Laura Linney/Cynthia Nixon Tony Eligibility

[EvanstonDad]

I have to believe others have this same question but I didn't find anything searching the boards. My apologies in advance if this duplicates a previous post. I'm wondering what the likely ruling will be for the Tony eligibility of Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon in The Little Foxes. Can they each be eligible separately for Leading Actress? The boys who played Billy Elliott were all nominated together as a group for Best Actor, correct? Would the same rule apply here?

[dramamama611]

My guess is that they'll be eligible for which role they play on opening night.  (That's from a technical viewpoint)   The committee can choose to consider them any way they choose and we'll have to wait to hear their verdict.  

[neonlightsxo]

Dramamama is right.

[EvanstonDad]

Are they alternating between two roles or just the role of Regina? In other words, are both of them in every performance or do they sit out altogether when not playing the lead? If I'm understanding Dramamama's reply correctly, it sounds like the former (though I somehow managed to miss that in the press releases).

[neonlightsxo]

They're alternating in the two roles.

http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/2016-17-season/little-foxes/

[Wilmingtom]

When Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly alternated roles in True West, they both received nominations for Best Actor.  I wonder if both actresses might be eligible as Best Actress for their performances as Regina and as Supporting Actress for Birdie.  I very much doubt that they'll bundle them ala Billy Elliot.

[EvanstonDad]

Thanks! That makes more sense. For two such well-known names I thought they would want to maximize their stage time a bit more than rotating in the lead would allow.

[AC126748]

Wilmingtom said: "When Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly alternated roles in True West, they both received nominations for Best Actor.  I wonder if both actresses might be eligible as Best Actress for their performances as Regina and as Supporting Actress for Birdie.  I very much doubt that they'll bundle them ala Billy Elliot.

 

"

I think the problem arises because, unlike TRUE WEST (where both roles are leading roles), we have a case of one role that is clearly leading (Regina) and another that is really a featured role (Birdie). I highly doubt that they will be deemed doubly eligible for both roles. I think it's more likely to follow opening night rules.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

That is true regarding True West. Although I'm sure some voters saw them switched, technically Hoffman was nominated for playing Austin and Reilly for playing Lee, which were their roles on opening night.

[haterobics]

Probably a Matilda/Billy Elliott special Tony...

[AC126748]

haterobics said: "Probably a Matilda/Billy Elliott special Tony...

 

"

Not a chance.

[wonderfulwizard11]

It makes sense that they'll be considered based on opening night, but it still feels so odd since both of them feel so much more suited for Birdie than Regina. 

[neonlightsxo]

According to the calendar, Laura Linney is playing Regina on opening night April 19th (the blue cast).

http://littlefoxesbroadway.com/tickets/

[Yero my Hero]

The producers could decide to go with the roles as assigned on opening night, and all Tony voters would have to request tickets for performances when they are playing those roles. If the producers wish to make each actress eligible for each role, they would have two make two sets of tickets available to each voter so they can see both permutations.

 

Of course, any decision other than the opening night billing would have to be petitioned by the producers and approved by the Tony committee.

 

(I suppose there is a chance the producers would petition for a joint nomination, but I highly doubt that would be approved.)

[M.O.A.I.]

But opening night billing doesn't much matter, does it, as they'll still both be above the title? I can't see the producers petitioning for Nixon to be in Featured; at least, it would be fraudulent even if technically consistent with the opening night show.

Assuming they both were to get nominated, I would imagine they'd both be in lead, with Linney technically nominated for Regina and Nixon for Birdie, but with the unspoken understanding among nom com members and voters that both were in fact nominated for both roles (as was understood with True West).

[Valentina3]

Yes, but as Yero pointed out - that means all Tony voters will have to watch the show twice, once with each lady playing the parts. That just seems extremely expensive undertaking from a producers pov

[jbird5]

Assuming they get nominated. You have Sally Field, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle That leaves spots for them, Sweat and Indecent. Maybe the best result is if one or both doesn't get a nomination or drops to supporting.

Edit: if Johanna Day doesn't get nominated for Sweat, there needs to be an investigation.

[AC126748]

I imagine all of the actors from Sweat will be considered featured. It really is an ensemble piece. 

[jbird5]

AC126748 said: "I imagine all of the actors from Sweat will be considered featured. It really is an ensemble piece. 

 

"Possibly, but if there is a lead it's Johanna. You also have Laurie Metcalf coming in A Doll's House Part 2.

 

[M.O.A.I.]

Valentina3 said: "Yes, but as Yero pointed out - that means all Tony voters will have to watch the show twice, once with each lady playing the parts. That just seems extremely expensive undertaking from a producers pov

 

"

Did True West provide two sets of tickets? I would imagine that most voters would only see the show once and be happy with that; perhaps some might request another set of tickets and that would be up to the producer's discretion. I don't think this is that complicated an issue.

As for whether they get nominated - too early to say. It depends on reviews for Menagerie, A Doll's House - Part 2, and The Little Foxes itself, as well as whether someone from Indecent gains traction. Right now I'd predict both get in with Blanchett, Ehle, and Metcalf rounding out the slots. If the show and both actresses are good, my guess is nom com members will be impressed by the technical feat of double casting.

[Gothampc]

The producers would be stupid not to put Nixon into the Featured catgory.  The idea is to maximize Tony wins and having an actress in each category increases the chances of both winning an award, not competing against each other.

I think that was one of the problems in 1996 with A Delicate Balance.  Both Rosemary Harris and Elaine Stritch were put into Best Actress category.  If Stritch had been dropped to Featured, she might have won.

[M.O.A.I.]

While technically in accordance with the opening night show, I'm skeptical that the committee would grant such a request, and even more skeptical that Tony voters would go for Nixon in supporting.

[Gothampc]

"While technically in accordance with the opening night show, I'm skeptical that the committee would grant such a request, and even more skeptical that Tony voters would go for Nixon in supporting."

The Tony committee does whatever the producers tell them to.  For example, Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley being nominated for one spot in Side Show, even though they were playing two separate characters.  The committee makes a lot of eye rolling decisions.

And Cynthia already has a Tony, so I'm sure the push would be for Laura Linney to win one.

[AC126748]

M.O.A.I. said: "While technically in accordance with the opening night show, I'm skeptical that the committee would grant such a request, and even more skeptical that Tony voters would go for Nixon in supporting.

 

"

Why are you skeptical? Birdie is absolutely a featured role. If the decision is to have them considered based on opening night, then Nixon would be most appropriately placed in the featured category.

[dramamama611]

No, twice the tickets would not be made available to the voters, nor would they be asked to go twice. The voters didn't go see Billy Elliot three times.

[Yero my Hero]

The voters didn't go see Billy Elliot three times.

 

That was because it was a joint nomination. They figured that if you saw one boy in the role, you had enough information to vote for all three together. Whatever you feel about that ruling, that was the justification.

 

If the show wants to make Linney and Nixon both eligible for each role separately, and the Tony administrators approve it, the show would have to make two sets of tickets available so that all nominators and voters could see both women perform each role.

 

That is not to say all voters would use both tickets. Plenty of voters don't actually see every nominated show, even though technically they are only supposed to vote on categories in which they have seen all the nominees. But the show would have to make the tickets available.