Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony : Theatre | Oscar : Film | Emmy : Television | Grammy : Music
The Tony Awards are to Broadway’s (New York City’s) theatrical productions what the Oscars are to film, what the Emmy Awards are to television, and the Grammy Awards are to the music industry.
The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (Tony Awards) are presented annually in more than 25 categories. In this article, I’ll be discussing just one award category—my favorite award—Best Musical.
What is the Tony Award for Best Musical?
Tony Awards—awards of excellence in the theatre industry in New York City—have been presented since 1947. A Best Musical Tony Award has been presented since 1950 to the producer of the musical theatre production voted the Best Musical to have opened its run on Broadway during the past year.
Who votes for the Tony Awards?
The voting procedure and list of eligible voters for the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (Tony Awards) has changed several times over the years. Currently, there are approximately 700 persons eligible to vote for the Tony Award nominees. Among these people are the board of directors of the American Theatre Wing; voting members of the Broadway League; members of the governing boards of several organizations—Actors' Equity Association, Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, Dramatists Guild, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, United Scenic Artists; members of the Theatrical Council of the Casting Society of America; and members of the Tony Awards Nominating Committee.
Best Musical 2013: Kinky Boots
Voters Must Attend All Nominated Productions
All persons eligible to vote for the Tony Award nominees must attend all nominated productions in the more than 25 voting categories. If someone hasn't attended a performance of all dramas or musicals in a given category, it is expected that they not vote in that category.
Best Musical — 2012: Once
The Tony Award for Best Musical in 2012 was presented to Once. The production is an adaptation of a movie of the same name, the setting for which is a bar in Dublin, Ireland. The musical is expected to open in the West End of London, England on April 9, 2013 at the Phoenix Theatre.
The video which follows is from the 2012 Tony Awards presentation televison program.
Best Musical — 2011: The Book of Mormon
The Tony Award for Best Musical in 2011 was presented to The Book of Mormon, a religious satire musical from the same team which created South Park. The video which follows is from the 2011 Tony Awards presentation television program.
Best Musical — 2010: Memphis
Memphis received the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2010. The video which follows is from the 2010 Tony Awards presentation television program.
Best Musical Tony Award Winners for the Past 30 years
YEAR
| MUSICAL
|
---|---|
2013
| Kinky Boots
|
2012
| Once
|
2011
| The Book of Mormon
|
2010
| Memphis
|
2009
| Billy Elliot the Musical
|
2008
| In the Heights
|
2007
| Spring Awakening
|
2006
| Jersey Boys
|
2005
| Monty Python's Spamalot
|
2004
| Avenue Q
|
2003
| Hairspray
|
2002
| Thoroughly Modern Millie
|
2001
| The Producers
|
2000
| Contact
|
1999
| Fosse
|
1998
| The Lion King
|
1997
| Titanic
|
1996
| Rent
|
1995
| Sunset Boulevard
|
1994
| Passion
|
1993
| Kiss of the Spider Woman
|
1992
| Crazy for You
|
1991
| The Will Rogers Follies
|
1990
| City of Angels
|
1989
| Jerome Robbins' Broadway
|
1988
| The Phantom of the Opera
|
1987
| Les Misérables
|
1986
| Drood
|
1985
| Big River
|
1984
| La Cage aux Folles
|
Best Musical — 1987: Les Misérables
Les Misérables received the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1987. The video which follows is a full-length concert version of the musical—with a "dream cast" from several productions of the show—presented on the10th anniversary of the show's opening in New York City.