The Tony Awards for Broadway are approaching, and this season is seeing a shift towards recognizing ensembles and women in directing roles. Actors’ Equity also gives out awards for Broadway choruses, with 21 of the 23 musicals that opened this season being eligible for consideration. This year, there is a strong chance of more women directors winning prizes, with seven out of the 10 possible directing slots being filled by women.
Two pairs of actors playing married characters were nominated for Tony Awards, but their shows, “Days of Wine and Roses” and “The Notebook,” did not receive nominations for best musical. Despite this, “Days of Wine and Roses” picked up a nomination for score, and “The Notebook” received one for book. The revival of “Cabaret” from the West End, which won seven Olivier awards, received a nomination for best revival of a musical on Broadway, along with nods for its actors, such as Eddie Redmayne, Gayle Rankin, Bebe Neuwirth, and Steven Skybell.
“The Wiz,” a much-anticipated revival, did not receive any Tony nominations this season, despite being a hit with audiences. Critics’ negative reviews of the show’s look, script, and performances seemed to have influenced the Tony nominators’ decision. This is in contrast to the original Broadway production of “The Wiz” in 1975, which won seven Tony awards. The revival’s lack of recognition highlights the subjective nature of artistic judgment and awards nominations in the theater world.
Overall, the Tony Awards are starting to shift towards recognizing ensembles and women in directing roles. The current season has a higher percentage of women directors in contention for awards, including names like Anne Kauffman, Lila Neugebauer, and Whitney White. The recognition of ensembles and women directors in the theater world is an important step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse industry that reflects the talents and contributions of all individuals involved in creating Broadway productions.
