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Hello? Dolly? Bette Midler Seems Unlikely to Sing at Tony Awards - The New York Times

posted onMay 30, 2017
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Article snippet: Josh Groban plans to lead the cast of “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” in a mash-up of the show’s ballad and its big dance number at the Tony Awards ceremony next month. Ben Platt expects to perform “Waving Through a Window,” an emotional song from “Dear Evan Hansen.” The cast of “Falsettos,” a show that closed in January, will reunite to perform a number from that musical. There is still time for a change of plans, but at the moment it appears unlikely that Bette Midler, one of the biggest stars of the current Broadway season, will be singing during the June 11 CBS broadcast. According to multiple people with knowledge of the broadcast plans, the producers of “Hello, Dolly!” and the producers of the awards show reached an impasse over the conditions under which Ms. Midler would sing, and as a result the plan is for her to present an award, but not to perform. Instead, her co-star and fellow nominee, David Hyde Pierce, is expected to perform a solo from the show. The impasse was described by people who would not speak for attribution because of confidentiality rules imposed by the Tony Awards. The issue matters to producers of the Tony Awards ceremony, which this year is being hosted by Kevin Spacey, because it could affect TV viewership. A famous actress singing a familiar song from a classic musical might add pizazz to an event that, like all awards shows, has struggled to retain viewers. Ms. Midler’s absence would also disappoint fans who can’t ... Link to the full article to read more

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