Too many producers for Best Play

[Matt Rogers]

I'm pretty sure that it is in most investor contracts these days that they get to go onstage if the play wins the Tony. To me, it looks like a clown car that just disembarked, and this is not what happens on other award shows, but it is what it is and if they pay a big chunk of change to be involved, then why not give them their three minutes of fame.

[Tom5]

Last from me: Let as many producers as the construction can support on stage to accept the Tony for Best Play. And bless them all for bringing it to fruition. Everyone understands that. I'm simply saying have a separate category for the playwright. Call it anything. Call it even "Best assistant director". Because without the playwright there is nada.

[dramamama611]

If that's your point, then why talk about the number of producers at all?

But, yes, most of us would agree that the playwright should have its own category. Heck, musicals have: Best Score, Best Orchestration AND Best Book. I'm certainly not implying that any of those shouldn't be awarded - just that the playwright should be equally recognized.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Most of those "producers" are investors.

The reason there are so many on stage is that the cost of mounting a show has gotten so high that the real (i.e., lead) producers need to raise a lot more money. People with dough are willing to risk it for the glory of being called a "producer" and having a chance to be seen on TV for 90 seconds and take home a statue for their mantelpiece.

If you want to discuss the root of the problem, you have to talk about why it costs so much to put on a show nowadays. That not only increases the crowd onstage at the Tony's; more alarmingly, it also impedes artistic risk-taking.

[amoni2]

Investors were always anonymous. Anyone know who was first to call their "angels" Producers? Obviously it's a great ego boost to get a producing credit, stage visit and the chance to buy a trophy. I'm sure checks are written more easily that way.

[Theater'sBestFriend]

As production costs have grown over the years, there's been an insidious process by which credit above title -- that's what allows someone to claim a producing Tony -- has been bartered for smaller and smaller sums, without any real producing responsibility. It's become an expected perk of even relatively minor investing, especially now among "bundlers" who package very small sums.

[Jonwo]

A real producer is someone like Sonia Friedman, Daryl Roth, Scott Rudin etc I do wonder if the Tony Committee will limit who can go up on stage when a show wins Best Musical or Play as the crowds of producers that stampede to the stage can be ridiculous, that was the case when Memphis won.

[Jarethan]

This was my point awhile back in this stream. I agree with the comment that they look like a clown car, which makes the fact of the award seem silly. I agree with the observations re how expensive it has become to produce a show...that still doesn't make them a producer. Maybe they should have a best investor award