Nothing surprising, but nice that the new rules will allow Lonergan, Crowley, and Fierstein to be eligible.
-Christiani Pitts and Eric William Morris will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical categories for their respective performances in King Kong.
-Peter England's projection design will be considered eligible along with his scenic design in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category, for his work on King Kong.
-Jeremy Pope will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his performance in Choir Boy.
-Will Roland will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Be More Chill.
-Beowulf Boritt and Alex Basco Koch will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Be More Chill.
-Corbin Bleu will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical category for his performance in Kiss Me, Kate.
-Derrick Baskin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his performance in Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations.
-Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical category for their work on Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations.
-Heidi Schreck will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in What the Constitution Means to Me.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tony-Award-Administration-Committee-Rules-BE-MORE-CHILL-KING-KONG-KISS-ME-KATE-New-Rules-for-Plays-20190411
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/12
They determined eligibility for King Kong after they skipped over it in the last round. I was thinking them skipping it meant it wouldn't be eligible for any Tony's.
Toward the end, it appears Mart Crowley and Kenneth Lonergan can techinically win Tony Awards for their revivals this year if nominated, and Harvey Fierstein could actually win another Tony for having substantially reworked TORCH SONG
I thought that rule was made years ago? I remember after HEDWIG won there was a rule change on how writers of previously not yet produced on Broadway revivals would win along with the producers? Was this not true? I had assumed August Wilson won posthumously for JITNEY.
I also thought they made this distinction years ago, but this looks like the first year they are instating it. Also, it says the author must be alive at the time the production receives the determination, so August Wilson would not have been eligible under this rule.
They did:
http://www.playbill.com/article/tony-award-administration-committee-eliminates-sound-design-categories-com-322389
(Sorry if it’s not clickable, I’m on my phone)
I’m confused by this too. Why would they announce this as if it were a new rule? Is there some subtle distinction in the wording that I’m missing? I understand how the 2nd rule (pertaining to Harvey Fierstein) is different, but the 1st one seems the same as the one they announced 5 years ago.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Edit: posted before I saw the second link.
It looks like the change today narrows it to living writers, but also expands it to writers whose work has been on Broadway before, but has been substantially revised (e.g. Fierstein).
It seems they have never determined eligibility for the authors before. They’re now making good on it?
Now they just need to let the writers of the musicals be nominated in Best Musical.
LesWickedly said: "Now they just need to let the writers of the musicals be nominated in Best Musical."
Well no... they have their own category. Really what they should do is create a Best Play Production and Best Play Writing split to mirror the Best Musical/Best Book distinction.
What do ya'll think will be the first show on the chopping block post nominations?
Lavieboheme3090 said: "What do ya'll think will be the first show on the chopping block post nominations?"
King Kong is the obvious choice but I can’t really nail one down
We really do need the Best Play / Best Production of a Play distinction.
Happy to see Harvey eligible for a nomination for his revision. I loved TORCH SONG and I hope it’s not forgotten.
So is Kong eligible for lead or featured? Or the puppeteers?
The only currently open shows that IMO are in danger of getting zero nominations are King Kong, Pretty Woman, and Be More Chill, although All My Sons and Beetlejuice might not be that far off. But I don't think any show is going to post a closing notice after the nominations are announced.
Videos