Funtivity Friday - Tony Award Musical Performances by the Decades: The 1970s

In honor of the Tony Awards, this coming Sunday we decided to look back at musical performances from Tony Award shows of the past. Although, the Tonys actually started in 1947, we started with the 1970s because that is when you can start seeing a list of performances that were on the broadcast which makes it easier to choose which clip we want to watch. We picked one clip from each year except in certain cases. Below, you will find a list of the shows and songs for each performance  we chose as well as  some information about the performance, the performers and/or the particular show as well as link to the performance. We will cover other decades once a month in future Funtivity Fridays up to and including  the current decade and the current year.

1970 -  Applause (Applause): This number starred Bonnie Franklin prior to her famous run in the original, One Day at a Time. It also featured bits and pieces of songs from other shows like Oklahoma and Fiddler on the Roof (shades of the It's a Musical number from Something Rotten which would come 45 years later). View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJFueAcQWY0

1971: Salute to 25 years of Tony's (too many performances to choose from)

1972: Jesus Christ Superstar (A medley of songs from the show): This number featured Jeff Fenholt and Yvonne Elliman.  Aside from originating the role of Mary Magadelene in London on the original concept album as well as on Broadway, Elliman is probably best known for singing the song If I Can't Have You on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpoNF2hsW_M

1973: Pippin (Magic to Do) - This number from the original production of the show featured Ben Vereen. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNyAqqEkoV8

1974: George M (A medley of songs from the show) - This number featured Joel Grey in his first Broadway role since his Tony winning role in the musical, Cabaret. He was also Tony nominated for his role in this show. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ralkVHCSdmo

1975: The Musical numbers rather than being performances from the nominated shows was a Winter Garden Scrapbook saluting shows and stars that played there. Therefore, we chose not to pick a performance from this year.

1976: A Chorus Line (I Hope I Get It) -This is one of the most iconic musical numbers of all time and a song that any Broadway performer can relate to.View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLGQ3CDODY

1977: Annie (A medley of songs from the show) - The medley featured Andrea McArdle and Dorothy Loudon. Although she originated the role on Broadway, McArdle was not actually the first actress to play Annie when the show began at the Goodspeed Opera House. Dorothy Loudon won a Tony for her performance in the show. The medley also featured the adorable original orphans from the show singing and dancing to their big number in the show, You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile. The youngest orphan, Molly was played by Danielle Brisebois who went on to play Stephanie Mills opposite Carroll O'Connor in All in the Family and then Archie Bunker's Place. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDSXlNAyPvE

1978: Runaways (A medley of songs from the show) - This show based on the lives of runaway was taken from workshops author, Elizabeth Swados, had with real runaways in the late 1970s. Like Hamilton, it began at the Public Theater and later moved to Broadway. In 2016, the show was part of City Center's Encores! series of limited run revivals of musicals from the past. Elizabeth Swados was supposed to be involved with the production but unfortunately she died earlier in the year. View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuL_IWV5rDI

1979: I Remember Mama (A Little Bit More) - This show was not a big hit and was not nominated for any Tonys but it was Richard Rodgers last show. It featured Liv Ullman who was not much of singer. When a studio album of the show was later made featuring much of the original cast she was not on it. Her role was sung by Sally Ann Howe who was known for playing Truly Scrumptious in the movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The show also featured as one of Ullman's character's daughters, Kristen Vigard, who was the original Annie when the show first started at the Goodspeed Opera House.View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvmvafCzQRk

Next month we will feature performances from Tony Award ceremonies from the 1980s.

Enjoy!

Tune in tomorrow for a Saturday Special featuring an interview with a Tony voter.