Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:09pm
Since shows are nominated at the end of April, and Tony voters see the shows in May, how do voters judge performances by actors and shows that have already closed? [Example: Bradley Cooper (Elephant Man), Ruth Wilson (Constellations), Disgraced...etc.]
Thanks!
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:10pm
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:14pm
Sorry, what I'm really trying to ask is, are voters able to vote for a category in which they have not seen every performance or show that has been nominated?
Posted: 5/29/15 at 4:17pm
That's a different question. They're not supposed to vote in a category where they haven't seen all the nominees. But it's an honor system, far as I know.
Updated On: 5/29/15 at 04:17 PM
Posted: 5/29/15 at 5:00pm
Stories have often told us that the voters don't end seeing all the shows. As you said, some close before they have a chance to, and sometimes they just don't and vote on hearsay. We can hope that those votes account for such a small amount of the total votes that it doesn't truly alter things.
The nominators, I believe, are required to see all the sows.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 7:14pm
The rules require nominators to recuse themselves if they are not able to see all shows. (Ditto if they have either direct or indirect involvement in any show.) Voters are supposed to vote only in categories where they have seen all shows, but as stated it is on the honor system. Most voters who are not local come in a few times a year to hit all of the shows, but some don't. And sometimes a voter will handicap a race and skip shows they are convinced will never be nominated. And as we all know, sometimes those shows are nominated anyway.
Posted: 5/29/15 at 9:18pm
The New York Times did an article about Tony voters... One part of the article says,
"Participation is high, but about 100 to 150 Tony voters do not submit ballots in any given year. Otherwise, they are expected to see every nominated production — 22 this year — or to skip categories in which they have not seen all nominees."
So, yes. They have to skip the categories that they couldn't see all nominees in.
Here's the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/20/theater/theaterspecial/20150524-tonyvoters.html?_r=0
Posted: 5/29/15 at 11:47pm
They're supposed to skip it. But as neon said, it's an honor system.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 8:24pm
Next to Impossible to get full participation in any balloting process.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 8:42pm
I recall reading somewhere that producers are required to provide tickets to voters (or at least put out the offer to acquire them) within a certain amount of days after opening.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 10:50pm
The tickets offered don't necessarily have to be after opening. They just have to make a certain number of performances available to the voters. They could offer tickets for previews if their advance is really terrible and they are worried about how long they'll last after opening.
Posted: 5/30/15 at 11:31pm
No reason to guess or generalize about the requirement:
the producer of the production must invite, in a timely manner and free of charge, each of the eligible Tony voters... Invitations shall be extended... for performances occurring no later than the earlier of 16 weeks after the production officially opens or the day before the annual Tony Nominating Meeting. For this purpose, the producer must make available to eligible Tony voters at least eight “paid performances” of the production (i.e. previews, opening and/or regular performances in an eligible Broadway theatre). ... This requirement shall be subject to the following exception: If a production which officially opens in an eligible Broadway theatre on or before the Eligibility Date is unable to satisfy the eight paid performance requirement because it closes prior to presenting eight paid performances, the production may nevertheless be deemed eligible provided that the producer has invited and made tickets available to the Tony voters for at least one half of all paid performances presented in an eligible Broadway theatre prior to the closing
