Vic/Vic will have the last laugh, though, because it
is raking in t he money
RViagas : A lot of the reviews said Rachel had that category
sewn up -- and then not even a nomination!
JMarch3035 : this year's nominees left me aghast!
SEHOLLER : I agree, Co
Hanon : Brett was great
Merv3 : Who's your cousin, Sweethrt?
Shurr nuff : Brett is very good
Abwfilm : it isn't really rakingin bucks
Pippin3 : V/V is only raking in the money because of Julie.
Continued in Part 2
