Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
CMU School of Drama
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Equity Launches Campaign for Tony Awards Chorus + Ensemble Category
Backstage: Actors’ Equity, the nation’s union for live theater actors and stage managers, has launched a campaign petitioning the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League to offer a new category in the Tony Awards: best chorus and best ensemble in a musical or play.
5 comments:
Evan Schild
said...
I am not sure how to feel about this push for two new tony categories. I do think there needs to be some recognition for the ensemble of a show. I do know if there needs to be two separate awards. I think they should have either or. I think this will help the shows as it could be good publicity for the show. It adds another layer to the marketing aspect of it. One problem I have of this is that the actual tony awards always goes over the time limit. They stopped arising the design categories on CBS. With the addition of these two, what will be lost to make up the time? They have added back sound which is great but I have a feeling they might lose one award to make up for it. I also wonder what would happen to the shows who are nominated, will the show who wins best musical also win best ensemble? I think this will play out interestingly.
I think the idea of adding a chorus + ensemble award category to the Tony Awards is a great idea. My hometown does a small-scale theatre awards modeled after the Tony's with the exception being that they have a "Best Chorus" award. I think this award boosts morale for so many people as well as honoring chorus-work as something that people pursue rather than just being a stepping stone to being a principle actor. As seen in honored traditions, such as the Gypsy Robe, chorus members often bare a huge role in the shows they work on with not much glitz and glam. From a logistical stance, I can understand how adding more and more categories eventually becomes horrendously long, as Evan mentioned. I would hate for any other awards to get taken out to make up for the addition, especially knowing design categories could be the first on the chopping block. Ultimately, I hope this campaign is able to be realized in the Tony Awards 2019, or perhaps 2020.
I have mixed feelings about adding a chorus and ensemble Tony. Being a member of the chorus is a hard job. They are often in huge parts of the show with complex choreography and vocal parts. I see no problem with giving them the credit they deserve, However, the Tony’s already glance over major parts of the production team. The Tony’s do not broadcast the design awards and saying ‘Everyone Onstage’ neglects individuals who are a crucial part of the production because they are not onstage. It may make sense to make the Tony Awards to be strictly about the actors and performers, and if that is where the committee decides to take the awards I could understand that. That being said, I think it is extremely important to honor the designers and the hard work they put into the production. I wonder what direction the Tony committee will go in and what they will decide to do in regards to these potential awards.
I, as other people have mentioned, am unsure of how to feel about this award. I do think that, with the ceremony as long as it is, adding another award might end up with the taking away of another, especially if both Best Chorus and Best Ensemble are both added to the list. I do see the need for recognition of both of these areas, as these categories can often take a mediocre show to the top or bring down an amazing set of lead actors and actresses. I would hate to see a design category go in favour of these awards, however, as they are already not aired due to the length of the ceremony. I hope that all of these factors are considered, and that if the Tony Awards decides to include these categories, they will not do it at the expense of the backstage work that is just as important to the creation and success of a show.
No, No, No, a Thousand times no. This is a bad idea. Next thing is that people will want an Oscar category for all the extras appearing in a film. The Tony awards are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the top, the best of the best of the best. By adding a Best Ensemble category, will, I fear, diminish the recognition that those who are nominated have worked so hard to achieve. To echo Evan, what award will get cut from the broadcast? The show already runs over. We don’t even get to see the Lighting or Set design winners. Instead of adding categories, I think a few need to be cut as well as some of the filler production numbers so that we see all of the awards that are presented. I don’t watch the tony awards for the flashy production numbers, I go see the shows to see that. I watch the Tony awards to see who from this past season has risen to the echelons of history as an industry standard of excellence in the performing arts, either acting or design. I suggest that if, as an actor in an ensemble, you want a Tony award for your work, then find a way to get out of the ensemble and become a lead in a show. Get your name and bio out there and your work out there for producers to see. Actors Equity would do better for fight for the actors in terms of trying to reduce housing costs in NYC than to appeal to the American Theatre Wing for a new category that really amounts to a participation trophy and would, in my opinion, undermine the excellence and status of the Tony award.
