Today we are shifting our focus from the stages of Broadway and beyond to the stages of the previous 84 Academy Awards telecasts that have transpired to date, in anticipation of Sunday night’s big, big, big show – Hollywood’s hugest night. After all, this year’s Academy Awards is of particular interest and excitement to theatre fans around the globe, especially because super-producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are behind it – the men responsible for the hit stage-to-screen adaptations of CHICAGO and HAIRSPRAY, as well as the small-screen successes GYPSY, LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME & MY SHADOWS, ANNIE, and, most recently, NBC’s musical series SMASH, to name but a few of their many marvelous musical-friendly credits. They told me themselves earlier this week that this year’s telecast would be the most music-packed Academy Awards show to date, and, just judging from the announced tributes, performers and presenters thus far it is clear to see that they were not kidding – reunions of the casts of the film versions of CHICAGO and LES MISERABLES live onstage, singing their films’ most famous songs to Jennifer Hudson leading a DREAMGIRLS homage all the way to a James Bond 50th anniversary celebration featuring Adele and Shirley Bassey on some famous Bond themes, as well as Barbra Streisand herself singing “The Way We Were” in memory of friend and collaborator, three-time Oscar-winner Marvin Hamlisch.
Plus, host Seth MacFarlane – an all-around affable personality well-known for his affection for and adeptness at musical comedy performing – shall be lending dulcet tones to a few tunes, too, including a highly-touted post-Best Picture grand finale duet with Broadway baby Kristin Chenoweth.
2012 was an especially kind year to theatre fans thanks to the worldwide smash hit status of a full-fledged movie musical like LES MISERABLES – lest we forget we also had some other movie musicals like ROCK OF AGES and THE SAPPHIRES fill our screens, as well – so we certainly have a horse to root for in this race for the only time besides 2002 and 2008, when CHICAGO and SWEENEY TODD competed for prizes previously (though only CHICAGO has scored a Best Picture nomination out of all the movie musicals this century so far; and, it won). Yes, the 2013 Oscars will be all about the music, the stars and the glamour, so today let’s take a look back at some of the most marvelous, magical and momentous Academy Awards opening numbers and performances of all time – the triumphs, the thrills, the divas, the disasters, the comedians and everything else – while we anticipate tomorrow’s awards ceremony to beat the band on any coast, whether on Broadway, in Hollywood or anywhere else, for that matter. The 85th Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 24, at 7 PM on ABC.
(source : broadwayworld.com )
