Tony Awards to 'Retire' Special Theatrical Event Category

[Rob]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:56pm

Click Here to Read Tony Awards to 'Retire' Special Theatrical Event Category

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:57pm

I don't know how I feel about this.
Updated On: 6/18/09 at 04:57 PM

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:59pm

Why?

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:00pm

Just because Liza won it, we don't need it anymore?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:01pm

Wasn't this created so stuff like Contact wouldn't win Best Musical?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:02pm

Well, this is stupid.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:02pm

What the hell? Why?

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:03pm

Maybe since none of the events are open runs, awarding the productions well after they've closed doesn't really help. Even if that was the case I don't really understand why they'd ignore broadway productions that opened in a given season

Updated On: 6/18/09 at 05:03 PM

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:03pm

Why is it that every time the Tonys committee tries to modify the awards setup, they go entirely the wrong way?

[BenKaye]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:04pm

"Wasn't this created so stuff like Contact wouldn't win Best Musical?"

That was my exact thought when I read the article. This is makes absolutely no sense.

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:04pm

"Maybe since none of the events are open runs, awarding the productions well after they've closed doesn't really help "

But that's the sort of thinking that leads fall shows to never win awards.

Why award a show if it's not going to help ticket sales? I thought maybe artistic achievement would have worked.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:05pm

My guess is that this is so Spiderman can be nominated for Best Musical, wasn't it before rumored to be more eligible for best Theatrical Event?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:06pm

Like "Liza's at the Palace" is an artistic achievement. It's a washed-up gay icon doing a bad impression of herself and gargling out Kander and Ebb songs.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:07pm

^ And I'm sure you saw the show, Pirag.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:09pm

LIZA'S AT THE PALACE was a lot more than that. A lot more.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:16pm

You're off base there Piragua.

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:16pm

"Like "Liza's at the Palace" is an artistic achievement. It's a washed-up gay icon doing a bad impression of herself and gargling out Kander and Ebb songs. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award_for_Best_Special_Theatrical_Event

Putting these in the same bucket as plays and musicals is muddy.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:22pm

I bet LIZA'S AT THE PALACE would have gotten a Best Musical nomination and Liza would have been nominated for, and may have actually won, Best Actress in a Musical if this was in effect for last season.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:22pm

I wonder how Billy Crystal would feel about this. He really wanted 700 Sundays to be considered as a play rather than a special event.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:25pm

To make room for more tour performances? Maybe next year we'll have the non-Eq casts of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! Ooooooooohhhh!

Why is it that every time the Tonys committee tries to modify the awards setup, they go entirely the wrong way?

It's kind of like when you go to the doctor and do the whole "finger to nose to doctor's finger and back" thing, only they keep poking themselves in the eye.
Updated On: 6/18/09 at 05:25 PM

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:28pm

Why in the world would "Spiderman" be considered a special theatrical event? It's a new musical, no?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:50pm

Yeah, I was sort of confused by that assumption as well, Joe.

Regardless, I can't think of any viable reason to eliminate the category. I'd love to hear what Stritch has to say on the subject, but I'd have to cut her off if her answer is longer than 30 seconds.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:56pm

I bet LIZA'S AT THE PALACE would have gotten a Best Musical nomination and Liza would have been nominated for, and may have actually won, Best Actress in a Musical if this was in effect for last season.

Liza could take a 90-minute long dump on the American flag onstage at the Palace every night and win a Tony.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 6:00pm

I'd buy premium seats to that.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 6:00pm

Liza's at the Palace...! was by far the best thing I've ever seen onstage. Her singing obviously isn't that good anymore, but it didn't matter.