Producers now allowed to bribe Tony voters

In theory, at least.

"Previously, the Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards had enforced very narrow guidelines to producers as to what they could give to those voting for the annual Tony Awards. Under those rules, the producers could hand to Tony voters only: a souvenir book; a script; "an audio and/or video cast recording that replicates the on-stage performance of the eligible production and that does not contain additional material such as narration, quotations, musical underscoring, etc."; and "one set of selected reviews and/or unedited quotations regarding the eligible production."

In other words: no gravy, no graft, no superfluous swag. Just honest, educational promotional materials.

No more! About the suspension of the rules, Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, executive director of the American Theatre Wing, said in a joint statement, "It is the feeling of the committee that the producers have been acting responsibly and that they will continue to do so without such restrictive language. It is felt that the voters also act responsibly and that such things as souvenirs, edited reviews and small gifts, etc. have no bearing on the voters selections."

I envy them their faith in human nature."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/192396-PLAYBILLCOMS-THEATRE-WEEK-IN-REVIEW-June-7-13-Tony-Awards-Rulings-Draw-Ire-From-Industry/pg3

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Now remember boys and girls , it is all about quality of performance.

Cue the laughing.

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"such things as souvenirs, edited reviews and small gifts, etc. have no bearing on the voters selections."

I don't believe that for one moment.

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If you believe that,I have a bridge I would like to sell you.

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The very fact that were limitations in the first place is an acknowledgment that this sort of giving of gifts is influence peddling.

Maybe I'm too minimalist to appreciate the appeal of being bombarded by promotional tschotskes, but does this seriously sway people's votes? It's not like producers take it back if you vote against them; you get to keep the crap regardless.

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Hey, free money. It would be the producers' faults for even trying to bribe in the first place. ^

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"It is the feeling of the committee that the producers have been acting responsibly and that they will continue to do so without such restrictive language."

Let's see. So they're saying "the producers have been following the rules, so we're changing the rules, but we still expect them to follow the old rules".

HUH??????

Friend-raising is a big part of the campaign. Seomone who's on the fence may end up voting for you just because he likes you. So show 'em a good time. I can't wait for Harvey to take all the voters to the South Seas for a special performance!

First they get rid of the Sound Design awards because they don't understand them, then this.

What a joke.

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Updated On: 6/14/14 at 11:14 PM

I assume (if this didn't already happen), this could open to other 'gifts' such as back stage tours, meet and greets and/or dinner with the cast etc.

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Updated On: 6/15/14 at 12:54 AM