THE Tony Award administration committee yesterday ruled that “Contact” – Susan Stroman’s self-described “dance play” – is in fact a musical.
The ruling means that “Contact” can be nominated for Best Musical, an award it is likely to win.
During the meeting, some committee members argued that “Contact” was not a musical, since it does not have an original score and uses pre-recorded pop and jazz standards. But the argument was made “only half-heartedly,” one committee member said.
The meeting lasted just over an hour and, unlike past gatherings, was not contentious.
Two old plays – “True West” (1980) and “Waiting in the Wings” (1960) – were deemed new plays because they have not been performed on Broadway until this season.
The ruling sets the stage for a potentially fierce battle between “True West” and “Copenhagen” for the Tony for Best Play.
Although the producers had asked that Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly – who alternate roles in “True West” – be considered as one entity in the Best Actor category, the committee said the actors would be considered individually, only for the role they played on opening night.
“Riverdance” was made eligible as a musical.
The performance-art piece “Squonk,” however, was rejected both as a musical and a play.
The committee also said that Sherie Rene Scott, one of the leads in “Aida,” can be put in the Featured Actress category, meaning she won’t go up against co-star Heather Headley, a strong contender for Best Actress in a Musical.