Theater News

Tony Awards Committee Announces Final 2008 Eligibility Decisions

Paulo Szot and Kelli O'Hara in South Pacific
(© Joan Marcus)
Paulo Szot and Kelli O’Hara in South Pacific
(© Joan Marcus)

Following a fourth and final meeting, The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced additional eligibility decisions for the 2008 Tony Awards.

Among the notable rulings is that Glory Days, which closed on its opening night, is not eligible in any category. There will be no Special Theatrical Event. Both Thurgood and The 39 Steps are in the Best New Play Category, while Top Girls will be considered in Best Revival, though the play was never produced on Broadway.

Harvey Fierstein will be considered in the Featured Actor in a Musical category for A Catered Affair. Christine Baranski will be considered in the Featured Actress in a Play category for Boeing-Boeing. Phylicia Rashad will be considered in the Featured Actress in a Play category for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Arthur Laurents was deemed eligible in the Best Direction of a Musical category for Gypsy, although he has directed two previous Broadway productions of the show.


James Snyder and Elizabeth Stanley will be considered respectively in the Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical categories for Cry-Baby. Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood will be considered respectively in the Leading Actor and Actress in a Play categories for Macbeth. Paulo Szot and Kelli O’Hara will be considered respectively in the Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical categories for South Pacific.

As per opening night credits, Tom Wopat will be eligible in the Lead Actor in a Musical category for A Catered Affair; James Earl Jones will be eligible in the Lead Actor in a Play category for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Peter Gallagher will be eligible in the Lead Actor in a Play category for The Country Girl; and all of the performers in Top Girls will be considered in the Featured Actress in a Play category.

The Tony Award nominations will be announced on Tuesday, May 13. Academy Award winner and Tony Award winner Whoopi Goldberg will host the 62nd Annual Tony Awards, which will be presented beginning at 8pm on Sunday, June 15 at Radio City Music Hall and aired live on CBS-TV.

For additional eligibility decisions for the 2007-2008 season, click on the following links:

First eligibility meeting
Second eligibility meeting
Third eligibility meeting

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