The cast of 'Stereophonic' performing at the Golden Theatre
The Tony Awards will have a bonus track.
After raising some eyebrows, the Tony Awards have decided to change their tune, and the cast of Stereophonic will now perform on the televised awards show. “We’re currently working through the exact details, but are thrilled about the opportunity,” wrote Jillian Robbins, a producer of the play.
Previously, the producers of the awards show denied the play a spot on the telecast, despite its composer and lyricist, Will Butler, receiving one of five nominations for the Tony Award for Best Original Score. “[F]rom what I understand, the musicals and musical revivals will be performing,” commented its playwright, David Adjmi. “We wanted to perform, but they weren’t into it,” he wrote.
“Honestly, we wish we could have everybody, but we also have to fit into a certain amount of time,” explained Ricky Kirshner, one of the executive producers of the awards show, in an earlier interview. Squeezing in performances of all of the nominated musicals and the second set of awards into the three-hour CBS telecast is like playing a game of Tetris.
But, the refusal sparked an uproar on social media, with one person working on the play commenting that he could “feel the pressure mounting over at Tony Central.”
“There’s no explanation where Stereophonic not performing makes sense,” remarked one theatergoer. “Stereophonic allegedly not performing at the Tonys is going to be my villain origin story,” quipped another fan of the play.
The change of plans announced five days before the telecast “is totally crazy,” wrote the playwright.
The Tony Awards featuring a performance from Stereophonic will be broadcast on CBS, Paramount+, and Pluto TV on Sunday, June 16.
Disclaimer: I am a principal of the theatrical production company 42nd.club, which is a co-producer of Stereophonic. However, I am not personally involved in the production.
