Broadway News: On Feb. 1, the Tony Awards Administration Committee announced its first eligibility rulings for the 2022-2023 season. Soon after, “& Juliet” cast member Justin David Sullivan shared that they removed themselves from Tony Awards eligibility consideration due to the categorization of performance awards by gender.
8 comments:
All the clips that I have seen of Justin as May in & Juliet have been absolutely stunning and I think that there is no question that their performance was tony worthy. This is why I was so devastated to hear that they could not be considered for nomination. The fact that they were forced to either choose a gendered category or deny any nomination for the Tony Awards is completely unfair and unjust. Every person deserves the ability to succeed and be applauded for their art and they were denied this opportunity. I am very glad to hear that the team behind & Juliet supports them completely and am saddened that they have to in the first place. I am also glad to hear that the Tonys are trying to change and become more inclusive in the future but unfortunately, that doesn’t fix anything that’s happening now. I wish that Justin could get their nomination now and I hope that one day, they get their Tony.
It’s disheartening to hear that Justin had to abstain from this year’s Tony Awards eligibility. Although I have not seen ‘& Juliet’ and don’t know much about the story or the cast, I still agree with Justin’s statement. From my perspective, I’m more curious as to why situations like this are still happening, especially so frequently during the awards season (across any type of entertainment and performing arts). I feel like this is not the first time I’ve heard of discouraging events like this happening in recent years. Especially when the Tony’s Award is such an important and event that many will attend or watch, I don’t quite understand why the change has not yet been made. Since it’s too late to change for this year’s season, I really hope this is fixed by next season, and that the committee will address this directly. As for the statement from the ‘& Juliet’ producers, I’m happy to see that they are standing with Justin. Hopefully one day I will get to watch the show in person and witness Justin’s amazing performance.
It is so unfair that they had to pull out for consideration for a Tony award. I would hate to have worked that hard, be considered for a Tony award, and then have to not accept because there wasn’t a category for me. I think the presenters of the Tony awards should have reviewed this a long long time ago. Non-binary performers have been on Broadway for years… so why have they just expected them to conform to a specific gender for their nomination?? Why do the awards even have to be based on gender anyways. It’s also not fair that it took this course of action for the Tony Awards to even consider having an option for performers who don’t want to be placed in one of the two gender categories. I hope the awards are able to bring a more inclusive category, and I am proud of Justin for their bravery and for the inspiration they are starting.
I relate to the actor Justin David Sullivan a little too much when it comes to this decision. Early this year I played a non binary role as a non binary actor in a community that has local theater awards. Unlike the actor who played May I opted to be considered under the birth sex of the character I was playing but was made very uncomfortable by the whole situation. I would have thought that broadway and the tony awards which are supposed to be the peak of American theater would have evolved an innovation to include all genders but I guess not. There has to be another way to separate awards besides gender. I hope the Broadway League and Tony organizations learn that their actions and exclusion have real effects on real communities in the theatrical world and are not arbitrary no matter what it might seem. The fact that this article was written gives me hope for the future.
Theo
In addition to everything my peers have already mentioned, the article raises important questions about the eligibility criteria for awards in the theater industry. The case of Justin David Sullivan highlights the challenges of determining what constitutes a "leading role" and the potential for gray areas in the eligibility rules.
The producers' comments highlight the difficulty in making such a determination and the subjectivity involved in the decision-making process. This raises the question of whether or not the current eligibility criteria are adequate or whether they need to be reevaluated to better reflect the changing landscape of the theater industry.
At the same time, the article also raises the importance of fairness and consistency in the awards process. Awards are meant to recognize outstanding achievements and provide recognition to those who have made significant contributions to the industry. Therefore, it is essential that the eligibility criteria are clear and transparent, allowing for a fair and equitable evaluation of all nominees.
I saw this performance of and Juliet on Broadway in December and I definitely think it was Tony worthy so the fact that they were nominated but the Tonys are still so behind that they didn’t have a category to be inclusive of non-binary actors it’s really sad. This is possibly their very first big nomination and it was probably really difficult to give it up but I’m sure they knew that by giving this up they were going to start change which will be better for the theater community as a whole. I know that Justin’s performance was amazing and I think it would only be right of the tony’s to make an award password and make sure that Justin gets nominated for this award. I think that many award shows are going to be changing there systems very soon, it has always been a very gendered system and that just won’t cut it anymore.
You know I was waiting for something like this to happen. I’m honestly surprised no one has said anything to them before and that they waited for someone to deny eligibility before seriously working for change. The Arts is a safe space for self expression for so many, so it's a bit crushing to know that safe space also denies you a chance to be recognized as yourself for your work. Justin seems to be getting support from the community as well as the producing team, which is very good. It's unfortunate to hear that changes cannot be made after a season has begun. But more concerning is the fact that they didn't solve this issue before the season started. LGBTQ+ people are not exactly a secret on Broadway. I’m glad they recognize now that there is an issue. My worry is simply that it took them so long. My thoughts are with Justin as they go through this Tony season. Turning down opportunities can weigh heavy on a heart, even if it may have been the right decision.
I do not believe the Tonys could not change their awards in the middle of a season. They are seen and respected as the most significant theatre award show, and they financially could afford to make inclusive categories whenever they choose to. However, they are functioning based on an old system while trying to pretend to care about their progressive industry. At home, we had an award system called The Cappies, which established their awards of the Tonys. In 2021 we lobbied for them to change their systems and awards to be more gender inclusive as we knew that the shows in their season included nonbinary characters. They said no. This is not the first time that big theatre organizations have invalidated the art and hard work of trans and nonbinary people and communities. It frustrates me that it takes prominent news stories to cause change, but alas, I'll get what I can get for now.
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