Tony Award for Sale

Currently on eBay: the Tony Award won by costume designer Florence "Flossie" Klotz for her work on the 1985 musical Grind. Bidding begins at $10,000 -- but you can own it right now for the low low price of $20,000.

As eBay seller jabodawe007 admits, "Grind is considered a flop by the afficionados of musical theater." But the show still won two Tony Awards, for actress Leilani Jones and costumer Klotz. Sketches by Klotz of designs for two of the show's stars, Ben Vereen and Stubby Kaye, accompany the Tony.

As far as we can tell, this is the first Tony Award to be auctioned on eBay.

So unless Jones auctions her award, this is the only chance for you to own a real Tony from Grind! But as New York mag's "Vulture" points out, Ms. Klotz passed away in 2006, so we can't be sure just who is profiting from this sale.

UPDATE: The New York Times confirms that Klotz's estate has placed the award up for auction. The Times story also notes: "A rule instituted in 1997 requires that Tony recipients first offer their statuettes back to the Tony Awards at a minimal price before they are offered for public sale; Ms. Klotz’s statuette is not covered by this restriction."

-- Daniel Lehman

Below: Klotz's costume design sketches for Grind.

 

Comments

[atlanta short sale]

well thanks for shining these stages.

[Miriam]

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Miriam

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