Broadway battles for Tony Awards with boozy parties and celebs

The claws and fangs and Schmigs were out this week as the race to the Tony Awards heated up.That’s because the so called road voters were in town for the Spring Road Conference, the annual theater convention where Broadway shows hawk their wares to presenters from around in the country in hopes they book their tours.But the event’s more sinister purpose is to gain an advantage at the Tony Awards, which are just two weeks away.The visitors from Chicago, Cleveland and Dallas make up roughly 10% of all Tony voters.In a season without an obvious Best Musical frontrunner, an obvious underdog or, well, an obvious hit, that slice of the pie could make a difference.“I think whoever wins gets about 28% of the vote,” one voter said.So, naturally the nominated musical revival “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” thought it would be a nice and hospitable idea to treat the out-of-towners to lunch at three-Michelin-starred Le Bernadin — one of the world’s best restaurants — where they noshed on salmon in sauce vin jaune alongside Best Featured Actor nominee Andre de Shields.

Now that’s what I call a fancy feast.There was an interesting rule change this year, though.In the past, the show’s individual bashes were huge, official affairs, like when Alicia Keys performed a concert at Gotham Hall to boost “Hell’s Kitchen.” That’s over.

Instead, shows threw smaller off-schedule, unsanctioned fetes for the most influential members of the group.I stopped by a few.One producer let off steam about a pan I gave a show of his four years ago, and a general manager physically recoiled when they met me.

Life of the party!The high-flying vampire spectacle “The Lost Boys,” which is in a tight two-man race for Best Musical against the comedy “Schmigadoon,” had post-show cocktails at the bar at Tempo by Hilton. One of the musical’s famous producers, Patrick Wilson (who I’m told will soon be crooning “Edelweiss”), stayed until last call, and director Michael Ard...