Tony Awards Flip-Flop, Rule Olivia Wilde’s Broadway Play ‘1984’ Eligible After All

Tony committee also rules that Disney’s adaptation of big-screen hit “Frozen” can compete for best original score

1984 olivia wilde tom sturridge
Photo: Julieta Cervantes

The well-reviewed Broadway adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic “1984” will be competing for this year’s Tony Awards after all.

The Tony rules committee on Thursday reversed a decision issued last November declaring the show, which ran for five months and starred Olivia Wilde, ineligible because it “did not fulfill all of the eligibility requirements, as outlined by the Tony Rules and Regulations.”

According to an individual familiar with the situation, the flip-flop was triggered because one of the Tony nominators recused himself since he had been unable to see two productions this season. A rep for the Tony awards had no comment.

In addition to ruling “1984” eligible for consideration in the drama categories, the Tony rules committee also declared that Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez‘s score for Disney’s “Frozen” could compete in the original score category despite its reliance on multiple songs from the Oscar-winning 2013 animated movie.

Reps for the “1984” producers Sonia Friedman and Scott Rudin were pleasantly surprised by the news — since the show will now compete with J.K. Rowling’s soon-to-open “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” as well as other already-closed new plays such as “The Children,” “Farinelli and the King” and “Junk.”

“1984” starred Wilde, Tom Sturridge and Reed Birney — each of whom earned critical praise for their performances after the June 22 opening night. The production, directed and adapted for the stage by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, closed on Oct. 8 after 125 performances.

It also sparked coverage because of its disturbing scenes of torture — which prompted some extreme audiences reactions — including vomiting and fainting in some cases.

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