'81 Tonys: A Chorus Line, Ain't Misbehavin', Annie, Sweeney Todd, Evita

Musicals still running in 1981 are featured:
A Chorus Line ("What I Did For Love" - Priscilla Lopez);
Annie ("Tomorrow" - Andrea McArdle);
Ain't Misbehavin' ("Honeysuckle Rose" - Nell Carter);
Sweeney Todd (Angela Lansbury, Walter Charles)
Evita ("Buenos Aires"); - Patti LuPone)

[@elizacarrie7433]

The song Angela Lansbury sung for this performance is one of the most difficult songs Sondheim put in their musical. When Helena Bonham Carter was collaborating with Lansbury and Sondheim on the movie adaptation, Carter mentioned in an interview that she asked how on earth Sondheim expected her to breath and Lansbury famously said “you don’t. He never wrote in anywhere for you to breath. You kinda just do it”

[@RogerCG1]

I remember some devastating articles in the NY York Post and Daily News that day of the Tony Awards in 1981 saying Andrea would not be able to reach the high notes in "Tomorrow" because she insisted on singing it in the original key she sang it in when she was first on Broadway in "Annie." That's why she broke out in that great grin (around 3:47 in) at the peak of the song and the audience roared its approval. (So great to prove critics wrong!)

[@galenfott]

It's not the original key; it's down a half step.

[@dewittbrewer5306]

@@galenfott so what. i bet neither one of us can actually reach the same note and range

[@galenfott]

@@dewittbrewer5306 Not intended as a criticism, just a response to RogerCG1 saying it was the original key. And as a baritone, you're correct, I definitely cannot reach the notes that McArdle can. (And for the record, I think she's fantastic.)

[@dewittbrewer5306]

@@galenfott I understand. Most performers, after they leave their starring roles generally cannot perform in the same manner as they did in their original production(s), But some can. Have you seen many Broadway productions?

[@snopesshop1903]

I don't think there's anything she can't sing

[@cgersh2010]

Poor Angela-that number is already hard to start when you CAN hear it, adding a crowd of screaming admirers and you've gotta be pretty lucky to come in on the right measure...but very well covered, as expected from the wonderful Angela:)

[@chrismitsos6817]

You can't keep your eyes off Angela LansburyWhat a star!

[@madelynjackson8609]

Very true!

[@Oncearanger88]

A chorus line: annunciation Annie: I understood everything Sweeney Todd: perfect diction Patti Lupone: what’s new bejebeuebwowjshriejebekddbodbdkee slwniebeiebeiebeoebeoebrr star quality!

[@stoneuniko3057]

I can never be less amazed by the trumpet voice of the fabulous Nell Carter. Just such a distinctive voice.

[@johnpickford4222]

stone unimpressive: Yes, a nasal, irritating sound that grates on the nerves and is a constant reminder that a middling song book revue beat out the great ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY for Best Musical. Why bother to put the energy and effort into writing and create new musicals when it’s cheaper to ‘stage’ an existing song book and call it a book musical?

[@notsusan]

i've been binging sweeney todd videos and youtube gave me a hair growth treatment commercial before this

[@abelmartinezmujica3915]

I LITERALLY HAD A GILLETTE ONE

[@katieward5712]

YOU NEED HAIR TO SHAVE. Cut Sweeney some slack, he’s trying his best to get customers, bless him, resorting to hacking to get business

[@GrantTarredus]

Piss with ink.

[@tejaswoman]

Back when Disney didn't have to make a movie of it before you could get it onto Broadway.

[@tracer740]

Patti LuPone was quite a babe ... as well as she was a knock-out performer!

[@mollsnickel]

And still is I must say!

[@anthonyassadourian4043]

well done for that FABULOUS recovery Angela

[@76sherie]

Andrea Mcardel is so gifted even as the youngest among a group of broadway greats her voice stands out as the best

[@JustNess78]

absolutely!

[@geraldnorth7644]

Andrea the best Annie ever and still has a great voice today

[@britneyoops8158]

She does have the best voice but the 1982 version acting is just as phenomenal

[@MatthewPippin]

Worst Pies in London wouldn't have been a bad choice, either. Anything Angie touches is marvelous.

[@hotgritz4sho]

I met Ms. Lansbury once in a famous department store. And she was so gracious. Regal. She was stately and refined. Class act all the way.

[@dancingshiva7008]

There was some POWER up there on that stage! Great, big talent, fo sho! They don't, in my opinion, make memorable musicals quite like those anymore. The ones that came out in those days (for stage and adapted to film--and there were quite a few) are so rich and unforgettable. True classics and very well done.

