Producers now allowed to bribe Tony voters

qolbinau
Broadway Legend
joined:6/29/08
In theory, at least.

"Previously, the Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards had enforced very narrow guidelines to producers as to what they could give to those voting for the annual Tony Awards. Under those rules, the producers could hand to Tony voters only: a souvenir book; a script; "an audio and/or video cast recording that replicates the on-stage performance of the eligible production and that does not contain additional material such as narration, quotations, musical underscoring, etc."; and "one set of selected reviews and/or unedited quotations regarding the eligible production."

In other words: no gravy, no graft, no superfluous swag. Just honest, educational promotional materials.

No more! About the suspension of the rules, Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, executive director of the American Theatre Wing, said in a joint statement, "It is the feeling of the committee that the producers have been acting responsibly and that they will continue to do so without such restrictive language. It is felt that the voters also act responsibly and that such things as souvenirs, edited reviews and small gifts, etc. have no bearing on the voters selections."

I envy them their faith in human nature."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/192396-PLAYBILLCOMS-THEATRE-WEEK-IN-REVIEW-June-7-13-Tony-Awards-Rulings-Draw-Ire-From-Industry/pg3
CATSNYrevival
Broadway Legend
joined:3/1/04
I need to become a Tony voter! Free swag!
That's right! Underscore mother-fu@#ers!
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend
joined:5/17/03
Now remember boys and girls , it is all about quality of performance.

Cue the laughing.
Mary had a little lamb : The PC signature line.
PalJoey
Broadway Legend
joined:3/11/04
Charlotte and Heather can agree on swag but not on whether every producer of a winning show is entitled pay for the his or her own Tony medallion?

Girls--get some priorities!

Oh, and Heather--Isabelle Stevenson would hate what you're doing to her Wing.

yr pal,
joey




Blocked so far: suestorm, Master Bates
James885
Broadway Legend
joined:5/2/05
"such things as souvenirs, edited reviews and small gifts, etc. have no bearing on the voters selections."

I don't believe that for one moment.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
rjm516
Broadway Star
joined:6/24/09
Seriously, like there needed to be MORE reason to not trust in the awards.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend
joined:5/17/03
If you believe that,I have a bridge I would like to sell you.
Mary had a little lamb : The PC signature line.
disneybroadwayfan22
Broadway Star
joined:2/10/13
Ha, there's a shock.
Broadway Shows: Phantom of the Opera (January 2011), Mary Poppins (January 2011), Anything Goes (August 2011, W/ Sutton Foster, Joel Grey, and Laura Osnes), The Lion King (August 2011), Godspell (June 2012, W/ Corbin Bleu), Matilda the Musical (Original Broadway Cast, May 2013), Newsies (May 2013), Cinderella (W/ Carly Rae Jepsen and Fran Drescher, May 2014), and Aladdin (OBC, May 2014). Pre-Broadway: If/Then (November 2013/World Premiere, W/ Idina Menzel, LaChanze, and Anthony Rapp). National Tours: Wicked (October 2012), Beauty & the Beast (January 2013), & Jersey Boys (November 2013)

Met Idina Menzel & Sierra Boggess (November 2013)
corkystclair2
Chorus Member
joined:9/25/10
The very fact that were limitations in the first place is an acknowledgment that this sort of giving of gifts is influence peddling.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend
joined:5/17/03
Impropriety 're Tony voting?

Is nothing sacred.



Mary had a little lamb : The PC signature line.
orangeskittles
Broadway Legend
joined:1/8/05
Maybe I'm too minimalist to appreciate the appeal of being bombarded by promotional tschotskes, but does this seriously sway people's votes? It's not like producers take it back if you vote against them; you get to keep the crap regardless.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how