Broadway Sound Designers Petition Tony Awards Committee to Reverse Category Elimination; Jackman, Miranda, Sondheim Among Signees

As previously reported, the Tony Awards Administration Committee determined that Best Sound Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Musical Categories would be eliminated from the established list of competitive categories, beginning with the 2014-2015 season.

According to The New York Times, Broadway sound designers have just submitted a petition with 32,495 signatures asking the Tonys committee to reverse its decision at its meeting this Thursday, November 13. Among the petition's supporters are actor Hugh Jackman, composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Diane Paulus and composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

The committee previously justified its decision by saying not many of the 800 Tony votes knew "what sound design is or how to judge it," and as a result, often skip voting for sound design at all. Furthermore, some committee members think sound design is "more of a technical craft than a theatrical art form."

In response to this, ELEPHANT MAN sound designer John Gromada told the Times: "People may not think they have the skills to judge sound design, but we think they do if they're clearly told what to look and listen for. Let's at least give that a try first before getting rid of the awards."

Gromada added that he and other designers are considering posting "How It Works" sound design videos to YouTube to help educate voters. He has also spoken with Tony-winning costume designer William Ivey Long, the chairman of the American Theater Wing, about reversing the decision, though it is unclear whether Long is willing or able to sway the committee in favor of the designers.

If the awards are reinstated, this will still not affect the 2014-15 season, as many shows have already opened and closed without having been evaluated by the Tony voters in those categories.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi