Tony Awards to 'Retire' Special Theatrical Event Category

The Tony Awards® will retire the Special Theatrical Event category beginning with the 2009-2010 season making Liza's At the Palace... the award's last official winner. This rule was approved by the Tony Awards Administration and Management Committees this week.

Shows which were formerly considered eligible in the Special Theatrical Event category, if they meet the necessary Tony eligibility requirements, will be placed into eligibility in either the Best Play or Best Musical categories. The Administration Committee will retain its ability to award a Special Tony Award to productions or any element thereof, worthy of extraordinary recognition. Additionally, by eliminating the category of Special Theatrical Event, all elements of all productions will now be eligible for nomination in all the other creative categories, which was precluded for productions eligible as Special Theatrical Events under the prior rules.

CBS's broadcast of the 63rd annual Tony Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, delivered its best ratings since 2006, posting double digit percentage gains in viewers and key demographics over last year, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Sunday, June 7.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Nina Lannan is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the American Theatre Wing, Theodore S. Chapin is Chairman and Howard Sherman is Executive Director. For Tony Award Productions, Alan Wasser and Allan Williams of Alan Wasser Associates are the General Managers.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment were Executive Producers of the 2009 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss also served as Director of the 2009 Tony Awards.