By Christina Morningside | Posted on April 21, 2018 9:30 AM
The Tony Awards Administration Committee Made Determinations Regarding Stories by Heart, Escape to Margaritaville, Frozen, Angels in America, Three Tall Women, and 1984.
Reversed Decision on 1984, Now Considered Eligible
A stage adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984, written and directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, played from May 18, 2017, opening on June 22, 2017, and closing on October 8, 2017. It was announced in November 2017 that the show would not be eligible for Tony Awards consideration. At first, the reasoning was vague: that “the show did not fulfill all of the eligibility requirements, as outlined by the Tony Rules and Regulations.” But it emerged through reporting with Broadway insiders that one Tony nominator, Jose Antonio Vargas, was not allowed into the production.
The producers – Scott Rudin and Sonia Friedman – did not acknowledge whether or not they knew this to be true, but it appeared for many months that this play would go down in history without the benefit of Tony Awards consideration. However, in the latest round of consideration, it was deemed eligible in a reversal of their previous decision. The reasoning was not disclosed, but one can assume that the producers lobbied, and ultimately got their way. Whether this hullaballoo will disadvantage the show in the nominations process remains to be seen.
Eligibility Announcements for Performer Categories
For their respective performances in Escape to Margaritaville, Paul Alexander Nolan and Alison Luff will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical categories. As for Frozen, both Caissie Levy and Patti Murin will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role category.
For Angels in America, Andrew Garfield will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. For Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill will be both considered eligible in the Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, while Glenda Jackson is eligible for the Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. As for 1984, Tom Sturridge will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in Play.
Other Creative Team Determinations
John Lithgow: Stories by Heart will be eligible for Best Play, despite the fact that it is arguably not quite a play. Also in discussions about Frozen, the score, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, will be eligible in the category of Best Original Score, even though some of the songs derive from the animated film. Also for Frozen, both Christopher Oram and Finn Ross will be considered eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Musical.For Angels in America, Ian MacNeil and Edward Pierce will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Play. Finally, also for Angels in America, Finn Caldwell, Steven Hoggett and Robby Graham will be considered jointly eligible for Best Choreography, even though it is usually musicals that are in contention for this category. Interestingly, Finn Caldwell is credited for Puppet Design as well as for Puppetry Director and Movement, while Robby Graham is credited for Original Movement, and Steven Hoggett as the Movement Consultant.
