Last week, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center’s President Susan Stockton had
a chance to chat about her role as a voting member of the Tony Awards®. It was a very busy time as she had just returned from a week
in New York, attending the Broadway League Conference and squeezing in every
possible Tony-nominated performance before she casts her votes.
But just what
does it mean to be a Tony voter?
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| Fox Cities P.A.C. President Susan Stockton |
Q: How do you get to be a Tony voter?
Stockton: The criteria for who can be a Tony
voter changes from time to time, but basically it’s divided into two
categories: presenters and producers. Obviously, I fall into the category of
presenter based on my work here at the Center. Initially, you have to be
recommended by a current Tony voter and submit an extensive resume, highlighting
your theater background. I first became a Tony voter during the 2004/05 Season,
and now each year, I have to annually re-qualify based on the number of
eligible Broadway weeks we present at the Fox Cities P.A.C.
Q: How many Tony voters are there?
Stockton: The numbers vary somewhat from year
to year, but it’s generally between 750-800. This year, I think there are 830 qualified
voters.
Q: How does the Tony voting process
work?
Stockton: The Tony season actually runs from
July through a cut-off date that’s set in April. Early in the year, qualifying Tony
voters are sent a signature card to verify their authenticity against their
ballot later in the year, and from there you see as many shows as possible. In
the interest of keeping travel expenses in check, I try to see 5-8 shows every
time I’m in New York. On my most recent trip, I saw 11 shows back to back.
From there, I
go home and spend quite a lot of time considering my experience at the show and
how it resonated with the audience. I review scripts and scores and other
promotional materials that the producers may send. It’s much more than just
seeing a show and then casting a vote. I have to consider the outstanding
features and merits of each show and qualify those against the other nominees.
After a lot of deliberation, I cast my vote in the mail.
One of the
amazing things about the Tonys is that votes are due on Friday, June 8, leaving
only two days to calculate the winners before the live show on June 10. It’s
amazing how quickly the awards come together.
Q. What, to you, makes a show Tony
worthy?
Stockton: My votes are focused on the art form
rather than an interest in the show’s success. I look for shows that are
thoughtfully put together and which clearly show that the creative team
invested a lot of energy in its development. I like interesting shows and
productions that are relevant and compelling. For me, theater has to resonate
with an audience and really engage people to earn my vote.
Q. Do you have any favorites this
season? What is your all-time favorite Broadway show?
Stockton: I don’t have favorites, this year or
thinking in terms of all-time. I think this year there are a lot of great shows
and some really stunning performances. It’s an especially rich play season, and
there are quite a few plays, which is terrific. But I think as theatergoers, we
attach ourselves to a work at a certain point of time, and it’s powerful
because it resonates to our frame of mind.
I remember
one play titled Journey’s End a few
years ago. It was beautifully staged and well acted, and it took place in the
trenches of World War I. It resonated so well because the country was at war,
and that made it especially poignant and moving. But I wouldn’t say it’s my
favorite today because my frame of mind has shifted since then. It’s always a
changing landscape, and I think that’s the challenge of theater – to tap into
something that’s eternally relevant.
Q. How does your connection with the Tony Awards apply to your role at the Fox
Cities P.A.C.?
Stockton: Being a part of the Tony Awards is
important for any organization that wants to present high quality, eligible
shows. First, it drives you to make sure you are seeing every show you can
every year. Overtime, seeing the current shows adds to your cannon of knowledge
and gives you the tools to be conversant in dialogue with producers.
It also
helps me gauge a production’s quality because the touring shows, while they are
not exact copies of the Broadway productions, have the same elements of design
and choreography. You become familiar with the creative teams and the actors
and actresses, and it’s good to be familiar with their work when they head out
on tour.
All of the
knowledge and involvement helps me, as a representative of the Center, as we
build our Broadway seasons. It’s highly competitive, and I think it certainly
gives the Center an edge to have a staff well-versed in the current theater
trends on Broadway and around the country.
1. Check out the list of nominees and visit the Fox Cities P.A.C. Facebook and Twitter pages and post which Tony nominated shows you want to come to the Fox Cities!
