Who would win in recent year the Tony for “Special Event”

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 8/19/20 at 10:50pm

Kind of a shame that they retired the special event category. Im curious who would have one it in recent years since. Obviously Springsteen in 2018.
Maybe Kathy Griffin for Katy wants a Tony.
Hugh Jackman for Back on Broadway

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 1:13am

Oh Hello

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 1:29am

I know this convo happens twice a year, but it would be great for an “event” Tony Award could honor something outside of Broadway, like The Hairy Ape or Yerma at the Armory, for example.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 1:41am

VotePeron said: "I know this convo happens twice a year, but it would be great for an “event” Tony Award could honor something outside of Broadway, like The Hairy Ape or Yerma at the Armory, for example. "

That would mean opening the Tonys to all Off Broadway. Never happening 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 9:17am

LightsOut90 said: "Oh Hello"

John Mulaney said in an interview that the show was considered a special event, not a play, when they submitted to the Tony’s. I’m wondering what the criteria was, because as far as I could tell, it was a two person comedy.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 10:21am

I actually think the Tonys could and should be opened up to Off-Broadway, but that's a discussion for another thread. 

It is odd to me that something like "Oh Hello" wouldn't be considered a play, but something like "What the Constitution Means to Me" is. I do wonder if the fact that Constitution was incredibly popular in the industry affected the ruling. Considering it a "special event" would have rendered it ineligible, which would have caused an uproar. Disqualifying "Oh Hello" was never going to elicit that kind of reaction. 

As for which shows would have won if there were a "Special Event" category, here's my 2 cents for recent years: 

2020: Freestyle Love Supreme or American Utopia (my pick would be FLS)

2019: What the Constitution Means To Me (see paragraph above) 

2018: Springsteen on Broadway 

2017: Oh, Hello

2016: ?? Maybe Penn & Teller? I didn't see it. 

 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 10:59am

Alex Kulak2 said: "LightsOut90 said: "Oh Hello"

John Mulaney said in an interview that the show was considered a special event, not a play, when they submitted to the Tony’s. I’m wondering what the criteria was, because as far as I could tell, it was a two person comedy."

That's interesting, because I believe the Tonys never made any public ruling on that at least (I'm almost positive it was listed on their website under Plays, but I could be mistaken there).  So I always thought it had been eligible and just not nominated, but perhaps not.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 2:41pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "Kind of a shame that they retired the special event category. Im curious who would have one it in recent years since. Obviously Springsteen in 2018.
Maybe Kathy Griffin for Katy wants a Tony.
Hugh Jackman for Back on Broadway
"

Didn't Springsteen and Jackman both receive SpecialTonys for the shows identified.  Re Kathy Griffin, I don't even remember her being on Broadway.  How long did her show last?  If a week, no.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 8/20/20 at 7:23pm

Kathy Griffin was like a week.

 

Oh Hello most compariable thing would probably be "Your Welcome America" A Final night With George W Bush which got nominated for Special Event but lost to Liza At The Palace