The theatre was called the Eden then. While they may have had to persuade the Tonys, the situation was basically the same as with Man of La Mancha a few years earlier, which moved to the Eden for a couple of months not long before Grease. The Eden was a Broadway-sized house, although some productions cordoned off much of the house in order for it to qualify as Off-Broadway. And, yeah, the show was on Broadway contracts. You say that the book says that the actors were on Broadway contracts? Does it specifically say that musicians, stagehands, etc., were not on Broadway contracts or does it just not say anything about the other unions? I have been under the impression that everyone was paid under Broadway contracts.
So I doubt there was much of a question, even if the Tonys had not originally planned to consider Grease eligible. They had a very good case that the show should be eligible.
Best Plays, btw, lists it as Broadway from the opening at the Eden. |
