Round 1 of Tony Eligibility 2019-2020

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:02pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Tony-Awards-Administration-Committee-Determines-Eligibility-for-MOULIN-ROUGE-BETRAYAL-and-More-20191024

Really no surprises here at all, but I figured it was worth starting a thread in case there was some discussion to be had that I might have missed.

The only thing that could have been considered an unknown before now is how they would determine the eligibility of Sea Wall / A Life, given that its a double bill, one of which is arguable a revival. But given their lack of comment on the show, I think we can continue to assume that it will be jointly eligible as a new play. Which is what most of us had assumed already anyway.

EDIT: Also, while I realize this may be a controversial opinion, I think they could have made a case for Hiddleston being in supporting. There is only 1 scene that Charlie Cox isn’t in, yet there is something like 5 or 6 scenes that Hiddleston isn’t in. And IMO the show centers significantly more on Jerry and Emma than Robert. This also would have given Hiddleston a better chance at winning. But I guess since it will be long closed by Tony-time, that wouldn’t really matter to them. 

Updated On: 10/24/19 at 04:02 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:18pm

 

BWW on Rulings Round One - Clickable

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:19pm

Thanks! Sorry about that - silly mobile!

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:22pm

I found it interesting that the productions discussed were Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; Sea Wall/A Life; Betrayal; The Height of the Storm; and The Great Society. However, no announced decisions except for leading roles in Moulin Rouge!, Betrayal and The Height of the Storm.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:27pm

Miles2Go2 said: "I found it interesting that the productions discussed were Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; Sea Wall/A Life; Betrayal; The Height of the Storm; and The Great Society. However, no announced decisions except for leading roles in Moulin Rouge!, Betrayal and The Height of the Storm. "

 

That’s pretty much how it always is. If there aren’t any announcements for a show, we are meant to assume that all of the eligibility decisions were in line with the default rules. The most significant of which being that any actor above the title is leading by default, and any actor below the title is supporting by default. They only make announcements if they go against the default, like Olivo and Tveit being leads despite not being above the title. For something like Frankie and Johnny, the 2 actors were already above the title, so there was no need to designate them as leads. 

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:31pm

Okay. That makes sense. I might’ve known that and then forgot or I just learned something new. I guess we’ll know if I have forgotten this information by this time next year. Lol

[jagman1062]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:39pm

I am curious to why the Committee didn't discuss all the shows that opened already to include Slave Play, Linda Vista, and The Sound Inside, among others.  It seems they only discussed shows that opened on or before October 1. 

[dianamorales]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:42pm

Does anyone know if Robyn Hurder's part is big enough to be considered supporting?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 4:54pm

dianamorales said: "Does anyone know if Robyn Hurder's part is big enough to be considered supporting?"

 

There is technically no minimum role size to be eligible in the supporting categories. I actually asked a similar question on here a while back (link below), and apparently they send a list of the entire cast, including the ensemble, to the Tony committee, and only the leads gets separated out into a designated category. So everyone in the opening night cast is eligible for supporting unless they are a lead. The only question then is: is the role big enough to get NOTICED by the voters? And for most ensemble members, the answer is no. 

So anyway, yes, Robyn Hurder is eligible in supporting. 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1109186

 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 8:10pm

JBroadway -

I agree that Robert is a supporting role, not a leading one. Jerry is a significantly larger and showier role, which is why I was surprised Hiddleston chose to do Robert (same with Daniel Craig in the last revival).

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 10:12pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "JBroadway -

I agree that Robert is a supporting role, not a leading one. Jerry is a significantly larger and showier role, which is why I was surprised Hiddleston chose to do Robert (same with Daniel Craig in the last revival)."

 

I hadn’t looked at the program before the show started, and I completely assumed that Hiddleston would be playing Jerry. I continued to think that until the very moment that Charlie Cox stepped forward for the first scene. In retrospect, I think the actors suit the roles they’re in, but I definitely assumed Hiddleston would be in the bigger role. 

 

[lemiz1862]

Posted: 10/25/19 at 12:02am

We actually don't know what the producers petitioned for. In previous Betrayal productions, all three actors have been eligible for Best Actor and Best Actress. When it comes to nominations the previous precedent stand unless there are extenuating circumstances.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 10/25/19 at 2:22am

Maybe the answer is obvious, but I'll ask anyway: Is the reason that certain shows don't put their leading actors' names above the title simply a matter of economics? Is there any rule that says actors who are billed above the title are expected to be paid more? For instance, why wouldn't ''Betrayal'' put Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Cox and Zawe Ashton above the title? They're obviously the stars. Ditto, for ''Moulin Rouge!'' and Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo.

I've heard it said that if above-the-title star is out of the show, you're entitled to a refund. Is this legally binding or just a rule of thumb? 

Updated On: 10/25/19 at 02:22 AM

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 10/25/19 at 9:45am

Wayman, I don't believe there is any "rule" that actors with above the title billing receive a certain pay. But if someone is receiving that star billing they obviously are getting a higher rate. 

When an actor is being billed above the title, they are being used to sell the show. It's BETTE MIDLER before Hello Dolly. Because Bette is what will get those high premium prices and turn it into an event. However, plenty of shows (musicals mostly) do not opt for this type of star billing because they want the show to be the star. Hamilton is a great example of this. Moulin Rouge! is following the same path. They rightfully want and expect that musical to run for years. If their advertising hinged on KAREN OLIVO and AARON TVEIT in Moulin Rouge!, then you are tying the show to those performers (who while very talented, dont have the same star wattage as someone like Bette Midler or Patti LuPone etc). And by tying advertising to stars, suddenly the musical would more heavily depend on whatever stars are currently in the show (whenever Olivo and Tveit decide to eventually leave). In the long run, this makes the musical dependent on stunt casting and grosses would vary wildly between whoever was playing the leads (see: Waitress, After Midnight, many others). Moulin Rouge! is the star of Moulin Rouge!

Betrayal is honestly a bizarre one to not have any star billing. I imagine it had something to do with not wanting any one star to have higher billing than the others, so as to keep all three at an equal playing field with billing and pay (since Cox has the slightly larger role, yet Hiddleston, with his Marvel fanbase, is undoubtedly the bigger star). Most limited play runs with celebs do indeed bill the big ones above the title. Except many of the non-profits like MTC, who as a rule never does above the title billing for actors. Hence why Pryce and Atkins had to be officially designated for the lead categories by the committee.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 10/26/19 at 5:35pm

Thanks, MayAudraBlessYou2. That makes sense.

Head's-up for Dianamorales: If you're a fan of Robyn Hurder, you might enjoy her recent interview with Paul Wontorek at Broadway.com. Robyn dishes about ''Moulin Rouge!,'' motherhood and her marriage (to Clyde Alves).

https://www.broadway.com/videos/159655/show-people-with-paul-wontorek-robyn-hurder-of-moulin-rouge/?page=1&sort=newest#play