11 Tony Award categories relegated to pre-show

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:18pm

I've heard that in addition to all of the design awards, Revival of a Play, Choreography and Book of a Musical are going to be presented in the pre-show ceremony and not in the live broadcast. I understand the need for more entertainment on the broadcast itself, but it seems unfortunate to me to sacrifice major categories to clear the way for say, the national tour of Legally Blonde to perform.

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:21pm

Stupid...

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:22pm

That's pathetic, revival of a play?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:22pm

I agree. I think it's especially ridiculous that Revival of a Play is relegated to the pre-show ceremony, it seems like a big F U to the producers, a lot of publicity comes from actually seeing the show win on the telecast.
Similarly, I think it's an insult for the book writer to be left out of the telecast as well.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:22pm

Do you have proof of this? If it's true, it's incredibly stupid.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:25pm

Book of a musical was given pre-show last year too, but I'm shocked at Revival of a Play.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:25pm

I really want to hear Hunter's acceptance speech live on TV during the broadcast.
Updated On: 5/31/09 at 02:25 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:27pm

No proof - just heard through the grapevine and I doubt that it will be the type of thing they'll announce in advance. However, the design awards and Revival of a Play were also kept off the live broadcast last year and were only seen in those "Earlier this evening" taped segments where the acceptance speeches are cut down to about 10 seconds. I think Book and Choreography categories are new additions to the list this year.

EDIT: Blaxx mentions that Book of a Musical was also presented in the pre-show last year.

Updated On: 5/31/09 at 02:27 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:27pm

Revival of a Play was in the pre-show last year too, right?
As Smaxie said, it's pretty absurd that they'll have the LEGALLY BLONDE tour perform but they won't allow major categories to be in the telecast. Ridiculous.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:29pm

I think Book and Choreography categories are new additions to the list this year.

No, book, as I said, happened pre-show last year. Choreography is silly!

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:43pm

Yes, I'm pretty sure that last year Best Book and Best Choreography were both on the pre-show, with choreography being the first award presented. The reason I remember Best Book being on the pre-show was because when Stew won (for Passing Strange), he said something like "I didn't know they were presenting this so early, I was looking for an M&M in my pocket". That was the clip they then played on the actual telecast.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:44pm

This is so stupid.

Why can't they do the design elements off-air (which would be ten categories in and of itself) and then leave the rest to be announced on the telecast?

And if they are doing those ten categories off-air as they usually do, that leaves one slot left for a nomination to be announced off-air so they couldn't announce Choreography, Revival of a Play, and Book of a Musical as well. It would have to be one of those three...or another category altogether.

I'm confused.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:44pm

This is just stupid!

[sundayclothes2]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:46pm

Last year, Best Revival of a play was presented in the pre-show as was Best Book. I cannot remember if Best Choreography was or not.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:49pm

I believe Choreography was announced on-air.

[sundayclothes2]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:52pm

It actually looks like it was presented in the pre-show. Look at how it is paired with Best Orchestrations and the time stamp on the article. If I remember correctly all pre-show winners have press releases go out at the same time so it makes sense that it would be paired with another winner and have the same time stamp as the rest of the awards presented in the pre-show.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/In_The_Heights_Wins_Orchestration_and_Choreography_20080615

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:57pm

Yeah, you're right. It was announced off-air. There's a YouTube vid of it and it was filmed off of someone who was live-feeding the pre-show ceremony.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:57pm

I'm pretty sure there's no additions, I think all of these were announced during the pre-show last year. It's still as annoying though.

[sundayclothes2]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 2:59pm

The only one of those that really upsets me is Best Revival of a Play. I would almost rather Best Score present in the precast than Best Revival.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 3:03pm

Yeah, cause they'd really do that with Dolly and Elton as nominees.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 3:04pm

All the design categories plus Orchestrations make up 9 categories. So if there are to be 11 competitive categories awarded during the pre-show, then there would only be two slots left. Right? So it can't be Revival of a Play, Choreography, and Book. Unless it is all three and there are 12 given out before the telecast. Either way, this is lame. There's no reason why they can't give out all of the awards on air.

~Steven

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 3:19pm

If they gave out all the awards on air then there would be no time left for all the wonderful witty banter read from the teleprompters and under rehearsed by all the exciting celebrity presenters...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 3:35pm

Wasn't choreography the first award they gave out last year on the pre-show?

This isn't any different than last year, but it's still irritating, since we're now going to watch the touring casts of Legally Blonde and Jersey Boys instead of seeing them hand out awards.

I just don't understand why the continue to pander to "middle America" when it's been proven year after year that "middle America" doesn't watch the Tonys, and hasn't watched since Rosie O'Donnell (back before she came out of the closet and irritated them) was the host of the show.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 3:38pm

O that's right, I forgot. Please forgive me. :)

But seriously, the Academy Awards (which understandably has more draw) manages to get every category televised, even the ones most people don't know about (Short Films anyone?). The Tonys needs a makeover big time. There must be a way to include all the awards and make it exciting at the same time. And let the right people perform the right songs with minimal cuts. It can be done I'm sure.

~Steven

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 4:26pm

Wrong info. Sorry. Updated On: 5/31/09 at 04:26 PM