The first thing that needs to change is that twenty-four person committee that makes all the decisions. The whole process is antiquated, like most of the committee members. And of course replacement actors should receive recognition and be eligible for a Tony. It's acting isn't it? I thought that's what they were being awarded for. Their performance on stage. Not for how long they were with the production prior to it's opening, or how many rehersal hours they put in, but for what they do up on stage. And if replacment actors were eligible for Tony recogniton, I bet the caliber of actors and actresses willing to take a replacement role would improve greatly. For the most part, an A list performer is not going to take a role originated by someone else, unless there's a chance that their time, effort, and work will be rewarded and recognized. I don't know about 8 categories (that would involve too much additional air-time), but there should at least be two. For replacement actors and acrtesses you could combine plays/musicals and lead/featured performers. It might not be entirely fair, but it would be better than nothing at all.
There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
- Nelson Mandela
