When two shows play in rep, are they considered one joint production for Tony eligibility, or is each play considered separate? With both Twelfth Night/Richard III and No Man's Land/Waiting for Godot this season, I thought I would ask. Thanks!
I'm guessing they're going to petition it as one nomination for the actors in question here-whether the committee will honor that request remains to be seen.
When Sir Derek Jacobi did "Much Ado About Nothing" & "Cyrano de Bergerac" in repertory on Broadway in the 1980s, he was nominated for and won a Tony for "Much Ado About Nothing" but was not mentioned for his role in "Cyrano de Bergerac"
They may have to take each actor on a case by case basis. Stephen Fry is in Twelfth Night, but not in Richard III so I don't know what they're going to say about him.
What to do about Samuel Barnett? He's definitely Featured in Richard III, but could easily be considered Leading for Twelfth Night. If it's a joint nomination, what field do you put him in?
When The Norman Conquests ran a few seasons ago the actors were nominated for the three plays as a whole, rather than for an individual piece.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
I think the difference between The Norman Conquests, and similarly The Coast of Utopia, is that it is a trilogy following the same characters and ultimately can be viewed as just a very long single story. The rep pieces that will be up for consideration are both comprised of different pieces with actors playing very different characters in each.
I'm curious how the Neil Simon rep pieces a few years back would have been treated had Broadway Bound actually opened. Would they have treated it like one piece split into two events, or would each play have been considered separately?
I think it is safe to assume that the Tony committee will deem them as two separate productions, and will be eligible as two separate productions in performance and direction categories. The exception may be the design categories.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Both Leading and Featured Actor in a Play are stuffed to the gills with contenders, but I would guess that Rylance has a fair shot at winning both, though I'd rather see just his Richard III honored. While I thought his Olivia was quite good (his physical performance was second to none), I'd almost rather see another actor in those productions honored. Perhaps Samuel Barnett's Elizabeth or Paul Chahidi's Maria.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Can an actor be nominated twice in the same category in the same year?
If they're in two separate productions, which all of these shows in rep are being considered. So, in theory, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan could comprise four of the nominations for Leading Actor in a Play. (Just as Crudup and Hensley could comprise four of the nominations for Featured Actor in a Play.)
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
I think Mark Rylance will win featured for Twelfth Night.
I think leading actor will be between Zachary Quinto and Bryan Cranston. (I would love for Zachary Quinto to win-he really made me look at the role differently.)
I don't think Mark Rylance will take both leading and featured. (They were smart to leave him in featured for Twelfth Night.)
"What to do about Samuel Barnett? He's definitely Featured in Richard III, but could easily be considered Leading for Twelfth Night. If it's a joint nomination, what field do you put him in?"
I would tend to think he would be considered featured, even though Viola is certainly a lead role and Elizabeth could go either way - after all it's the tony's so category placement is anybody's guess. But no matter what, Barnett deserves tony recognition, if not a win, at the very least a nomination.