Every June, the theatre community teems with excitement for Broadway's biggest night - The Tony Awards! This year, two distinct MTI titles were among the nominees. One is a Sondheim gem making a triumphant return to Broadway. The other is a vibrant, psychadelic rock opera. Merrily We Roll Along and The Who's Tommy represent the scope and variety of the MTI catalog, and we were honored to see them shine last Sunday.

Merrily We Roll Along

"It's a hit!" Over 40 years after its first Broadway run (which ended after 16 performances and 44 previews), Merrily We Roll Along has enjoyed a wildly successful run, starring Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Daniel Radcliffe. This acclaimed production won four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. Groff and Radcliffe both won for their performances at Franklin Shepard and Charley Kringas. Jonathan Tunick, who was also the orchestrator for the original production, is nominated for Best Orchestrations. 

Company authors Stephen Sondheim and George Furth reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise and the high price of success. Merrily We Roll Along begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded composer, Franklin Shepard, and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). Merrily We Roll Along is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.

The Who's Tommy

Based on the iconic 1969 rock concept album, The Who's Tommy is an exhilarating story of hope, healing and the human spirit. The story of the pinball wizard who triumphs over his adversities has inspired, amazed and puzzled audiences for over 50 years. 31 years after its original Broadway run, The Who's Tommy is back on Broadway (with Des McAnuff returning as director) and was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical.

After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother's lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia and, as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbors. As an adolescent, he's discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball and, when his mother finally breaks through his catatonia, he becomes an international pinball superstar.

Last night was a wonderful celebration of live theatre. Let's give a round of applause to all the winners and nominees! Until next year, Tony Awards!