Honestly, the energy on Broadway right now is kind of chaotic. We’ve spent months whispering in the back of the Shubert Alley about who’s actually going to make the cut, and then the Tony Awards nominations 2025 dropped like a ton of bricks. If you thought this was going to be a predictable year where one mega-hit swept everything, you haven't been paying attention to the 2024-2025 season. It's a dogfight.
The announcements came down on May 1, 2025, with Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce doing the honors. We saw 42 productions eligible this year. That is a massive number. It’s a lot of shows to squeeze into a few hours of TV, and naturally, some truly great work got left out in the cold. But before we get into the snubs and the surprises, let's look at the heavy hitters.
The Three-Way Tie at the Top
It’s rare to see a three-way tie for the most nominations, but that’s exactly what happened. Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending all walked away with 10 nominations each.
You’ve got a massive variety in that trio. Buena Vista Social Club is that soulful, atmospheric piece that critics adore. Death Becomes Her is the campy, high-energy spectacle that’s been keeping the lights on in Midtown. And Maybe Happy Ending? It’s the "little robot musical that could"—a charming, heart-tugging show that surprised everyone by pulling in double-digit nods.
Best Musical Nominees
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Dead Outlaw
- Death Becomes Her
- Maybe Happy Ending
- Operation Mincemeat
Basically, if you were looking for a traditional "book musical" winner, it’s hard to call. Operation Mincemeat coming over from the West End with its cult following definitely shook things up. It’s weird, it’s fast, and it’s very, very British.
What Happened in the Acting Categories?
The acting races for the 78th Annual Tony Awards are basically a bloodbath. You’ve got Hollywood royalty like George Clooney (nominated for Good Night, and Good Luck) going up against Broadway stalwarts.
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But the real conversation is about the non-binary powerhouse Cole Escola. Their performance in Oh, Mary! as a deeply unhinged Mary Todd Lincoln is the stuff of legend. There was a lot of talk about where they would compete, and honestly, seeing them in the Best Actor in a Play category alongside the likes of Clooney and Daniel Dae Kim (Yellow Face) is one of the most exciting shifts in Tony history.
The Leading Lady Showdown
If you want to see a real fight, look at Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. You have:
- Audra McDonald (Gypsy) - The queen of Broadway seeking her seventh win.
- Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Blvd.) - The Olivier-winning powerhouse.
- Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her) - Delivering a comedic masterclass.
- Jasmine Amy Rogers (BOOP! The Musical) - The breakout star who might just be the spoiler.
People kept saying it was a two-horse race between Audra and Nicole. Then Jasmine Amy Rogers won the Outer Critics Circle Award and suddenly the "Audra vs. Nicole" narrative felt a bit dusty.
The Play Categories: A Pulitzer Party
This year’s Best Play category is stacked with intellectual weight. We’ve got two Pulitzer Prize winners in the mix: Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and English by Sanaz Toossi.
It’s not just about the trophies, though. The Hills of California and John Proctor Is the Villain both snagged seven nominations each. Jez Butterworth’s Hills of California is that long, searing family drama that Tony voters usually eat for breakfast. But don't count out Oh, Mary!. It’s a 90-minute comedy, which usually gets ignored for the "serious" stuff, but the momentum is undeniable.
The Snubs That Hurt
Look, with 42 shows, people are going to get hurt. The biggest shocker for me? The Last Five Years getting zero nominations. I know, I know—it’s a revival of a very well-known show, but with Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren, people expected something.
Other shows that got shut out entirely:
- Tammy Faye (even with that Elton John score)
- Redwood (Idina Menzel is a legend, but the show didn't land)
- McNeal (the Robert Downey Jr. factor wasn't enough for the nominators)
- Once Upon a Mattress
It’s a tough reminder that a big name on the marquee doesn’t guarantee a spot at Radio City Music Hall on June 8th.
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Why the 2025 Race is Different
Usually, by the time the Tony Awards nominations 2025 were announced, we’d have a clear frontrunner for Best Musical. This year? No way.
The "vibe" of Broadway is shifting. We’re seeing more experimental stuff like Dead Outlaw—a "true crime" musical—getting major love. We’re seeing more international transfers like Stranger Things: The First Shadow dominate the technical categories (it’s got a lighting rig that probably costs more than my house).
Voters are caught between rewarding the "New Broadway" (experimental, tech-heavy, genre-bending) and the "Classic Broadway" (big voices, big sets, big emotions).
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Your Broadway Checklist
If you're trying to keep up with the Tony Awards nominations 2025 before the ceremony on June 8, here is what you actually need to do:
- Listen to the Maybe Happy Ending cast recording. It’s the heart of the season.
- Track the "Triple Crown" performers. Watch how the winners of the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards align with the Tony frontrunners; the overlap is usually about 70%.
- Keep an eye on the Box Office. Historically, shows that are struggling financially sometimes get a "sympathy" boost in nominations, but the wins usually go to the hits that are actually staying open.
- Watch the Oh, Mary! clips. Even if you can't get a ticket (they're impossible to find), you need to understand the Escola hype to understand this year's ceremony.
The 78th Tony Awards will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS and Paramount+ on June 8, 2025. Whether Audra makes history or the robots from Maybe Happy Ending take over the world, it’s going to be a night to remember.