Wasser Associates to Replace McCann in Managing Tony Awards

Alan Wasser Associates has been named general manager of the 2009 Tony Awards, replacing Elizabeth I. McCann and her business partner Joey Parnes. McCann had been managing producer of the Tonys since 2001. Wasser and his associate Allan Williams have served as general managers for Broadway shows such as Cirque Dreams, Les Miserables, Grey Gardens and A Chorus Line.

News reports noted that the CBS telecast of the Tony ceremony has drawn poor ratings in recent years. Whoopi Goldberg hosted the 2008 Tonys, which featured musical numbers from almost every show that opened during the season, not just Best Musical and Best Revival nominees. The Tony telecast, set for June 7, 2009, will once again be produced by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment. The Tonys are administered jointly by the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing.