Tonys to Add New Category for Best Replacment Performance

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met today for the first time in the 2005-2006 season to decide eligibility for the first five Broadway shows to open this season and to announce a new Tony Award category, Best Performance by an Actor/Actress Recreating a Role.

The Administration Committee has established guidelines by which it may Award an Actor or Actress for an Outstanding Performance in a Recreated Role.

In order for a performer in a Recreated Role to be eligible for a Tony Award the actor or actress must not have appeared in the role when the production opened on Broadway. They must also be contracted in the role for a minimum of six months of public performances. Additionally, the producers may not submit more than two candidates per "Long-Running" Show for the Award (including both Actor and Actress) for any such season.

A "Long-Running" show includes all eligible Broadway theatre productions that have opened in a prior season, continues to be performed on a reasonably conventional playing schedule, and was eligible for nomination for a Tony Award for Best Play, Best Musical, Best Revival. Those eligible for Recreated Role must be playing a role which was eligible for Best Performance category by a Leading Actor or Leading Actress for the Tony Awards given for the season in which such production first opened.

Additionally, the Tony Administration Committee today decided the eligibility of the first five Broadway shows to open this season, After the Night and the Music, The Constant Wife, Primo, The Blonde in the Thunderbird and Lennon.

It was determined by the Tony Administration Committee that The Blonde in the Thunderbird will be considered in the "Special Theatrical Event" category.

All other decisions were consistent with the opening night credits.

Today is the first day the Tony Awards Administration Committee has met to discuss eligibility for nominations for the 2006 Tony Awards. They will meet three more times to consider shows opening in the 2005-2006 season. The official cut-off for Tony eligibility for 2005-2006 season will be Wednesday, May 10th.

Celebrating their 60th Anniversary, the 2006 Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS television network Sunday, June 11th. The 2006 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing.