The Writers Guild of America will not picket the 2023 Tony Awards, the union announced Monday.
In a statement, the union said that it will not negotiate an interim agreement or a waiver for the Tony Awards, as previously reported, but that it will not picket this year’s show in whatever form it does move forward.
“Tony Awards Productions (a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing) has communicated with us that they are altering this year’s show to conform with specific requests from the WGA, and therefore the WGA will not be picketing the show,” the guild said. “As they have stood by us, we stand with our fellow workers on Broadway who are impacted by our strike.”
Along with a message of solidarity for the Broadway community, the statement placed responsibility for the waiver denial on CBS and Paramount.
“Responsibility for having to make changes to the format of the 2023 Tony Awards rests squarely on the shoulders of Paramount/CBS and their allies,” the statement said. “They continue to refuse to negotiate a fair contract for the writers represented by the WGA.”
The news comes the same day as the Tony Awards Management Committee decided it would appeal to the WGA and request that the striking writers not picket the televised awards ceremony to potentially move forward with the broadcast. That followed a decision on Friday by the guild to deny the show’s producers a waiver to proceed with the televised ceremony during the ongoing strike.
In response to the news, Actor’s Equity president Kate Shindle thanked WGA West and East on Twitter before encouraging Equity members “to double down on showing up at their pickets.”
“Oh, and because it can’t be said enough: this is still #AMPTP’s fault, and the writers should never have been put in this position,” she continued. “We can appreciate the grace AND point at the culprits, right?”
The 76th Annual Tony Awards ceremony was scheduled to take place June 11 at the United Palace in New York City, and set to air on CBS, from 8-11 p.m. ET/5- 8 p.m. PT and also stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to CBS and reps the Tonys for comment.
May 15, 8:03 p.m. Updated with social media statement from Actor’s Equity president Kate Shindle.
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