New York Drama Critics' Circle Members to be Reinstated as Tony Voters

Altering a policy change implemented last year, Tony Award Productions has announced that the 20 members of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle will be reinstated as Tony voters in the 2010-2011 season. The Tony administrators had removed about 100 theater journalists on the so-called “first night” press list from the voting ranks this season.

“We recognize that the recent decision to rescind the votes of the press was perceived as a slight against journalists, and in particular the working theater critics,” Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of the Broadway League, and Howard Sherman, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, said in a statement. “The Tony Awards maintain a profound respect for the media community as partners in advocating for the value of live theater and we deeply regret if offense was inadvertently given. We believe that the selection of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle is consistent with our policy of authorizing independent theatrical organizations (including labor unions and creative guilds) to determine which members of their professional constituency may vote. We are very pleased that the Drama Critics' Circle has accepted this offer."

The New York Drama Critics’ Circle currently includes theater critics from the city’s daily newspapers, magazines and news services. (Critics from The New York Times are not permitted by their paper to join.) The Critics’ Circle has been shrinking in the past few years as the number of full-time reviewing positions has gotten smaller. The group includes only one member from an internet outlet, David Finkle of Theatermania.com.