Tony Awards to "Retire" Special Theatrical Event Category

The Tony Awards will “retire” the Special Theatrical Event category beginning with the 2009-2010 season. This change was approved by the Tony Awards Administration and Management Committees and announced on June 18.

According to a news release announcing the change, the Tony rules now state, “Shows which were formerly considered eligible in the Special Theatrical Event category, if they meet the necessary Tony eligibility requirements, will be placed into eligibility in either the Best Play or Best Musical categories. The Administration Committee will retain its ability to award a Special Tony Award to productions or any element thereof, worthy of extraordinary recognition. Additionally, by eliminating the category of Special Theatrical Event, all elements of all productions will now be eligible for nomination in all the other creative categories, which was precluded for productions eligible as Special Theatrical Events under the prior rules.”

The Special Theatrical Event category was established in 2001 and has been awarded to Blast! (2001), Elaine Stritch at Liberty (2002), Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam (2003), 700 Sundays (2004), Jay Johnson: The Two and Only (2007) and Liza’s at the Palace (2009).

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.