Broadway’s biggest night is shaping up to be one of its most eclectic yet, as the Tony Awards committee unveiled the 2025 nominations, with three productions — Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, and Maybe Happy Ending — each earning a leading 10 nods. The announcement marked a season where diversity in storylines, performances, and creative origin shone through, with notable nods for first-time Broadway performers including George Clooney, Sarah Snook, and Bob Odenkirk.
A total of 29 productions were recognized across the 26 categories, including some that had already ended their runs. Among the surprise mentions were A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical and Swept Away, both earning nominations despite early closures.
James Monroe Iglehart, nominated for his portrayal of Louis Armstrong, expressed shock and delight at the recognition. “I was like, ‘What’s going on? Is everything OK?’ And then I was, ‘OK! How cool is that?’” he told reporters. “I’m just really excited to be a part of this crop of amazing performers.”
In the coveted Best Musical category, Buena Vista Social Club — inspired by the Oscar-nominated 1999 documentary — will face stiff competition from Death Becomes Her, a musical adaptation of the cult film about immortal enemies chasing eternal beauty, and Maybe Happy Ending, a romantic comedy centered on androids finding unexpected humanity. Also in the running are Dead Outlaw, based on a real outlaw whose corpse became a sideshow exhibit, and Operation Mincemeat, a British import based on a World War II deception plot.
The Best Play category is equally rich in depth and variety. Nominations include English by Sanaz Toossi, The Hills of California by Jez Butterworth, John Proctor Is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower, Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Oh, Mary! — Cole Escola’s irreverent retelling of Mary Todd Lincoln’s life.
Jacobs-Jenkins, who won Best Play Revival last year for Appropriate, praised the artistic diversity reflected in this year’s nominees. “It’s really an amazing time,” he said. “I think that’s just the testament to how fruitful the form is.”
In the acting categories, Audra McDonald earned her record-extending seventh Tony nomination for her role in Gypsy, joined by Nicole Scherzinger (Sunset Blvd), Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard (Death Becomes Her), and Jasmine Amy Rogers (Boop! The Musical). George Clooney secured a nod for his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, while Bob Odenkirk received recognition for Glengarry Glen Ross. Sarah Snook impressed with her solo performance as 26 characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink also earned a nod for John Proctor Is the Villain.
However, not all high-profile stars made the list. Notable absences include Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler (Romeo + Juliet), Robert Downey Jr. (McNeal), and Patti LuPone (The Roommate). A highly anticipated, big-budget Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal was entirely snubbed, as was Idina Menzel’s return to Broadway in Redwood.
Meanwhile, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a prequel to the Netflix hit series, collected five nominations, including a lead actor nod for Louis McCartney. The revival of Our Town received a nomination for Best Play Revival, but missed out on individual acting categories. The Stephen Sondheim revue with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga was also shut out.
The 2025 Tony Awards will be presented on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo, star of Wicked.
Stay tuned to Amnewsworld for full red carpet coverage, exclusive interviews, and real-time updates on Broadway’s biggest night.
