“Stereophonic,” a David Adjmi play set in the 1970s that vividly brings to life a fictional rock band through its music, will feature a musical number at the Tony Awards this coming Sunday. This inclusion comes after some controversy surrounding its initial omission from the line-up. The decision not to showcase “Stereophonic” had drawn significant attention and critique from the playwright himself and from fans on social media, especially given the play’s status as a Best Play nominee.
This one's for the fans. pic.twitter.com/x8A7Apyya4
— Stereophonic: Live on Broadway (@stereobway) June 12, 2024
Typically, the musical performances at the Tony Awards are selected from nominees in the Best Musical and Best Musical Revival categories. This year, those nominees include productions like “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Illinoise,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Suffs,” “The Outsiders,” “The Who’s Tommy,” and “Water for Elephants.” However, “Stereophonic” stands out by not only being a nominee for Best Play but also for earning nominations in significant musical categories, such as Best Score and Best Orchestrations, both attributed to Will Butler and, for orchestrations, Justin Craig as well.
The earlier roster of performances released by Tony organizers conspicuously left out “Stereophonic,” despite the play having a popular cast album featuring songs reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. The exclusion prompted an outpouring of disappointment from its fans and a pointed comment from playwright David Adjmi on social media. Adjmi expressed frustration over the decision, stating, “We wanted to perform but they weren’t into it. We tried!”
Stereophonic should do a scene on Sesame Street but Grover is just the muppet and he keeps trying to keep everyone positive despite their arguing but he inadvertently creates more chaos which actually ends up working perfectly for the album pic.twitter.com/CRhjakil8t
— Jared Gray (@MisterJaredGray) June 12, 2024
In a turn of events, the organizers of the Tony Awards have now confirmed that “Stereophonic” will indeed perform at the event. While it has not been disclosed which song will be performed, the choices likely include fan favorites “Masquerade” or “Drive.”
We did it kids! Our voices were heard ❤️ #Stereophonic #TonyAwards #Broadway pic.twitter.com/mIxlgXOUlD
— Robby Lerman (@RobbyLerman) June 12, 2024
The 77th Annual Tony Awards is set to broadcast this Sunday, June 16, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET live on the CBS Television Network and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S. This inclusion of “Stereophonic” in the evening’s lineup adds an exciting dimension to the ceremony, celebrating a broader spectrum of theatrical contributions this year.
Major Points
- “Stereophonic,” a play about a 1970s rock band, will perform at the Tony Awards after initially being excluded from the lineup.
- The exclusion led to public outcry and criticism from playwright David Adjmi and fans, highlighting the play’s nomination for Best Play.
- Unlike typical years, “Stereophonic” is nominated in two major music categories: Best Score and Best Orchestrations.
- The decision to include the performance came after backlash over the omission, with Adjmi expressing dissatisfaction on social media.
- The 77th Annual Tony Awards will air live this Sunday, featuring a range of performances from top musical and play nominees.
James Kravitz – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
