New Poll: What New/Restored Tony Categories Would You Most Like to See?

[nrosky]

[broadwaybabytn]

Best Orchestrations.

[ChildrenwillListen]

I like all the categories but I voted for Best Ensemble since I was always in the ensemble. And I enjoy shows that are ensemble pieces like Godspell and Rent

[tazber]

Did they get rid of the orchestration award?

I thought Mormon won it just last year.

[grandpianoalex]

Best Music Direction.

[broadwaybabytn]

You're right, I'm sorry. I was thinking of Best Music Direction.

[Jonwo]

Best Ensemble would be good one to bring back and perhaps Best Long Running show although I think that one could be audience voted like it is at the Oliviers although you'd risk it being Wicked every year!

[christhefish]

I wish they would have separate categories for Best Play (the actual written play) and Best Production of a Play (the overall production).

For example War Horse last year while deserving of a "Best Production" award was far from the "Best Play" (at least in the written word sense) of last years options.

[Mister Matt]

Both musicals and plays used to have a separate category for producers. I do think for plays, it should be divided since there are separate Tonys given to both the book and the score as well as Best Musical to the producer.

I really don't like the idea of Best Ensemble if they mean for an "ensemble show". It would mean either none of the actors could be individually distinguished or one actor could potentially win two Tonys for the same performance. If they mean "ensemble" as in "chorus", it would seem more like a consolation prize since it is rare that an ensemble is considered highly distinguished as a group for a performance unless it is for choreography.

I do think Musical Direction should be reinstated. Titanic would have won that for sure. Replacement would need some stringent guidelines regarding billing and submission, but I'm all for it. And I don't know why they got rid of Theatrical Event. Too many shows can't be so easily categorized as a "play" or a "musical".

Touring Production or Long Running Show is just pointless.

[henrikegerman]

Best achievement in hype

[broadwaybabytn]

Separating out the play categories is something that just seems logical.
Wish it would happen.

[chewy5000]

Best BroadwayWorld poll

[willep]

Yeah, I agree about separating Play from Production of a Play...I have never understood why that doesn't happen.

[HeyMrMusic]

Definitely Best Musical Direction. Not only because I do work as an MD and would love to not have to tag my name onto the orchestrations to win a Tony (look how many times that's happened), but because as anyone who has worked on a show knows, an MD's job is integral to a production. To those who say it's hard to judge musical direction, there are Tony Awards for Best Sound Design (x2) and Best Orchestrations and I'm sure that not many voters know what those categories actually mean. Musical direction is more tangible I think.

[SondheimFan5]

Definitely music direction. The MD is so critical to the show - and not just for big shows like Follies or South Pacific or the West Side revival. But, depending on the show, some have separate music supervisor, music director, and conductor, so are all 3 given the award?

and the separation of play categories. And I would say Special Theatrical Event if there were enough in a year to qualify. (This year there were 3 -- Jackman, Patti/Mandy, Shatner) but is 3 really enough to have a category? SOndheim on Sondheim would also have been in that category. It would of course be nice for Hugh to have a 2nd award (thats how Elaine Stritch got hers) but is it necessary? Especially for limited runs, like Shatner.

I think though an audience-voting category for long running show could be fun, but then you'd have shows like Phantom and Wicked winning every other year. I think it would have to have rules (ie - run for more than 3 years and can't win consecutive years or more than X times).

[HeyMrMusic]

In that case, SondheimFan5, I would assume names/positions/billing would adapt were there to be a Tony category for musical direction. I remember when the sound design categories were created; all of a sudden, the sound designer was getting equal billing with the set designer, costume designer, and lighting designer. Prior to that, they were on the next line down.

[qolbinau]

Best Replacement. I realise that notable replacements are not always common but I think that performances such as Bernadette Peters in NIGHT MUSIC or Marin Mazzie in NEXT TO NORMAL should get recognised.

[finebydesign]

Best Song
Best Ensemble
Best Orchestra

[chewy5000]

Pretty soon they're going to have to introduce a "Best Video/Projections" award.

[henrikegerman]

The First Lady of the American Theatre, to be presented by Patash. I'm dying to see if Helen Hayes will preserve her title.

[Gypsy9]

Best Ensemble as in chorus. I just saw EVITA Friday night and although I would describe the musical as a spectacle, the townspeople who made up the ensemble were such truly excellent singers, especially the a Capella portions, that I think they are worthy of an award. I think it was the best vocal ensemble I have heard in years.

Incidentally, I liked Ricky Martin and Michael Ceveres, but did not care for Elena Roger's singing. It was pinched and nasal. The production was stunning.

[BwayBaby18]

I still stand by Wig/Makeup design

[Jay94]

I would like to see them bring back the single revival category instead of separating it into musicals and dramas because often crap gets in in the musical category.

[trentsketch]

I'd love Best Music Direction to come back. Honestly, if you can judge orchestrations and you can judge direction, you can judge music direction. It's not that hard to get.

I do like BwayBaby18's suggestion. Hair and Makeup would be a good category. Is there any other major awards group that just kind of rolls hair/makeup into costume design?

[WOSQ]

When dinosaurs ruled the earth and Broadway, the 1960s, there were separate Tonys awarded for Play and Author. I can't remember which year (1964?), but Neil Simon won for Author and another play won for Play. Also there were separate awards for Play/Musical and Producer. Luther, produced by Merrick, won for Play in 1964 but Herman Shumlin won for producing The Deputy. Go figure.

Late 1960s it was decided that if the musical that was labeled "Best" would automatically have the best book and score. 1776 and Applause, producers and writers all won Tonys under this ruling. I think Hallelujah Baby and Man of La Mancha were awarded separate competative Tonys for score, but the books were included in the Best Musical category.

And in a Replacement category, who would decide the eligible nominees? Would it only be for over the title nominees or for the tenth person to play Velma that year (for instance)? If it would be for over the title players only, we'd end up with a lot of nobodies who got their agents to get them star billing even though they are no more a star than we are.

Look what happened with all those producers getting billing. As soon as it was determined that all producers of the winning Play and Musical would get Tony Awards, every damn no-talent investor got producer billing. Count them sometime. The play will have four people on stage and 12 producers. Of all those names, all but one or two just wrote checks. Best Investors is more like it.

[jv92]

Best Long Running Show? Come on, BWW...

Best Music Director is of far more importance, although I fear that would have meant the GREASE "Reality TV" Revival would have walked off with a Tony one year for it's campy, over-the-top conducting. (We're bitchy today. Sorry.)