New Campaigning and Promotion Rules Set for The Tony Awards

Some new rules on campaigning and promotion have been announced for the Tony Awards, which will next be held on June 11th at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast live on CBS.

The Tony Awards Rules Committee has adopted the following rules:

Campaigning and Promotion

"Fair and Ethical Process: The process of determining which productions or elements thereof are to receive Tony Awards is intended to be conducted in a fair and ethical manner, having the highest regard for the standard of quality represented by the Tony Awards and related presentations. The persons voting for the Tony Awards and producers of eligible productions are intended to act in full support of that goal, and not to take or authorize any action that is inconsistent with or undermines the letter or spirit of these Rules or that goal.

Distributions: Without the prior written consent of the Managing Producer, producers may not distribute or cause or permit their agents or other representatives or affiliates to distribute any campaign or promotional materials to voters, other than a script or a cast recording (that replicates the on-stage performance of the particular production).

No Disparagement: Any public communication, oral or written, that promotes a particular production or element thereof or other candidate for a Tony Award by disparaging or casting any negative or derogatory light on a competing production, element, person or achievement, whether by name, title or otherwise, is expressly prohibited.

No Waiver: An activity that is not the subject of enforcement or penalty should not be assumed to be authorized by or acceptable to the Tony Awards Administration Committee. Similarly, no particular activity that may be found to be in violation of these Rules may be justified or exempted by reason of prior activity or the lack of enforcement or penalty.

Remedies
Violations of these rules may subject the violator to removal from eligibility to vote and/or to any other penalties as may be imposed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee in its sole discretion."

The 2006 Tony Awards will be the first to feature the category Best Recreation of a Leading Role by an Actor/Actress. The cut-off date for Tony eligibility this theatre season is May 10.

For more information, visit www.TonyAwards.com.