Producers now allowed to bribe Tony voters

[binau]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 5:58pm

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

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 6:04pm

I need to become a Tony voter! Free swag!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 6:09pm

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

Cue the laughing.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 6:20pm

Charlotte and Heather can agree on swag but not on whether every producer of a winning show is entitled pay for the his or her own Tony medallion?

Girls--get some priorities!

Oh, and Heather--Isabelle Stevenson would hate what you're doing to her Wing.

[James885]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 6:24pm

"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.

[rjm516]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 7:23pm

Seriously, like there needed to be MORE reason to not trust in the awards.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 7:34pm

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

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 7:37pm

Ha, there's a shock.

[corkystclair2]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 7:37pm

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

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 7:49pm

Impropriety 're Tony voting?

Is nothing sacred.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 8:05pm

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.

[jemjeb2]

Posted: 6/13/14 at 10:53pm

The voters can be gifted with all the swag producers throw their way, but since presumably they vote secretly, there is no direct correlation probably between the bribes and the voters' picks. They can always TELL the bribers they voted for their show, even if they didn't.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 1:36am

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

[Tom5]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 7:21am

Old rule: You can't change human nature.
New rule: If producers don't grease some palms Tony Time they're unfit in their profession.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 9:49am

"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??????

[tazber]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 9:53am

Next they're going to change the name to the Golden Globes.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 2:52pm

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!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 11:08pm

In addition to Wilmington's apt remarks, there is an advantage to number of contacts. I don't think any voter is going to count memorabilia and vote for the show that sent the most crap.

But if s/he gets 8 mailings (flyers, libretto, recording, souvenir book, etc.) from WICKED while AVENUE Q can only afford to send 2, the number of items arriving from WICKED may keep WICKED uppermost in the voter's mind.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 11:14pm

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

What a joke.

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

[LucyEth]

Posted: 6/14/14 at 11:43pm

Given that Harvey Weinstein's now a Broadway producer, you'd think the Tony committee would TIGHTEN their rules. I wonder how much he paid them to drop the restrictions.

[binau]

Posted: 6/15/14 at 12:54am

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.

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