In an awesomely bitchy column today, the Post’s Michael Riedel blasts the decision by the producers of this Sunday’s Tony awards to cut the presentation of statues in categories like revival of a play, choreography, and book of a musical — in favor of performances by the touring productions of Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, and, for some reason, Legally Blonde. (Also collecting their awards at a pre-telecast “creative arts†ceremony will be the winners for lighting, set design, and costumes.) The move — more or less tantamount to the Oscars cutting the screenplay awards to show clips from Paul Blart — is the result of a mandate from theater expert (and CBS head) Les Moonves, who thinks ratings would improve with more singing and dancing and less speech-making. We can’t imagine this will actually work — why can’t they spare us the crapola and just bring back Jackman?
TONY SQUEEZES OUT DRAMA [NYP]