Tony noms eligibility question

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 5:01am

How long does a performer need to do a show to be eligible for a Tony nomination?
Especifically, I was thinking of Barbour in Tale. Also, perhaps for Natalie Toro.
I feel that over 50 performances should do it (I suppose preview shows might not be considered by the nom committee), but what is the number rule?

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 5:13am

I think it depends on if the producers have had sufficient time to invite Tony voters to see the show.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 6:15am

Wow...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 6:21am

All actors who appear in the show on Opening Night are eligible for Tony Nominations.

Edit: Scratch that.

The Administration Committee can rule, like they did with GLORY DAYS last season, that if the voters won't have sufficient time to see the show, that it is not eligible for Tony nods.

So CyCo is right. My bad.

I suppose it works on a case by case basis.

But HIGH FIDELITY was eligible for and received a Tony Nomination a few seasons ago, and its run was shorter than TALE's.

Another example is the play SIXTEEN WOUNDED, which played for exactly one week a few seasons ago and received a Best Featured Actor in a Play Nomination.

So TALE should be fine.

Updated On: 11/8/08 at 06:21 AM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 6:26am

Thanks, WBAF. That is a relief. it would be an utter shame AND injustice if James Barbour would not be nominated for his role as Sydney Carton in Tale. IMO, he should also win. I doubt there will be a performance such as this in the following months.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 6:30am

I personally doubt Barbour will even get a nomination.

Matt Cavenaugh is going to be a tough contender as Tony in WEST SIDE STORY, along with Brian d'Arcy James in SHREK, the Billys in BILLY ELLIOT, if they're deemed eligible, Jonathan Groff in HAIR, and Christian Hoff in PAL JOEY.

Barbour and the whole show will probably be long forgotten, if only remembered for its awful reviews, come Tony time.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 8:57am

Barbour may be remembered, I definitely think he's a contender.

James Barbour
The Three Billys
Matt Cavenaugh
Christian Hoff
Brian D'Arcy James

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:05am

And Oliver Platt. And whoever's playing Sky Masterson. And Sean Hayes if that comes to fruition.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:18am

Will Swenson? Jonathan Groff?

EDIT: Ah, I see WBAF mentioned Groff already.

Updated On: 11/8/08 at 10:18 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:33am

I love how we are nominating performers when their shows haven't even gone to previews yet!

I think the toughest ATOTC obstacle will definitely be: will enough members have seen it to be able to even consider Barbour (or anyone else) But, I agree: he doesn't stand much of a chance just from that aspect...too many other performances will have come (and possibly gone) that will be more fresh in the minds of the Tony F

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:43am

>I love how we are nominating performers when their shows haven't even gone to previews yet!<

True, although Hair and Billy Elliot are known quantities at this point, and to a certain degree, so are the roles of Joey Evans in Pal Joey, Tony in West Side Story, and Sky and Nathan in Guys & Dolls, even if we haven't seen those productions yet. We know that Billy Elliot will be around, Pal Joey will last at least into March at Roundabout, and Hair, West Side Story and Guys and Dolls should all be running during Tony season, all of which give the leads in those shows a better shot at being remembered and nominated than cast members from Tale of 2 Cities, which will have been closed for six months when the Tony nominators sit down to make their nominations. The nominators may certainly remember James Barbour, but the odds are against him. Further, a lot of the Tony voters from out of town only make it in once or twice per season (usually in May when the nominations come out) and may not have caught Tale of 2 Cities, which would mean that even if he gets a nomination, he would be unlikely to win.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:50am

But its not the ROLE that gets nominated.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 10:59am

I am speaking in a speculative sense of how and why people can say the actors playing Tony in West Side Story, Joey in Pal Joey and Nathan or Sky in Guys & Dolls can get nominated for Tonys over James Barbour when we haven't seen those productions yet. Tony, Joey, Sky, Nathan are the types of roles that are likely to get nominations, and the productions will be running, which makes the actors in those productions stand a better shot at a nomination than an actor in a closed show.

[EnWashingtonHeights]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 11:13am

Has there ever been a Best musical that closed before the TONYs?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 11:18am

Once.

HALLELUJAH, BABY.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 1:19pm

I think that this stuff is really all up to the Tony administrating committee (different from the nominating committee).

I.e. Larry Kert was made eligible, and was nominated (but did not win) as Bobby in "Company," because Dean Jones left the show show so quickly. I think that is the only time that the opening night performer was not the one made eligible.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 1:23pm

They'll do what they want anyway. There is no consistency with those people. They nominated Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner for a single award, despite the fact that both were playing two separate characters (who just happened to be joined at the hip).

[NGD2225]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 1:26pm

>>And Oliver Platt. And whoever's playing Sky Masterson. And Sean Hayes if that comes to fruition.<<

NO!!! Not Sean Hayes, I hope that this turns out to just be a rumor.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 1:28pm

IMO, the "Sideshow" joint nomination was a practical one. I will just bet you that so many people on the nominating committee had trouble telling which actress was which, that they nominated them together to avoid a lot of confusion on behalf of voters. That is my gut feeling on the issue.

[Kev]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 2:11pm

so many people on the nominating committee had trouble telling which actress was which, that they nominated them together to avoid a lot of confusion on behalf of voters. That is my gut feeling on the issue.

You're kidding, right?

Regardless, the joint nomination made sense. Aside from "Private Conversation" (and the opening/closing moments), Skinner and Ripley were conjoined and reliant on each other for the entire duration of the show. It was a dependent onstage relationship, despite playing two separate characters.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 2:55pm

I think the joint nomination for Ripley and Skinner made sense, and it also made it easier for them not to split the votes.
I mean, the three kids playing the title role in BILLY ELLIOT are all giving different performances, yet they will probably receive a joint nod as well. It makes sense.
James Barbour has tough competition for the nod. I personally thought Trent Kolawik should be handed the award after I saw him glide through BILLY ELLIOT so wonderfully.
Natalie Toro has even stronger competition: Martha Plimptom, Haydn Gwynne (if she is kept as featured and not leading), girls from HAIR--especially Sheila, Karen Olivo, Carole Shelley, Kathy Fitzgerald. I don't see her getting a nomination either.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 3:09pm

Don't forget about:

The guy playing FELA (sorry, very complicated spelling.)
Malcolm Gets and Will Chase in THE STORY OF MY LIFE

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 5:02pm

Natalie Toro's performance was loved only by BWW users and (evidently) the people in Sarasota (who loved the entire show). She got several negative mentions in the reviews, and I personally thought she was nothing special. She was good, but not amazing in a pretty poorly-written role. She will be forgotten by Tony time, and unfortunately, James Barbour will be too, although he certainly deserves a nomination.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 5:52pm

Since this was brought up--

I'm not convinced that the three Billys should be given a joint nomination. In that event, Tony voters would either have to see the show three times (or more, unless they are given a dependable rotation schedule), or they will be asked to vote for a performance that they have not seen. That is a slippery slope.

I am more comfortable with a special award being given to them.
Updated On: 11/8/08 at 05:52 PM