ASU Gammage Cancels Tony Awards Viewing Party Due to Poor Ticket Sales, 6/13

Tempe Arizona's Official Viewing Party for the 2010 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 13 has been canceled, the New York Times reports today. The event was to take place at Arizona State University's ASU Gammage, one of the largest university-based presenters of performing arts in the world, in collaboration with Tony Award Productions and was to be open to the public.

The Times reported that the event was canceled because only 300 tickets out of a potential 3000 were sold.  Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, the theatre's executive director and Arizona's only Tony voter, said, "We didn't get the turnout we wanted...People here love the Tonys but it's summer in Arizona.  It's 110 degrees. It's a dry heat, but still. I think people were making plans or staying home with friends. In New York City it's one thing to say, ‘We have a month to notify people.' But in the desert people make plans way in advance."

According to the Times, approximately $30,000 was lost due to the cancellation.  However, the theater try again and host a similar event next year with a different structure.