Canceled? Postponed? No one knows at this point. Where the hell is Patti LuPone when you need her?

The Hollywood Reporter, has broken the news that this years Tony Awards will not be televised on June 11. The committee submitted a WGA waiver for the Tony Awards to air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on June 11, but it was denied.

“The two alternative courses of action apparently being weighed are: (a) stick with the date of June 11 and hold a non-televised presentation of the awards, perhaps in the form of an intimate dinner or press conference with nominees and media in attendance; or (b) postpone the ceremony until the strike comes to an end and the show can be televised.”

The management committee has set an emergency meeting for Monday morning to determine the best path forward..

Insiders say that representatives of the Broadway League support the first option, as many shows may not be able to survive without the imprimatur of a Tony on their marquees and promotional materials. While The American Theater Wing, however, is more open to a delay, as that organization is seen as the guardian of the Tony Awards brand, which would not be helped by a non-televised presentation.

The last WGA strike lasted for three months in 2007-08. The 2023 strike officially began on May 2, 2023, with main issues revolving around increased pay, better residuals from streaming media, AI “writing” regulation, and staffing minimum requirements

The awards are named after Antoinette “Tony” Perry, an actress, producer, and director who co-founded the American Theatre Wing in 1917. The first Tony Awards ceremony was held in 1947.

The idea for the Tony Awards came from a group of theatre professionals who wanted to create an awards ceremony that would celebrate the best of Broadway theatre. The American Theatre Wing, which was created to support and promote the theatre, took on the task of organizing the awards, along with the League of New York Theatres, which represents theatre owners and producers.

The first Tony Awards ceremony was held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The top award of the night, Best Play, went to Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” while Best Musical went to “Brigadoon.”

Over the years, the Tony Awards have grown in prestige and popularity, and they have become an important event in the entertainment industry. The awards recognize not only performers on Broadway, but also the directors, writers, designers, and producers who work behind the scenes to create the productions that are honored each year.

The Tony Awards is a celebration of the best of Broadway theatre and a tribute to the creativity, talent, and hard work of all those who contribute to the art form.