This year’s Tony Awards, which have been in jeopardy since Hollywood’s writers went on strike earlier this month, have announced that the Writers Guild will not be picketing the show on Monday night. It was decided to be held as planned in a modified form.
The Writers Guild of America, which represents the writers, said in a statement late Monday: “We stand by our Broadway colleagues affected by the strike, just as they stand by us.” Stated.
The union, which is scheduled to air on CBS on June 11, will be different from past ceremonies, the union said. However, the union did not elaborate on what those differences would look like, and Tony management was not immediately available for comment. The broadcast is expected to continue to feature awards recognizing the best plays and musicals of the 2022-23 Broadway season, but what about musical productions, which is a key marketing opportunity for many shows? It is not clear if they will be affected.
“Tony Award Productions (a joint venture between the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing) plans to modify this year’s show in response to specific requests from the WGA, so the WGA will not be picketing the show. told us,” the union said in a statement. “The responsibility for having to change the format of the 2023 Tony Awards rests directly on the shoulders of Paramount/CBS and their allies. ing”
While the Tony Awards don’t see as much viewership as other awards ceremonies, televised ceremonies represent a significant marketing opportunity for the theater industry, which is still well below pre-pandemic attendance figures. there is