[@JamesHarris-hl2bm]

Angela is a perfect example, of great acting and not necessarily a great voice. The other women may be technically better singers, but she is the better actor, and that's what makes her singing of this song so memorable.

[@harlemhomme]

As a teenager I saw her in the role --she was delicious in it!

[@smurf902]

When she sustains notes, it's actually quite wonderful. She's the only one who had any beauty in their voice doing this role.

[@GrantTarredus]

@@harlemhomme Delicious… I see what you did there!

[@littlesongbird1]

I find it funny that Nell Carter performs just after the annie segment..since she was in the 1997 revival.

[@ChristopherCherry02]

Angela Lansbury is a freaking genuis.

[@rebeccashea8793]

this Annie is amazing

[@JustNess78]

What a gem this is! Each performance somehow better than the last! :D

[@soulonice99]

Creative, daring, imaginative ... what happened to Broadway? Oh yeah ... Disney

[@KER71]

Nell Carter ❤️

[@piano00555]

Patricia Lopez 😂 Priscilla the queen!

[@Dianaemanuel]

Why Andrea McCardle isn't a superstar with a voice like that completely baffles me.

[@snopesshop1903]

Dianaemanuel it’s was her personality

[@lilgiggler35]

Andrea has had a steady career on Broadway over the years. She has done Cabaret. She reappeared in Annie as Miss Hannigan. She does acting classes. I think she did Les Miserables. She does night club work and has appeared in several specials about the show Annie.

[@elizacarrie7433]

Her vocal chops are absolutely incredible! I remember seeing her star as Judy Garland in a biography film when I was little

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

She IS.

[@rexlex1736]

I recently read that Andrea is 54 and has a 30 year old daughter. I think her voice is as great as Merman's.

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

Damn. Andrea McCardle’s voice is perfection.

[@sebastianpellegrene]

Although that article may have been in the papers about Andrea McArdle not being able to hit the high notes as she did in the original Broadway production of Annie singing Tomorrow, she in fact did not sing the song in the key she did it in on Broadway when she first started out in Annie. Her rendition is truly remarkable and in my opinion by far the best but it is slightly lower. Still, her voice is not only powerful with amazing control but the voice has a beautiful quality. A rare sound.

[@sunnydayzie1202]

When Broadway was Broadway! Wow;

[@victordunson719]

Broadway is still Broadway

[@brantleydouglas4927]

OMG! That was great, and the best part is that I have seen everyone of those shows! Thanks for posting. Keep em coming! :-)

[@joeenglert]

I must say , this reminds me a bit of one of those old BBC television variety shows from the 60's where they present the "old" established music such as rock a billy and skiffle groups and then...the Beatles just blows everyone else out of the water....in this case not the Beatles but Patty Lupone

[@vp200]

This is a great rendition of "What I Did for Love" by Patricia Lopez.

[@graciiemyoung]

*Priscilla Lopez

[@spinandmarty]

original cast!

[@zebra2615]

I'm shocked these ladies didn't get a standing ovation at the end. Bravo to all!

[@anthonyquarles5762]

WOW Patti LuPone’s pipes were made by Greek Gods. What a talent!!!

[@gooberz19]

Talent, talent, talent. Love it!

[@jamblastwizard]

cannot understand a single word of what patti is singing but she still killed it lol!!

[@jamblastwizard]

also angela’s smile at the end of her song is so precious

[@joeybeck603]

Why can’t shows like this be on broadway now? We need fresh broadway ideas

[@markedjuan]

The announcer blundered when she introduced Priscilla Lopez as Patricia Lopez! The director must have strangled her. She said the correct name by thanking Lopez at the end of her song! She wouldn't have dared make a mistake introducing Patti Lupone. Or is it Priscilla Lupone?

[@everythingclassic1705]

Oh, I wish she did make that mistake with Lupone, because the voice over happened to be Ellen Burstyn.

[@lilgiggler35]

Dianaemanuel, Andrea does many Broadway shows and touring shows now. I know she did Cabaret and Les Miserables and others. I think she also does coaching.

[@fransherrie8052]

Did Angela say “I’ll read a letter, while you write a letter” by a mistake. No offense Angela’s my favorite

[@GrantTarredus]

Yes, it’s “Then I’ll knit a sweater / While you write a letter,” but even Jove nods.

[@yettaplotz2155]

Nell was "Mae Westing" it all over the place

[@harlemhomme]

NELL!!!

[@tracer740]

... was always SWELL! She was superb!

