More Info on the New Tony Replacement Category

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 12:50pm

Only a handful people vote -- that's really messed up IMO (and easily rigged). It all seems awfully random and vague (there are too many "possiblys" below" and yet another case of the Tony committee making things up as they go along. I HATE this category.

From Broadway.com (and click the link for the whole story):

Will Tony voters be voting on the winners?

No, this award is being decided solely by the Tony Awards Administration Committee (which also chooses the recipients of Tony Honors and the Regional Theatre Tony Award). The group is comprised of 24 members -- 10 of whom are designated by the Wing, 10 by the League, and one each by the Dramatists Guild, Actors' Equity Association, United Scenic Artists and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. In what could be considered a conflict of interest, many of the members will be associated with productions featuring performers up for the award. For instance, Hairspray producer Margo Lion is on the committee and she could have a hand in deciding the worthiness of Hairspray leading man John Pinette.

How will the Tony Awards Administration Committee decide the winners?

Producers will send letters to Tony Awards Productions (for which Elizabeth I. McCann is managing producer and Joey Parnes is coordinating producer) submitting eligible actors for consideration. Members of Tony Awards Productions will then assign three people from the Tony Awards Administration Committee to see each recommended performance. If the majority of these three Administration Committee representatives deem the performance worthy of consideration, the entire Administration Committee will be required to see the performance. At the last administration committee meeting of the season, the members will vote. An actor/actress needs 16 or more votes in his/her favor to win the award.

Will the same three Administration Committee members see every performance?

No, the chosen three will vary from performance to performance.

Will there be nominees?

No, there will not be an announcement of nominees. Candidates will be known only to the members of the Tony Awards Administration Committee.

Will one or two of these awards be given out each year?

It depends. Due to the fact that 16 votes are required for a win, a number of scenarios could occur. It is possible that there will be an award distributed for Best Recreation of a Leading Role by an Actor and also Best Recreation of a Leading Role by an Actress in the same year. On the other hand, the Tony Administration Committee could decide that an actress is deserving but not an actor or vice versa. Additionally, there could be no award recipient announced.

When will the recipient of this award be announced?

The time and location of the announcement has yet to be finalized.

Can a person be eligible in more than one season for the same role? For example, if Howard McGillin does six months in The Phantom of the Opera this season and six months in the year 2010, can he be considered for the award both times?

Possibly. Each submission will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The wording of the rule defines "long-running" to be a show that opened in a prior season. But what about people who take over in a new show prior to the Tony Awards? For instance, Robert Goulet stepped into 2005 Tony winner La Cage aux Folles before last season's Tony Awards. Would he possibly be eligible?

This is another case-by-case basis issue.

Will performers who started in a prior season (Fiddler on the Roof's Harvey Fierstein, Avenue Q's Barrett Foa, Rent's Matt Caplan, etc.) be eligible for this award?

Possibly. Again this is something that is at the discretion of the Tony Administration Committee. "They will be more open to those cases [this season] because it's the first year of the award," a Tony spokesperson noted.


http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=519298

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 12:52pm

I think the fact that there will be no announced nominees will hurt the PR validity of this award.

Basically, if these rules are correct, this is just a different spin on the special Tony award that has been around for years. Pearl Bailey won one such award for her role as a replacement in HELLO DOLLY.

I'd rather see an ensemble award.
Updated On: 10/13/05 at 12:52 PM

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 12:53pm

I'm not particularly found of their whole "case by case" stance on a lot of important questions. This could lead to a lot of favouritism between producers.
It's a great idea but it's going to need a lot more planning out because, as of now, it could really lead itself to corruption.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:02pm

You took the words right out my mouth, Michael Bennett- this is a thinly-disguised "special Tony," not a real category. I'm not sure replacement actors should have a category of their own, anyway, so I can't say I'm totally outraged at that, but it was a bit of false advertising.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:03pm

Ugh, I think this is a dumb idea with lots of potential to backfire.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:04pm

I'm with Bennett and Plum...what's the point? I know they wanted to give one to Reba, but that wagon train has pulled out...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:15pm

I don't get it. They gave Special Tonys to Richard Burton and Mary Tyler Moore who were both replacements. Why bother with a category? Just increase the frequency of honoring replacements (Reba deserved one) with "Special" awards and forget all this other nonsense. It's obvious that the big producers are going get together and handpick the winner of this award every year ("OK we'll vote for your Phantom this year, if you agree to vote for our Roxy Hart next year ........."). It's a bunch of crap.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 1:18pm

This stinks...either do it right or dont do it at all!

I dont like the idea of the award to begin with, but even calling it a "special tony" like Barbra or Pearl won, doesnt make any sense. I really believe that this is a stupid attempt to give recognition to stars who do broadway. If winning a Tony is the reason someone does a show, then I dont want to see them perform.

If they did it right...Best replacement performance by an actor/actress, then Hugh Panaro and Carolee Carmello could feasably win 2 awards apiece. Not that they arent great performers, but that just seems strange....it could happen alot, actually.


Not to mention...havent the networks been bitchin for years that the telecast is too long? Didnt they refuse to let Pac. Ov. perform because they were not still running?

[Magdalene]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 2:16pm

Margo, you are right on!! Let wariness be the watchword of the day!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 2:51pm

I agree that the award sounds sketchy, and that it would perhaps be better to just give out more "special" Tonys than they have, i.e. the Thanks Howard McGillin For Being Such a Good Phantom For So Long Tony Award.

[Horton]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:10pm

I thought they did not let Pacific Overtures perform because they had closed and they did not think the quality would be as good as the "still runninn" shows

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:24pm

basically, yes, but it was the first time that a show that had closed was not given the opportunity to perform based on the length of the show and falling ratings.

...of course, they had time to waste on Hugh Jackman's terrible opening number...

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:28pm

This was an amazing idea.

But now that we know the details, this is pretty stupid.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:34pm

I wish they had let PO perform, I would have preferred that to a production number--I really miss the days when they'd show scenes from plays--I remember with greta fondness every inflection from Maggie Smith's (and Margaret Tyzack's)Lettice and Lovage excerpt...BLOOD RED!!!!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:44pm

Ew, I can't believe someone used Matt Caplan as an example of someone who could be nominated.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 3:54pm

Any predictions?

I'm kinda pissed this wasn't in effect last year (J.La could have won a Tony!!!!)

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:31pm

i shuddered slightly at the b'way.com suggestions sprinkled in the article(okay really just the mention of matt caplan)

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:00pm

but it was the first time that a show that had closed was not given the opportunity to perform

I remember huge uproar at Big River being denied the chance to perform at the Tonys. Did I dream that?

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 5:07pm

No, because I was part of that uproar

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 6:05pm

To Doodle:

"Not to mention...havent the networks been bitchin for years that the telecast is too long? Didnt they refuse to let Pac. Ov. perform because they were not still running?"

Well according to the article they haven't finalized the time and date when the award will be announced. It very well may not be on the show at all (or just on the untelevised pre-show), especially if the winner isn't a movie star. Remember them relegating Julie Harris (introduced by megastar Meryl Streep, no less) and Edward Albee receiving their lifetime achievement awards to the pre-show? And they each gave the best speech of the night at each of their respective Tony shows.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/13/05 at 7:47pm

I agree with everyone else, at first I was excited about this category but as soon as I read the article on broadway.com I realized it is the most absurd award ever. And yes, I agree that the fact that there are no nominees and that the award might not be given out in some seasons, just diminishes the producers' chances to allure a big star with the promises of a Tony nod. or a Tony award.