Tony rules: Just say no to swag

SPA retreats, resort getaways, designer clothing and jewelry, gourmet sweets.... Big-time celebrity-centric functions in L.A. are notorious for the swag lavished on participants.

Broadway too has its freebies, including those for presenters at the Tony Awards.

But Tony Awards voters? Their itty-bitty goody bags just got smaller still.

No more “Hairspray” lunchboxes. Tubes of green lipstick, a la “Wicked,” won’t fly.

And if anyone is expecting this year’s equivalent of last year’s must-have “Spamalot” Killer Rabbit hand puppet, sorry. Not going to happen.

Whether such modest largesse might influence the Tony’s 750-member voting pool to opt for one nominated show over another is now moot. The Tony Awards Rules Committee has adopted resolutions that ban the distribution of “any campaign or promotional materials to voters, other than a script or a cast recording” tied to a show in award contention.

The resolutions also prohibit nominees’ promotion through any communication that disparages or casts “any negative or derogatory light on a competing production, element, person or achievement.”

“Over the last several years, a number of our members have expressed their concerns about the lack of definition surrounding what they may and may not send to voters,” says Jed Bernstein, president of the New York-based League of American Theatres and Producers.

“There were enough people who asked the question that it seemed appropriate to try to clarify the answer. This is just something that keeps everybody on a level playing field. I think it’s pretty benign.”

Kevin McCollum, producer of the Tony-winning musical “Avenue Q,” has a different take.

“I’m on the Tony committee, but do I think it’s a necessary rule? No. I think your job is to make people aware of your show, and if you have something to send that fits the personality of your show, I think that’s fine.

“Let’s not be talking about T-shirts and hats. Let’s be talking about making sure that everybody who’s a voter actually sees the shows that they’re voting on.”

Lynne Heffley