Would this be possible in the states?

[dramamama611]

I watched the Olivier awards for the first time this year and learned that London has TWO major award shows...in two different seasons.

During the last few weeks, I've been wondering if that would make a difference here...an awards show in November (for example) that would only look at shows opening from May to Oct for example. Would that give those shows a better chance to be noticed and therefore stay alive longer? And to survive to the Tonys? maybe it doesn't need to be either or. (I'm not sure how London's shows cover it.)

I know that it would take a while before it could be an effective tool (people would need to become knowledgeable). Maybe it should even be the drama desks that 'move'.

Thoughts? (I'm not sure myself if it would actually make a difference.)

[MusicalBoy]

London has two major awards shows?

[Mister Matt]

The other is the Evening Standard awards, correct?

[dramamama611]

I'm not really sure, it was just mentioned in a little outside reporter spot. And I don't know much about how it works.

[Patash]

Ummm. You mean like how we have the Tony Awards and the Drama Critic Awards and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards? Yea, I'd think it could work in the US.

[dramamama611]

No, not like that because they are all around the same time of the year. My question was about having one (even if it is MOVING one) to a different time of year...as it seems London does.

[SNAFU]

The difference being, Patash, the two awards in England are months apart. No ll jambed into in few week period. I believe that was Dramamama's point.

Having been nominated for a Drama Desk award two years ago for a show that ended up closing in January ment that none of the voters had a chance to see my show once it was nominated. Yes, I believe that perhaps staggering the Awards might work very well. Might even save some good shows by finding them an audience.

[Gothampc]

Assuming that an award means something. Bad shows get awards and good shows close. I don't think changing award show dates will make that much difference.

[dramamama611]

But would those shows that get acclaim during the fall season be able to find more of an audience if there were an awards show in the late fall? For example...if Scottsboro boys had been part of a late fall awards show, might that exposure have gotten to last longer?

And I'm really just trying to think about this from all angles.

[henryt]

Ken Davenport beat you to it.

[Gaveston2]

A belated congrats to SNAFU on his Drama Desk nomination.

I think the idea of moving one of the awards shows to December is a great idea! Let those awards consider shows from the entire calendar year, rather than from the theatrical season. (If we're honest, the theater "season" is a rather artificial concept now that theaters have air conditioning and shows don't close for the summer.)

That would put different shows in competition against one another (Jan. to Dec., rather than June to May) and give a p.r. boost to the nominees and winners just before business drops in January.

And it would allow one set of awards to step out from under the shadow of the Tonys.