The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#1The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:36pm
The Tony Award Administration Committee met today to decide the eligibility of nine Broadway productions for the 2007 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®, presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing.
Alexander Gemignani and Norm Lewis will be considered in the Lead Actor in a Musical category for their performances in Les Miserables.
Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee will be considered in the Lead Actor and Actress in a Musical categories for their performances in Mary Poppins.
The score of Mary Poppins was deemed eligible in the category of Best Score.
Will Chase will be considered in the Lead Actor in a Musical category for his performance in High Fidelity.
Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele will be considered in the Lead Actor and Actress in a Musical categories for their performances in Spring Awakening.
Marc Kudisch will be considered in the Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in The Apple Tree.
All other decisions were consistent with the opening night credits.
This is the third time the Tony Award Administration Committee has met this year. They will meet two additional times to discuss the eligibility of shows opening in the 2006-2007 season. The cut-off date for eligibility is May 9th and nominations will be announced on May 15th.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#2re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:38pmI wonder if this gives Kudisch better odds...
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#3re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:39pmCan I naively ask what that means for Kristin Chenoweth... Wouldn't she have been listed along with Marc Kudisch?
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#4re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:39pmI still wonder if Michele wouldn't be better off in the Featured category (where she'd be all but guaranteed a nod), but I guess we'll see in May.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#5re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:40pm
Chenoweth is above the title in the Playbill and as such will be considered Lead.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 1/18/07 at 05:40 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#6re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:40pm
Kudisch was ruled as supporting, everyone else is leading.
Michele and Groff most definately won't be nominated - the categories are too crowded.
#7re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:42pmI understand that part. I'm just wondering why she's not on this list as "will be considered for Lead"
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#8re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:43pm
Michele and Groff most definately won't be nominated - the categories are too crowded.
I dont know... are they really THAT crowded? I mean I'm no expert.. but its just, for me at least they were both incredible and I cant imagine there being 4 other performances in each catagory I'd like BETTER. Sure, they have like no chance of WINNING, but not even noms? They really deserve them. At LEAST Jon.
on the other hand, still majorly rooting for John Gallagher for featured actor, and it looks like that ones a definite possibility 
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
Updated On: 1/18/07 at 05:43 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#8re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:43pmShe's above the title - anyone above the title is automatically considered lead unless deemed otherwise, like Kudisch.
Julian2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/06
#10re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:43pm
I'm glad MP is eligible for score, as disjointed as I thought the show was, the score is wonderful.
As far as Gavin Lee, that's a shame, I thought he was a good canidate for featured, but this bodes well for other actors this season, such as Gallagher Jr., Stillman, Cavenaugh, McMartin, the men of Curtains and ACL, whoever is the romantic lead in The Pirate Queen, Kudisch, etc.
I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!
#11re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:45pmOH! I totally get it now. Thanks.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#12re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:45pm
Which is why they include the phrase: "All other decisions were consistent with the opening night credits." These announcements are only for the cases where the administration committee was petitioned by the producers of a given show to consider a given actor in a category different from what his/her billing would suggest (ie, Groff and Michele are below the title which, if there had been no petition, they would have been considered only for featured, but the producers asked for a category change and the Adminstration committee agreed which is why this announcement was made).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 1/19/07 at 05:45 PM
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#13re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:48pmLea really should have been featured. It would have made her chances a LOT better I think, no? And the only reason I dont say the same thing with Jon is because then it'd be between groff and gallagher... and thats not cool... and I would be sad because I love them both :P
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
#14re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:49pmI can't remember if the eligibility for Les Miserables has been mentioned before, but with Alexander Gemignani and Norm Lewis being considered for nominations in the Lead Actor catagory, does that mean the show can be considered for the revival catagory then?
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#15re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:49pm
Margo, does the committee ever meet on its own regarding edibility?
This season so far has seen very consistent billings. If I remember, 04/05 season had a huge whirlwind of inconsistencies with billings.
Before anyone may comment...
Mary Poppins' score is now seen as eligible because it was almost completely reworked with new songs added.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
Updated On: 1/18/07 at 05:49 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#16re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:49pm
snl89 - Lead Actor will most likely be Gavin Lee, Raul Esparza, Michael Cerveris, David Hyde Pierce, and either Martin Short or Steve Kazee.
Lead Actress, under much debate, will be Kristin Chenoweth, Christine Ebersole, Debra Monk, Audra MacDonald, and Donna Murphy.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#17re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:50pmYes, it will be considered for revival.... who knows if it will be nominated
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#18re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:51pmLes Mis has been considered so since before opening. A show must open 3 years after closing its intitial run for automatic eligibility in the category.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
#19re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:54pmI was going to respond to snl by saying that actor can't just be stuck in another category simply because it would make his or her chances better. There has to be sufficient basis and the part has to be one that could realistically be considered either lead or featured. Lea Michele is very clearly the lead in Spring Awakening, and I'd assume she can't be put in the featured category just because, since there's not really case for it. But I guess it does happen, and the whole thing is fairly debatable. She'd obviously be better off in that category, sensical or not. Isn't that what happened with Kelli O'Hara in Piazza?
#20re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:55pmAh, alright. Thanks for clearing that up.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#21re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 5:57pm
The Tony rules are very specific regarding category eligibility: if you're above the title in the opening night Playbill then you are automatically considered Lead and if you're below, you're considered Featured. The only way to change an actor's category is for the producers to submit a formal request to the Tony Administrative Committee in writing within two weeks after opening night -- if the producers forget, the actor stays in the category his billing would suggest (as happened with Joel Grey the year of CHICAGO; even though he was playing Amos, he was such a star that he was billed above the title, the Weisslers forgot to petition and by the time they realized the oversight it was too late; Grey HAD to be considered Lead and had to go up against actors who had true leading roles and as a result was shut out of a nomination entirely).
The Administration Committee only meets to decide on the petitions. Now, the committee doesn't HAVE to honor the change request (and have rejected some requests in the past), but more often than not, they comply with the producers' wishes.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 1/18/07 at 05:57 PM
#22re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 6:01pm
"Lea Michele will be considered in the Lead Actor and Actress in a Musical categories for their performances in Spring Awakening. "
I really wanted her to be featured so she would have a chance. 
Benzy92
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#23re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 6:02pm
If I were Lea, I would FIGHT to get out of that category! She isn't above the title, and she COULD be considered supporting! She'd have a real shot at a nod, but there is no way for Leading
ThankstoPhantom
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/05
#24re: The Latest Tony Eligibility Rulings
Posted: 1/18/07 at 6:02pmThank you, Margo.
How to properly use its/it's:
Its is the possessive. It's is the contraction for it is...
