AEA fighting with the League over choice to give "The Lost Colony" a Tony Honor — Page 2

The point of the honors is to acknowledge "substantial contributions to the American theater." There's no additional clause limiting to "Equity members only".

Nor should there be for a special honor award. And The Lost Colony hires both union and non-union, so it's not like this is some anti-union move on the part of the League or anything.

“We thought we’d smoothed things over with the Wing and the League after last year’s debacle,” an Equity source said. “And then they go and do it to us again.”

Another Equity source says: “They don’t give a f - - k about the union. It’s very upsetting.”

These are the kicks in the face to non-union performers. The Tonys try and toss a bone to represent the MAJORITY of performers and theatres in this country (not to mention the staple of Tony awards is limited to Broadway productions, which are all union) and they say the Tonys don't care about the union? The technical term for that is "douchebaggery". I hope the League decides from hence forth to annually recognize a non-union theatre every year.

Assholes.

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I would have no problem with the Tonys honoring a well-regarded and well-established community theater, or a performing arts high school, or a "non-professional" theatrical institution.

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Poison ivy long is getting some sort of kickback here from lost colony in order for them to obtain the special tony. Poison never ever makes a gesture of generosity without some sort of return for his effort. That is his method of operating be it designing a show or otherwise he has always been on the take and always will be-just ask every costume shop in the city. Lost colony is paying him something for this award otherwise he wouldn't do it. just ask the boys in Thailand

How does the West End work? I love the Oliviers aren't so closed minded in terms of what/who they nominate. I wish the Tonys would open more to New York theater as opposed to just Broadway, especially now when more and more quality work is happening Off-Broadway than on Broadway. Memphis winning Best Musical is a great point.

Also, this whole thing is just plain silly. Equity has such a stronghold on theater produced in NYC it's crazy. I know plenty of people who have been on Non-Eq tours that have gone to Brooklyn, the Bronx, etc. Wizard of Oz was non-eq and played Madison Square Garden.

To me the Tonys should be about THEATRE. Not just Union theatre. Or Equity theatre.

Actually, during the 50's there were quite a few. I can't remember the specifics. but they were there -- not that any of them lasted that long. Lost Colony is the champ, I guess.

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> "The Tonys are about theatre in general not just union theatre."

I'm not 100% sure that's accurate, but the definition of "Tony" is a little hazy.

In my mind (and in reference to this specific issue), I segregate "Tony" into two categories: the "real" Tonys and the "honorary" awards. I'm wrong to categorize this way, but I do...

The "real" ones go to recipients working in Broadway houses only, and must meet the eligibility criteria established here:
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/about/rules.html
Recipients are selected based on number of votes from those listed here:
http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/about/faq/index.html#10

Although there's nothing that specifically states, "must be a union member" to receive an award, the recipient must be working in a Broadway house (per the eligibility requirements), which indirectly implies they must be a union member.

If the recipient is an actor, the "union" we're talking about is most likely AEA, but screen actor and music artists can be eligible, too (I'm thinking of Barry Manilow as one possible example). The primary factor is that they are performing in a Broadway house.

The "honorary" Tonys are actually called, Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. They are always non-competitive awards (no one votes) and do *not* have to adhere to the eligibility requirements listed above. I'm hazy on exactly who determines the recipients, but I believe they are members of The American Theater Wing. Maybe someone else can fill in the blanks for me on that aspect.

This is the category of Tony that "the Matildas" and "The Lost Colony" will receive.

* "Real" Tonys (as I think of them) are about union theater only.
* "Honorary" Tonys (again, from my warped, little mind) are not.

Updated On: 5/4/13 at 07:37 AM

I'm pro-union (obviously) and say good for Equity for being vocal about it. Unions exist (or at least should exist) to not only protect their members but to also promote them. It's part of a union's mission to say "our members are the best and you should be working with/honoring them."

And while it is indeed their award and they can ultimately do what they wish, since Equity is involved in a fairly major way they can, and should, voice their objection (especially if the League and the Wing are going to claim people were at this meeting who weren't and try to imply that everyone who was there was in agreement with this).

I'll also add that I agree with Kelly. Just because you have been operating a long time doesn't mean you are producing excellent work. The Lost Colony is still employing the use of "red face" on their stage every summer. If the chairman of the American Theatre Wing was not also the production designer for this company (and also reportedly the one who suggested they receive it in the first place) do we really think the League and the Wing would be giving them this award?

I'm a member of Equity, but AEA's opinion that "non-union = non-professional" has always been offensive to me. If you're getting paid for your job, you are a professional. Period.

First five....why so very defensive? There was one or two people that said slightly negative things...but no one is paying them much mind.

I'm glad you had a wonderful experience, but the discussion is really about whether Equity has any right to put in their 2cents about what the Tony Committee wants.

Benhind the Scenes....what kind of freaking bee is in your bonnet about Ivey Long? Do you have any proof to back up your particularly vicious claim? (There may be, but I'm not aware of any ill will towards him.)

An honorary Tony is not going to do anything for any group except as a bragging point. I have never heard of people saying: gee, I wasn't going to see "x-show" at "xtheatre" until I heard they once got an honorary Tony. Most folks don't even KNOW an honorary Tony has been given unless:
A) They see it in the lobby
B) They are involved with the theater directly (someone that contributes with either donations or working there)

HECK, the Drama Bookstore has one, and I doubt its helped THEIR business. (I love the Drama Bookstore, btw.) It's a point of PRIDE that I doubt translates into dollars.

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Updated On: 5/4/13 at 11:04 AM

Well, Sardi's probably employs more Equity actors than most regional theatres.

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I'm generally pro-Equity, but in this case the dissent is petty. It's the Tony's miscellaneous honor award- for people and organizations that don't fit into its other honor categories. If they were awarding Lost Colony the Regional Theatre award, I could understand. But they're not. They've given this to a restaurant and bookstore.

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"I feel that if Equity wanted more members they would make Equity work more available through out the rest of the country as well in order to encourage more people to join and to give them a reason for joining."

There are a number of contracts that producers could utilize if they wanted to hire Equity actors, starting with Special Appearance, Guest Artist, SPT (Small Professional Theatre). In addition Equity will often be willing to work out what is called a Letter of Agreement that will reference a certain contract with additional dispensations that it negotiates with an individual producer/company. The union does actively campaign to get more theatres across the country under a contract with them, and in some cases it is individual company members who have organized and approached Equity to ask them to campaign on their behalf to producers. It's not as if Equity is denying these companies the option to sign their actors to a union contract. In many cases it is the exact opposite.

My aunt was bit by a snake when she went to Lost Colony. If you go you also should check for ticks before you get back in your car.