5 comments:
I am not sure how to feel about this push for two new tony categories. I do think there needs to be some recognition for the ensemble of a show. I do know if there needs to be two separate awards. I think they should have either or. I think this will help the shows as it could be good publicity for the show. It adds another layer to the marketing aspect of it. One problem I have of this is that the actual tony awards always goes over the time limit. They stopped arising the design categories on CBS. With the addition of these two, what will be lost to make up the time? They have added back sound which is great but I have a feeling they might lose one award to make up for it. I also wonder what would happen to the shows who are nominated, will the show who wins best musical also win best ensemble? I think this will play out interestingly.
I think the idea of adding a chorus + ensemble award category to the Tony Awards is a great idea. My hometown does a small-scale theatre awards modeled after the Tony's with the exception being that they have a "Best Chorus" award. I think this award boosts morale for so many people as well as honoring chorus-work as something that people pursue rather than just being a stepping stone to being a principle actor. As seen in honored traditions, such as the Gypsy Robe, chorus members often bare a huge role in the shows they work on with not much glitz and glam. From a logistical stance, I can understand how adding more and more categories eventually becomes horrendously long, as Evan mentioned. I would hate for any other awards to get taken out to make up for the addition, especially knowing design categories could be the first on the chopping block. Ultimately, I hope this campaign is able to be realized in the Tony Awards 2019, or perhaps 2020.
I have mixed feelings about adding a chorus and ensemble Tony. Being a member of the chorus is a hard job. They are often in huge parts of the show with complex choreography and vocal parts. I see no problem with giving them the credit they deserve, However, the Tony’s already glance over major parts of the production team. The Tony’s do not broadcast the design awards and saying ‘Everyone Onstage’ neglects individuals who are a crucial part of the production because they are not onstage. It may make sense to make the Tony Awards to be strictly about the actors and performers, and if that is where the committee decides to take the awards I could understand that. That being said, I think it is extremely important to honor the designers and the hard work they put into the production. I wonder what direction the Tony committee will go in and what they will decide to do in regards to these potential awards.
I, as other people have mentioned, am unsure of how to feel about this award. I do think that, with the ceremony as long as it is, adding another award might end up with the taking away of another, especially if both Best Chorus and Best Ensemble are both added to the list. I do see the need for recognition of both of these areas, as these categories can often take a mediocre show to the top or bring down an amazing set of lead actors and actresses. I would hate to see a design category go in favour of these awards, however, as they are already not aired due to the length of the ceremony. I hope that all of these factors are considered, and that if the Tony Awards decides to include these categories, they will not do it at the expense of the backstage work that is just as important to the creation and success of a show.
No, No, No, a Thousand times no. This is a bad idea. Next thing is that people will want an Oscar category for all the extras appearing in a film. The Tony awards are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the top, the best of the best of the best. By adding a Best Ensemble category, will, I fear, diminish the recognition that those who are nominated have worked so hard to achieve. To echo Evan, what award will get cut from the broadcast? The show already runs over. We don’t even get to see the Lighting or Set design winners. Instead of adding categories, I think a few need to be cut as well as some of the filler production numbers so that we see all of the awards that are presented. I don’t watch the tony awards for the flashy production numbers, I go see the shows to see that. I watch the Tony awards to see who from this past season has risen to the echelons of history as an industry standard of excellence in the performing arts, either acting or design. I suggest that if, as an actor in an ensemble, you want a Tony award for your work, then find a way to get out of the ensemble and become a lead in a show. Get your name and bio out there and your work out there for producers to see. Actors Equity would do better for fight for the actors in terms of trying to reduce housing costs in NYC than to appeal to the American Theatre Wing for a new category that really amounts to a participation trophy and would, in my opinion, undermine the excellence and status of the Tony award.
Post a Comment