David's Going To The Tony Awards!

That's right! This was posted yesterday on Broadway.com:

Memphis composer David Bryan is such a humble first-time Tony nominee that it’s sometimes easy to forget he’s also a rock star, as the keyboardist for Bon Jovi. On June 13, 2010, Bryan’s two worlds will collide when the Tony Awards will take place on the same night as a high-profile Bon Jovi gig in London, part of the band’s 12-show run at The O2. So what’s a guy to do? Go to the Tonys, of course!

“It will be the first show I’ve ever missed since I was 16 years old playing with Jon [Bon Jovi],” Bryan told Broadway.com at the 2010 Tony Nominee Press Reception on May 5. “I’ve never missed a show. When my father passed away, I waited two days to bury him ‘cause I had two shows to do. And he would have understood that, ‘cause he was a musician, too.”

Bryan said he found “a guy” to take his spot in the band on Tony night, and that band front man Jon Bon Jovi was supportive of his decision: “Jon was like, ‘Go to those Tonys!’” Memphis, which opened on Broadway in October 19, 2009, is nominated for eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Bryan received a nomination for Best Original Score for the score to Memphis, which he wrote with lyricist/librettist Joe DiPietro over the past decade, as well as a nod for Best Orchestrations with Daryl Waters. The duo also collaborated on the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger.

“I’ve been through a lot of experiences in my life being in the biggest band in the world,” Bryan said. “But [being a Tony nominee] ranks right up there with number one. Personally, this is an unbelievable accomplishment.”

I'm wondering if "the guy" is Jeff Kazee, who sat in a few songs at one of my Mohegan shows (possibly others, but that's the only one I saw him at).

Sorry, London, you're gonna be without your curly-haired one on the 13th.

I'm glad Jon told him to go to the Tonys.

BAJG, when you run into him afterwards (I'm sure you will) be sure to tell him Hath says congrats!

~ Hath