A Season to Remember: The 2025 Tony Nominees Take Center Stage

The race for Broadway’s biggest night is officially on. On the brisk morning of May 1, nominations for the 78th Tony Awards were revealed, shining a spotlight on a season packed with fresh plays, daring revivals, and gripping musicals. From Hollywood stars making their stage debuts to Broadway veterans revisiting classics, this year’s list is a vibrant mix of the familiar and the new. Let’s take a closer look at the shows, performances, and people who are vying for theater’s highest honor this June.

A Rich Broadway Season: From Homecomings to New Journeys

The 2024–25 Broadway season kicked off last June with the revival of Samm-Art Williams’s Home, setting the tone for a year of bold storytelling. Over the months, audiences were treated to 42 productions—14 brand-new musicals, 14 original plays, and 14 revivals split evenly between musicals and plays. This beats last year’s total of 37 shows and the 38 staged in 2022, proving that Broadway continues to grow and surprise. Now, those 42 hopefuls have been narrowed down by the nominating committee, and the contenders are ready to face off for a coveted Tony statue.

Best Musical: Five Shows, One Winner

The heart of Broadway has always been its musicals, and this year’s Best Musical category is packed with variety:

. Buena Vista Social Club, a vibrant celebration of Cuban sound and soul

. Dead Outlaw, an edgy tale that fuses classic western themes with modern beats

. Death Becomes Her, a darkly comedic look at fame and rivalry

. Maybe Happy Ending, a touching story of love and hope in a near-future Seoul

. Operation Mincemeat, a witty musical based on a real-life World War II spy plan

Each show brings its own style and story, from toe-tapping numbers to heartfelt ballads. Fans will be eagerly watching which of these five will clinch the top prize.

Best Play: Fresh Voices and Powerhouse Stories

This year’s Best Play nominees offer a mix of new writing and compelling themes:

. English, a clever take on language and identity

. The Hills of California, a moving family drama set against sweeping landscapes

. John Proctor Is the Villain, a fresh twist on Arthur Miller’s classic tale

. Oh, Mary!, a bold reimagining of a well-known biblical figure

. Purpose, a look at ambition, legacy, and the human cost of power

These five plays cover a broad emotional range, from laughter to tears, and remind us why live theater can touch us so deeply.

Shining Performances: Leading Roles in Musicals

Broadway’s brightest talents are represented in two leading-actor categories. In musicals, the nominees include:

. Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending

. Andrew Durand in Dead Outlaw

. Tom Francis in Sunset Blvd.

. Jonathan Groff in Just in Time

. James Monroe Iglehart in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical

. Jeremy Jordan in Floyd Collins

On the leading-lady side, the contenders are:

. Megan Hilty in Death Becomes Her

. Audra McDonald in Gypsy

. Jasmine Amy Rogers in BOOP! The Musical

. Nicole Scherzinger in Sunset Blvd.

. Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her

These performers bring life to characters ranging from aging divas to swinging jazz legends, each delivering songs and scenes that have audiences cheering.

Spotlight on the Stage: Leading Roles in Plays

In the dramatic categories, Hollywood names mix with theater veterans:

. George Clooney makes his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luck

. Cole Escola surprises in Oh, Mary!

. Jon Michael Hill and Harry Lennix both earn nods for Purpose

. Daniel Dae Kim stuns in Yellow Face

. Louis McCartney steps into the Stranger Things universe with Stranger Things: The First Shadow

For leading actresses:

. Laura Donnelly in The Hills of California

. Mia Farrow in The Roommate

. LaTanya Richardson Jackson in Purpose

. Sadie Sink in John Proctor Is the Villain

. Sarah Snook in The Picture of Dorian Gray

These nominees show that Broadway is a place where big names can shine anew and stage vets can show off their craft.

Behind the Scenes: Direction, Design, and More

While actors and shows take the spotlight, the Tonys also honor the creative teams:

. Revivals of plays and musicals compete side by side, but those lists are still being updated.

. Direction, choreography, and musical book and score awards celebrate the minds that shape stories.

. Scenic, costume, lighting, and sound design categories recognize the magic that makes shows feel real.

. Orchestrations and choreography awards salute the teams that fine-tune every musical moment.

These hidden heroes bring Broadway dreams to life, proving that a great show is a true group effort.

Special Honors: Beyond the Competitive Awards

Each year, the Tonys also take a moment to salute lifetime achievement and extraordinary contributions:

. Harvey Fierstein receives a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of work as an actor, writer, and champion of new theatre.

. Celia Keenan-Bolger is honored with the Isabelle Stevenson Award for her dedication to causes offstage.

The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre go to Great Performances, Michael Price, New 42, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for their outstanding support of the art form.

These awards shine a light on artists and organizations who make Broadway possible.

Mark Your Calendars: Ceremony and Broadcast

All the excitement builds to Sunday, June 8, when Broadway’s biggest night arrives at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Broadway superstar Cynthia Erivo, herself an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner (and three-time Oscar nominee), will host the show. Viewers nationwide can watch the awards live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. ET. If you can’t wait for the main event, a 90-minute pre-show will stream on Pluto TV at 6:30 p.m. ET, handing out select awards and giving backstage glimpses.

How to Join the Fun: Tickets and More

For fans eager to experience the nominated shows in person, ticket links for currently open productions are listed at the bottom of many Broadway websites. Whether you’re drawn to the haunting melodies of Buena Vista Social Club, the heart-tugging story in Maybe Happy Ending, or the star-studded drama of Good Night, and Good Luck, there’s a seat waiting for you.

Looking Ahead

With 42 hit shows competing, from new musicals to daring revivals, the 2025 Tony Awards promise surprises, celebrations, and unforgettable performances. As nominations turn into winners on June 8, Broadway will once again remind us why live theater holds a special place in our hearts. Don’t miss a moment of the action—or your chance to see the magic on stage.

This article will be updated as more categories are revealed. Stay tuned for the latest on your favorite shows and stars!