2014 Tonys to allow up to 5 nominees in major categories

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:20pm

http://variety.com/2014/legit/news/tony-awards-take-a-page-from-the-oscars-with-option-to-supersize-major-categories-1201120531/

This should be interesting. Updated On: 2/25/14 at 04:20 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:22pm

"Twelve new musicals have, or will have, opened throughout the 2013-14 season prior to the April 24 eligibility cutoff for the Tonys. Roundabout's VIOLET with Sutton Foster and HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH with Neil Patrick Harris, as Variety suggests, could be classified as new musicals, as neither have previously been mounted on Broadway."

Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, etc. weren't either and they were considered revivals during their Broadway runs.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:27pm

Yeah, I would imagine Variety is mistaken by mentioning that. The committee may be able to honor more nominees, but this shouldn't alter the "classics rule" that the Tonys have instated for forever.

This may allow for more nominees, but it shouldn't have an effect on the eligibility of shows like HEDWIG and VIOLET, which should (and would in any other season) be considered revivals.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:02pm

HEDWIG & VIOLET being considered "New Musicals" would be complete bullish!t on the part of the Tony Awards.

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:14pm

Hedwig and Violet will be considered revivals unless the Tony's suddenly completely upend how they've been treating material for the past several years.

I like this idea a lot. And honestly, I think the Lead Acting categories could benefit from similar treatment. Wasn't there just a year where every Leading Actress in a Musical but one got nominated? And then there's this year which is jam-packed with leading female roles.

Unless my counts are wrong, there are 9 or more new plays and musicals and play revivals this year, so those will each have 4 or 5 nominees, and less than 9 musical revivals so that will have 3 or 4 (and 4's only if Cabaret even counts).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:17pm

This also means more Tony performances in the future. Hope they don't shorten the allotted performance time for each show.

[NewSynchopation]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:20pm

4 HOUR LONG TONY AWARDS

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:26pm

@Sauja Recently, at the 2011 Tony Awards, there were 6 eligible actress for the Best Actress in a Musical Tony. Since there are usually 5 nominees, they decided to change it to 4 for that year. Nominated were Sutton Foster who won for ANYTHING GOES, Patina Miller (SISTER ACT), Beth Leavel (BABY IT'S YOU), and Donna Murphy (THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE). The other two eligible actresses who were not nominated were Sherie Rene Scott (WOMEN ON THE VERGE...) and Janet Dacal (WONDERLAND).

[Sauja]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:32pm

Yes! That's what I was thinking of. Thank you, jacobsnchz! Although now I'm wondering if they left it at 5, which of the two non-nominees would have made it.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:39pm

Probably Scott. Wonderland was completely shut out, at least Women on the Verge had some love for it's score & featured performances.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:43pm

It would have been Scott's slot (haha!) no doubt about it. Some argue that she should have been in over Leavel... I actually would have preferred it if it were just three - Foster, Miller, and Murphy. Why celebrate something if it's only satisfactory (nothing against Scott or Leavel, it was the material that was atrocious). I feel the same way about musical revivals.

While this idea is a 'nice' one, I think it takes away some of the competition/excitement of only having four nominees.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 5:52pm

"(nothing against Scott or Leavel, it was the material that was atrocious)."

From what I heard, Leavel had it even worse. Scott, ironically, seems to be the only one who regrets doing that show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 6:35pm

Baby It's You made Women on the Verge look like Gypsy.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 7:11pm

I can understand shows being held as a revival rather than a new show, but it irks me that that means the book & score are unable to be nominated.

[mbelle46]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 7:20pm

This is awsome. There exactly 5 revivals opening ( if you include Violet and Hedwig) which means they all get a shot!??????????????????????????????

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 7:47pm

Les Miserables, Violet, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Cabaret, what's the fifth?

[jnb9872]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 9:05pm

Since belle didn't read the article to catch the "when nine or more eligible productions are in a category" caveat, I'm not sure I trust the accuracy of their post.

I'm sure the producers of competing shows will be happy to have a fifth eligible slot for a nomination (and thus the possible boost that goes with it.) And the Tonys already put on the best Awards telecast going right now, with cast performances being a prominent feature in it... hopefully this just adds to their pot!