[@dr.reidsheftalltruthinscie2007]

Andrea the best EVER.

[@Blactor]

Oh!!! Good to know!

[@joseffpaz9208]

PATRICIA!?!?!!? IT'S PRISCILLA LOPEZ!!!

[@gillestompkins8776]

Brilliant! Who's Walter Charles? Len Cariou was the original Sweeney Todd.

[@Cc-is3is]

did anyone notice angela mess up she said ill read a letter whil u write a letter its neet a swetter

[@tracer740]

... 'knit a sweater'

[@NicNac13c]

I hate that they had Lansbury do By The Sea instead of Wait. But it is funny that Nell messed up the lyrics and Andrea McCardle is a teenager.

[@AlexMcGillvrey]

I can barely understand what Patti LuPone is saying.

[@tejaswoman]

Such a fabulous singer over the years, but in this case, you're absolutely right.

[@AlexMcGillvrey]

tejaswoman But at least she's become more understandable throughout the years.

[@thedovercc5339]

She’s yelling at us lol

[@rawr3122]

@@thedovercc5339 It's called belting.

[@thedovercc5339]

@@rawr3122 a disco belt lol

[@schwakyl000]

Who plays Todd here? I can't tell... Is that Len, George, or someone else?

[@POPERYLEE]

some one else

[@chocolatesouljah]

I believe Sweeney is being played by the understudy, Walter Charles, who went on to a long list of Broadway credits

[@schwakyl000]

Thanks guys

[@POPERYLEE]

schwakyl000 your welcome

[@METALITHrevetments]

schwakyl000 It looks like George Hearn to me.

[@alexwilkinson915]

I Love Patti Lupone! But, I almost wanna have Andrea and her get in a sing off, Ik Andrea is just a teen, but I feel like she could hold her own.... :/

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

That's George Hearn with Angela Lansbury? It's nice to see Mrs. Lovette and Sweeny Todd together again!

[@KatThePuppyGirl]

HER VOICE... is STILL the SAME? o.O It's still really amazing too!...:)

[@zairesyoutube]

Sweeney Todd one creeped me tf out, there custom and every everything are so scary and make me feel uncomfortable

[@tracer740]

Oh Zaire- don't be such a little puss.

[@ttryon_65478]

@@tracer740 the musical is supposed to be unsettling and creepy. That's what he/she is saying

[@tracer740]

@@ttryon_65478 - Oh, OK then.

[@amyclarke41]

Got into musical theatre then these

[@sweeney60]

It's because she had a diva attitude with a sense of entitlement that casting directors had no respect for.

[@ChristopherCherry02]

By the Sea is so much better

[@snopesshop1903]

That poor chorus line woman having to wear those underpants

[@KatThePuppyGirl]

What... did he have to taste the worst pies in London? XD

[@billyflynn2]

Slap the first singer's singing teacher...

[@user-wb2yv7ll9d]

I'm pretty sure they were all lip syncing. Except maybe Patti but it sounds too suspiciously close to the cast album.

[@paulajosmith3941]

no, not at all

[@Blactor]

lmao...poor Walter Charles, lol

[@donpkra]

never was a fan of hers

[@swaingles]

Patty Lupone . . . overrated singer. Sorry, it's my opinion. It's not her voice, but her diction. Very scarcely can we grab from what she actually says.

[@swaingles]

@@jeriusrobinson983 my mother tongue Is Spanish. The same happens to me with Shakira: great voice but hard to tell what she sings

[@melizmatea]

Omg, it's the worst! Marbles mouth. But she's so fabulous anyway! (Funny - I always think Ariana Grande kind of sounds like her and has the same problem.

[@swaingles]

@@melizmatea Indeed are you not that far from the truth.

[@browneyes142a]

​@@jeriusrobinson983but this is all in English and can be sung very quickly and still be understood.

[@Imissingu2001]

That first chick was horrible! Why didn't they get Cassie she is the one who the Tony Award??!!

[@LazyHubbStudios]

Of course Angela was amazing. However. I hated Patti LuPone. And i always have. Everything from her awful acting to her god awful nasally voice. Her and Michael Serverus were not the right people for Sweeney Todd in 2005

[@batekush8135]

Jack Hubbard nasally voice? Idk what ur hearing but shes not nasally lool

[@balconybill.21]

That would be "She" (not her) and Michael Cerveris (not Serverus). And she was brilliant in the role.

[@victordunson719]

Well, enough of us love her to make up for you not liking her.......🤷‍♂️

[@johndalton3180]

@@victordunson719 amen Victor.