Who? When? How?! Your Tony Voting Process Questions Answered Here
How many Tony Award voters are there?
There are approximately 750 people eligible to vote on the Tony Awards.
Who are these voters?
While the list of Tony voters is not available for public consumption, people who are eligible to vote include: the board of directors and designated members of the advisory committee of the American Theatre Wing, members of the governing boards of Actors' Equity Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, United Scenic Artists and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, those persons whose names appear on the first night press list, members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America and active members of the League of American Theatres and Producers.
Do these voters see every nominated shows?
Tony regulations stipulate that a voter is not allowed to vote in a category where he or she has not seen all the productions eligible in said category. A statement to that effect is printed right on the ballot. However no one checks to make sure a voter attended all the productions and there are those who unfortunately break this rule. Voters have been known to give their complimentary tickets away to shows they do not want to see. In the last few years, certain box offices have been checking identification cards of those picking up Tony tickets to insure that the person who is supposed to be seeing the show is actually going to the show. In the coming years there is expected to be tighter supervision of this process.
What do shows do to try to sway Tony voters?
When does voting occur?
It is typical for Tony voters to be invited shortly after a show opens, sometimes long before the nominations come out. Nominated shows that open early in the season usually issue another invite to Tony voters following the nomination announcement. Shows must invite all Tony voters at least once to be eligible for the awards.
While some actors step up their performance when they know Tony voters are in the audience, most of the wooing done by productions is of the off-stage variety. Producers frequently host lunches, cocktail hours or parties for voters. There is also often swag sent out by nominated productions. Gifts lavished on voters range from everything to a simple CD to a specially-created bag full of goodies.
Ballots are mailed to all voters shortly after the nominations are announced. These ballots are due on the Friday before the Tony Awards, which this year is Friday, June 3.