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Why is there a hashtag in this page title? Because after this year's Tony Awards, the American Theatre Wing announced it would no longer give out an awards for Best Sound Design. Keep in mind this category was only added in 2008, though all musicals (and most non-musicals) depend heavily on sound to power their shows.
Unfortunately there are many people who don't view crew members as truly part of the artistic process. Already the Tonys don't show technical award winners during the telecast: designer awards are given out during the commercial breaks. The Oscars have two sound categories and give them out as part of the regular award ceremony. Now, apparently, Broadway doesn't feel that sound design is enough of an art to merit even off-camera recognition.
A movement has begun to continue recognizing sound designers, including an online petition and the hashtag #TonyCanYouHearMe.
The following video was made to show just how much we depend on sound in entertainment:
I'd encourage everyone interested in good theatre to sign the petition. Even better, the next time you go see a show, applaud the crew members who worked on it as much as the actors. If you see someone in black or wearing a headset walk by, share your appreciation. It takes a lot of people to put on a successful theatre production, and those you see are only part of the picture. Remember, theatre crew are artists too.