Tony Awards have ‘no plan,’ going back to WGA

nypost.com:

effectively canceled the broadcast, which was set to air on CBS Sunday, June 11.The Monday meeting was meant to pick an alternate route, but came up with jack squat, sources told The Post.“Big surprise: No plan or conclusion,” said one annoyed source familiar with the talks.Instead, the Tonys will appeal to the WGA to again attempt (in vain, trust me) to squeeze a waiver out of the striking union and go forward with a normal telecast.“They’re trying to exhaust that one,” the source added. “A Hail Mary.”An incredulous insider pointed out, “There has not been a single waiver issued!”The Post has reached out to the Tony Awards for comment.While a script for the Tonys is said to have been written, other entertainment industry unions — the Directors Guild, Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity and more — are standing in solidarity with the WGA.

A waiver would be required for their participation. And, of course, the writers of the nominated plays and musicals are members of the Writers Guild and would certainly not attend.With all that in mind, the Broadway League has been said to be in favor of announcing the winners on-schedule at a podium.

Meanwhile, the American Theatre Wing would like the Tonys to be delayed until the strike is over, which could be months, for the TV exposure.

Neither option is perfect, but by the time the strike ends many nominated productions that are struggling at the box office will have closed.