Big River Number Nixed from Tony Telecast
by Broadway Staff • May 25, 2004
The acclaimed Deaf West/Roundabout Theatre production of Big River, which is up for a Best Revival Tony Award, will not be allowed to present a performance during the CBS telecast of the June 6 award ceremony. "CBS has a new rule stating that a show must be running on Broadway to be eligible to perform and therefore Big River is not eligible," a Roundabout spokesperson told Broadway.com.
Amour, a 2003 Best Musical Tony nominee, was the first casualty of this rule. The musical could not perform on last year's telecast. The Roundabout spokesperson said his understanding was that the CBS policy was created because, in the past, the network had not been happy with the presentations of closed shows, owing to budgetary and time constraints.
Amour, a 2003 Best Musical Tony nominee, was the first casualty of this rule. The musical could not perform on last year's telecast. The Roundabout spokesperson said his understanding was that the CBS policy was created because, in the past, the network had not been happy with the presentations of closed shows, owing to budgetary and time constraints.
However Big River's situation is different from that of many other shows. While it did indeed close on Broadway a while ago ending its limited engagement at the American Airlines Theater on September 21, 2003, it is currently in rehearsals for a North American tour with Broadway leads Daniel H. Jenkins, Tyrone Giordano and Michael McElroy and the original sets and costumes. Thus, the show is currently in working order.
Nevertheless Big River will not be allowed to do a production number, but there will be video footage of the production.
A Tony spokesperson was not available to comment on the issue.